What in the hell were they thinking..

[BeerHunter 0]

Just wondering if the programmer that dreamt up the control structure and then said it could be "easily modified" had just found out he was being fired and wanted to get even.

For some ungodly reason they assigned 2 or 3 keys to the same command and what should be a simple process of deleting the default assignment and assigning the key you want ends up being a hunt and seek process for every almost every damn change you want to make..and sometimes they don't even take.

So frustrating I've been tempted to just uninstall the damn thing and wait for something better to come along.

Just pissed....

[dayglow 2]

most games don't offer the complexity and depth of control that AmA provides. It's hard to get that and keep it simple as well. I think they did a decent job and I had to only change a few key assignments.

I like the fact that you can have multiple commands on the same key and that hitting twice quickly and holding it longer have a different effect than just pressing it.

Look at my right mouse button. Tap it and it brings up the iron sights. Hold it down and I hold my breath for aiming and/or call out targets. I could set it up so a quick double tap does something else as well.

[dmitri 0]

Actually, I think few games are as versatile as ArmA - trackIR, toggle, double click, easily setting up alt\ctrl combinations.

Quote[/b] ]So frustrating I've been tempted to just uninstall the damn thing and wait for something better to come along.

Just pissed....

Used to gamepads?

[malick 0]

The controls and specially the settings can be quite frustrating. Once you find a suitable setting, it's a real pleasure !

Maybe, keyboards and mouse are not meant for you, try pads (console-like controls) or joysticks, maybe ?

Malick

[ck-claw 1]

I dont see the problem with it?

It's the same as ofp to a degree but with extra double taps etc!

More control over your character!

Admittedly takes a bit to get used to but worth it in the end

[tj72 0]

I found that re- using the LEAN key (I have as Z X for Lft Rt lean) as also the evasive roll for double tap works great. So if Im prone the same keys I use to lean also do the evasive roll since the player does nothing for the evasive L R moves when non proned. This has saved me a few times since your hard to see when prone in the grass and it gets you out of the seen position on the ground very fast. I hear the bullets hitting right next to me all the time and I can almost hear the other guy cursing in frustration. Before I had them mapped to seperate keys and I could never get to them in time which = death.

The reload direction lock has killed me so many times. The long weaponswitch has killed me too. Its funny when both opponents are switching weapons to get off first shot sometimes reminds me of Desperado.

Sorry you feel that way though.....

[goodguyswearblack9 0]

Arma's controls take time to learn, but I wouldn't want them any other way.

[kronzky 5]

<span style='color:red'>What on earth were they thinking when they designed a confusing cockpit like this?!</span>

Why couldn't they make it as simple as this?!

[Balschoiw 0]

You saved my day !

[tj72 0]

At first I thought it was complaint about the controls in game but it seems the OP is talking about the configuration. If thats the case, all I can say is once you get the config how you like it your basically done for the rest of your ARMA career so......No big deal right? If your changes arent "taking" then thats sounds like a bug and I didnt experience THAT at all.

Basically took less than 5 min to get the config how I wanted. Its my OFP config with new stuff too.

[max power 21]

I'm not too sure what the problem is. The game will highlight the controls that are in conflict. It's just a matter of scrolling through them. Even the smallest thing requires too much effort for some people, I guess. BIS should get out of the video game business and start a reclining chair business. They can put a cooler, a foam-dome type apparatus that delivers your choice of liquid straight to your mouth, and a toilet all in your favourite lounge chair. Also, it is a must that this thing convert into a bed with the toilet and other amenities still accessible, without the user having to get up. They would make millions!

[ck-claw 1]

I'm not too sure what the problem is. The game will highlight the controls that are in conflict. It's just a matter of scrolling through them. Even the smallest thing requires too much effort for some people, I guess. BIS should get out of the video game business and start a reclining chair business. They can put a cooler, a foam-dome type apparatus that delivers your choice of liquid straight to your mouth, and a toilet all in your favourite lounge chair. Also, it is a must that this thing convert into a bed with the toilet and other amenities still accessible, without the user having to get up. They would make millions!

Definatley! I'd buy one!

[johnnyboy 3789]

Touche!!!

[=JoKeR= 0]

Didn't they say that number keys and fuction keys were not longer reserved and you could customize them?

In other games I use 1-3 to leand and QWER for basic controls.Is there any way to remove the reserved keys?

[frederf 0]

I have a small few issues with the default controls in terms of their layout. For example, lock-on and change to exterior view were bound to the same key causing really annoying forced view changes when locking up vehicle weapons. Zoom in and hold breath are the same key causing any long aim to always result in heavy breathing. The aircraft controls have "Right Turn" and "Left Turn" bound by default instead of the more correct "Right Pedal" and "Left Pedal". Also "reveal target" on right mouse button is very very annoying as it causes 99% of people in MP to clog the airwaves with useless generated speech.

Overall the control scheme is highly editable and flexible, allowing many unique controls like 2x this, hold down mouse, etc. It's slightly unfortunate that there are any reserved keys slightly hampering the fullest control flexibility although I have no clue why anyone would want to change the F-keys to something else for example.

Getting back to what the original poster said (and trying not to put words in his mouth):

Quote[/b] ]For some ungodly reason they assigned [A]2 or 3 keys to the same command and what should be a simple process of deleting the default assignment and assigning the key you want ends up being a hunt and seek process for every almost every damn change you want to make..and sometimes [C]they don't even take.

A. The 2-3 commands to a key is intentional and they are trying to be smart about it. Sometimes the duplication of commands onto a key have really dumb consequences like I said before. Other combinations make perfect sense "Prone roll" and "Lean right/left" since you cannot lean while prone and cannot roll while not prone. This is a shining example of combining commands onto one key with no ill effects!!

B. The control list is broken up into categories via the drop down menu on top. Unfortunately the categories are less than helpful (should be more of them, more specific) and the names on the commands are not the best (can be quite vague) and there are really confusing things like "Next Target" shows up twice! (And they both do different things, I think one commands AI next target and one does it manually.)

Most every game has a hunt-seek style of command key changing so I'm not somehow offended by ArmA's method.

C. I've never ever ever had a key "not take." Ever.

[dayglow 2]

the zoom and hold breath shouldn't conflict. Tap the key to zoom in and out. Hold it down to hold your breath. When you hold it down you won't change out of the zoom level you are in.

[max power 21]

C. I've never ever ever had a key "not take." Ever.

Neither have I. I think he's hitting esc or cancel instead of okay, in that case. Aside from the good points you brought up, I think maybe PEBKAC.

[BeerHunter 0]

Basically I would like to take the elemental controls (move forward , back , fire ,and some weapon functions) to the mouse. All the others I can live with but I despise that finger cramping , tiring WASD set up and have never used it in any game. Was always easily able to configure.

And as for them "not taking"..you're right.. I was simply closing the window..dumb dumb.. a real homer on my part.

Patience (which is running thin) and perseverance I guess..should be doable.

Damn game just sounds too intriguing to relegate it to a shelf decoration.

[tj72 0]

Definitely be patient Beerhunter,

You can do so much in this game and I think the devs just had to make some decisions about ARMA so it could get released. One of those decisions seemed to give the user the job of setting up all these new commands without some standardized profile that wouldnt work anyway. The default config essentially IS the standardized profile and its up to you to set it up so you get the most out of the game. Fair deal?

I hope you get your config set up how you like it. Remap the keys to your fingers arent so cramped for starters. Check out TRACK IR if you havent heard of it to see if that might be a viable option for smoothing out this Aircraft cockpit of an interface

But over all be patient because ARMA offers a particular gameplay experience that is beyond the competition by miles if you ask me. So its worth the time getting it set up exactly how you like it.

Hope you stick with it..

[dayglow 2]

Basically I would like to take the elemental controls (move forward , back , fire ,and some  weapon functions) to the mouse. All the others I can live with but I despise that finger cramping , tiring WASD set up and have never used it in any game. Was always easily able to configure.

And as for them "not taking"..you're right.. I was simply closing the window..dumb dumb.. a real homer on my part.

Patience (which is running thin) and perseverance I guess..should be doable.

Damn game just sounds too intriguing to relegate it to a shelf decoration.

you may want to consider a Nostromo n52 or like product

Basically a fancy keyboard, but maybe more comfortable for you to use

[kestrel7e7 0]

What on earth were they thinking when they designed a confusing cockpit like this?!

Why couldn't they make it as simple as this?!

That's the only way they could make cockpits back then, it looks complicated but most of the controls are replicated, redundant and rarely used, modern cockpits are a whole different story and cockpits of the future will be childsplay, more like the bottom image than the top. The moral is not to build in complexity you don't need to and follow the K.I.S.S. principle. Arma's control setup seems to have been designed by someone who relishes unnecessary complexity.

[max power 21]

What on earth were they thinking when they designed a confusing cockpit like this?!

Why couldn't they make it as simple as this?!

That's the only way they could make cockpits back then, it looks complicated but most of the controls are replicated, redundant and rarely used, modern cockpits are a whole different story and cockpits of the future will be childsplay, more like the bottom image than the top. The moral is not to build in complexity you don't need to and follow the K.I.S.S. principle. Arma's control setup seems to have been designed by someone who relishes unnecessary complexity.

I would like to see you propose a simpler one that keeps all functionality.

[kestrel7e7 0]

A good control management GUI should identify conflicts and most importantly, tell you the source of the conflict when it happens (not just red text), offer alternatives, allow bindings to be set in the one screen instead of splitting it into two (it's not like there isn't enough room, the second screen being a massive window box with little in it), allow you to bind ALL actions (including get-into-vehicle-right-now-because-I'm-being-shot-at-and-I-don't-want-to-die), auto analog axis detection that requires full deflection and not a micro movement... am I being anal enough for you or do you want me to continue?

I've seen and used plenty of control input GUIs that are cleaner, faster, easier and more powerful. But then I remember this is Bohemia Interactive forums, the home of the Church of ArmA, with the motto 'There is Only One ArmA, Only ArmA is Perfect.'

[NoRailgunner 0]

@kestrel7e7 & beerhunter

You are only playin those little jump'n'run or racing games?

Quote[/b] ]I've seen and used plenty of control input GUIs that are cleaner, faster, easier and more powerful.

The control-setup in ArmA has a structure and you can easy switch key combination in whatever you like. If you can't enjoy this combat-simulation and make shortcuts by yourself turn back to the simple shooter games.

[kestrel7e7 0]

The control-setup in ArmA has a structure and you can easy switch  key combination in whatever you like. If you can't enjoy this combat-simulation and make shortcuts by yourself turn back to the simple shooter games.

Thank you for proving my point Norailgunner.