How quick do you pick up new controls?

[Chemist]

Alright, following the poll, I was thinking how long does it take you to learn the controls to a new game?

For me, i usually play for about an hour or so, learning moves and controls, looking through the book when ever i have problems. Then after that i sit down and go through the basics before i get to far into the game. I never read the whole book, nor do i ever take those lame tutorials. hahaahah

What about you guys??

[Captain Vegetable]

I usually just sit down and play. I never consult a manual for controller functions, as I can usually figure it out on my own. Doesn't take me more than 5 mins to learn a new button layout.

[OmegaFlareX]

Not very long for me, either, although I tend to glance over the manual for a basic control overview before I start playing.

I'm just now starting to pick up on the Genesis/Saturn control scheme (thanks to Monster World IV and Parodius Deluxe). It's tough to get used to the somewhat backwards default layouts, since for years I've been playing with the more thumb-friendly SNES/PS1 layouts.

For instance, I would always change the controls in Lightening Force from A-speed B-shot C-select to A-shot B-select C-speed. However, I'm finally figuring out why Sega games have those weird layouts: If you leave your thumb on the B button, it's pretty easy to hit the A or C at will. I guess that's pretty important since the Genesis/Saturn is chock full of action and shooter games, a lot of which require on-the-fly speed/weapon/etc. changes.

[Andy]

5 minutes unless it's a strategy game or some such where you have to learn all kinds of rules.

[Orta]

About 20 mins. to GET the feel of the controls.

[Hero]

Unless it's an RTS, I can get used to a game in a few minutes. Trying to learn all those keyboard combinations though... *shudder*

[bahn]

Less than 10 minutes...I have to run through a myriad of titles throughout any given week. Half the time I don't even bother reading the manual. When I am doing guides though, it takes a bit longer.

[cka]

Depends on the complexity. To this day there are still some games on consoles (namely those damned FPS and Resident Evil games) that I simply cannot play with a controller. Using one stick to move forward/strafe, the other as a "mouse look"... Or having run stop turn run syndrome, I can't adapt to that system. Other than that, it doesn't take me long at all to get myself aquainted with new/different control schemes.

[Drewbacca]

Take about 30 seconds before I've got the jist of it down. And probably an hour before I've learnt everything there is to learn about the controls.

[Werewolf]

I still can't figure out Pacman... how do I make him move left...

Seriously though depending on the game and how much there is to it may vary, but I never really read manuals anymore unless it is a new genre or type of game I never played before, since I play RPG's a lot I usually pick them up in no time

I like the in game instructions some games have now though