Mouse Steering solution

[Zoom377]

EDIT 24/6/17: The download link was removed. Steam does not tolerate Mega links, so I am hosting the file on Google Drive now.


Hey, I've been noticing the number of people asking for mouse steering, and so for a programming exercise I have created this small program.

Program features

1. Steering using mouse raw input (via a virtual joystick)
2. Border-less windowed mode
3. Mouse hiding
4. On-screen steering marker
5. Mouse buttons bindable in-game (via virtual joystick buttons)

It is made using Auto Hotkey and requires you to have vJoy installed.

The program uses a virtual joystick and feeds values to it.
When you move the mouse left and right the X value of the joystick will be changed.
If push back is set higher than 0, it will be pushed towards neutral over time.

Demo video by db_mew:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOkS19LQGQM&hd=1

Installation:

Diagram here: http://imgur.com/bQuR9Xj
1. Download and install vJoy[vjoystick.sourceforge.net]
2. Download my program[drive.google.com]

The program can be placed anywhere. It will save settings to Documents\Mouse Steering.

How to use:

The first time you run the program it will offer you settings. These will be explained below:

Sensitivity: Simply scales the input from your mouse. Too much and fine steering will be difficult. Too little and it will not be possible to reach full steering lock.

Push back: This is how strong the steering will push towards the neutral position. When set to 0 the value of steering will be maintained.

Non-linearity: This makes the steering much looser near the neutral position. Too much and it will feel very loose in the centre, too little and it will be difficult to separate fine and large movements.


When the program is running, you will notice a new icon in your tray. Right click and then click settings to open up the settings window.


Pressing CTRL + F11 shows a marker on the screen which moves in relation to the joystick position.
To work around the difficulty of displaying on top of a fullscreen DX application, I have added the ability to toggle border-less window, which allows the marker to be seen.

Left and right mouse buttons control buttons 7 and 8 on the joystick, for those who wish to use mouse buttons in game.

In V1.6.1 I've changed it so joystick values go from 0 to 32767 (as it should be) you may have to recalibrate or just reset to default. (default happens to be 32767)

Other information and hotkeys:

Its AutoHotkey, why not throw in a ton of utilities?
CTRL + F7: Change marker color
CTRL + F8: Toggle hide mouse
CTRL + F9: Toggle borderless window
CTRL + F10: Set joystick to neutral
CTRL + F11: Enable joystick marker (Doesn't currently work in fullscreen DX games, hence the existence of F8 and F9 hotkeys)
CTRL + F12: Exit

I'm not aware of a program that does this however I only did a brief Google search.

This program relies on:
vJoy by Shaul[vjoystick.sourceforge.net]
evilC's CvJoyInterface[github.com]
Gdip by tic[www.autohotkey.com]
AHKHID by TheGood[www.autohotkey.com]
Borderless window code by Klaus2[www.autohotkey.com]


Source code[pastebin.com]

[Toino]

JellAy님이 먼저 게시:

Hey an does this work in DiRT 3 Complete Edition? Becuase I can only bind either left or right to the X-axis :(

I never tried it but i believe its possible to do it bind left mouse to forward and right mouse to backwards.

[vatanperver]

I've got a slight problem. I tried this in shift 2 unleashed and I can only steer to right, when I move my mouse to left nothing happens(works flawlessly in any other racing game I've tried) if anybody can help me out I'd really appreciate it

[unsthuthn]

Skyline Senpai님이 먼저 게시:

I've got a slight problem. I tried this in shift 2 unleashed and I can only steer to right, when I move my mouse to left nothing happens(works flawlessly in any other racing game I've tried) if anybody can help me out I'd really appreciate it

that's probably to do with bindings in game, even with a real wheel in a bunch of games its messy

[76561198402179503]

Possible solution if vjoy is not being detected by Dirt Rally:

Before starting Dirt Rally, you need to go to Steam -> Settings -> Controller settings and uncheck ALL boxes.

After this I could see "Direct Input device" in Dirt Rally (under Controls - Choose preset)

HOWEVER - maybe author needs to share proper configuration from Steam -> Settings -> Controller settings

[musatem]

...

[squiggles]

how do you even get it to work tho

[Aware]

Here is my solution. In my case I was able to see vjoy device( Direct Input Device) in options but not able to configure.
So here is full instruction that no one explained before.
1. İnstall Vjoy (that it, we don't open it or configure it, just install)
2.Download MouseSteering_V1.7.2, but dont open yet.
3.Open the game.
4.Enter a race.
5.Press ESC, go to OPTİONS>CONTROLS>Choose Preset>Choose Direct Input Device(joystick)
6. Now run the MouseSteering_V1.7.2. There is settings, we will look it later.
7.Open the game which is already running.
8.press CTRL + F11, you should see red bar on the bottom of your screen
9.In game options>control change steer left and steer right. enter it, while waiting use mouse steering. It should work
THAT İS İT FOR ME, WORKİNG
Now my configurations for game and MouseSteering_V1.7.2
MouseSteering_V1.7.2
-sensitivity = 14.0
-push-back = 0
-non-linearitiy = 1

Options>Controls>Advanced Gamepad Settings
Steering Sensivity = 100
Steering Linearity = 0
Steering Deadzone = 10
Steering Saturation = 60

edited(mouse setting update):

Newer Better Settings:
MouseSteering_V1.7.2
-sensitivity = 14.0
-push-back = 0.02 (I think it really improves the experience of mouse steering. Nox it is 100x times better)
-non-linearitiy = 1

Advanced Gamepad Settings
Steering Sensivity = 100
Steering Linearity = 0
Steering Deadzone = 0 (after push back, no need to deadzone anymore)
Steering Saturation = 80 (small fix)
Throttle Saturation = 125 (It is for RWD Cars. Otherwise ıt is not possible to drive or stabilize RWD cars with keyboard. It can be change to defaults settings while using FWD Cars.)

[gasha]

Hi, how can I assign mouseY for throttle and brake?

[Aware]

gasha님이 먼저 게시:

Hi, how can I assign mouseY for throttle and brake?

After handling mouse steering with mouse, the second adventure was throttle control with mouse for me as well. After some research I realized it is not the best solution. Instead I dont remember what programs I used as of writing this comment but I was able to solve throttle problem with keyboard again. "Q" key was 20% throttle, "W" was 55% throttle and "E" was 100%.

[unsthuthn]

exactly what i've done

[Maluuu]

Hey, is there a way to turn W and S buttons into axises so that acceleration and braking are not instantly 100%?

[WolfeYankee]

I know I'm late, but it doesn't work for me.

[Karl Marx (ص)]

Sorry for necro'ing this topic but anybody just went straight brain cancer mode with this tutorial?

[leven]

I guess microsoft broke this in some update? I cant get any game to detect anything from vJoy

[sngg]

i tried to do what aware said but could not get it working