Left Out – A Differently-Handed Gamer’s Lament
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Azimuth
New member
I don't know if this is supposed to be a joke, but it's not that simple. Handedness is neurologically determined, and it's not something you can "just learn" to do the other way around. And besides, why should left-handed people even be expected to do that?
My friend plays games like that.
Strifehart
New member
I broke my right wrist when I was in school. I had to learn how to write using my left hand. Granted it wasn't nearly as neat as writing with my right hand, but it was completely legible and of acceptable quality.
Whilst the "deal with it" approach that Pooky is suggesting is probably a bit harsh, it's definitely not impossible. I know a handful of lefties that are pretty lethal when using their right hand for mouse control.
Graal
New member
Well, your friend != the entire left-handed demographic.
OmegaFenix
The Legendary Troll Hunter
I am left handed, never had an issue using anything, except for a target shooting rifle what was designed for a righty. Gaming, even on pc, I can't say i'v Ever really give it much thought.
VindicatoR
New member
My roommate is a lefty and while I would generally boast that I'm better at FPS games, he'll prove time and time again that he's way more accurate than me and that while using a right-handed setup.
It's all about whether you want to adapt or not.
It's all about whether you want to adapt or not.
Necuno
The Piper
"whistling: Pinnacle Game Profiler "whistling:
OmegaFenix
The Legendary Troll Hunter
The brains ability to adapt is amazing.
I agree with vindicator. I for 1 is left handed but control my mouse with my right hand, i can't with my left hand it just feel funny and can't aim for sh#t....
MOnk
New member
I'm confused what is this article suppose to be about?
If you are talking about the plight of left-handed PC gamers then why pick out one of the few games that doesn't include an option to rebind controls? Games without rebindable controls are something all PC gamers moan about and chastise developers for, it's not something unique to left handed gamers. Sure it's probably more of an issue for some lefties (not all like you claim) since nearly all the lefties I know play right handed and/or use WASD anyway. When you look at it though you probably have 95% of games with rebindable controls and then you even have access to symmetrical and left handed mice.
Compare that to consoles and let me know when you find a left handed 360 or PS3 controller.
If you are talking about the plight of left-handed PC gamers then why pick out one of the few games that doesn't include an option to rebind controls? Games without rebindable controls are something all PC gamers moan about and chastise developers for, it's not something unique to left handed gamers. Sure it's probably more of an issue for some lefties (not all like you claim) since nearly all the lefties I know play right handed and/or use WASD anyway. When you look at it though you probably have 95% of games with rebindable controls and then you even have access to symmetrical and left handed mice.
Compare that to consoles and let me know when you find a left handed 360 or PS3 controller.
Graal
New member
The problem is the fact that lefties have to adapt in the first place. Even if 9 out of every 10 lefties find it easy to adapt to right-handed gameplay, that's 1 person out of 10 that gets locked out of playing your game. All because you couldn't be arsed to implement something as simple and rather necessary as remapping keybindings.
As for comparing KB&M to a gamepad, that's really silly. Console controllers are often not only designed ergonomically, but are also somewhat symmetrical. Both hands are doing pretty much the same thing and holding the controller in the same position, as opposed to a mouse and keyboard, where the two hands are doing vastly different things.
As for comparing KB&M to a gamepad, that's really silly. Console controllers are often not only designed ergonomically, but are also somewhat symmetrical. Both hands are doing pretty much the same thing and holding the controller in the same position, as opposed to a mouse and keyboard, where the two hands are doing vastly different things.
MOnk
New member
Say what???????
You aim with your right thumb, you press time sensitive buttons with your right thumb, you shoot with your right finger, all the important 'finesse' actions are done on the right, the left is usually left for 'coarse' movement and menu/ui navigation. They are in no way symmetrical.
Also I never said lefties have to adapt, I said there are PLENTY of options for left handed gamers to play left handed and in those cases where there are no options it's often to the detriment of both left and right handed gamers. Picking out a single example and saying "oh woes is the plight of lefties" is silly, rather do something useful and point out the options you have as a lefty.
Graal
New member
You press the left shoulder buttons with your left hand, you press the four movement buttons with your left hand, you use the left analogue with your left hand. You press the right shoulder buttons with your right hand, you press the four context buttons with your right hand, you use the right analogue with your right hand.
Your hands are doing a pretty similar task, even if the one hand presses a few buttons more than the other. Very different from having to move your moused with your left hand and press buttons on a keyboard with your other hand.