Home Gaming FFD: Do You invert, bro?

FFD: Do You invert, bro?

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ffd28062013

No matter whether you play on consoles or PC, there exists another two subdivisons of gamers who just can’t understand each other; those who play with inverted controls, and those who don’t.

The topic came up the other day when I was having a chat with Erwin (not his final form) and he was shocked to his core to discover that I don’t like inverted controls. He expected, seeing that I’ve been playing games forever, that I’d use inverted controls, which are very old-school.

In fact, Duke Nukem 3D, one of the very first games to offer mouse control had “inverted” controls as the default – but I have to say, even then it felt alien to me – and I’ve never liked inverted controls. While I understand why it feels more natural to some people, it just doesn’t sit right with me – I prefer my mouse or analogue stick to point to where I’m looking, as opposed to being a lever extended out of my virtual head.

invert

The only exception to this is in flight sims and the like, where it feels more natural to use the thumbstick (or mouse!) as an extension of an actual flightstick.

So tell us; which do you prefer – and why?

Last Updated: June 28, 2013

126 Comments

  1. eXpZA

    June 28, 2013 at 10:31

    Normal for looking, invert for flying. There’s no other way. Burn any witches that oppose me.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 28, 2013 at 10:34

      *AHEM*

      Reply

    • matthurstrsa

      June 28, 2013 at 10:34

      I’ll get my torch.

      Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      June 28, 2013 at 10:34

      I AM WITH YOU, MAN.

      Reply

    • ElimiNathan

      June 28, 2013 at 10:48

      Same. Like BF3, must run and gun with normal look but invert when in a plane, in fact I’m pretty sure the controls are like that by default

      Reply

    • CaptainNemo42

      June 28, 2013 at 10:50

      What he said.

      Reply

    • silverscorpio

      June 28, 2013 at 12:31

      Yip

      Reply

    • Dave

      June 29, 2013 at 14:51

      Yup agreed… anything else is heresy and sacrilege

      Reply

  2. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 28, 2013 at 10:33

    If you don’t invert you are a HERETIC I SAY!!!

    Reply

    • Lord Chaos

      June 28, 2013 at 10:34

      Agreed. It’s something to get used to, but once there you’ll wonder why you ever did it otherwise.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        June 28, 2013 at 10:34

        It was the NORMAL back then, today its INVERTED

        Reply

        • Lord Chaos

          June 28, 2013 at 10:37

          “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;

          For he to-day that sheds his blood with me

          Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,”

          Reply

          • Airborne

            June 28, 2013 at 12:34

            Will? Will, is that you? Is it Saint Crispin’s day already?

          • Airborne

            June 28, 2013 at 12:35

            Coolest quote in a while!

    • DBL_ZA

      June 28, 2013 at 12:17

      Started off inverting and never went back. Being the only one in my group of buddies, I get given my fair share of grief over it…

      “Unverted” just never felt right. Always felt like I was going the wrong way

      Reply

  3. Nick de Bruyne

    June 28, 2013 at 10:36

    INVERT 4 LIFE YO! That picture pretty much sums it all up for the Invert Army!

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      June 28, 2013 at 10:38

      Your penises are inverted too!

      Reply

      • Spathi

        June 28, 2013 at 10:40

        How would you know, pervert!!

        Reply

        • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

          June 28, 2013 at 10:41

          When i switch to inverted controls, i can physically feel my junk sucking up in to my body. SCIENCE!

          Reply

          • Lord Chaos

            June 28, 2013 at 10:42

            It’s a good thing too, else we’d knock off all the furniture…

          • Spathi

            June 28, 2013 at 10:43

            Bwhaahhaahahahha – Tadaching!

          • Ultimo_Cleric N7

            June 28, 2013 at 11:18

            SCIENCE!

          • Captain Minion TallTwit

            June 28, 2013 at 12:07

            😀

      • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

        June 28, 2013 at 11:09

        It’s like you have two bellybuttons!

        Reply

    • Spathi

      June 28, 2013 at 10:40

      People who want a challenge play inverted. Games are too easy with up being up, and down being down. The Master-Handed Race plays inverted!!

      Reply

      • Xelus

        June 28, 2013 at 11:16

        Playing the other way around has become “foreign” to me. Its as if someone went and inverted my inverted controls. I look drunk when aiming like that, fools who play “normal” have been mislead by the false shepherd.

        Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 28, 2013 at 10:47

      AMEN!!!

      Reply

  4. Trevor Davies

    June 28, 2013 at 10:38

    I hate inverted controls. But then I do weird stuff like use my mouse right handed at work but left handed at home. And when I played on arcade machines I used to play with crossed hands because I’m of the master-handed race.

    Reply

    • Spathi

      June 28, 2013 at 10:39

      FREAK!!!

      Reply

      • Trevor Davies

        June 28, 2013 at 10:43

        LIES! My mom says I’m unique :/

        Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      June 28, 2013 at 11:19

      I also use a right handed mouse. But Im left handed.
      Trevor, are you my long lost brother? Do you know John Black and Marlyna?

      Reply

  5. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    June 28, 2013 at 10:39

    Normal for looking about etc. Inverted only when flying.

    Reply

  6. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    June 28, 2013 at 10:40

    People who play inverted are the left handed people of the gaming world

    Reply

    • Ultimo_Cleric N7

      June 28, 2013 at 10:40

      Dont compare us lefties to these oddities!

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        June 28, 2013 at 10:41

        Hahahaha. #MyBad

        Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      June 28, 2013 at 10:40

      the term is master-handed race.

      Reply

      • Ultimo_Cleric N7

        June 28, 2013 at 11:16

        Scientific studies show that Left Handed people are better at life.
        FACT.
        They also have more chest hair.
        FACT
        And their eyes lasers can melt diamonds.
        FACT.
        I am just using the word fact out of context.
        FACT

        Reply

        • Captain Minion TallTwit

          June 28, 2013 at 12:09

          Again…

          Reply

  7. Ultimo_Cleric N7

    June 28, 2013 at 10:40

    The only time Inverted controls work for me was in Space FLight games like Wing Commander, Freespace etc. Otherwise I hate them, ESPECIALLY in FPS games.

    Reply

  8. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    June 28, 2013 at 10:41

    Only time I’ve ever used inverted has been for flying sim games, my brain can’t process inverted controls, well not y-axis though. x-axis are okay

    Reply

  9. HvR

    June 28, 2013 at 10:42

    “Duke Nukem 3D, one of the very first games to offer mouse control had “inverted” controls as the default”

    Remember I taped the Alt (if I remember correctly) down on the keyboard to have non inverted mouse control, I think they added a setting later on.

    I’m weird in that sense, mouse and keyboard not inverted, using controller thumbstick I use inverted.

    Reply

  10. nukehead

    June 28, 2013 at 10:43

    Well, if you have to turn ON invert pretty much every new game you start I think this debate settles itself. You are not normal and weigh as much as a duck. Also you probably have bad breath. Logic! o/

    Reply

    • Jonah Cash

      June 28, 2013 at 10:44

      Well said!! Was thinking of something clever to say and you beat me to it. So now I will up vote you and move on….

      Reply

      • nukehead

        June 28, 2013 at 10:48

        Of course those silly inverters would probably down vote me instead…

        Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          June 28, 2013 at 10:49

          It’s like golf scoring.

          Reply

    • Alex Hicks

      June 28, 2013 at 10:54

      If you weigh the same as a duck, then you must be able to float; and so you’re made of wood and hence a witch! BURN HER! She turned me into a newt! (I got better)

      Reply

  11. Gavin Mannion

    June 28, 2013 at 10:47

    My dad plays inverted… now everyone knows our family secret.. I’m so ashamed..

    Also when he hands me the control to help out I end up looking like retarded duck on steroids

    Reply

    • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

      June 28, 2013 at 10:51

      It’s fine Gavin, don’t feel ashamed …. you’re safe here ……. No one will judge at in IA (Inverteds Anonymous )

      Reply

      • Gavin Mannion

        June 28, 2013 at 10:52

        I’m not joining that group of freaks… I play properly… 😉

        Reply

        • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

          June 28, 2013 at 10:55

          Shhhhh hush now …… those that are inverted tend to insult others that are the same, they try and fool themselves into thinking they play with normal controls ….. Gavin it’s fine…..it’s not your fault…..

          Reply

        • Happy Hamster

          June 28, 2013 at 11:05

          Step 1: Denial

          Reply

        • Ultimo_Cleric N7

          June 28, 2013 at 11:21

          This is a safe place.

          Reply

  12. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 28, 2013 at 10:48

    Those who play inverted and those WHO CANNOT!!!!!!!

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      June 28, 2013 at 10:52

      who cannot believe why anyone would do something so torturous & insane. fixed it for you.

      Reply

      • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

        June 28, 2013 at 10:52

        You shut your heathen mouth you!

        Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          June 28, 2013 at 10:54

          Does that mean open it & talk more in inverted world? 😉

          Reply

    • Zubayr Bhyat

      June 28, 2013 at 10:59

      This seems to be a binary problem. I’m not a hero in this case, merely a zero 🙁

      Reply

  13. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    June 28, 2013 at 10:48

    To help those that want to play inverted as the header suggests

    Reply

  14. Admiral Chief Groot Wors

    June 28, 2013 at 10:48

    IT
    WAS
    THE
    FIRST
    SETTING
    DAMMIT!!!!!!!

    Reply

  15. Charles Du Plessis

    June 28, 2013 at 10:51

    Invert all the way

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 28, 2013 at 10:53

      YAY

      Reply

  16. Umar Kiiroi Senk?

    June 28, 2013 at 10:51

    Hi everyone….My name is Umar, and I don’t play with inverted controls
    24 years sober

    Reply

    • Trevor Davies

      June 28, 2013 at 10:56

      Dude, that’s like admitting to being part of non-alcoholics anonymous. We’re not the ones with the problem!

      Reply

      • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

        June 28, 2013 at 10:58

        Trevor … ….. I know you’re in denial but you won’t be judged here ….. I promise … you are completely safe! ….

        Reply

        • Trevor Davies

          June 28, 2013 at 11:08

          I was going to make a joke about inversion therapy, then I thought it sounded like something that may really exist. Now it’s not funny, it’s just sad – except for the part about implying gravity is optional.

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_therapy

          Reply

          • Umar Kiiroi Senk?

            June 28, 2013 at 11:12

            Inversion and Acid Reflux … holy moly OUCH!!!

  17. Warren Ross

    June 28, 2013 at 10:53

    Inverted controls uber alles. Comes from a steady diet of flight simulators as a kid. m/ (^.^) m/

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Groot Wors

      June 28, 2013 at 10:53

      YAY, WINNAR!!!

      Reply

  18. Hermann Schwindt

    June 28, 2013 at 10:56

    Inverted for me. As a kid, my cousin had a pc, and I was dreaming of playing on it, only to find that he had set the control on invert. Didn’t stop me though 🙂

    Reply

  19. OminousRain

    June 28, 2013 at 10:56

    Have to agree. Use invert for flying and so forth. But the rest I like it normal thank you very much

    Reply

  20. Kromas

    June 28, 2013 at 10:56

    I’m lazy. So lazy in fact that I own several 12-35 button programmable mice all still on default settings. If a game defaults to inverted controls then I shall game with inverted controls.

    Reply

  21. Zubayr Bhyat

    June 28, 2013 at 10:57

    Depends what feels natural. I’d like to see the accuracy numbers between the two.

    Reply

  22. Veeash Lala

    June 28, 2013 at 10:57

    My brother and I both can only play with inverted Y axis. Don’t know how or when it started. I’m glad that the xbox has a dashboard setting for it. Whereas on the ps3 I have to keep changing it at thegame level.

    Funny thing though, I’m playing Resi4 Wii edition on my own Wii u and I can’t play inverted nor can I play ‘normally’. My brain can’t adjust the orientation fast enough.

    Reply

  23. Draco Lusus

    June 28, 2013 at 10:59

    I’m an inverter and you can invert and kiss my sweet virgin ass. Its like saying people that are left handed at wrong. But…I guess in the 1600’s they were, it was a SIN! So when you are in a VR suit, you going to be hitting the “invert” look option, when you want to actually look down by moving your head down. (if you take the mouse movements into consideration)

    Reply

    • HvR

      June 28, 2013 at 11:00

      well it depends if the mouse is attached to back or front of the head

      Reply

  24. Alex Hicks

    June 28, 2013 at 11:00

    I’m even weirder – I actually have no idea. I’ve trying to figure out if my mouse is inverted by recalling the few minutes of Fallout New Vegas I played before I came into work and I cannot, for the life of me, remember if I moved my mouse up or down to look at the gap where my character’s feet should be.

    I think the controls are inverted. But I may be wrong … (what’s New Vegas’s default?)

    I’ll get back to you later – when I’ve had a chance to test …

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      June 28, 2013 at 11:02

      O_o
      Freak.

      Reply

      • Alex Hicks

        June 28, 2013 at 11:20

        Almost … but it’s spelled Phreak … which makes me awesome (in much the same way that fat becomes phat)

        Reply

    • Zubayr Bhyat

      June 28, 2013 at 11:03

      Vegas’ is not inverted 🙂

      Reply

      • Alex Hicks

        June 28, 2013 at 11:19

        Ah! But I reinstalled from the net via steam (having switched PC’s) and it may have saved the settings to the steam cloud (since it still had my save games) which I may have changed when I first installed it!

        Dammit … this is solving nothing!

        Reply

  25. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 28, 2013 at 11:00

    Hell no! I’m a gamer not a damn rocket scientist!

    Reply

  26. Tbone187

    June 28, 2013 at 11:02

    I’ve noticed you do tend to familiarise yourself with inverted controls the more you use it…I still prefer the conventional tho…

    Reply

  27. Xelus

    June 28, 2013 at 11:07

    Inverted, use to play normal, got bored of it, so I went inverted. XD All jokes aside, I use to play normal way around and literally I woke up one morning and I couldn’t play normal anymore, I had to play inverted. Weird, but I suppose it is a sign of awesomeness, to all the inverters. XD

    Reply

    • Gavin Mannion

      June 28, 2013 at 11:08

      Maybe you suffered a stroke and lost half your intelligence while you slept?

      ALSO 100th comment

      Reply

      • Xelus

        June 28, 2013 at 11:10

        Lol doubt it, “they say that, those who stay up late are more intelligent then normal.” I go to bed at 12:00pm and I’m usually up at 8am, intelligent people are usually different to everyone else. XD

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          June 28, 2013 at 11:33

          8 hours sleep a night? They say that the most intelligent people need the least sleep.

          They are also normally wrong and anonymous so really what do they know

          Reply

          • Xelus

            June 28, 2013 at 11:35

            XD some nights it is 8 hours, other nights it goes between 4 and 5 hours depending on when my work is done. lol

    • Lord Chaos

      June 28, 2013 at 11:09

      Like Newton and the apple.
      We will be forever known while the rest fade to the depths of obscurity.

      Reply

    • kcshawman

      July 24, 2014 at 20:55

      Did you get a job using some type of hydraulic equipment such as a forklift. If you did then “bass ackward normal” would be all wrong from then on.

      Reply

  28. hairyknees

    June 28, 2013 at 11:16

    My mother told me to stay away from inverters because they are strange people 😛

    Reply

  29. Xelus

    June 28, 2013 at 11:18

    Now a debate about who is right and left would be interesting. XD Inverted, normal, left and right. Ultimate debate of the gaming world. lol

    Reply

  30. Aequitas

    June 28, 2013 at 11:22

    Weirdly, I go inverted when using the mouse, and non-inverted when using a gamepad (except flight games, there it’s all inverted, all the time)

    Reply

  31. OVG

    June 28, 2013 at 12:56

    Shit, I actually have no idea. Now thinking about it my brain is all confused. I think I press down to look up… I do not know, I have been doing this to long.

    Reply

  32. Mossel

    June 28, 2013 at 16:14

    When I play on PC I use normal mouse controll, but for some reason whenever I attempt to play a FPS it just feels natural to use an inverted analogue stick! I then also use that as my excuse to why I suck with a controller.

    Reply

  33. Grant Hancock

    June 29, 2013 at 08:26

    I’m a proud Y-Inverter … always have been, always will be 🙂

    Reply

  34. Johan du Preez

    June 30, 2013 at 18:18

    Everything Inverted since forever 🙂

    Reply

  35. kcshawman

    July 24, 2014 at 20:30

    Normal i.e. Backwards and Inverted the industry standard for almost everything except games.
    Xbox 360 can default to inverted (the normal way of doing things). All parents with young children just starting out playing games should make sure they are playing inverted. All forklifts, backhoes, hydraulic equipment, security cameras etc. all work this way. I see where some folks say pushing the stick away is up and back is down. That is incorrect everything works via rotation you are rotating forward or rotation back and whatever you are operating mimics this rotation in real life and it should also in games. The mouse is different you are not rotating the mouse your are moving a cursor on the screen away is up in this case and feels normal. If you have a joy stick on the PC then go with the rotation idea. You don’t want your child killing someone the first day on the job running some hydraulic equipment. OOPS I thought away from me was up MY BAD!

    Reply

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