Platformer Video Games with a Keyboard? How Different are Gamepads and Keyboards, Really?



During a recent usability review playtest of an in-progress video game, I noticed something strange about the way the main menu registered gamepad inputs. This led me down an especially nerdy path to better understand what was going on.

In this video I ask if players who use gamepads tend to hold button presses longer than players who use keyboards.

Mentioned:
WULFF DEN / I’m done using D-Pads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MeaotesUWY
My usability review presentations can be found here: https://calebjross.com/usability-reviews

Music credit:
Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antigua
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pump by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4252-pump
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

#Usability #GamesUsability #UsabilityResearch
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4 thoughts on “Platformer Video Games with a Keyboard? How Different are Gamepads and Keyboards, Really?”

  1. This is interesting – I wonder how much it has to do with difference in travel distance between buttons and keys. I’d assume if that we’re true, chiclet keyboards would have a usage profile that’s more akin to a controller.

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  2. Fantastic video and I love the science! I remember when I was a kid, I had a ZX Spectrum 128K, which was the most popular gaming machine here in the UK. The default keys for pretty much every game were Q/A for jump/crouch and O/P for left/right. SPACE as an action key. I just put my finger back into that position as I wrote this and it felt totally natural.

    I hope this comment has freaked you out 😀

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