What is your preferred keyboard button layout for playing fangames?

[Burninleo]

Everyone who makes a game has to decide which buttons are going to be used to play it.  For most MFGG games, the buttons typically include the following:

-Arrow keys
-Shift (do you want to turn on sticky keys?)
-Ctrl
-Alt
-Spacebar
-Letters - 'Z' , 'X' , 'C'

We are well beyond the point where if you don't like the control layout, you can change it using code, keyboard mapping apps, pc controllers, etc.

But since we are discussing the keyboard:

What is your preferred layout?  
Do button actions (run, jump, start, pause, etc.) feel most natural in a particular layout?
Any layouts that you dislike?

(This post may or may not be valuable for the current generation of fangame creators)

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[Vert]

Arrow keys, Z to run and X to jump. C to do some other thing I guess.

Some people got really mad at me for making that the default for my game's demo, as we hadn't implemented remapping yet. I was really surprised by that as that's practically the standard for emulators.

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[Luigibonus]

I often add control customization in my games within the settings as I think that's always a good idea, but by default it's usually:

Z: jump
X: run
C: other action, e.g. spin or spinjump
Space: something scenario-specific, e.g. using power-up

← / →: move
↑: look up / enter door
↓: duck

Personally I don't like using Ctrl and Shift for controlling the character, but that's just my preference  I think they're fine for some other actions tho, like releasing the reserve item or bringing up an inventory.

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[VinnyVideo]

Basically, what @Vert said. When I make platformers, I typically use Z as the default for running/shooting, and X as the default for jumping. On a QWERTY keyboard, most people will use their left hand for the action buttons and their right hand for the movement keys. This means you'll have your left index finger on the X key and your left middle finger on the Z key. The index finger is more dexterous than the middle finger, and in a Mario game, you'll be pressing the jump button more frequently than you'll be pressing the run button. In some levels in some games, you'll be holding the run button pretty much nonstop.

I'm also OK with the Shift-Ctrl-Space-Enter scheme. Of course, it's extra-awesome if you include a keyboard configuration menu in your game.

Course clear! You got a card.

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[DJ Coco]

Z/X, even on a German keyboard. I'm a masochist.

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[Ostrich101]

It kinda depends on what is the console style of the game.

If it's a NES/Gameboy styled experience, it's probably like:
Z: Run
X: Jump

If it's a SNES styled experience, then it's:
S: Run
Z: Jump
Z: Special (like spin jumping or something)

That said I do think that allowing the player to customise their controls is really a must have feature, as this thread obviously shows, people have different preferences for what is comfortable for them.

Other places where you can find me:

DeviantArt

Angry Birds Nest

Sonic Retro (Not active there)

NCFC

YouTube

Random quotes from MFGG.

 
"Tweet squawk quack tweet quack tweet quack squawk.." ~ Ostrich (oh that's me)

"Bowser has gone insane after being beaten so many times by Mario and is now complaining about stuff in internet because he is tired of life." ~ Saltman

"'Class Clown' isnt just a title, it's a responsibility, it's a life style, so please take it a bit more seriously." ~ Mors

"By the next 20 years this community will be filled with Novas." ~ Hypernova

Spoiler

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[Vert]

Z/X, even on a German keyboard. I'm a masochist.

Remember when Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair just put its actions on H, K and O because using Z, X and C wouldn't work on German keyboards and they didn't bother to program in key remapping support? Effort lol

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[Gate]

Control + Shift here but since the release of the eighth installement of GME, configurable controls are a thing now.

 

"shy guys are wall plugs confirmed" - Vitiman on Club Saturn Ex

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[Burninleo]

Control + Shift here but since the release of the eighth installement of GME, configurable controls are a thing now.

I never got around to learning how to do that in GME.  From the other replies it seems that the Z, X, C layout is naturally the most comfortable for platformers.  This layout also naturally places your thumb on the spacebar and your pinky on the shift key.

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