What's Your Firing-Finger?

[thehoodedsmack]

So the other night my buddies and I were playing some Halo: Reach. My one friend has a problem where if he gets startled, his hand tenses up, causing him to inadvertently zoom in while he's firing. He was wondering what he was doing wrong, when I noticed he was pulling the right trigger with his index finger. After asking everyone else present, it turns out they ALL used their index finger for firing. Thus struck me as odd, as I have always used my middle-finger for firing, allowing me to rest my index finger on the right bumper in case it's needed. And I've been doing this for FPSs since Nightfire on the Gamecube, so it's a habit that's worked across various consoles and controllers.

So now I'm interested in what you guys do: what is the predominant physical configuration for controller usage in FPSs, a statistic I'll use when determining if it actually causes any noticeable difference in reaction speed or dexterity. Poll and discuss.

EDIT: In the interest of controlling for variables, could posts also indicate which console they played their first console-based FPS on.

My first console-based FPS was played on the original XBox.

[Timo]

Since the xbox was the first console our family had, I got stuck using my index finger since the controllers didn't have bumpers. I'll often keep my index finger for firing but middle for grenades in reach so it's easier to sprint, but I still find it a lot more awkward than using my index finger.

[nuttyyayap]

I use my smaller finger... I'd rather not explain why though.

[Limited]

Goldeneye N64 - Z trigger, left hand index finger.

Halo Reach Xbox 360 - Right trigger, right hand index finger.

BF3 PC - Left Mouse click, right hand index finger.


I'm left handed by the way.

[JackalStomper]

Used my index finger until I switched to bumper jumper in Halo 3. Forced me to relearn how to hold the controller, but was well worth it. Best button layout is best, except for the stupid jetpack anyway.

[Tnnaas]

Middle finger. I managed to fry some of the internal wiring on the Duke so we ended up getting this cheap plastic thing as a replacement. It was smaller and the white and black buttons were put where the future Xbox 360 bumpers would be. As an added side effect, I've become better at playing my bass guitar.

[Mr Buckshot]

Index finger, since that's what I use on a mouse it just feels more natural that way.

I like using L1/R1 to aim/shoot on a playstation because then my middle fingers are resting on L2/R2 for functions like grenade or melee. I tried doing so with an xbox 360 controller but it just felt awkward.

a friend of mine used to play xbox 1 by using his middle finger on the right trigger and his index finger for the face buttons. Never understood how anyone could find that comfortable, but different people have different opinions.

[Amit]

Been used to index finger since Halo 1. Using any other finger to fire triggers feels unnatural. It's like using your middle finger for left-mouse click on a mouse. Doesn't feel right. I've seen MLG people use their middle finger back in Halo 2 tournament days. I think it was someone from Final Boss who used his index finger to touch Y and middle to fire the trigger. Or it could have been TSquared from Str8 Rippin' I can't remember.

In any case, Index finger FTW, PC gaming supremacy! Eat it, Pooky.

[Pooky]

In any case, Index finger FTW, PC gaming supremacy! Eat it, Pooky.

You don't seem to get that I have no problem with PC gaming, only with the douchelords who claim to be superior to other gamers purely because of their choice of platform.

Anyway, index finger all the way. I have no problems instantly snapping to the bumpers to reload or melee.

[Donut]

my first REAL shooter was goldeneye on n64. left hand index finger on the z button. then on gamecube after i had been used to pressing the r "trigger" for games like luigis mansion and super mario sunshine, so when i got 007 agent under fire, shooting with my right hand's index finger came naturally to me.

then there was brute force on xbox 1, where i used my index finger on my right hand for firing. same with halo 1, and so on. when i started playing pc shooters, i naturally just put my right hand index finger on the left mouse button.

i can see how the muscle memory ended up working out. i never had an snes growing up, so my first controller with buttons on the top was the n64 controller, where i used R for the shield in zelda ocarina of time. then i moved to the game cube where the z button was never really used for anything that required fast reflexes, so i got used to resting my index fingers on the triggers. xbox 1 only had the triggers on top, and by the time i got my 360, i had been gaming for over 10 years. even after i started playing halo 3, the bumper was used for reloading, which wasnt really a twitch reaction as far as im concerned, so i never had a reason to keep a finger there. i actually have tried playing like you do, with my middle finger on the trigger and resting an index finger on the bumper, but it feels really awkward, and without the spring resistance of the triggers, i find myself accidentally pressing the bumper every now and then. i think the only game ive played that requires fast bumper pressing is reach.

id almost say another fun question is "what finger do you use to click the middle mouse button", but based on what i said and what im seeing in this thread, that would generate the same answers.

oh yeah, and im right handed.
E: i guess its worth noting that on the rare occasion i actually use a playstation, i put my index fingers on L1 and R1, and put my middle fingers on L2 and R2. playstation controllers always hurt my hands after not too long though...

[TVTyrant]

I use one for single action and two for double action...

Oh wait you meant on a controller. My bad.

[Warsaw]

Right index finger. I can rip off shots with the plasma pistol faster than the plasma rifle on full automatic. Sometimes I use the middle finger, but not generally. My first console shooter was, in fact, Halo: Combat Evolved on the original Xbox.

On the side, I hate Playstation controllers; they are straight-up dick for everything.

[t3h m00kz]

Right index if I'm playing with sprint.

Usually middle if I'm sporting a jetpack (Bumper jumper + claw)

[Amit]

You don't seem to get that I have no problem with PC gaming, only with the douchelords who claim to be superior to other gamers purely because of their choice of platform.

I fail at trolling :(

[Cortexian]

You don't seem to get that I have no problem with PC gaming, only with the douchelords who claim to be superior to other gamers purely because of their choice of platform.
But PC is, has been, and always will be the superior platform.

http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-colbert.gif

[=sw=warlord]

But PC is, has been, and always will be the superior platform.

http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-colbert.gif
I've yet to get a malware on my Xbox.
:smug:

[Cortexian]

I've yet to get Malware on my PC.

[Amit]

I've yet to get Malware on my PC.

Same.

[TVTyrant]

I've yet to get malware on my cock

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Cortexian]

I don't know... I'd classify Herpes as malware...

[=sw=warlord]

I've yet to get Malware on my PC.
You have Origin don't you?

[Pooky]

But PC is, has been, and always will be the superior platform.

http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-colbert.gif

PC has most everything down, but has yet to achieve the level of simplicity and convenience that consoles have. The amount of bullshit it takes to get some games running makes it far from perfect.

I'll agree that it's better overall though.

[Amit]

You have Origin don't you?

I don't.

[Cortexian]

You have Origin don't you?
Nope.

[ThePlague]

I actually have Origin Beta.