Maintenance for the week of June 23:
• PC/Mac: No maintenance – June 23
• PC/Mac: NA and EU megaservers for maintenance – June 25, 12:00AM EDT (4:00 UTC) - 6:00PM EDT (22:00 UTC)
• PC/Mac: No maintenance – June 23
• PC/Mac: NA and EU megaservers for maintenance – June 25, 12:00AM EDT (4:00 UTC) - 6:00PM EDT (22:00 UTC)
We are currently investigating issues some players are having on the European console megaservers. We will update as new information becomes available.
Review and wishlist for Gamepad/Controller support
ContraTempo
✭✭✭✭
Yes, I know there is an official feedback thread but that is mostly focused on "is what we programmed working?" What I want to do here is talk about what I saw using it, how it compares with Xpadder, and what ZOS should add/change.
First some basics:
- If you are going to use this you first need to make sure that in Windows you have installed an XBOX controller. If you are using a PS3/4 controller you will need a compatibility layer to make it look like an Xbox controller to Windows. I use a PS3 controller with the SCP Drivers.
- To activate controller support hit ESC, then choose Settings --> Gameplay --> Gamepad and click No (it becomes Yes).
- No support for Mac (yet).
When you activate it you will actually go into console mode, so all the menus and other UI items you are use to seeing will instead display the version you would see if you are playing on an XBOX or PS4. Currently there is no way to turn off this "feature".
Other observations:
- The functions of the controller worked well.
- The buttons were mostly re-configurable from the Controls menu.
- In the Controls menu buttons are labeled Gamepad Button 1, Gamepad Button 2, etc. instead of A,B,X,Y.
- As you might expect from a gamepad, the number of available commands is rather limited.
- The keyboard DOES still work so you can input other commands there, but you will still get the console type menus.
- Prompts/Hints onscreen will show XBOX buttons, e.g. A,B,X,Y so if you have a PS controller you will have to learn to translate or label your buttons with a silver sharpie. Of course, you have to learn the buttons without looking before a gamepad is really worth using.
- You cannot bind any gamepad button to the ESC key so for that you must use the keyboard.
- One odd thing I noticed is that with gamepad support enabled in full screen mode if you use the Windows Key to switch into windows (as I did while writing this) it does not immediately stop sending signals from the keyboard to the game. You must first click on another window to get the focus off the game. Be careful about this; I inadvertently spent a skill point while trying to type this post.
Wish list:
- The ability to program any one command -- even slash commands like /reloadui or /fistpump -- into gamepad buttons. That means ZoS would have to invent a mechanism for programming slash commands into the keybindings (which sounds cool even is you only use KBM).
- The use of trigger or "shoulder" buttons as a sort of function key to give us more commands on the controller. For example, the A key is set to Ability 1 but if the Left Shoulder button is set to be a function key then Left Shoulder + A could be something else, like Weapon Swap.
- The ability to turn off the console style menus but keep gamepad support. This is probably at the top of most wish lists but it's at the bottom of mine because I realize all the functionality is still there -- we just have to learn where to find it -- and providing gamepad support in the regular menus may present some logistical challenges for the programmers. I would much rather have the other things on the wish list than have them spend all their time on this one.
Xpadder:
The truth is, I still prefer my Xpadder setup. I have 4 layers of menus and I do have a button programmed to send ESC when I press it:
- Layer 1 is normal gamepad stuff (mostly combat)
- Layer 2 is activated when I hold left shoulder and press any other key (more combat plus access to maps and menus)
- Layer 3 is a context sensitive layer that is activated when I call up maps or menus
- Layer 4 is activated when I hold the right shoulder (this is where I put extras like a few useful emotes and other slash commands, and my mount and pet commands).
In addition I have my sticks set up to go fairly fast when playing so I can quickly look around but slower when in the menus so I don't zoom past menu and inventory items I am trying to use. As I have gotten better with the stick I have increased the speed of the look-around so being able to change the speed was important.
Altogether mine is a pretty sophisticated setup and beyond what gamepad support in ESO currently offers. I did have to mess around with the sticks to get the signal just right, playing with speed, and with dead zones to eliminate jitter. I had to set up multiple sets and set selector keys. To get slash commands to work I had to fool around with advanced key setups and insert delays into the output sequence so they would not type faster than ESO could read them.
My one big gripe with XPadder is that occasionally it gets stuck on the wrong set (does not automagically return to set 1) and I have to hit my start button (ESC) a couple of times to get it back to set 1. That is not a good feeling in combat. I'm working on a fix but have not found it yet.
Conclusion:
My Xpadder setup is clearly superior but if you are going to create something like my Xpadder setup you should plan to spend at least a full day just leaning about and setting up your gamepad/Xpadder. Maybe a whole weekend, depending on your understanding of how this all works. That is a lot of commitment of non-play time. THEN you have to learn to use all those functions. I suspect most people will be happy to go with the setup ZoS offers, which really is pretty good and includes the ability to customize commands. I'd give them 3 ½ stars for a very worthy first offering.
First some basics:
- If you are going to use this you first need to make sure that in Windows you have installed an XBOX controller. If you are using a PS3/4 controller you will need a compatibility layer to make it look like an Xbox controller to Windows. I use a PS3 controller with the SCP Drivers.
- To activate controller support hit ESC, then choose Settings --> Gameplay --> Gamepad and click No (it becomes Yes).
- No support for Mac (yet).
When you activate it you will actually go into console mode, so all the menus and other UI items you are use to seeing will instead display the version you would see if you are playing on an XBOX or PS4. Currently there is no way to turn off this "feature".
Other observations:
- The functions of the controller worked well.
- The buttons were mostly re-configurable from the Controls menu.
- In the Controls menu buttons are labeled Gamepad Button 1, Gamepad Button 2, etc. instead of A,B,X,Y.
- As you might expect from a gamepad, the number of available commands is rather limited.
- The keyboard DOES still work so you can input other commands there, but you will still get the console type menus.
- Prompts/Hints onscreen will show XBOX buttons, e.g. A,B,X,Y so if you have a PS controller you will have to learn to translate or label your buttons with a silver sharpie. Of course, you have to learn the buttons without looking before a gamepad is really worth using.
- You cannot bind any gamepad button to the ESC key so for that you must use the keyboard.
- One odd thing I noticed is that with gamepad support enabled in full screen mode if you use the Windows Key to switch into windows (as I did while writing this) it does not immediately stop sending signals from the keyboard to the game. You must first click on another window to get the focus off the game. Be careful about this; I inadvertently spent a skill point while trying to type this post.
Wish list:
- The ability to program any one command -- even slash commands like /reloadui or /fistpump -- into gamepad buttons. That means ZoS would have to invent a mechanism for programming slash commands into the keybindings (which sounds cool even is you only use KBM).
- The use of trigger or "shoulder" buttons as a sort of function key to give us more commands on the controller. For example, the A key is set to Ability 1 but if the Left Shoulder button is set to be a function key then Left Shoulder + A could be something else, like Weapon Swap.
- The ability to turn off the console style menus but keep gamepad support. This is probably at the top of most wish lists but it's at the bottom of mine because I realize all the functionality is still there -- we just have to learn where to find it -- and providing gamepad support in the regular menus may present some logistical challenges for the programmers. I would much rather have the other things on the wish list than have them spend all their time on this one.
Xpadder:
The truth is, I still prefer my Xpadder setup. I have 4 layers of menus and I do have a button programmed to send ESC when I press it:
- Layer 1 is normal gamepad stuff (mostly combat)
- Layer 2 is activated when I hold left shoulder and press any other key (more combat plus access to maps and menus)
- Layer 3 is a context sensitive layer that is activated when I call up maps or menus
- Layer 4 is activated when I hold the right shoulder (this is where I put extras like a few useful emotes and other slash commands, and my mount and pet commands).
In addition I have my sticks set up to go fairly fast when playing so I can quickly look around but slower when in the menus so I don't zoom past menu and inventory items I am trying to use. As I have gotten better with the stick I have increased the speed of the look-around so being able to change the speed was important.
Altogether mine is a pretty sophisticated setup and beyond what gamepad support in ESO currently offers. I did have to mess around with the sticks to get the signal just right, playing with speed, and with dead zones to eliminate jitter. I had to set up multiple sets and set selector keys. To get slash commands to work I had to fool around with advanced key setups and insert delays into the output sequence so they would not type faster than ESO could read them.
My one big gripe with XPadder is that occasionally it gets stuck on the wrong set (does not automagically return to set 1) and I have to hit my start button (ESC) a couple of times to get it back to set 1. That is not a good feeling in combat. I'm working on a fix but have not found it yet.
Conclusion:
My Xpadder setup is clearly superior but if you are going to create something like my Xpadder setup you should plan to spend at least a full day just leaning about and setting up your gamepad/Xpadder. Maybe a whole weekend, depending on your understanding of how this all works. That is a lot of commitment of non-play time. THEN you have to learn to use all those functions. I suspect most people will be happy to go with the setup ZoS offers, which really is pretty good and includes the ability to customize commands. I'd give them 3 ½ stars for a very worthy first offering.
ContraTempo
Carpe DM
Seize the Dungeon Master
Carpe DM
Seize the Dungeon Master
0
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ContraTempo✭✭✭✭Anyone have anything to add to the wish list?ContraTempo
Carpe DM
Seize the Dungeon Master0