Using laptop keyboard to control platform character

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

Hi All,

I am new to game development. I am about to embark on building a conventional platform game with left right and jump buttons to control the character. I can get the buttons working by touch in the simulator but it is extremely awkward testing the game by clicking the buttons in the simulator with the mouse.Moving the mouse from button to button just isnt practical.

Does anyone know of a way I could possibly use my laptop keyboard buttons to control the character while building the game or an alternative way that I could control the character?

Thank You

Dar

#2

The only way I could imagine doing this would be using a windows program called Simba which lets you make scripts that can control your mouse and keyboard. I used it to make a rapid-fire-clicker for MW3 and it was pretty easy. You would probably be able to make a script where whenever you hit the WASD keys or arrow keys it clicks on your game (simulator) in the right spot to move the character. The only thing about this is that you would have to put the simulator in the right spot for it to work which isn’t that bad but it could be a hassel :confused: If you are using a mac I don’t really know of any alternatives, sorry. 

#3

this may help

Corona Remote for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App …

but yes it would be nice if corona would let us map buttons to object for testing from keyboard. and while im at it, if the computer has a multitouch touch pad have it work for multitouch on the corona sim.

#4

Thanks for the suggestions guys, much appreciated.

@AppgojoStudios I am using a mac at the moment but I like the suggestion and will have a look to see if there is any similar applications out there for mac.

@jstrahan I was looking at remote before but wasnt sure did it just read the accelerometer or if it can take inputs to? Using the multitouch pad would be even better.

#5

The only way I could imagine doing this would be using a windows program called Simba which lets you make scripts that can control your mouse and keyboard. I used it to make a rapid-fire-clicker for MW3 and it was pretty easy. You would probably be able to make a script where whenever you hit the WASD keys or arrow keys it clicks on your game (simulator) in the right spot to move the character. The only thing about this is that you would have to put the simulator in the right spot for it to work which isn’t that bad but it could be a hassel :confused: If you are using a mac I don’t really know of any alternatives, sorry. 

#6

this may help

Corona Remote for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App …

but yes it would be nice if corona would let us map buttons to object for testing from keyboard. and while im at it, if the computer has a multitouch touch pad have it work for multitouch on the corona sim.

#7

Thanks for the suggestions guys, much appreciated.

@AppgojoStudios I am using a mac at the moment but I like the suggestion and will have a look to see if there is any similar applications out there for mac.

@jstrahan I was looking at remote before but wasnt sure did it just read the accelerometer or if it can take inputs to? Using the multitouch pad would be even better.