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IDProjectCategoryLast Update
0007158Valley 1SuggestionApr 19, 2012 1:42 pm
Reportergreywolf22 Assigned To 
Status consideringResolutionopen 
Summary0007158: Secondary Analog Gamepad Stick to function more like a mouse
DescriptionThis is just a suggestion on how to make game play with a game-pad a bit more independent then it is currently.

I think it would be great if the secondary analog stick could function more like a mouse...so the secondary analog stick would move the cursor around the screen in a similar fashion to how the mouse is used today, while the primary analog stick could control movement.

This would essentially allow the game (if you had enough buttons on your game-pad) to be played almost exclusively with a game-pad.

It may still require some keyboard input, but wouldn't necessarily mean juggling a game-pad, mouse and keyboard all at the same time.

Plus it would allow for more precise aiming and the ability to keep firing in one direction without the stick always returning to center when released.

If this is not the appropriate location for this suggestion then please feel free to move it (or close it and let me know where to open it) for future reference. This is mainly a future(s) suggesting and does in no way detract from the ability to play the game in its current state.
TagsNo tags attached.
Internal WeightFeature Suggestion

Activities

Bluddy

Apr 18, 2012 9:20 pm

reporter   ~0022335

I think what you'll find is that there's no way to make a gamepad axis both accurate enough and fast enough to facilitate good gameplay as a cursor controller. There's a reason companies don't do this on consoles. It should be ok (though annoying because of imprecision) for menu control, but for actual combat it'll be intolerable.

GUDare

Apr 19, 2012 12:54 am

reporter   ~0022341

To support Bluddy, grab a copy of Halo Wars on the XBox. It was built/programmed FOR the XBox, and only for the XBox, and you'll find it a bit unwieldy. It's not a pretty thing.

That said, I'm not using a gamepad, and if it'll help the folks who use one a little more... go for it! I personally would think you'd rather have it act like a rotational spell aimer, possibly with analog levels to push the cursor in/out a bit more/less for platform placement.

greywolf22

Apr 19, 2012 1:14 pm

reporter   ~0022363

Hi guys, my idea was to use the secondary analog stick more for aiming/placing platforms etc. So what GUDare is suggesting might work well also. The biggest problem isn't so much the aiming, it's the other thing (like platform placement) that I see being the hardest part to implement.

That being said, as cumbersome as it might be, there are a lot of folks who have their systems hooked up to the TV, and having a gamepad type solution might be optimal for those folks.

I agree that it would be all about how it's implemented to determine how useful it would be...obviously you wouldn't want simply a slow cursor moving around the screen, but if there was a way to allow for aiming/placement of platforms then I think that would give us a pretty useful mechanic.

Just my 2 cents though, appreciate all the feedback and ideas!

Penumbra

Apr 19, 2012 1:26 pm

reporter   ~0022364

Like, instead of merely specifying a direction for aiming spells, the analog stick could move the aiming cursor up to half a screen away from the character, or so. When released, it would revert back to center.

For aiming a spell like fire ball, how far the cursor is in a single direction doesn't matter. However, for placing platforms, using the extra analog data of "how far" in a single direction would help.

Bluddy

Apr 19, 2012 1:30 pm

reporter   ~0022366

Hmm... I think that the addition of gamepad support is going to open the can of worms Chris was afraid of. This game will eventually need to support non-mouse input for just about everything. The good news is, I don't think it's going to be as tough as Chris thinks it'll be.

For platform placement, a 'ghost mode' where holding down the button and moving to place a semi-transparent platform would be perfect I think. A quick press of the button would use the default location (when in a rush).

greywolf22

Apr 19, 2012 1:42 pm

reporter   ~0022368

These are some great suggestions.

I wouldn't expect that a majority of players would use it, but it would be a nice option. And some of the implementation ideas you guys are throwing out there are really great.

Issue History

Date Modified Username Field Change
Apr 18, 2012 6:50 pm greywolf22 New Issue
Apr 18, 2012 9:20 pm Bluddy Note Added: 0022335
Apr 19, 2012 12:54 am GUDare Note Added: 0022341
Apr 19, 2012 9:02 am tigersfan Internal Weight => Feature Suggestion
Apr 19, 2012 9:02 am tigersfan Status new => considering
Apr 19, 2012 1:14 pm greywolf22 Note Added: 0022363
Apr 19, 2012 1:26 pm Penumbra Note Added: 0022364
Apr 19, 2012 1:30 pm Bluddy Note Added: 0022366
Apr 19, 2012 1:42 pm greywolf22 Note Added: 0022368
Apr 14, 2014 9:28 am Chris_McElligottPark Category Suggestion - General Idea => Suggestion - General
Apr 14, 2014 9:30 am Chris_McElligottPark Category Suggestion - General => Suggestion