How do you guys game with your 60%?

[combataran]

Had a poker II a few months back. Couldn't play jack sh*t with it. Dark souls was horrible, had to remap everything, racing games were a nightmare, and I missed the arrow cluster terribly. The only games that felt fine were FPSs and Dota 2/Starcraft 2. How did you guys manage to game with yours? Love the form factor, though. Looks neater than full size, marginally better than TKLs IMO.

[osi]

No quarms with gaming on my poker II!

[Razor Lotus]

I use a 60% to play games on but I only play dota 2, occasionally starcraft 2 and that's it.

Not sure if you would consider me a gamer but I game pretty hard on it. I don't play FPS games.

I guess for dota 2 it works well for me. I don't use the standard QWER layout and for dota, I just change the Function keys to the number ones as I use different hotkeys for my items.

I know some people use the numbers for their items and they use the f1 and all those for other stuff and I'm not sure how to really help you there. The only real need for me to press the f-keys during dota is to pause or unpause. But cause I use a pure, Fn+9 isn't that hard and since we're pausing i don't mind pressing 2 keys for the f9.

I do see the problems with other games requiring extensive use of function keys, extra macros and all that though. 60% is good enough for me for dota and cause dota is the only game i pretty much play nowadays I'd say it's alright

[MAR82]

I just have to ask, why did you get a Poker 2 if you knew it would also be used of gaming? 
I do a lot of gaming and I want to get a Poker 2 too (they look so cute), but I know it will only be for typing and not to game with. For gaming I got a G710+ and thinking of getting a Ergodox.
The way I look at is; Every keyboard suits a need, and there is a keyboard for every type of need.

[lwls]

I use a controller for almost all gaming. Most games these days are compatible with controller inputs, so I have no problem. I think most controllers require some sort of driver, or "hack" (DS3), but I've heard that the DS4 is quite nice for PC. Though I do see how ARMA would be a problem.

Remember, you can lock the FN-arrows by FN+space on a Poker.

btw Dark Souls is terrible with a keyboard either way...

[combataran]

I just have to ask, why did you get a Poker 2 if you knew it would also be used of gaming? 
I do a lot of gaming and I want to get a Poker 2 too (they look so cute), but I know it will only be for typing and not to game with. For gaming I got a G710+ and thinking of getting a Ergodox.
The way I look at is; Every keyboard suits a need, and there is a keyboard for every type of need.

it was pretty much an impulse buy. A good deal popped up and I just had to have it, even managed to get it off my hands wihin the week too. I have been thinking of getting a Duck Eagle, so this time Ill ask around before buying my next board.

[CPTBadAss]

There are games that use the arrow cluster? I've not played a game in a long time that used that. Function keys I can understand, but not the arrow cluster.

[oscillik]

put quite simply - I don't.

I have an Orbweaver Stealth that is dedicated for gaming.

Old potato

[combataran]

There are games that use the arrow cluster? I've not played a game in a long time that used that. Function keys I can understand, but not the arrow cluster.

Why yes, personally I use w and s for acceleration and reverse in racing games, so the arrow cluster is for steering. The same goes for flight sims and a little BF4. Its a habit from using full size keyboards.

[CPTBadAss]

Hm, I don't play a lot of racing games but I've played BL2 and Saints Row 3 with a mouse/keyboard (Pure) and controller. Both games have driving in them and I never touched the arrow cluster.

And you move with the arrow cluster in BF4?? How do you aim and shoot then?

[Computer-Lab in Basement]

put quite simply - I don't.

Same, I usually only game on my YOTD. Only ever gamed once on my Poker II, but as the OP said, FPSs aren't all that bad on a 60%, so it was comparable to gaming on the YOTD.

[exitfire401]

I had no problems playing 99% of games with my Pure when I had it. Dark souls just isn't made for mouse+keyboard.

[epzy]

It's really annoying for me to play World of Warcraft (I just started to play casually again 1 week ago, lulz) with my HHKB Pro 2. I have over 100 binds in that game, and the lack of F-keys is severely hurting my ability to play the game at a good level. Although, for every other game I own I can game perfectly fine on any of my 60% keyboards: League of Legends, CS:GO, Bioshock, Metal Gear Rising: Vengeance, Just Cause 2, Hitman: Absolution, Assassin's Creed (3/4) etc etc. Basically I wouldn't want to only have a 60% keyboard if I played games like Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft which requires F-keys pretty much.

[MAR82]

I just have to ask, why did you get a Poker 2 if you knew it would also be used of gaming? 
I do a lot of gaming and I want to get a Poker 2 too (they look so cute), but I know it will only be for typing and not to game with. For gaming I got a G710+ and thinking of getting a Ergodox.
The way I look at is; Every keyboard suits a need, and there is a keyboard for every type of need.

it was pretty much an impulse buy. A good deal popped up and I just had to have it, even managed to get it off my hands wihin the week too. I have been thinking of getting a Duck Eagle, so this time Ill ask around before buying my next board.

I know what that can be like 

Hm, I don't play a lot of racing games but I've played BL2 and Saints Row 3 with a mouse/keyboard (Pure) and controller. Both games have driving in them and I never touched the arrow cluster.

And you move with the arrow cluster in BF4?? How do you aim and shoot then?

I do a lot of gaming, and I too don't really see the arrow keys being used too much other than simple games like Super Meat Boy and games like that. But I think it's more that he's gotten use to using them (rebinding) for his needs, and I can understand that since I game with my right hand on my numpad and my thumb on the arrows (left hand is for mouse)

[combataran]

I do a lot of gaming, and I too don't really see the arrow keys being used too much other than simple games like Super Meat Boy and games like that. But I think it's more that he's gotten use to using them (rebinding) for his needs, and I can understand that since I game with my right hand on my numpad and my thumb on the arrows (left hand is for mouse)

I also play simple games as well, they kill off small chunks of time really well.

Hm, I don't play a lot of racing games but I've played BL2 and Saints Row 3 with a mouse/keyboard (Pure) and controller. Both games have driving in them and I never touched the arrow cluster.

And you move with the arrow cluster in BF4?? How do you aim and shoot then?

Arrowcluster use in BF4 is for vehicular controls. Mainly jets and helos. It's mostly out of habit, the arrow cluster use, and I surf with them as well. Plus I really don't see the need for 2 keyboards on the desk at one time. Kinda distracting for me.

[Yslen]

I can't think of any games I play which require keys a 60% board doesn't have, at least not regularly or in a time critical fashion. It's only the F-row and the nav block and the arrow keys. Maybe older games used the arrow keys, but you can remap those either on the board (Poker II) or in the game. Modern strategy games (e.g. Total War) use WASD for camera movement, I think.

As for racing games, a controller is an indispensable part of that experience, in my opinion.

[ironic moustache]

I've had my Poker 2 for a good few weeks now and the only slight inconvenience I've found is having to remember to press Fn when I want to quicksave/quickload. Well, that and Deus Ex, but then Deus Ex's default bindings are pretty horrible/horribly outdated anyway.

I don't play MMOs or RTSes, and tend to gravitate towards single-player FPSes (with the odd game of Quake Live/etc here and there) and games I can play with mouse in one hand and beer in another (in other words: CRPGs), and I use a controller for anything action-y that doesn't need the mouse+keyboard combo (platformers, racing games, that sort of thing), so yeah, for my tastes the Poker 2 has been pretty much perfect and trouble-free.

[oscillik]

arrow cluster keys are used quite a lot by indie developers. Sometimes they allow keys to be rebound, sometimes not.

But since indie gaming is going through a bit of a renaissance on the PC, it's definitely something to consider when choosing a keyboard for your system - as a gamer that doesn't just play AAA titles, it's definitely a consideration for me.

[mil0ck]

I only play games every now and then, and when I do its usually indie games. When I need arrow keys in the game or alike I just write a script in KeyMap4MacBook (basically the OSX verison of AHK).

Recently I wrote this for a game called The Binding of Isaac, where I simply needed the arrow keys available. What this does is that it changes the character P to 'arrow up', Ö to 'arrow down', L to 'arrow left' and Ä to 'arrow right' ONLY when I'm in the program (I'm using a swedish ISO layout). Pretty simple and I definitely prefer doing things like this to having a larger keyboard. And yes, the full application name for this game is seriously "com.yourcompany.mdm_flash_player".

Code: [Select]

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root>
    <appdef>
<appname>The Binding Of Isaac</appname>
<equal>com.yourcompany.mdm_flash_player</equal>
    </appdef>

    <item>
<name>Gain Arrow Cluster in TBoI</name>
<identifier>private.appdef</identifier>
<only>The Binding Of Isaac</only>
<autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::P, KeyCode::CURSOR_UP </autogen>
    <autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::GERMAN_O_UMLAUT, KeyCode::CURSOR_DOWN</autogen>
<autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::L, KeyCode::CURSOR_LEFT </autogen>
<autogen>__KeyToKey__ KeyCode::GERMAN_A_UMLAUT, KeyCode::CURSOR_RIGHT</autogen>
    </item>

</root>

[kohi]

There are games that use the arrow cluster? I've not played a game in a long time that used that. Function keys I can understand, but not the arrow cluster.

tetris )

[Bucake]

should've thought of that before you bought it

i don't have issues with my pure pro. i bought it (rather than the poker 2) because i use the arrow keys quite frequently.
i do prefer the arrow keys being further apart from the rest of the keyboard (like with a TKL/fullsized) for when i play a game like Fez - where both hands use the keyboard.
for purposes like this, i want to get a seperate numpad. but i ran into the issue where the numpad didn't send the correct codes.

anyway, you might like the Race 2 for example, which does have the F-row.
personally i really can't do without a compact keyboard for FPS games. i keep my hands rather close together when i play them, and i use a fairly big area for my mouse.

[IvanIvanovich]

I can't think of a single game I have played since I started using 60% for my primary keyboard that gave me any major issue that I wasn't able to overcome in some way... like manual cfg edit to remap. Even in some driving games I have no problem, as I have found mouse steer hidden cfg options or mod/hacks for several. I'm sure not everyone would like using that but it works for me. I generally don't play MMO or RTS genres. Some RPG type games have loads of keybinds... but I seldom even bother to try and remember them and typically just take the slight performance delay of clicking icons to do stuff instead. Mostly play shooter, survival horror, adventure, action types of games so seldom need to move my left hand for anything not on the default layer or take my right off the mouse for any reason.
How suitable 60% is for gaming definitely depends on which genres you play primarily, and if you like to have some 'odd' kinds of keybinds that would make a problem for you.

[Pinder]

Whats wrong with the poker for you? Every game i play (skyrim, counter strike, occasionaly an mmo like wow, and just alot of games) i've never had any problems with the 60% layout (However it is abit annoying when im coding and i can't easilyl navigate with the arrow keys, but its not that hard to hold down a function button

[ajx]

60 size is fine by me.
Never hard issue with
All necessary key functions have been binded on mice which has over 10 programmable buttons.
I am smart guy lol

[thestage]

I play LoL, FPS, and random indie stuff on my Poker.  Can't play Starcraft without the function keys, but that's about it.

[dorkvader]

I currently game on my LH ergodox and it's great!

My fav 60% (pure) has arrowkeys and I used to use it sometimes to game.

[rowdy]

I game on HHKB without any problems.

Except for function keys in some games.  Generally that is only quick save and quick load though, but one games uses F1 and F2 to select melee and ranged weapons, which is a bit awkward.

[combataran]

...that gave me any major issue that I wasn't able to overcome in some way... like manual cfg edit to remap.

This. It's a pain in the ass to have multiple configs for different games at any given time.

Whats wrong with the poker for you? Every game i play (skyrim, counter strike, occasionaly an mmo like wow, and just alot of games) i've never had any problems with the 60% layout (However it is abit annoying when im coding and i can't easilyl navigate with the arrow keys, but its not that hard to hold down a function button

Needing function layers to access certain keys. It just ain't fast enough having to hold down an extra key. I play Skyrim, CSGO, no MMOs atm, but yeah, pretty much the top 10 Steam's most played list. Plus I'm already used to navigating pages with arrow keys.

60 size is fine by me.
Never hard issue with
All necessary key functions have been binded on mice which has over 10 programmable buttons.
I am smart guy lol

Razer Naga or Logitech G600?

I game on HHKB without any problems.

Except for function keys in some games.  Generally that is only quick save and quick load though, but one games uses F1 and F2 to select melee and ranged weapons, which is a bit awkward.

This again. It's the minor annoyances/awkwardness that makes everything not-fun anymore.

Maybe 60% boards and I are just not meant to be. 
Guess I should just give up on getting the Duck Viper/Eagle.

[pichu23]

For DotA my poker is fine. Just that I bind my courier to f2. So when I use the poker to play, I'll just click with my mouse instead. Or fn+2 :3

[thesentinel]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

[combataran]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

Don't forget racing and flight sims.

[thesentinel]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

Don't forget racing and flight sims.

Seems like the kinda thing you'd use a 360 controller for. But if you do want to use a keyboard, that's true.

[Pacifist]

if you really need arrows then go for pure pro or 75% board

[Oobly]

if you really need arrows then go for pure pro or 75% board

Or a KBT Pure. Can simply toggle the right modifiers into an arrow cluster. This is the biggest reason for me prefering my Pure over a Poker 2 right now.

I game a little on my Pure, mostly MMORPG and some FPS. I don't find it any harder than using a TKL, but I guess that's because I never use the F keys when gaming. If you play a lot of RTS games, I suspect you'll be most comfortable on a TKL.

My prefered gaming board, however, is my ergonomic DIY custom. It's a bit like a gamepad in terms of layout. Absolutely rocks for the genres I play.

[feizor]

I use the dip switch on my poker to make capslock into fn, then just use that to press f1 f2 etc. The program layer also helps. I can't imagine I need anymore more for any of the games I play.

[noisyturtle]

I have no issue gaming on my Pure. Just turn on the arrow keys  function, which are rarely needed for most modern titles nowadays anyway. You only need a handful of keys to play a MOBA game anyway, only RTS and sim games would typically use tons of keymapping.

[ajx]

60 size is fine by me.
Never hard issue with
All necessary key functions have been binded on mice which has over 10 programmable buttons.
I am smart guy lol

Razer Naga or Logitech G600?

G700, you could use Naga or similar mice for more programmable buttons according to what type of game you ve playing
60% size suits perfect for fps games
A mice with more programmable buttons will coverage your need of functions for almost every type of games, MMO and rts excluded

[combataran]

G700, you could use Naga or similar mice for more programmable buttons according to what type of game you ve playing
60% size suits perfect for fps games
A mice with more programmable buttons will coverage your need of functions for almost every type of games, MMO and rts excluded

Good idea. I do have an extra G600 lying around unused(won from a competition), might try it out with Dark Souls 2 later on.

I have no issue gaming on my Pure. Just turn on the arrow keys  function, which are rarely needed for most modern titles nowadays anyway. You only need a handful of keys to play a MOBA game anyway, only RTS and sim games would typically use tons of keymapping.

No Pures where I'm from. It's really rare to even see a Poker II pop up on the local mkb market.

I use the dip switch on my poker to make capslock into fn, then just use that to press f1 f2 etc. The program layer also helps. I can't imagine I need anymore more for any of the games I play.

I friggin hate the function layers on the Poker II. Gave me nightmares for days.

if you really need arrows then go for pure pro or 75% board

Or a KBT Pure. Can simply toggle the right modifiers into an arrow cluster. This is the biggest reason for me prefering my Pure over a Poker 2 right now.

I game a little on my Pure, mostly MMORPG and some FPS. I don't find it any harder than using a TKL, but I guess that's because I never use the F keys when gaming. If you play a lot of RTS games, I suspect you'll be most comfortable on a TKL.

My prefered gaming board, however, is my ergonomic DIY custom. It's a bit like a gamepad in terms of layout. Absolutely rocks for the genres I play.

That's why I'm using a TKL right now. I suppose I really do need a gamepad for games that need it? Then I could sell my current RF and get the Duck Viper/Eagle when the GB goes live.

[ajx]

Just find how many key functions you might need for you own games and find proper mice for that
Personally Naga like mice its too much, that s why i choose G700
Assigning functions on mice buttons are oftent more useful than keyboard (e.g while moving you can still launch those functions, on keyboard, if you need to go on opposite key of your WASD, you ll waste time and stop moving)

[combataran]

Assigning functions on mice buttons are oftent more useful than keyboard (e.g while moving you can still launch those functions, on keyboard, if you need to go on opposite key of your WASD, you ll waste time and stop moving)

The same could be said for the mouse as well. Imagine having to click on precise targets(sc2 or csgo) while having to navigate the pad on the mouse. It's a PITA too.

[ajx]

i tried on none RTS games, cant speak about it, i barely know how SC2 gameplay is 
mainly in fps/tps/action games, you should grab items quicker if you assign on keyboard
i also assigned scoreboard on my mice buttons, i could move while looking it (it works on TAB as well but menus are often assigned on F1, F2 etc, could be real issue on Poker like keyboard)
I remember on fps, i have been killed many times because of looking scoreboard lol
there are more pros than cons imo
but its hard to break the habit
nonetheless, on 60% size you do not get really much choice.
 

[Pinder]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

Don't forget racing and flight sims.

who plays racing games and flight sims with a keyboard?
and if you do, why?

[combataran]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

Don't forget racing and flight sims.

who plays racing games and flight sims with a keyboard?
and if you do, why?

I do, and because I don't have, and don't plan to buy a gamepad. Personal preference, really.

[Pinder]

tons of dota2/LoL players talking here... I feel like the only genre of games that 60% effects is RTS.

Don't forget racing and flight sims.

who plays racing games and flight sims with a keyboard?
and if you do, why?

I do, and because I don't have, and don't plan to buy a gamepad. Personal preference, really.

have you ever thought of buying a wheel or a joystick?
even a cheap £30 one must be much much better than a keyboard?

oh well, everyone has there own opinion

[False_Dmitry_II]

I couldn't imagine playing things like Sonic Generations, or even Mirror's Edge on keyboard.

[Altis]

I use my Apple Aluminum 60% for gaming mostly. I prefer its form factor for gaming as I can move it and place it easily in just the right spot for gaming, as the keyboard is only used by one hand. For CS:GO, for example, I tend to have it pretty far to the left of me.

[foxer]

I couldn't imagine playing things like Sonic Generations, or even Mirror's Edge on keyboard.

Mirror's Edge is so much better on a keyboard and mouse.

[Oobly]

...

That's why I'm using a TKL right now. I suppose I really do need a gamepad for games that need it? Then I could sell my current RF and get the Duck Viper/Eagle when the GB goes live.

Have you considered a 75% board like a Keycool 84 (or KBT Race 2 or Noppoo Choc Mini)? The Keycool has mostly standard keycaps except for the 1.75x right shift (like my Pure), but the other 2 have weird layouts which are very hard to find keycaps for. They have dedicated arrow keys and F keys, but they're closer to the alpha keys, so they're quicker to hit when you get used to the layout. Great for gaming, or so I have heard.

I'm very happy with my Pure, as I said, but if you need those F keys.... It's inconvenient to hit Fn to get the F keys if you want to switch focus quickly in a fast-paced RTS battle.

With my DIY custom board (the one in my avatar) I use thumb keys to change layers (I have 4 of them, accessible with the two upper thumb buttons), so I can bind up to 60 different actions without having to move my hand.    Oh yes, plus I have Tab, Backspace, Esc, Home, End, PgUp and PgDn all on the left hand. Did I mention that it rocks for gaming?   

[Binge]

* Binge programs his 60% keyboards with extra gaming layers.

dats it bruh

[False_Dmitry_II]

I couldn't imagine playing things like Sonic Generations, or even Mirror's Edge on keyboard.

Mirror's Edge is so much better on a keyboard and mouse.

That's a claim my friend made, and he further insisted that it was faster. So I wagered I'd beat him, so we both were sitting next to each other on a couch him on his laptop and me on the desktop I had brought over, and launched the game at the same time. I won every level we played. I turned slower than he could of course, but I could move better.