onscreen gamepad

[hansschmucker]

I know it just sounds downright silly at this time, but today somebody asked me how I would control complex games on my PDA, at first I was a bit puzzled, but then I realized that he was a PSX gamer, who was used to 3x2 axes and 12 buttons.

This bugged me a bit since I expect PDAs to be in max 2 years able to run PSX games. I tried designing an interface for psx games on the palm, but all I got done up till now are the buttons, which proove difficult, as the screen only accepts one input at a time, but many PSX games, require 2, 3 or 4 buttons pressed at once. However I leave now (for skiing) and thought that you might be interessed and maybe post own ideas for controling psx games on palm. I attached a current screenshot. ( hope it shows up)

[hansschmucker]

of course it doesn't. well, I guess I've got to keep my PC running then
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/psxint.gif

[hansschmucker]

P.S. The screenshot is from Threads of Fate (PS1) running on ePSXe

[hansschmucker]

And one last side note:

The part showing the buttons means press button OR BUTTONS if multiple buttons are shown, and H means keep button or buttons pressed

[rhart00]

I think it would be pretty tough putting a complex on screen gamepad equivalent to the PS controller while still leaving room on the screen for the game. Hopefully PDA's will do away with the stupid memo/todo/contacts/datebook buttons completely and put some new buttons somewhere else.

[cheyo84]

Yeah Whats up with Sony still keeping the same layout of the old palms in the new series? TT at least has a 5 way...but the new devices still have the same up and down botton.....Does TT or palm have pattent or something that sony cant include it in the new devices...But then it think it does it so it can seel more controlers.....I Hate marketing "taktiks"....Doesnt sony understand how hard it is to play the gameboy games with that layout....man!

[JackAxe]

The SONY gamepad for the Clie' is perfect for GB emulators. It's also great for almost every other action game on the Clie', you can even use it for games like Aldon's Crossing.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/SY_DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=z6ZvAE89i11vAHFYpHBlCwAt2Q1RZfynVMI=?CatalogCategoryID=T8IKC0%2eNjicAAADzsK8zFriI&ProductID=oRMKC0%2eNCWgAAADzXEYzFriN

I personally don't like on screen gamepads, to tedious to work with. Most of the PPC game emulators have them and they are a pain to use. Fortunately my PPC has a d-pad, but it is not as nice as my Clie's gamepad.

<]=)

[rhart00]

That on screen gamepad is scary. I am getting overwhelmed looking at it.

[GoldenTiger]

Hans, use the edit function instead of posting multiple times to boost your post count ;).

[hansschmucker]

Uhm... sorry ... actually it's not for boosting my posts count... it's just that it's so much more comfortable to just press tab and type into the QuickReply field instead of going through the process of editing the post. I know, I'm lazy, but I cannot help that =)

Sorry again (although I doubt it will change =)

[Unregistered]

It think this will be really helpfull with the new tablet pcs that are coming out....But then i dont know if they accept more that one input at a time...maybe if they change the touch sensive devices hardware for something like heat detector on the screeen or something like a pen like send a signal to the pixel that is on taping....this is in the making but i guess that this technology will no be included in tablet pc for a couple of years at least...and then will probably get it in the pda.

[mashoutposse]

The CLIE Game Controller beats any other PDA gaming solution hands down. Try it; it's EXCELLENT.

[Zork]

The Game Controller is useless for portable stuff. I already have the huge Audio earset for my T625 with me. Then the external digicam for the Sony Ericsson T300 mobile phone. What else should I put into my pockets ? This isnt a damned Sierra adventure, this is reality. And there Sony have to learn, that we need a DPad placed directly onto the PDA (and even if its just a tiny one).

[iebnn]

The T|T gamepad is terrible for gaming IMO. The button in the center goes above the dpad around it, so you end up hitting the button if you try to use the dpad with your thumb (like you would in a game).

[hansschmucker]

Here's a little attempt at an alternative gamepad concept (I know it looks terrible, but I don't have my usual software at hand)
http://hansschmucker.no-ip.biz/Clie/Button.png

Note that the button layout is still the default layout. That is, besides the little area around the left two buttons. It's supposed to barely stick out. Now, you can still use the standard buttons like you used to: up/down and so on. everything is in place, but when you put your thumb between the two left buttons, like you would do when playing a game, you'll notice that you can press up down as well.

[iebnn]

That looks very uncomfortable and (after holding my NX in that area as if there were buttons there) it feels like I'm about to drop the device, unless I hold it in an even more uncomfortable, odd position in my hands. :-/

[hansschmucker]

a) Just rest the device on your index fingers
b) It looks so unconfomfortable because I have not bothered to smooth anything.
c) Where else to put the buttons?

[iebnn]

a) feels awkward, thumbs need to be bent at a weird angle (and other ways of holding it like this make it not very stable in your hand). If someone bumped into me it would not be good. NBotice that hte original gameboys had the buttons much more far up on the handheld -- this works out well, but of course can't be done with an NX type device
b) Uncomfortable in the way it must be held.
c) Clamshell

[hansschmucker]

I'm no fan of clampshell mode. My previous Clié was a 615 (625 in Europe) and it worked well without it. I only use it when I want to use the keyboard (only when I write more then 20 lines) or if I want to play games. The hardbuttons are on my VG area via okey

[iebnn]

Having a game pad in the clamshell would be a lot nicer than at the tiny ltitle area on the bottom of the unit.

[hansschmucker]

Of course having both would solve the conflict =)

[iebnn]

Yeah... maybe.

[hansschmucker]

About the weird angle problem... maybe the solution why we have different results is as simple as you having bigger hands than me

[iebnn]

Could be.

[goyanian]

i still think there shoule be external/extra hardware for controllers. Since the emulator has to consider all types of palm, the most universal solution will be external (not neccessarily made by sony of course).