User:JeffreyLau/SC2

Notation

The SC2 community has created a standard format for notating moves. It may look arcane at first, but it's compact and unambiguous. Learn it, love it, confuse your scrubby friends by yelling it at the dinner table.

Directions

There are 9 directions in SC2 (counting the null direction-- no direction pressed). Each is given a number from 1 to 9, arranged like the keys on your keyboard's numberpad.

  7 8 9
  \ | /
4 - 5 - 6
  / | \
  1 2 3

These directions are arranged as if you were on the left side (Player 1, abbreviated P1). So 6 is forward, 4 is backwards, 7 is diagonal up and back, etc.

If you're on the left side of the screen and you want to execute 6, tap the right button. If you're on the right side of the screen and you want to execute 6, tap left. Remember: 6 is always towards your opponent, 4 is always away from your opponent.

Buttons

SC2 only has four buttons, called A, B, K, and G. These correspond to Square, Triangle, Circle, and X on the PS2 controller, respectively.

Physical arrangement on the PS2 controller:

    B
A - | - K
    G

• A: generally, used to execute horizontal moves
• B: generally, used to execute vertical moves
• C: generally, used to execute kicks (sometimes it executes headbutts and punches, but it always executes a non-weapon move)
• G: used to guard, guard impact, duck, jump, and throw.

See the Engine section for more details on what all this means.

Putting directions and buttons together

Basic rules

• By default, all the inputs in a move should be tapped.
• When no direction is specified, don't press a direction
  • For example, the move A means to tap A without pressing any directions.
• When a direction and a button are written next to each other, press the direction and the button at the same time.
  • For example, 6B means to tap 6 and B at the same time. 2G means to tap 2 and G at the same time, which executes a crouch.
• When a direction and direction or button and button are written next to each other, execute them in sequence.
  • For example, AA means to tap A, then quickly tap A again.

Special symbols

There are several special symbols used to conjoin directions and buttons

+ (plus sign)

Press two buttons at the same time. For example, A+B means to tap A and B at the same time.

[ ] (square brackets)

Hold the move inside the brackets. For example, 6[B] means to tap 6 and B at the same time, then continue to hold B. [A+B] means to press A and B at the same time and hold them.

_ (underscore)

Means "or." For example, 7_8_9A means to execute 7A, 8A, or 9A. All of these are jumping horizontal slashes. 8A jumps straight up, while 7A jumps up and a little backwards while 9A jumps up and a little forwards. Usually, this symbol is only used with directions and not buttons.

(lowercase button)

means to tap the indicated button very quickly, then press the next button. For example, bA means to tap b, then as soon as possible tap A (but make sure not to press them at the same time, e.g. A+B). This is also called a slide, e.g. "slide from B to A," since people often execute it by using one finger to literally slide from the first button to the next.

, (comma)

Used to separate moves. Think of it as a long pause.