• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 23:06
CEST 05:06
KST 12:06
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
[ASL21] Ro4 Preview: On Course12Code S Season 1 - RO8 Preview7[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt2: Progenitors8Code S Season 1 - RO12 Group A: Rogue, Percival, Solar, Zoun13[ASL21] Ro8 Preview Pt1: Inheritors16
Community News
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results1Weekly Cups (May 4-10): Clem, MaxPax, herO win1Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule !11Weekly Cups (April 27-May 4): Clem takes triple0RSL Revival: Season 5 - Qualifiers and Main Event12
StarCraft 2
General
Code S Season 1 (2026) - RO8 Results MaNa leaves Team Liquid Weekly Cups (May 4-10): Clem, MaxPax, herO win Code S Season 1 - RO8 Preview Behind the Blue - Team Liquid History Book
Tourneys
2026 GSL Season 2 Qualifiers Maestros of The Game 2 announcement and schedule ! $5,000 WardiTV Spring Championship 2026 SC2 INu's Battles#16 <BO.9> Master Swan Open (Global Bronze-Master 2)
Strategy
Custom Maps
[D]RTS in all its shapes and glory <3 [A] Nemrods 1/4 players
External Content
Mutation # 525 Wheel of Misfortune The PondCast: SC2 News & Results Mutation # 524 Death and Taxes Mutation # 523 Firewall
Brood War
General
vespene.gg — BW replays in browser Pros React to: TvT Masterclass in FlaSh vs Light ASL21 Strategy, Pimpest Plays Discussions Flashes ASL S21 Ro8 Review BGH Auto Balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/
Tourneys
[ASL21] Semifinals B [ASL21] Semifinals A [BSL22] RO8 Bracket Stage + Another TieBreaker Small VOD Thread 2.0
Strategy
Fighting Spirit mining rates [G] Hydra ZvZ: An Introduction Simple Questions, Simple Answers Muta micro map competition
Other Games
General Games
Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne Starcraft Tabletop Miniature Game PC Games Sales Thread
Dota 2
The Story of Wings Gaming
League of Legends
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Deck construction bug Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
Vanilla Mini Mafia Mafia Game Mode Feedback/Ideas TL Mafia Community Thread Five o'clock TL Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread Russo-Ukrainian War Thread UK Politics Mega-thread YouTube Thread European Politico-economics QA Mega-thread
Fan Clubs
The IdrA Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
[Manga] One Piece Anime Discussion Thread [Req][Books] Good Fantasy/SciFi books
Sports
2024 - 2026 Football Thread McBoner: A hockey love story Formula 1 Discussion
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
streaming software Strange computer issues (software) [G] How to Block Livestream Ads
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
How EEG Data Can Predict Gam…
TrAiDoS
ramps on octagon
StaticNine
Funny Nicknames
LUCKY_NOOB
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 1665 users

Invert Y-axis

Blogs > Antifate
Post a Reply
1 2 Next All
Antifate
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States415 Posts
July 28 2013 12:45 GMT
#1
First blog :O

I'm one of those people who inverts the vertical axis on console shooters, but pretty much none of my friends do. It's actually funny to see them curse and die we share controllers and forget to change the settings (I do this as well T_T). This inverse association is only there for console games and I don't invert axes for PC shooters. I think I had this habit burned into me after Goldeneye 64, which had inverted vertical vision for some reason.

I once had it explained to me that "inverted" was how pilots flew, and that pulling back on the flight stick made the plane's nose rise, while pushing forward made the plane descend. I suppose this makes sense, but then again, the two situations are completely different since planes move very differently than people in shooters. Planes can't strafe or move backwards or anything. Also I think it feels more intuitive when you're holding the entire flight stick in your hand, rather than manipulating an analog stick with your thumb. That last sentence makes me laugh; I'm mature I swear.

I guess this "inverse" logic is present in some other random areas of life, like moving specimens under a microscope or in sailing. But those systems are more consistent in that every direction is inverted (well in sailing I guess there's only left and right lol I'm not a sailor), and it's easy to see the underlying mechanical reason why that inversion is there. I feel that it's kind of funky that I find a normal x-axis and inverted y-axis to be the most comfortable way to play console games, while both are normal for mouse and keyboard. There are natural differences between a stick and a mouse, but it's still strange that this exists for me. I get tricked by some people's mouse/touchpad scroll schemes too. I feel like they should be inverted.

I guess it can be reasoned for systems like planes, the inverted Y-axis is kind of like "back" or "slow" is against gravity, while "forward" or "go" is with gravity. I don't know, it all seems kind of silly.

I guess I kind of feel like a weirdo for having my brain wired in this way, but there's got to be a reason, right?

I wonder why some games had mandatory inverted Y-axes as well.


*
No one is taller than the last man standing.
Khalum
Profile Joined September 2010
Austria831 Posts
July 28 2013 13:14 GMT
#2
When FPS games on the PC started utilizing the mouse, I also played with inverted Y. Maybe because I also played space/flight sims and was used to that behaviour. I think I stopped during UT times, now I couldn't do it anymore.
Mongoose
Profile Blog Joined June 2011
United Kingdom190 Posts
July 28 2013 14:13 GMT
#3
It's so weird to invert the Y axis on PC games..

For console, I prefer inverted but can play both (in the old days inverted used to be the norm, but in recent years un-inverted seems to be the most commonly used)
Master league EU Terran
Awesomedrifter
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada62 Posts
July 28 2013 14:16 GMT
#4
I was expecting a math blog

http://awesomedrifter.com/
Zoundsforsook
Profile Blog Joined August 2011
Scotland636 Posts
July 28 2013 14:28 GMT
#5
I too invert the Y-Axis on controllers and so does my brother, it might be as you say due to Goldeneye 64!

A friend of mine inverts the Y axis with mouse movement which I found a lot weirder, though after a bit of use it's not as hard to adapt as it might seem at first.
Paint it bright and bold.
lifeisgood99
Profile Joined October 2010
Canada915 Posts
July 28 2013 14:30 GMT
#6
Same here. I need to use Y-inversion on consoles since I played a lot on a flying simulator when I was younger. I really can't deal with console FPS without it now. I don;t use Y-inversion on the PC as well.

For anyone wondering how we use Y-inversion: + Show Spoiler +
[image loading]
Taengoo/Eunji ~ flavourflower.tumblr.com
Azera
Profile Blog Joined December 2010
3800 Posts
July 28 2013 14:31 GMT
#7
On July 28 2013 23:16 Awesomedrifter wrote:
I was expecting a math blog



Same here. Equally disappointed.
Check out some great music made by TLers - http://bit.ly/QXYhdb , by intrigue. http://bit.ly/RTjpOR , by ohsea.toc.
docvoc
Profile Blog Joined July 2011
United States5491 Posts
July 28 2013 17:02 GMT
#8
I know some pros play inverted, though they all say they play inverted because of golden-eye. I remember BioHuntaa who played high level Halo would use the Claw-Grip and play Inverted. Sidenote, he also played a sick guitar.
User was warned for too many mimes.
Myrkskog
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
Canada481 Posts
July 28 2013 19:48 GMT
#9
Anyone who owned a 286-486 was guaranteed to learn inverted pretty much because of games like Descent and Terminal Velocity. The majority of people who played Quake in its heyday were inverted also, probably because of this.

Inverted makes more sense anyways. When you want to look down you tilt your head forward. When you want to look up you tilt your head backwards.
Hoender
Profile Joined March 2011
South Africa381 Posts
July 28 2013 20:11 GMT
#10
On July 29 2013 04:48 Myrkskog wrote:
Anyone who owned a 286-486 was guaranteed to learn inverted pretty much because of games like Descent and Terminal Velocity. The majority of people who played Quake in its heyday were inverted also, probably because of this.

Inverted makes more sense anyways. When you want to look down you tilt your head forward. When you want to look up you tilt your head backwards.

Same here - Descent was my first 'fps' game and I've been playing inverted ever since. It's almost become something I'm proud of by now and is sort of used as an inside joke by all my friends

Stay strong my inverted friends!
Anti-inverted propaganda:
+ Show Spoiler +
Die ou swepe sê: "daar's 'n raat vir elke kwaal," maar watse pil kou jy as die donker jou kom haal?
CecilSunkure
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2829 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-07-29 00:21:22
July 28 2013 21:23 GMT
#11
Inverted z is actually common. If you invert z and increase a position on the x or y axes, that position will appear to move up and right respectively.

You of course need to be looking down negative z axis to see it this way. This doesn't change user experience much, but if you're developing a game or using a tool like an editor, having inverted z can make things less retarded.
GwSC
Profile Joined December 2010
United States1997 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-07-28 23:04:02
July 28 2013 22:54 GMT
#12
I invert when using a controller too. It makes sense if you think of it as controlling a head. Push forward on the stick (push head forward) you look down. Pull back on the stick (pull head back) you look up.

Edit: Someone totally already said that, didn't notice. Oh well
deathly rat
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
United Kingdom911 Posts
July 29 2013 00:36 GMT
#13
It's funny. When i gave my dad a try at Call of Duty he also wanted to play inverted, but he had never played any FPS games before in his life.
No logo (logo)
Chairman Ray
Profile Blog Joined December 2009
United States11903 Posts
July 29 2013 00:46 GMT
#14
I'm used to inverted Y-axis when controlling aircrafts, and non-inverted for everything else. Just sorta how I got used to things.
Terranist
Profile Blog Joined March 2009
United States2496 Posts
July 29 2013 01:06 GMT
#15
i don't think it is that weird of a habit. older gamers that played stuff like goldeneye still like inverted a lot while the halo generation doesn't. turok was the game that got me to use inverted but i don't feel that it necessarily is better.
The Show of a Lifetime
Najda
Profile Joined June 2010
United States3765 Posts
July 29 2013 04:12 GMT
#16
On July 29 2013 09:46 Chairman Ray wrote:
I'm used to inverted Y-axis when controlling aircrafts, and non-inverted for everything else. Just sorta how I got used to things.


I do that as well. I'm pretty sure the Banshee in Halo 1 was always inverted regardless of controls (or was it a separate control setting?) which taught me to play that way. I originally started playing inverted everything but my brother played normal and I got tired to switching, so I just learned to play both. Now I only play normal.

I didn't even know inverting Y-axis on PC was even a thing until pretty recently. Seems so odd to me.
ObviousOne
Profile Joined April 2012
United States3704 Posts
July 29 2013 06:12 GMT
#17
Oh man now I know why I got destroyed in Goldeneye so often haha. Maybe I'll break out the old '64 again sometime.

I can't do inverted-Y anymore thanks to 5 years of Counter-Strike and I was never much one for flight simulators before that (thanks BW =])
Fear is the only darkness. ~Destiny Fan Club operator~
Antifate
Profile Blog Joined August 2004
United States415 Posts
July 29 2013 06:32 GMT
#18
It's strange that the joystick-on-head argument doesn't apply to the X-axis, because it's the same spatial set-up. I wonder if anyone even uses X-axis inversion, I've seen the option in a few games lol.

I suppose even if it's a bit strange it's useful; it's harder to track people when they jump than when they crouch, so pressing down (more comfortable to me) on an inverted control scheme is practical in that sense.
No one is taller than the last man standing.
rebdomine
Profile Blog Joined October 2010
6040 Posts
July 29 2013 06:47 GMT
#19
Was expecting to see graphs and instead I find discussion on shooters and flight sims.

Slightly disappointed.
"Just because you are correct doesn't mean you are right!"
opsayo
Profile Blog Joined July 2008
591 Posts
July 29 2013 07:13 GMT
#20
i use inverted and i also played descent a long time ago

no idea if thats the reason or not but i can't undo it
1 2 Next All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
Replay Cast
00:00
Amantes de StarCraft 2 #44
CranKy Ducklings90
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
PiGStarcraft344
RuFF_SC2 152
Ketroc 39
StarCraft: Brood War
GuemChi 6529
Dota 2
NeuroSwarm156
League of Legends
summit1g10550
Doublelift7971
JimRising 552
Counter-Strike
taco 516
Super Smash Bros
hungrybox448
Other Games
tarik_tv6058
C9.Mang0498
WinterStarcraft337
monkeys_forever278
ViBE156
Maynarde151
Livibee73
Organizations
StarCraft: Brood War
lovetv 37
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
[ Show 13 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• CranKy Ducklings SOOP36
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• intothetv
• Kozan
• IndyKCrew
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• Migwel
• sooper7s
StarCraft: Brood War
• BSLYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• ZZZeroYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota2758
Other Games
• Scarra746
Upcoming Events
RSL Revival
6h 54m
Classic vs Solar
herO vs SHIN
OSC
9h 54m
Big Brain Bouts
12h 54m
sebesdes vs Iba
Percival vs YoungYakov
Reynor vs GgMaChine
Korean StarCraft League
23h 54m
RSL Revival
1d 6h
Clem vs Rogue
Bunny vs Lambo
IPSL
1d 12h
Dewalt vs nOmaD
Ret vs Cross
BSL
1d 15h
Bonyth vs Doodle
Dewalt vs TerrOr
GSL
2 days
Cure vs herO
SHIN vs Maru
IPSL
2 days
Bonyth vs Napoleon
G5 vs JDConan
BSL
2 days
OyAji vs JDConan
DragOn vs TBD
[ Show More ]
Replay Cast
3 days
Monday Night Weeklies
3 days
Replay Cast
3 days
The PondCast
4 days
GSL
5 days
Replay Cast
5 days
GSL
6 days
Replay Cast
6 days
Liquipedia Results

Completed

Proleague 2026-05-13
WardiTV TLMC #16
Nations Cup 2026

Ongoing

BSL Season 22
ASL Season 21
IPSL Spring 2026
KCM Race Survival 2026 Season 2
Acropolis #4
KK 2v2 League Season 1
BSL 22 Non-Korean Championship
Escore Tournament S2: W7
SCTL 2026 Spring
RSL Revival: Season 5
2026 GSL S1
Heroes Pulsing #1
Asian Champions League 2026
IEM Atlanta 2026
PGL Astana 2026
BLAST Rivals Spring 2026
IEM Rio 2026
PGL Bucharest 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 1
BLAST Open Spring 2026
ESL Pro League S23 Finals
ESL Pro League S23 Stage 1&2

Upcoming

YSL S3
Escore Tournament S2: W8
CSLAN 4
Kung Fu Cup 2026 Grand Finals
HSC XXIX
uThermal 2v2 2026 Main Event
Maestros of the Game 2
WardiTV Spring 2026
2026 GSL S2
BLAST Bounty Summer Qual
Stake Ranked Episode 3
XSE Pro League 2026
IEM Cologne Major 2026
Stake Ranked Episode 2
CS Asia Championships 2026
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2026 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.