There are a variety of basic skills that I highly recommend new comers learn to make getting around and interacting with the SL metaverse a little easier (with a few tricks that older residents might not know about). This is a self-paced tutorial using a combination of videos, snapshots, and text found around the web and made by myself. I have hand-picked (Or is it “mouse-picked” when using the computer?) the best of the best to make learning these basics a little more fun, with a few extra tips and tricks mentioned alone the way.
This page will always be work-in-progress as I find new videos I favor over the first ones I linked to. There may also be some sections I mention but don’t have a link for. No worries though: if I cannot find a video out there to share, I will make one myself!
A very important thing to note as well is the fact that most of the tutorials will be how you would do things on a PC, but fear not Mac users; I will have instructions for you soon enough! For now, PC and Mac shortcut key differences from the support portal may help you out.
1. Walking.
Walking is the main way most residents get around and is very easy to master. The controls are very much like games you play on the computer using the keyboard. Keep in mind that if you are going to use “w“, “s“, “a“, and “d” that you must have the chat bar closed, otherwise you will just be typing the letters out for the world to see. The quickest way to close the chat bar is to hit the “esc” key.
forward = up arrow or “w“
backward = down arrow or “s“
turn left = left arrow or “a“
turn right = right arrow or “d“
Trick: click and hold down the left mouse button over your avatar and your mouse will control the camera as you move while moving forwards or backwards with the keyboard! Keep in mind that using this method means the keyboard controls that usually make you turn will not work in the same way. Instead, you use the mouse to turn.
2. Flying.
Flying works a lot like walking, except it’s all done up in the air and uses a few extra keys. Though, I suppose you really can walk in the air if you have the right flying animation. That’s what makes SL so awesome! Just like walking, “the controls are very much like games you play on the computer using the keyboard”, but since you can fly upwards and downwards, a few extra keys are needed. Once again, keep in mind that if you are going to use the letters on the keyboard instead of the arrow keys that you must have the chat bar closed. The quickest way to close the chat bar is to hit the “esc” key.
To start flying using the keyboard, use the ”home” key or ”f” or even just hold down the “page up” key. You can also start and stop flight using the “fly” button at the bottom of your screen. Did you notice that while you are flying, the “fly” button turns into “stop flying”? This happens regardless as to how you leap into the air, but is available to give you an alternate way to fly. Please note that if you are waaaaaaaaaay up in the air, you will fall until you turn “fly” on again or land on (or in) whatever is under you.
fly upwards = “page up” or “e“
fly downwards = “page down” or “c“
forward = up arrow or “w“
backward = down arrow or “s“
turn left = left arrow or “a“
turn right = right arrow or “d“
Trick: click and hold down the left mouse button over your avatar and your mouse will control the camera as you move while moving forwards or backwards with the keyboard! Keep in mind that using this method means the keyboard controls that usually make you turn will not work in the same way. Instead, you use the mouse to turn.
3. Running, Jumping, and Crouching.
Walking and flying can be fun, sure, but my favourite three ways of getting around include jumping all over the place, crouch-walking, or running. Running is the easiest of the two, so let’s cover that one first:
run = ctrl and ”r” (Note: You will keep running until you press ctrl and “r” again, as this is the short cut to turning on “always run”, which can be found in the “World” menu at the top of your screen.)
The controls to move while running are exactly the same as walking. Everything you can do while walking will work when you run as well.
jump = “page up” or “e” (trying to remember if space bar works as well, I will confirm this later) (Note: If you hold down the “page up” or “e” key, or even press it twice in a row very quickly, you will start flying instead of jumping.)
The controls to move while jumping are slightly different than walking or running, but not any different than any games you’ve ever played on the computer. For example, to jump foward you just use the up arrow or “w” to move foward while pressing “e” or “page up” to jump.
crouch = “page down” or “c“
Crouching is really neat because not only can you crouch down, but you can also walk while crouched as well. To do so, you just need to hold down “page down” or “c” and use the same controls you use to walk. Many of the people that like to crouch and walk have special animation overriders (more on those later) that allow them to crawl on their hands and knees when they want to. Of course, there are many other uses for crouch-walking too!
4. Using The Camera
So now you know how to get around a location. The next step is to learn how to best utilize the camera controls so you can either look at whatever catches your eye or position your camera to take a breath-taking snapshot. And remember: if you want to set your camera back to its default position behind your avatar, just hit “esc“.
Holding:
- Alt and clicking something focuses it to the center of the screen.
- Alt and dragging the mouse fowards and backwards zooms the camera in and out.
- Alt-Ctrl and dragging orbits the camera.
- Alt-Ctrl-Shift and dragging pans the camera.
Note: If you’re on a Mac, Alt = Opt (also marked Alt on newer Macs). For more info, login to our Support Portal and see “PC and Mac shortcut key differences“.
You can also use:
- The directional arrows or WASD (with chat bar closed) keys instead of dragging the mouse.
- View menu > Camera Controls
These controls are also explained at the beginning of this video tutorial by Torley Linden.
Trick: For some really cool camera tricks, check out this video tutorial on “how to move your camera further and better” by Torley Linden.
