Hehe, I wrote a doc about this years ago and everyone ignored it.

No offense, but it appears that the article and the comments are regarding the 82 and the 83. I have used many 85 and 86 programs (on both calcs), and almost all games use the same layout:

Arrow keys: move
2nd: fire, use, jump, etc.
Exit: exit
More: pause, menu, etc.
Function keys: secondary fire, use, etc.

This is a standard by default, because the exit key is built into the keypad. On the 82 and 83, however, TI used a different (inferior, IMHO) menu system and chagned the key layout functions.
Yet, the keys are in the exact same spot. Sometimes, mode (quit) exits a program, and other times it's clear. Sometimes del pauses or brings up a menu, and the rest of time you have to guess. Ash (82 shell) used the standard 85 layout for it's keys. This makes sense to me...the programmer was an experienced 85 programmer, so why change keys?

I agree with David P's comments about the 85-86.
I am a proud owner of both these calcs, and the
prevalent key system of [exit], [second], [more],
[enter] and the f-keys is widely accepted. The
only true problem is when a programmer refuses
the norm and does his own thing (like using [clear]
instead of [enter]. When the 89 comes out, I hope
that everyone will just use the obvious commands,
and stick to what works. Any key-switchin program
should be a user option, not a programmer requirement.

All my 82 programs use the same keys:

2nd = Action button(whatever it may be)
Mode = Pause button
Del = Save Button
Clear= Exit Button

I use Clear as the exit key instead of MODE because anyone who has ever used an 82(with a game that uses MODE as the exit key) has encountered the problem that while exiting the game you accidently exit the shell(which uses MODE as the exit key). This is not a problem on the 83 because both shells use GRAPH as the exit key. Using CLEAR as the exit key is also beneficial because there is no way you can accidently hit CLEAR unlike MODE which is right next to 2nd.

The DEL (delete) key is used for saving the game? Aren't you contridicting yourself? :)

I agree with your comments about using Clear as the exit key. I was about to post the exact same thing.

Who cares? you whine too much, it takes no time at all to figure out the keys to games.

Thanks, Joe. I'll make sure I keep your apathy in mind as I write my next article.

First of all, I don't think we need to flood the message system with a lot of "I agree" statements.
A universal key system would make learning a new game easier, but why would we want to restrict the programers to only a few keys, and just because you don't like a key config doesn't everyone doesn't. Besides, that is what the documentation is for, to tell us what keys to use.

Yes it would be great but if you have a certain game that's fast paced you might want different buttons to work. Maybe some that are close in one region or best hand-held position. I think that many agree that scattered keys don't work and with some of the calculators having different keyboards that handheld comfort is the ultimate for a good working game.

I am disagreaing with that. I own a TI-83, which I beleive you do, and a TI-85. If you ever take a look at the 85 games, everything is STANDERED! The EXIT key will let you exit, ENTER, or 2nd will start the program, and ALPHA will turn it all off. It's a logical system.
For SOS, there is an key press changer, however, I don't use it. JUST MEMORIZE IT! Id you really hate, it, start a campaign. i really can't insult, or "flame" about these things, but if you are really against, it, then go ahead and make one!

If someone would just make a program for each individual calc 82 & 85 first that allows the user to customize the keys that they use in each program that would be awsome!