New steering system for keyboarders

[NaBUru38]

In arcade racers two buttons to steer are enough: left and right. But in a simulator it's far from enough. You have added two buttons, one for quick movements and another one for slow movements. I've tried to get used to it, but it should be more "intuitive".

My idea is to use four keys in a row (like N, M, "," and "."). The two inner ones to steer slowly, and the outer ones to steer quickly. If no key is pressed, the wheel stands still (in the last position).
The same would be useful for throttle and brakes, but most characters are already reserved. Maybe the "numeral set" could be useful: Bloq Num and 7 to press the throttle, 4 and 1 to release it; * and 9 to press the brake, and 3 and 6 to release it.

This should not replace the old system, but both would be available.


BTW, why can't we use Alt, Tab, Ctrl or Shift? I usually use L-Alt to upshift and Tab to downshift, but I can't. Is it a technical issue, or you just forgot it?

[Bob Smith]

I would agree the keyboard control system, while having some very nice ideas, isn't quite as practical as it could be.

[Hankstar]

Hmm, I don't know...sounds like it would be very cumbersome and complicated to use.
I think it would be easier just to buy a cheap wheel, or joystick/control pad.

[NaBUru38]

Here in the "deep south" you don't see wheels growing in trees.

If there you think "cheap wheels are bad, good wheels are expensive", well, here it is "if the wheel is bad it's expensive, if it's good you saw it on Inetrnet, not in a store".

Got the message?

Besides, having a solid keyboard system will attract many newbies (who will end up being good sim drivers).

[tristancliffe]

Mouse driving? Plenty of fast mousers out there, much less fast keyboarders.

[Hankstar]

[quote=NaBUru38]Here in the "deep south" you don't see wheels growing in trees.

If there you think "cheap wheels are bad, good wheels are expensive", well, here it is "if the wheel is bad it's expensive, if it's good you saw it on Inetrnet, not in a store".

Got the message?
..
quote]

What's your point exactly? Forums are for opinions, you got mine. No need to be aggressive.

Most kb drivers seem happy with the system as it is, yours sounds like it would be difficult to use and difficult to include in the game. I was suggesting other methods. :shrug:

[Bob Smith]

I have to agree, mouse driving is an aquired taste. It's certainly worth acquiring, and only takes a little persistence. Both controller methods could do with some more adjustment. Have seperate mouse speeds/acceleration from Windows would be a great start (particular for lower resolution users who get uber-sensitive mouse controls).

[NaBUru38]

@ Hankstar: Sometimes I don't feel the taste of my words. Perhaps "Got the message?" was too slang, or aggressive. I'm sorry, mate.


The point is that drivers might have the option to set these four keys in a row. You can set two options: l+r with "faster" and "slower", or fast-l, slow-l, slow-r and fast-r. This will need the fixed keys (write message, change the pit stop options...) to be free, so you can rearrange all of them.

[Lucasinio]

Mouse driving? Plenty of fast mousers out there, much less fast keyboarders.


Yeah, got to agree there. When i was a kb user, it was rare to find even another keyboarder. I think the majority (not all) using LFS will already have a wheel, before LFS.

[Hankstar]

NaBUru :D

Another "lost in translation" kind of moment. No worries :up:

[whitey6272]

3 words mate,

"GET A WHEEL"

[B2B@300]

I've known some quite fast and competitive keyboard drivers in LFS, but mostly driving the XF GTi on BLGP :D.

Anyway it IS possible to drive resonably well on keyboard AND not everyone CAN get a wheel.

LFS is exposed to an international market, and in some countries its a real struggle just to live. So some people, even though they have managed to get a PC (and they are the lucky ones) will not be able to afford to get a wheel or for that matter even find a wheel locally. So just to suggest "get a wheel" is rather naive. Some people really don't have any other choice other than, will I use mouse or keyboard?

I think it's a good suggestion to be able to vary the turn rate via alternate keys :thumb: My own spin on it though would be have the same key setup as it is now but if you press shift in conjunction with the turn key it would vary the turn rate. I also like the idea of it holding (remembering) a set point (angle of turn), with maybe tapping both the turn keys together returning it to the central position. That would also be good for brake and throttle too imo, have it so that it stays at a set postion rather than tapping madely :D and if your on the throttle and you hit the brake button it reduces the throttle bake to 0.

Maybe there would be more "fast" keyboarders with these improvements :D

[smack]

seems like a good suggestion naburu, when i dont have my wheel connected, i use keyboard.

but isnt the steer fast and steer slow multiplier already there for steering fast and slow. when i drive on a track like as national or as club , i find the steer slow multiplier useful as u can go more smoothly on some of the straights.

although, it would be nice if we could assign separate keys for steering fast or slow :thumb:

[Takumi_Project.d]

as i use a mouse to steer and kb for throttle and brake controls, i had an idea a while back of ... what if...

along with the basic throttle key, which of course goes striaght to 100%, what if i had one or two other throttle keys, with say 33% and 66%? cumbersome yes,, but on some courses you'd probably only need to use them on one corner.

then again i get by fine 99% of the time, there are some damn quick keyboarders out there on the current system, if you choose to stick it out with the keyboard be prepared to put in a heap of time to learn it