Is it harder to memorize a computer keyboard than to learn gaming controls?

Question

Or is it the same. Can you even read the keyboard letters. Does yours say 'Qwerty', and so on?

Answer 1

Nope.
Gaming controls are so easy because of the hours spent on it.
If you apply the same amout of time to your keyboard you can be the best on keyboard and type 100mph and don't even need to look at your hands.

Answer 2

It depends...

Something like 90%+ of English Language keyboards are the QWERTY style keyboards. If you take a touch-typing course, or simply use the keyboard regularily for several hours a day, you'll quicky memorise your keyboard lay-out.

Now, if you're talking about going from console to PC... PC games have more options, more levels, and more easily updateable. With *most* games using a mouse and keyboard, most of your gaming can occur using the mouse, and critical keys are easily learned, or re-mapped if you don't like the set-up. Finally, unless you're gaming in the dark, yes you can read the keyboard. Also, since your hand is ON the keyboard (ie: FPS games, using the infamous WASD set-up), most of the keys you need are in close proximity.

Answer 3

Thats hard to say. I say its mainly psychological.

Reason is, I learned to keyboard when I was 13 years old. I played the old 8-bit Nintendo way back when and it only had 2 buttons which was easy.

Today, 17 years later, I find keyboarding easy, but I don't like to play XBox or PS2/PS3 because I don't like the "gaming controls" on the controller. However, if you give me a keyboard and mouse and ask me to use it as gaming controls, I'm okay with it. Thats because I apply the standard QWERTY controls to PC gaming. However, when it comes to console gaming, I'm not too adventurous in learning controls.

I do like the Wii-mote from Nintendo because its simple and easy to use.

Answer 4

I really haven't tried video games much since atari back in the 80s (except I do love Golden Tee), but from what I've seen, I'm guessing the game controllers may be harder. I do recall when I was learning to keyboard that I would actually have keyboarding dreams. Scary, I know. But on good days, I'm up around 100 wpm.

Answer 5

Keyboard is MUCH more difficult... Think of it this way: A 3 or 4 year old could probably remember the controls of a PlayStation with relative ease. On the other hand, they have NO CHANCE of remembering where all the keys are on the key board. Especially with the shift and alt commands included. I've been working on it for 10 + years and I still haven't mastered it. (PS2 on the other hand, I had down in minutes).

Answer 6

It is harder to learn to use a keyboard because it has upwards of 40 characters, game controllers usually have around 10.

With practice, you can learn to use the keyboard as well as you can a game controller.

Answer 7

It takes practice, and of course a keyboard has more keys and key combinations than a typical gamepad does, but it's certainly possible. I can easily type blindfolded at 100+ cwpm, I've used a keyboard for such a long time I'm very familiar with it.

Answer 8

One thing I have noticed is Vertical Sync, I disable it on every game I have. It basically keeps images from tearing horizontally during panned scenes, but makes my mouse laggy and sticky as hell. When the Vsync is turned off, the mouse is responsive and fluid. If you can't turn Vsync off in game, go into the actual GPU config program and change it there. About 70% sure that that should fix the problem.

Answer 9

Everything is different, I basically see everything equally hard to adjust to. Just takes time to get used to. If you can type without looking at your fingers and play ps or xbox without looking than its just as easy to learn both.