Mapping Numeric Keypad to Analog Stick
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The MS-DOS games, Bioforge and D/Generation, both use the numeric keypad as the main means of control. I haven't been able to use the DOSBox mapper to map the numpad to an analog stick so is it possible using xboxdrv?
It's easy enough to map the keys 2, 4, 6, and 8 to the cardinal directions of the analog stick but it's mapping the odd numbers 1, 3, 7 and 9 to the diagonals that's proving troublesome. Has anybody managed to do this, either in DOSBox and with xboxdrv?
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@dudleydes said in Mapping Numeric Keypad to Analog Stick:
it's mapping the odd numbers 1, 3, 7 and 9 to the diagonals that's proving troublesome.
Mapping to diagonals isn't possible with xboxdrv. I have done it before on other platforms with other mapping software and it's not a reliable control scheme anyway. It ends up being too difficult to dial in the number you want with any precision because they're so crammed together on the stick. However, I have used xboxdrv to map a full number pad to the right analog pad for several emulators using hotkey modifiers. Up, down, left and right become 1-4, L2+up, down, left and right become 5-8 and R2+left, right become 9-0. This has worked out very well as a general mapping for Atari 2600, Atari 5200, Odyssey², ColecoVision and Intellivision. If it's a direction you're interested in going, a working example of that part of the mapping would look like:
--ui-axismap X2=KEY_1:KEY_2,Y2=KEY_3:KEY_4,lt+X2=KEY_5:KEY_6,lt+Y2=KEY_7:KEY_8,rt+X2=KEY_9:KEY_0,rt+Y2=KEY_UNKNOWN:KEY_UNKNOWN -
@mediamogul said in Mapping Numeric Keypad to Analog Stick:
...and it's not a reliable control scheme anyway. It ends up being too difficult to dial in the number you want with any precision because they're so crammed together on the stick.
This is an important point you have raised. I have the keypad from the Intellivision controller mapped to the right analog stick and it can be hit and miss when selecting the number of players or skill level.
With clunky controls in Bioforge for both movement and combat, mapping the numpad to an analog stick could well make the game unplayable. In any case, I have taken another look at this and I have used the DOSBox mapper to map the diagonals on the numpad to the triggers and bumpers on my PS3 controller. Bioforge uses the Ctrl and Alt keys with the numpad for hand and feet combat so using modifiers is going to result in some serious finger contortion!
Thanks for replying. I'll marked solved with the conclusion it's probably a bad idea to try to map the numpad to an analog stick.
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@dudleydes said in Mapping Numeric Keypad to Analog Stick:
Bioforge uses the Ctrl and Alt keys with the numpad for hand and feet combat so using modifiers is going to result in some serious finger contortion!
On all the keypad-based systems I've mapped this way, most just use keypad input for menu options such as player and difficulty selection, which can be casually selected. However, I can definitely see why mapping a game like 'Bioforge' this way wouldn't be any fun. Intellivision games often make the keypad an integral part of the core control scheme as well and I sometimes find myself doing mental and finger gymnastics in order to simply move a character from left to right. I end up having to tailor map a custom control scheme if I want to play the game any further.
Anyway, I'm glad you found an option that works for you. It does seem to be the best solution.
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