Controls
Game controls determine how players interact with your game. Whether it’s pressing buttons, tilting a device, or even shouting a command, the controls can shape the whole experience.
Games often use simple, familiar setups like WASD or arrow keys to make learning easy — but developers can get creative!
It's not all buttons
Depending on the platform, you don’t need to use just buttons.
- Mobile Phones use a gyroscope that allows tilt control.
- Mobile Phones also have swipe and tap functionality.
- Controllers have joysticks.
- Some games can be controlled by sound, so when you scream, a character moves.
- Some games can be controlled using a heart rate monitor.
- Virtual Reality and Nintendo Switch/Wii track your hand movement.
- Some games can be controlled using motion tracking.
Control Rules
Here are some rules that should be followed when deciding on your control settings.
- Players should be able to pick up and play without being taught the controls.
- Make your controls as obvious as possible. Don’t bind Jump to the + sign.
- When you press a button or perform an action it should be obvious what it does.
- Careful of innovative control settings, it could be really good or really bad!