Gaming on HHKB

[goobus]

So I just got my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S yesterday, and actually this is being typed on it.  I have to say, I love the feeling of the keys (it feels much more solid than a Realforce) and this thing is a joy to use.

I just tried playing a few games of SC2 and omg I could NOT stand it.  A few thousand games with a normal layout and having Ctrl in the bottom left is pretty second nature by now.  I also hate not having the F keys.

I also played some BF4 and could not play properly because Ctrl where Caps Lock used to be just doesn't seem right.

It's weird because for normal typing like copying and pasting it's completely fine but when I play games it seems like my reptilian brain takes over and my pinky just goes down there to press Control.

So, question for you guys who have HHKBs: I want to hear your stories of how you got over it, or did you end up having to swap to a normal layout when you game?

[dustinhxc]

Im interested to hear peoples opinions on this.. I play alot of games on Steam and what have you. I have a full size Rosewill but would love to get a 60% but not sure about Gaming..

[Michael]

I adapted to the HHKB layout - so gaming isn't an issue once you get used to it. Your muscle memory will need to adapt, of course.


At least for me, it's just second nature to pinky tap the Fn key to access the F keys. And I also use a Realforce numberpad for when I really need dedicated arrows.

[tp4tissue]

So I just got my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S yesterday, and actually this is being typed on it.  I have to say, I love the feeling of the keys (it feels much more solid than a Realforce) and this thing is a joy to use.

I just tried playing a few games of SC2 and omg I could NOT stand it.  A few thousand games with a normal layout and having Ctrl in the bottom left is pretty second nature by now.  I also hate not having the F keys.

I also played some BF4 and could not play properly because Ctrl where Caps Lock used to be just doesn't seem right.

It's weird because for normal typing like copying and pasting it's completely fine but when I play games it seems like my reptilian brain takes over and my pinky just goes down there to press Control.

So, question for you guys who have HHKBs: I want to hear your stories of how you got over it, or did you end up having to swap to a normal layout when you game?

for SC2, it's going to be a huge transition.. if you want to replace the F keys... that's tough.. if at all possible.

[flaming_june]

Yeah basically impossible for sc2. 

All depends on the game.  For fps like CS I liked using my hhkb, but for sc 2 or other 3rd person games it just won't do.

[terran5992]

Yup , feels kinda awkard at first , but after that i adapted to the layout

[ZeodoHokill]

The position of ctrl key is the most concern for hhkb with gaming for me

[Polymer]

I don't game on Topres in general...It just feels better to use Cherrys...

Same with 60% boards...there is just too much missing to use it for everything I'd want to use it for...

I do like the CTRL spot better than the normal spot..but yeah, for games sometimes this just doesn't work out right. 

Basically, I don't use it for games..either Topre or 60%..it just doesn't flow properly...

[terran5992]

The position of ctrl key is the most concern for hhkb with gaming for me

Its actually kinda better for gaming , but requires a bit of practice

[PadawanGeek]

I'm lazy in a way, I have both my HHKB 2 and a Ducky Shine 2 78Version hooked up to my main rig, when I play games that require the use of the 'Ctrl' key, I resort to the Ducky.....

[Moosecraft]

Tbh I've used mine for about an hour and its fine

[inteli722]

The position of ctrl key is the most concern for hhkb with gaming for me

Its actually kinda better for gaming , but requires a bit of practice

Don't own an HHKB, but I do play games with that Control position (mostly FPS, but a little RTS as well), and I really do prefer it. Especially since I play a lot of FPS games, having crouch right there instead of a real pinky stretch is a boon. If you can adapt to it, I would highly recommend switching to it.

[AKIMbO]

Does no one else remap crouch to a mouse button like I do? 

[Puddsy]

Does no one else remap crouch to a mouse button like I do?

I bind it to F, is that close enough?

[Emospence]

So I just got my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S yesterday, and actually this is being typed on it.  I have to say, I love the feeling of the keys (it feels much more solid than a Realforce) and this thing is a joy to use.

Srsly? :/

[AKIMbO]

Does no one else remap crouch to a mouse button like I do?

I bind it to F, is that close enough?

Close enough for government work.

[goobus]

So I just got my HHKB Pro 2 Type-S yesterday, and actually this is being typed on it.  I have to say, I love the feeling of the keys (it feels much more solid than a Realforce) and this thing is a joy to use.

Srsly? :/

Yeah man.  The case doesn't vibrate, the keys don't wobble as much as they do in my 104UB.  I think this is probably due to whatever they do to silence it.

Don't think I can handle gaming on an HHKB T_T

[rowdy]

Ctrl is for crouching, yes?

I've been using Shift to crouch on all games and all keyboards for years, so HHKB is no different to me

[jwaz]

I've used control as caps long before I had the HHKB and gaming on it is fine as long as you don't require the F Keys.

[ctbear]

Sometimes you just need another keyboard for another purpose. HHKB is not the most ideal for gaming.

[PointyFox]

The position of ctrl key is the most concern for hhkb with gaming for me

Its actually kinda better for gaming , but requires a bit of practice

Don't own an HHKB, but I do play games with that Control position (mostly FPS, but a little RTS as well), and I really do prefer it. Especially since I play a lot of FPS games, having crouch right there instead of a real pinky stretch is a boon. If you can adapt to it, I would highly recommend switching to it.

Protip:  Remap crouch to 'C'.

[Jack]

I play AssaultCube (and Sauerbraten and a bit of Urban Terror) with an HHKB. Those first two are kind of fast/twitchy and it all works out okay as far as the keyswitches go; I can repeat presses and such as well as I need to. The layout doesn't really affect those games much. Mostly it's just ESDF, space to jump, A to crouch, and the mouse. Control is just the scoreboard and the F-keys are radio binds so those are nothing I have to access under immediate pressure.

In any case I adapted to the layout and it's now trivial to do a stretch across the keyboard to hit whatever F-key I need.

I'm not sure how well this all would work for some more complex or serious-business games like SC2 or whatever MMOs are popular these days, but there's the basic FPS accounted for anyway.

[rowdy]

Also: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_JJ

[goobus]

I'm able to play SC2 on a RF perfectly fine - it's just the HHKB layout that's causing me troubles TT

It's just frustrating because it's such a beautiful board, I'd like to use it for EVERYTHING.  But seems like that is an unrealistic wish.

[inteli722]

The position of ctrl key is the most concern for hhkb with gaming for me

Its actually kinda better for gaming , but requires a bit of practice

Don't own an HHKB, but I do play games with that Control position (mostly FPS, but a little RTS as well), and I really do prefer it. Especially since I play a lot of FPS games, having crouch right there instead of a real pinky stretch is a boon. If you can adapt to it, I would highly recommend switching to it.

Protip:  Remap crouch to 'C'.

Can't. Hate that position, especially because I have to move my index finger, which means I can't airstrafe all that well in TF2.

[catnipz0098]

Why is the layout different from other keyboards without function keys? Why can't they include the regular control key everybody is used to?

[tuxsavvy]

Why is the layout different from other keyboards without function keys? Why can't they include the regular control key everybody is used to?

It was mainly designed for those who have issues with desk space. Also it was designed to with serious consideration for those who only need certain sets of keys.

In other words HHKB was mainly designed for minimalism.

[catnipz0098]

Why is the layout different from other keyboards without function keys? Why can't they include the regular control key everybody is used to?

It was mainly designed for those who have issues with desk space. Also it was designed to with serious consideration for those who only need certain sets of keys.

In other words HHKB was mainly designed for minimalism.

But why not include the control buttons? It seems like we all need them

[inteli722]

Why is the layout different from other keyboards without function keys? Why can't they include the regular control key everybody is used to?

It was mainly designed for those who have issues with desk space. Also it was designed to with serious consideration for those who only need certain sets of keys.

In other words HHKB was mainly designed for minimalism.

But why not include the control buttons? It seems like we all need them

Because it forces you to use a superior Control position. Just try it. I haven't regretted doing it.

[AKmalamute]

Because it forces you to use a superior Control position. Just try it. I haven't regretted doing it.

I'm a convert. Partly because I absolutely never use caps lock for anything so it's a wasted key ... and partly because Inteli is right. That's a better place for the control-key.

[inteli722]

Because it forces you to use a superior Control position. Just try it. I haven't regretted doing it.

I'm a convert. Partly because I absolutely never use caps lock for anything so it's a wasted key ... and partly because Inteli is right. That's a better place for the control-key.

I'm waiting for a argument that it's worse for gaming somehow...

It's not. I play games with it just fine.

[Polymer]

Because it forces you to use a superior Control position. Just try it. I haven't regretted doing it.

I'm a convert. Partly because I absolutely never use caps lock for anything so it's a wasted key ... and partly because Inteli is right. That's a better place for the control-key.

I'm waiting for a argument that it's worse for gaming somehow...

It's not. I play games with it just fine.

If it works for you that is all that matters...it doesn't matter what issues anyone else has.

I love the HHKB...I really dislike Topre for gaming (not just the HHKB, as a general statement, I dislike using Topre for gaming). 

For some games, people will need keys that aren't accessible (F keys for example) easily.  If you don't play those games, that is not an issue.  If you do, they would be....I suppose you could get used to FN+1..but why force the square peg into the round hole?

[mljs54]

I have actually been pondering checking out a HHKB, and it would be paired with a rig on which I game on a lot.  I can't really see the harm in the layout if you don't actively use the F keys.  Re-mapping your ctrl to caps (both on the KB and in your brain circuitery) is one of the best things you can do.  It is much more easily accessibly for fluid WASD crouching once you get used to it (takes a bit of time but worth it).

My main concern with the HHKB is:
- Heavy Excel use.  All of the navigational key shortcuts use some combination of control, shift, arrows, and home/end/page up/page down.  Seems like I will need to hold down function all the time to navigate around, and that may take some time to get used to.
- Going from a traditional layout (RF) after a 8-10 hour workday to a HHKB at home.  Seems like this would greatly steepen the muscle memory learning curve.  Anyone else have this issue when switching?

[Moosecraft]

You could get a programmable numpad and have it do a bunch of stuffs 

[rowdy]

I have actually been pondering checking out a HHKB, and it would be paired with a rig on which I game on a lot.  I can't really see the harm in the layout if you don't actively use the F keys.  Re-mapping your ctrl to caps (both on the KB and in your brain circuitery) is one of the best things you can do.  It is much more easily accessibly for fluid WASD crouching once you get used to it (takes a bit of time but worth it).

My main concern with the HHKB is:
- Heavy Excel use.  All of the navigational key shortcuts use some combination of control, shift, arrows, and home/end/page up/page down.  Seems like I will need to hold down function all the time to navigate around, and that may take some time to get used to.
- Going from a traditional layout (RF) after a 8-10 hour workday to a HHKB at home.  Seems like this would greatly steepen the muscle memory learning curve.  Anyone else have this issue when switching?

Yes and yes.  Using TKL at work all day and then HHKB at home in the evenings does not help my learning the HHKB layout.  I am getting better, but it is taking far longer than I would like.

Couple that with me switching my boards around at home occasionally too, and I am wondering whether I will truely ever get used to HHKB layout.

[lonedruid]

Aigoo why would u play sc2 on a hhkb out of all kbs. I dont play sc 2 before but I heard sc 2 has high entry skill curve cuz it needs a lot of macro thus more keys. My fren if u want play sc 2 corsair k70 or steelseries apex or logitech 180 os the way to go. But I feel u can use hhkb to play most other popular games. But a big no for wow and sc2

[Moosecraft]

Tbh I don't think that f-keys and such are needed for sc2. I didn't use them when I played and I reached master league.

[terran5992]

Tbh I don't think that f-keys and such are needed for sc2. I didn't use them when I played and I reached master league.

TBH i dont think the Function keys are used very much at all

[lonedruid]

Sorry. Actually I went to check out  sc2 pro match. They dont use macro keys those 'g' keys on logitech and corsair 95. Narnina guy use razor deathstalker while life use something I can't see. So yea u could play sc2  on hhkb. Not sure about other games like wow or diablo.

[atlas3686]

Tbh I don't think that f-keys and such are needed for sc2. I didn't use them when I played and I reached master league.

I've got to agree I don't use them much at all and I have played quite a lot of sc2.