Controls are immensely important to a game. Loads of otherwise fantastic games have been brought down by their bad controls. Same goes for simple games being heightened by great controls.
So I'm wondering what are your favorite control Layouts? Specifically layouts for browser games? Seeing as that's what we are all making with Construct 2. I'll go first , these are my general opinions and I know they will differ from others. But hey that's a good reason to ask right?
<font color=brown>Generic guidelines I tend to like</font>
1.Movement Keys on the left side of the keyboard Action keys on the Right side. with space in between "think NES controller D-pad on the left hand side. B, A on right hand side"
2.Not a Fan of Jump on a D-pad layout being UP.
3.Pause Key better then on screen pause button. And Pause should always be an option.
4.Aiming Should be done with a Mouse, not keys. guns track the mouse. I cry a little when I have to slowly rotate my aim with keys.
5.Multiple controls layouts, or the ability to change controls if possible. Because everyone likes it a bit different. It's also the a good way to solve many control issues players have.
2. Keyboard and Mouse layouts I tend to like for some classic styles of play.
<font color=brown>Mario "generic platformer"</font>
"WASD"/"ZQSD" for movement. " Arrow keys" or any group of keys on the right hand side for action. Maybe mouse keys
<font color=brown>Contra "platform shooter"</font>
"WASD / ZQSD / Arrow keys" movement and Mouse for Aiming and Action keys.
<font color=brown>Asteroids style shooter</font>
"WASD / ZQSD / Arrow keys" for movement and Mouse for Aiming and Action keys.
OR
All Keyboard with Arrow keys for movement and Space to shoot. Yeah this breaks my Left to right guideline, but my brain can handle it in an Asteroids game. :)
<font color=brown>Gradius style shooter</font>
"WASD"/"ZQSD" for movement. " Arrow keys" or any group of keys on the right hand side for action. Maybe mouse keys
<font color=brown>Any click heavy game "board game / match 3 / Tower defence"</font>
Mouse, for all actions and movement. All that's needed along with great onscreen menus. Most of these game are not twitch games so they feel better when they keep it simple and keep it on the mouse.
I'm very curious as to how others like to control a game. And any control conventions they really like or really hate. Thanks for reading.