Redefining Keys

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MortimerInBlack
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Redefining Keys

Post by MortimerInBlack »

So I just started playing Keen 1 again, and remembered that there is a help file you can get by pressing F1. So I'm reading it just for the hell of it, because I usually read the story and this help file is pretty obscure.

And not too far down it says: "You can redefine these keys by pressing F3".

My question is, has anyone ever done this? I'm solidly used to the CTRL to jump, ALT to pogo, and both to fire, but are there better schemes?
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tulip
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Post by tulip »

yes. I always do this using 'd' and 's' as CTRL and ALT keys. I have been doing this since windows started to place its damn windows key between ctrl and alt, ruining the fun.

Many of you know already that I always change the buttons, as I have been known to release a mod with changed controls, and I got feedback messages like "I can't enter any levels."
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Post by Pokota »

If we're talking about just when we play, I use one of three setups, depending on which game I'm playing. Only two ever come into play for Commander Keen.

For the Vorticon engine and games where only two keys do something other than movement, Z is for Jumping and X is for whatever the other action is.

For the Galaxy engine and games where I need three keys for three different purposes, Z is for Jumping, X is for the more frequently used action (in the case of the Galaxy engine, shooting), and C is for the less frequently used action (in the case of Galaxy, this is my Pogo).

For games where I'm pretending to have a SNES gamepad, Z is the left button, X is the bottom button, C is the right button, and V is the top button. Usually, this maps to Z being shoot, X being jump, C being the confirm button, and V being the menu button.
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Post by Commander Spleen »

MiB wrote:My question is, has anyone ever done this? I'm solidly used to the CTRL to jump, ALT to pogo, and both to fire, but are there better schemes?
Better scheme = patching it to support Space for firing.
daisy wrote:yes. I always do this using 'd' and 's' as CTRL and ALT keys. I have been doing this since windows started to place its damn windows key between ctrl and alt, ruining the fun.
Heh, I managed to overcome the Windows key thing pretty quickly back in the day. Alt+Space was what used to get me. These days I mostly play Keen in pure DOS or under Linux, neither of which has that problem.

I tend to change the keys for some other games, such as Tyrian (x = fire, zc = sidekicks, shift = rear weapon mode), and use a left-hand-side letter key combination for emulation (but usually if I'm doing that I'll attach a gamepad). But for Keen, it pretty much stays the same. I also prefer the classic configurations in Doom/Duke3D, while I get the impression that most people prefer a more modern mouse/keyboard combination.
Pokota wrote:X is for the more frequently used action (in the case of the Galaxy engine, shooting)
You shoot more than you pogo?
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Post by MortimerInBlack »

Yea I understand the gripe about those windows keys, even tho I never use them (does anyone? I mean the start button is easily clickable, and even using the button u gotta move the mouse to the menu anyway, and that other button is just the equivalent to a right-mouse-click AFAIK)

If they get in the way, you can just pop them out. I don't think I ever mis-pressed those ones, however. But some keyboards have extra buttons, like sleep/wakeup, right above the arrow pad... Yes, the worst place to put extra buttons. I usually pop those out.

I figured someone would bring up the space rather than 2-button firing, but I am very used to the latter by now. Ah well.
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Grimson
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Post by Grimson »

I don't usually change the controls. Another good setting is z and x for ctrl and alt respectively.
I have been known to release a mod with changed controls, and I got feedback messages like "I can't enter any levels."
Lol.
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tulip
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Post by tulip »

As far as I am concerned there is only one use for the windows key: to free the mouse from the dosbox window when I was playing Master of Magic. That is all.
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Post by Grimson »

tulip wrote:As far as I am concerned there is only one use for the windows key: to free the mouse from the dosbox window when I was playing Master of Magic. That is all.
This. It's actually a really useful key, especially when playing on DosBox or any games that open a fullscreen window.
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Post by kuliwil »

MortimerInBlack wrote:I never use them (does anyone?
I do so, so often - on my netbook where the start menu is hidden for the sake of screen realestate, and because I'm a good typist wthin windows and avoid using the mouse when possible.

I've been tempted to change keys recently to avoid Ctrl+Alt+up/down/left/right, which flips the screen on some other people's computers when i get in a netkeen LAN.

As for the windows key getting in the way - I stopped hitting it when I was six simply with practice.
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MortimerInBlack
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Post by MortimerInBlack »

I see. z and x for CTRL and ALT are good replacements, if you use the left CTRL and ALT buttons. I've always used the right ones. Now that I think about it, the left ones would be better since they give you easier access to the spacebar.

Additional question: if you regularly use CTRL and ALT, do you use the left ones or right ones?
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Fleexy
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Post by Fleexy »

Left. The right set on my computer has two keys between them (WinKey and MenuKey).
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Lava89
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Post by Lava89 »

If I play using a gamepad, I like Xpadder...essentially it substitutes keyboard keys for gamepad controls and even lets you substitute 2 keys for one gamepad button, so trading alt and ctrl pressed together for one gamepad button is possible.
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Post by Flaose »

Fleexy wrote:Left. The right set on my computer has two keys between them (WinKey and MenuKey).
Does anyone in the world actually use the MenuKey?
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Post by Fleexy »

I have pressed it (purposefully) ONCE. I have pressed it (accidentally) a lot.
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Post by guynietoren »

Flaose wrote:
Fleexy wrote:Left. The right set on my computer has two keys between them (WinKey and MenuKey).
Does anyone in the world actually use the MenuKey?
It's useless unless you're missing your right mouse button. It's clumsy if you are right handed to let go of the mouse after pointing something to press that. Unless it has another use I haven't the foggiest.
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