'There's a gaping hole in our knowledge': the scientists studying why gamers invert their controls

[DriedMangoes]

'There's a gaping hole in our knowledge': the scientists studying why gamers invert their controls

Our article asking why so many players invert their controls provoked a fierce debate that has now caught the attention of researchers into visual perception

www.theguardian.com

"Our article asking why so many players invert their controls provoked a fierce debate that has now caught the attention of researchers into visual perception"

Do you invert? I've always only used invert for my y axis (vertically) as far back as I can remember. So I'm pretty much used to it for everything now. This is only when I'm using a controller though. Not really sure why but my aim accuracy is much better. If I'm not inverting the Y axis I have a hard time looking around with the camera angle and also aiming.

 

[Kerosene31]

I only invert aircraft controls for the Y axis. So, if I'm in Battlefield and in a plane, back is "up", but otherwise it is not inverted.

The funny thing is for a game like Mechwarrior, I don't invert, since it is on the ground. For a game like Descent (flying), inverted.

 

[Rollins]

I only invert aircraft controls for the Y axis. So, if I'm in Battlefield and in a plane, back is "up", but otherwise it is not inverted.

The funny thing is for a game like Mechwarrior, I don't invert, since it is on the ground. For a game like Descent (flying), inverted.

Damn, That is weird! It’s hitting a ball lefty, but kicking righty.

I invert the Y axis because like you said, it’s like flying a playing. Forward = down. Going the oposite seems counter-intuitive for me

 

[Videodrome]

I invert the Y Axis for all First Person movement or even 3rd Person view including just FPS shooting. Same for vehicle flying and aiming.

Now if it was a vertical take off like a helicopter or a character using a jetpack to hover, I might consider a different setup. Or maybe an underwater submersible control where UP and DOWN operate the ballast tanks more than guide forward motion. It would still feel weird though to aim a weapon up and down to me though.

I wonder if some of this stuff is similar to how people are wired to be Right Handed or Left Handed or even have a dominant eye to aim a gun IRL.

 

[karmakid]

My brain is square, so on console I play with the “y inverted” no matter the genre, but for FPS games on pc I play non inverted.

 

[Videodrome]

My brain is square, so on console I play with the “y inverted” no matter the genre, but for FPS games on pc I play non inverted.

Is it controllers for both though? Or do you use the Mouse on the PC?

 

[karmakid]

Is it controllers for both though? Or do you use the Mouse on the PC?

You know, I’ve never played a game on pc with a controller lol but if I do, with a controller, I will invert.

Ive really gotta play more games on pc too so far only FPS games that happen to be on consoles as well

 

[GordoSan]

I had learned to play with inverted Y since at least Quake III. Played that way until after Halo:CE. During Halo 2, I guess I taught myself to play regular axis to be "more normal". Haven't gone back since.

I do however, play flight games with flipped Y axis because I'm not a savage with no morals.

 

[Videodrome]

You know, I’ve never played a game on pc with a controller lol but if I do, with a controller, I will invert.

Ive really gotta play more games on pc too so far only FPS games that happen to be on consoles as well

Well, I mostly play fighting games on my laptop, so I'm not gonna do that with the keyboard. I already have a gamepad so when I do play shooters I use that.

 

[CFogle21]

I only invert aircraft controls for the Y axis. So, if I'm in Battlefield and in a plane, back is "up", but otherwise it is not inverted.

The funny thing is for a game like Mechwarrior, I don't invert, since it is on the ground. For a game like Descent (flying), inverted.

Same

 

[D-V-ANT]

I invert Y on Flight games only.

 

[starseeker]

Its just how our brain chooses to see things. Its the same with gear shift, some prefer forward as upshift, some prefer backward or the left or right pedel....
Also related to which is your master hand.
Why is the right trigger usually fire & not left trigger?

 

[tumorman]

If you invert your y axis that means you have flawed motor skills

 

[DriedMangoes]

If you invert your y axis that means you have flawed motor skills

I'm a Masters in Overwatch, thank you very much.

 

[Almighty_bob]

I think I'm inverted because I played a ton of flight games growing up (Wing Commander, X-wing vs Tie Fighter, etc., and this was really before 1st person shooters really started letting you contol if you could even look up or down (games like Doom, etc.). But I used a flight stick or a joy stick for those. So that may be why I play inverted on a co troller, but not inverted on keyboard and mouse.