Southpaws and controller design

[Limewater]

Fastbilly1's comment in the archery thread reminded me of something I've wondered about for awhile.

Like many people, I am left-handed. I think there are a couple of exceptions, but in general it appears that video games have relied on using one's left hand to control direction and one's right hand to press buttons.

This has always puzzled me, particularly for older games. It strikes me that the majority of earlier games involved more complicated movements by the left hand, while the right hand was relegated to mashing the same one or two buttons over and over again. This was great for me, having more dexterity in my left hand. But, the vast majority of people are right-handed, so it seems to me that this play scheme must have been designed with right-handed people in mind.

So, does anyone who knows more about controllers care to explain this to me? Why is having the direction control on the left deemed preferable to right-handed players?


Similarly, if you are left-handed and desire or own a left-handed controller, what benefit do you see to having the direction control in your right hand?


I have similar issues about guitars. When it was originally invented, using the left hand as a fretting hand made a lot of sense. However, in the more modern (or 80's) days of shredding speed metal, why would one want to use his dominant hand for the relatively simpler picking task? I ask this, again, as a lefty who plays a right-handed guitar.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Fastbilly1's comment in the archery thread reminded me of something I've wondered about for awhile.

Like many people, I am left-handed. I think there are a couple of exceptions, but in general it appears that video games have relied on using one's left hand to control direction and one's right hand to press buttons.

This has always puzzled me, particularly for older games. It strikes me that the majority of earlier games involved more complicated movements by the left hand, while the right hand was relegated to mashing the same one or two buttons over and over again. This was great for me, having more dexterity in my left hand. But, the vast majority of people are right-handed, so it seems to me that this play scheme must have been designed with right-handed people in mind.

So, does anyone who knows more about controllers care to explain this to me? Why is having the direction control on the left deemed preferable to right-handed players?


Similarly, if you are left-handed and desire or own a left-handed controller, what benefit do you see to having the direction control in your right hand?


I have similar issues about guitars. When it was originally invented, using the left hand as a fretting hand made a lot of sense. However, in the more modern (or 80's) days of shredding speed metal, why would one want to use his dominant hand for the relatively simpler picking task? I ask this, again, as a lefty who plays a right-handed guitar.

I'm a lefty that does everything but writing right handed. I'm fine with controllers and guitar right handed, I don't really prefer it either way though, I can play games just as well in a southpaw configuration (I can't with guitar, that's just a little to hard )

[Limewater]

(I can't with guitar, that's just a little to hard )

Why is it hard? Doesn't fretting take a lot more dexterity than picking? Or was that a joke that went over my head?

[Hobie-wan]

There were 80s arcade games which you moved with the right and fired with the left.

Tempest and Centipede.

Some were ambidextrous like Dig Dug and Moon Patrol.

The SMS stick was buttons on the left. Heck, 2600 sticks had the button on the left.

As for guitars, Hendrix and Dick Dale played right handed guitars the 'wrong' way.

*disclaimer, I am not left handed, but my mother is

[fastbilly1]

Gauntlet is always my example of right handed controls.

I am a lefty and love the fact that minute control must be handled by my left hand in many/most games. However I run into issues with console FPS... This all goes back to games needing remapable controls. If I want to move with my right trigger, I should be able to!

[Reverend]

I too am a lefty. I love the fact that the control pad/stick is made for the left hand!

[RyaNtheSlayA]

(I can't with guitar, that's just a little to hard )

Why is it hard? Doesn't fretting take a lot more dexterity than picking? Or was that a joke that went over my head?

My left hand is more dexterous, my right is stronger.

[Lokkenjawnz]

(I can't with guitar, that's just a little to hard )

Why is it hard? Doesn't fretting take a lot more dexterity than picking? Or was that a joke that went over my head?

My left hand is more dexterous, my right is stronger.

That's exactly what I was going to say. Dexterity can be learned to a certain extent (fingering on a guitar, movement on a controller, etc.) but strength is more difficult to build up, especially in your fingers/hand. I'm right handed and I play guitar, and I really can't fret with my right hand, even though it's my dominant hand. Likewise, I can't strum a guitar with my left hand both because of dexterity and strength.

It's the same thing with videogames. Most videogame conventions come from arcade cabinet design (I think so anyway), and think about it: mashing the fire button in a shmup for instance would be a real pain with your non-dominant hand.

And on that note, I'm going to go play some DonPachi in MAME. No better way to test my dexterity and strength!

[MrPopo]

I had actually asked a coworker who plays guitar a similar question. Why do right dominant people use their left hand for fretting? My only guitar experience is fake plastic instruments, so in my mind it seems that it would make more sense to use your dominant hand to fret, as it seemed to be a more complicated task. But according to him the picking is a more involved task than it seems at first and you also need strength. Plus, think of it this way. In general your picking hand will end up going as fast or faster than the fretting hand, as you hold the same position while playing multiple notes with your picking hand.

I think it's similar in video games. Many games do not require especially precise movements with your left hand; instead they are more about your reaction speed on the action buttons. Eventually you just have the left hand cement as the d-pad hand through convention. Trying to play with my right hand controlling movement is awkward.

[Limewater]

That's exactly what I was going to say. Dexterity can be learned to a certain extent (fingering on a guitar, movement on a controller, etc.) but strength is more difficult to build up, especially in your fingers/hand. I'm right handed and I play guitar, and I really can't fret with my right hand, even though it's my dominant hand. Likewise, I can't strum a guitar with my left hand both because of dexterity and strength.

Are most people weaker in their dominant hand? My left hand is both stronger and more dexterous.

However, in my experience, it is easier to build strength than dexterity.

It's the same thing with videogames. Most videogame conventions come from arcade cabinet design (I think so anyway), and think about it: mashing the fire button in a shmup for instance would be a real pain with your non-dominant hand.

I've played shmups using my non-dominant hand for the fire button my whole life. I've never known any other way, and it doesn't seem like a pain to me.