I always find this topic to be really interesting since there’s no objectively correct answer, and it tends to be something people have experience with.
Obviously, the best answer is “let the player pick”, but personally, I’m 100% in the inverted camp (both y and x axis, because apparently some maniacs only invert one). I have no idea where I picked up inverted controls, but I’ve favored them as long as I remember playing games, so I figure some early titles I played had inverted by default, which checks out since I played a lot of vehicle-based games.
For me, one of the worst experiences is realizing a game I really want to play only supports uninverted camera (or in the case of a couple, only supports inverted y), because it totally demolishes my ability to reasonably play the game with any degree of skill.
It depends on the game.
Typically I prefer normal, but there are some games where inverted camera just makes it easier, like games with full 3D exploration (flying/swimming). I do sometimes only invert the vertical for these, so I’m that maniac.
If you are an older gamer, you’re probably right that you picked it up in the early camera control games (ps1/2 for me), because changing camera function wasn’t an option and a -lot- of games inverted by default back then. I believe the logic was to treat your view camera like a real video camera, where you push the back to the left to point the camera lens to the right, but most people don’t have that type of experience so it’s less intuitive, which is why it’s less common now. I blame mostly Spyro flying challenges for my limited inversion use.
And like you, I struggle with games that don’t allow me to pick, which is most of the older games, even remastered 😭 it’s so hard to re-learn.
One big thing I love about my Steam Deck is the ridiculous amount of control customization available with Steam input.
Worst case, if there’s no option to invert in the game, you can change it in Steam with one click and it’ll remember your settings for each game.
Normal feels like I am controlling the vision frustum (where I want to look at), and inverted feels like I am moving the camera itself, as if it was a physical object. I can play both but I definitely have to remind myself what I am trying to control when making the switch.
I vastly prefer non-inverted, because I like the idea of just pointing where I want to look at. I hope it makes sense. All of this apply mostly for games with orbit camera.
I prefer inverted too. It feels more natural to me. Just like a bike, I can’t do the opposite with much success.
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For me, one of the worst experiences is realizing a game I really want to play only supports uninverted
FYI, the steam deck allows you to customize all that shit even if the game doesn’t support what you want.
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Never happens to me, but is that like if a game you’d override outside the game and play inverted it’d be fine 90% of the time but then it doesn’t make any sense in some menus or maybe the map or whatever?
You have a few options.
On the deck, just use the joystick for one and the trackpad for the other.
Or use either mode shifting or action layers (I never remember which is which) so that behavior changes when you hold another button.
Think kinda like tab vs alt tab, but with like… anything on the controller. Want the joystick the behave differently when holding the left trigger or whatever?
Inverted Y, I played a lot of flight sims like Wing Commander and Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe in my youth. I can’t play with normal Y, it constantly messes me up.
You’re the first person on earth I’ve ever heard of to invert the X axis, I can’t even think of a game that let’s you do that.
I’m pretty boring, I like my sticks neat unless I’m flying an aircraft, then I need vertical invert.
Now tank control schemes I could argue about for a while, what numbskull wants to drive in the exact direction they’re firing?
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I prefer uninverted purely because that is what I grew up with. On the og xbox there weren’t many options to change controls, so you had to put up with what the game gave you. I can play with inverted controls, but it feels like writing with my left hand.
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Inverted y for anything first person. I grew up with a joystick for flight sims, and that felt natural to me when I later played FPS games on controller.
Inverted x makes no sense to me (and yes, I read your explanation below), but I can ignore that setting just fine, so every game should have it.
I used to play inverted Y with a controller because it seemed natural after playing flying games. However, I reconditioned myself to play non-inverted after a decade of playing inverted. Being able to pick up a game and play with default settings is worth the pain in switching.
If it’s a first-person view then I just want to point the stick in the direction I want to look. If its a third-person view then I’m moving the camera so you need inversion.
I only use inverted controls in a flight sim when I am using a joystick.
If it’s 3rd person, fully inverted. If it’s first person, or I have to aim, uninverted.
With a controller I need invertY or I can’t do anything right.
No invert with a mouse though, unless I’m playing a flying game.
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One of the earliest 3D games I remember playing was Falcon 3.0, haha.
Standard unless there’s and flying involved, either in atmosphere or space, then I invert Y. Can’t imagine ever inverting X, that just blows my kind. Been playing since before WASD was a thing, so I’ve seen most implementations I guess.
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I guess I always have it my head I’m the object I’m controlling rather than the camera following, so my brain defaults to more direct control? I do tend to favour “in-cockpit” / first person view.
I only play inverted x and y, but I’m thinking of learning to play both non inverted since it seems to be supported universally, so I wouldn’t need to worry about it.
That said, I never understood why every modern game wouldn’t support both being configurable.
