[casual_games] Use of keyboard on casual games

[Wayne Imlach]

Deviating from the expected and familiar increases the barrier to entry for your game - the learning curve is already given a little bump before the user has even played the game.

All users know that cursor movement is controlled by moving the mouse, and the primary 'action' button is the left mouse button. There is nothing to learn or remember here. It's already ingrained in every modern computer user. A standard.

Which keys are the movement keys on the keyboard? The cursor keys? The keypad keys perhaps (2,4,6,8)? Maybe even WASD? Which configuration is the user familiar with? And which key is the primary action button? Spacebar? Enter?

There is nothing to stop you using keyboard controls, and as mentioned in an earlier post some games (such as Tetris where movement is tile based) work better with digital rather than analog input.

However be aware of the extra effort required on the part of the user, and be mindful that you will need to expand your tutorial to ensure the user is fully aware of the control scheme - which will promptly be forgotten if the user only plays your game occasionally!

 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: oscar oscar 
  To: IGDA Casual Games SIG Mailing List 
  Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:24 PM
  Subject: Re: [casual_games] Use of keyboard on casual games


  I agree... constraints do tend to force us to think of unique means by which to solve problems. 

  But saying that only the mouse will do is more than a constraint. It hobbles one.

  Its not, "no left turns"... its "no left turns or you're a failure and your product will be relegated to the ninth layer of shovel-ware". 

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