Testing Platform Game Movement in Emulator

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi guys

So, I’ve just found Corona and have been exploring a bit, playing with the samples etc.

I really love the look of the SDK, but I have one problem.

I’m trying to port one of my flash platform games to devices and can’t seem to figure out how you can test platform game movement in the emulator, since you only get the onscreen touch controls.

Is there a way to link the computer keyboard to the emulator somehow, so I can test the left, right and jump movement by using the arrow keys?

Thank you in advance for any help :slight_smile:

#2

How are you going to implement left right and jump on the device?  If you’re going to use tilt, then the folks at MY Developers have a module that runs on our device and transmits its accelerometer data to the simulator using WiFi.  But if you’re going to use an on screen virtual joystick/d-pad type system, those are touch events.

#3

Hi Rob

The way I want to do it, is by putting virtual buttons on the screen (left, right and jump).

When testing inside the emulator however, it makes it hard to test you game when you have to use the mouse to click the “vitrual buttons”.

Is there a way to have the “touch events” correspond with let’s say the keyboards arrow keys for the sake of testing?

Without a way to use the keyboard for testing, it makes it almost impossible to test a platformer while developing.

Thank you!

#4

http://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/36974-using-computer-keyboard-to-control-button-presses-in-simulator/

#5

Hi jstrahan

Thank you for the reply! I take it Corona doesn’t have a native way to do this then :frowning:

Strange, I don’t really understand how people test their platform style games (maybe people don’t use Corona for that style of game).

The class you are working on looks very helpful. I’m looking at starting development of my port in the next couple of days, so I’m just wondering whether you have any idea when this might be available.

Thank you again for your reply!

#6

maybe a week or so. im still trying to figure out how to turn it into a class and limit the extra code required

#7

Cool, thanks again!

I’ll check your thread for updates :slight_smile:

If any Corona staff see this, could you please confirm that Corona does not have the ability to do this somehow?

Thank you!

#8

so far i have it down to 3 lines of code with no customization. using w,a,s,d for moved event, q for ended event, and e for began event of an object. now to add back in the tap event then to add mapping user defined keys to events

#9

That sound pretty good! This will help a ton!

#10

They test it by putting it on the device when needed.  There are quite a few things in the Corona SDK library that only work on device, and while you can get most things going in the simulator, some things you just have to do on device.

#11

How are you going to implement left right and jump on the device?  If you’re going to use tilt, then the folks at MY Developers have a module that runs on our device and transmits its accelerometer data to the simulator using WiFi.  But if you’re going to use an on screen virtual joystick/d-pad type system, those are touch events.

#12

Hi Rob

The way I want to do it, is by putting virtual buttons on the screen (left, right and jump).

When testing inside the emulator however, it makes it hard to test you game when you have to use the mouse to click the “vitrual buttons”.

Is there a way to have the “touch events” correspond with let’s say the keyboards arrow keys for the sake of testing?

Without a way to use the keyboard for testing, it makes it almost impossible to test a platformer while developing.

Thank you!

#13

http://forums.coronalabs.com/topic/36974-using-computer-keyboard-to-control-button-presses-in-simulator/

#14

Hi jstrahan

Thank you for the reply! I take it Corona doesn’t have a native way to do this then :frowning:

Strange, I don’t really understand how people test their platform style games (maybe people don’t use Corona for that style of game).

The class you are working on looks very helpful. I’m looking at starting development of my port in the next couple of days, so I’m just wondering whether you have any idea when this might be available.

Thank you again for your reply!

#15

maybe a week or so. im still trying to figure out how to turn it into a class and limit the extra code required

#16

Cool, thanks again!

I’ll check your thread for updates :slight_smile:

If any Corona staff see this, could you please confirm that Corona does not have the ability to do this somehow?

Thank you!

#17

so far i have it down to 3 lines of code with no customization. using w,a,s,d for moved event, q for ended event, and e for began event of an object. now to add back in the tap event then to add mapping user defined keys to events

#18

That sound pretty good! This will help a ton!

#19

They test it by putting it on the device when needed.  There are quite a few things in the Corona SDK library that only work on device, and while you can get most things going in the simulator, some things you just have to do on device.