RPGDX > Forums > General Discussion > Joysticks/gamepads

entivore · Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 8:59 am Post subject: Joysticks/gamepads

I was thinking, one of the main things that sets console games apart from pc games is the main input device. For consoles it's gamepads, but for pcs it's usually keyboard and mouse. I was wondering, is anyone planning on implementing joystick/gamepad support for their game? Is it worth it to do so? I haven't really found a lot of info on the subject that's recent (I have vague memories of them using this crappy processor sucking method of transmitting data), so anyone got any more information about this area?

Also, does anyone know of a good brand of gamepad to buy?
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Rainer Deyke · Demon Hunter Joined: 05 Jun 2002 Posts: 672

I implemented joystick support for my last game. I think it was worth it, even though I never actually use a joystick/gamepad. It's trivial to do, and it makes the game more "complete", so why not?

Modanung · Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 6:54 pm Post subject:

Gravis makes nice gamepads... I think.

akOOma · Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 7:03 pm Post subject:

Logitech, too
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Ninkazu · Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 9:07 pm Post subject:

I own two Gravis Gamepad pro's. heh. Ah the days I was obsessed with emulators...

Guest · Posted: Mon May 12, 2003 11:52 pm Post subject: Re: Joysticks/gamepads

DrV · Posted: Tue May 13, 2003 12:59 am Post subject:

I actually have a steering wheel thingy, which is a blast to use when playing driving games, but it's also quite good for controlling a rpg-type game. So, yes, please do support it... it'll be something that sets your rpg apart. Most indie-RPGs I've played only have hard-coded keyboard assignments and no joystick support whatsoever. I feel that the user should be able to configure the key assignments.
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ThousandKnives · Guest

I've never met a PC gamepad I didn't hate.

Apparantly PC gamepad manufacturers can't grasp that the line between pressing up and, say, diagonally up and right, should NOT be feather-thin. Call me picky, but I simply can't play games when my cardinal directions keep spontaneously transferring into diagonal directions.

I include gamepad support in my games, but my current project offers no custom button-mapping, which is really key if you're going to promote that kind of usage. Quite frankly I can't see the reason to bother though. Unless you've got one of those peachy devices that let you plug your SNES controller in through a serial port.... yess......

XMark · Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 5:12 am Post subject:

I had that diagonal problem with a cheapy I bought for 5 bucks once. I remember it was especially crazy when I played one of the Contra games and I would try to duck under a bullet and end up running straight into it.

My best joystick experience so far has been the gravis gamepad pro, although it broke mysteriously after only a couple months of owning it. It was excellent while it lasted though, and it helped that it has practically the exact same layout as the SNES controller.
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DarkDread · Posted: Wed May 14, 2003 6:58 am Post subject:

I've got a cheapie no name controller... it's the ugliest colour of 'baby poop yellow' that you'll ever see, but it acts and feels like an SNES pad, just a little more stiff. It's pretty good, and calibrates very easily under dos, linux, and windoze. I dunno, I've tried some more expensive pads, but when it comes to PC game pads, they all feel about the same to me... either 'good enough' or 'ugh, who designed this turd?!'
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The Anarchist · Posted: Fri May 16, 2003 5:21 pm Post subject:

I've got a crappy one that I bought off one of my mates for £5. Its really quite nice, the D-pad isn't loose at all, its got shoulder pads, and its roughly the same shape as an unofficial Mega Drive controller I used to have. You know, back in the day that unofficial pads were actually useful. Nowadays the designers seem to think its a good idea to make unofficial pads as uncomfortable as possible, to make it worthwhile for people to pay twice as much for an official pad. If you had an unofficial N64 pad when that were still alive, you were shunned.
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Sirocco_lazy · Guest

Sure, gamepads are a good secondary input device, alongside the keyboard.

If you're not using a USB gamepad you'll have to deal with the fact that polling a joystick can be unusually slow. To offset this possibility, I strongly urge you to poll the joystick no more than 20-35 times a second. Timers, Interrupts, and threads can help with this, depending on your compiler/lib choices. This allows the controls to feel responsive without being "twitchy", and keeps the cpu load at a minimum.

Fenix Blade has gamepad controls, as does Frenetic. For Cry Havoc, I'm going to a mouse-only control setup, which turned out far better than I expected :)

js71 · Wandering DJ Joined: 22 Nov 2002 Posts: 815

I own a Thrustmaster Firestorm Digital II, USB- 12 buttons, $45.97. Very nice. Had it for awhile now, thrustmaster makes AWESOME gamepads. And I rarely have that problem with the down and left or up and right, etc directions mixing, and it's got a nice feel to it, kinda like an extremely confortable playstation controller. If you're looking for a nice, comfortable gamepad with plenty of buttons, BUY THE FIRESTORM II.

...Ok, now that I'm done with my ranting...

:-P