[REQUEST] 🖱️ Steam Input: add mouse customization (inertia, speed...)

[hexaae]

Some games entirely based on mouse controls lack a decent mouse customization (Breakout clones and more... could be handy even in some FPS games as a fine tuning option)... What about adding also custom mouse settings to Steam Input system, in addition to controllers?

Suggested mouse options adjustments:

• INERTIA
  
• SPEED
  
• ACCELERATION

@slouken

[nullable]

Inertia would be controlled by the game's physics. Mouse speed is often controlled by the OS and the Game. Acceleration is configurable in the mouse settings.

I'm not quite sure why Valve needs to try and re-implement or override existing control options.

[hexaae]

Because it would be handy a per-game customization (and in-game only of course), without messing with external OS apps/settings (often still missing things like inertia...) maybe?

It's like asking: "what's Steam Input for if we already have JoyToKey...?"

[nullable]

Well Valve can't add physics to games. Although I wonder if gaming mice and their control software has inertia options. If not you might want to ask why adding inertia to mouse movements isn't a common feature of mice.

Arbitrarily not wanting to use existing configuration options isn't a terribly good argument for repeating those features.

And JoyToKey is a 3rd party application that isn't included with the OS or in games, so users may not have it. It's a bit different than options that already exist that are built into the OS or a game. On the OS side Valve would end up just letting you control those OS options from their UI. Nothing wrong with doing that, but it's kinda of six of one half dozen of the other.

To be clear I'm not saying Valve shouldn't or couldn't add (some of) those options. I'm used to using the existing options, and I never use Steam Input, so I have some biases: "why not just use the options that already exist". My preferences in that regard aren't superior though.

[Gwarsbane]

hexaae původně napsal:

Some games entirely based on mouse controls lack a decent mouse customization (Breakout clones and more)... What about adding also custom mouse settings to Steam Input system, in addition to controllers?

Suggested mouse options adjustments:

• INERTIA
  
• SPEED
  
• ACCELERATION

@slouken

hexaae původně napsal:

Because it would be handy a per-game customization, without messing with external OS apps/settings (often still missing things like inertia...) maybe?

No Steam should not effect the mouse speed in games... I don't want yet a 3rd place I have to adjust the mouse.

A decent mouse will have software that you can already do this per game. I have a Logitech G502 SE Hero. Not top of the line, but a decent mouse. The software for it allows you to set things up per game.

There are many mice makers out there that also have software that can be used with their mice to do that.

[hexaae]

nullable původně napsal:

Well Valve can't add physics to games.

Has nothing to do with potential mouse controller movements OPTION, working on input level.

Gwarsbane původně napsal:

No Steam should not effect the mouse speed in games...

Just keep the OPTION disabled in this case (would be default, of course). No problem.

[RiO]

Given how Valve has already managed to screw over controller input in other applications on Windows that have zero ties to Steam, I'm inclined to file OP's request in the 'Hell no; never!" box.

Hands off of the primary means of interacting with the modern desktop OS.
That goes for mouse and keyboard both.

[hexaae]

As usual, the hardest part for users to understand when proposing new ideas is the fact that it would be an OPTION, so nothing mandatory and therefore would not automatically work, don't worry because it will be the same as it is now if you don't activate the Steam Input option at all, and your controller input is unaffected.

[Start_Running]

hexaae původně napsal:

Because it would be handy a per-game customization (and in-game only of course), without messing with external OS apps/settings (often still missing things like inertia...) maybe?

It's like asking: "what's Steam Input for if we already have JoyToKey...?"

Yeah but you'd still have to configure the stuff per game since the steam settings are just gonna be in addition to the game's internal settings

[hexaae]

Start_Running původně napsal:

hexaae původně napsal:

Because it would be handy a per-game customization (and in-game only of course), without messing with external OS apps/settings (often still missing things like inertia...) maybe?

It's like asking: "what's Steam Input for if we already have JoyToKey...?"

Yeah but you'd still have to configure the stuff per game since the steam settings are just gonna be in addition to the game's internal settings

This is good. That's what you already do with Steam Input now. It would be an additional fine tuning option (if you want) per game. At default (i.e. you don't force-enable it) wouldn't kick in.

Let me be clear for those unfamiliar with Steam Input: it is optional. I keep it disabled at default in Steam options, and use it only to custom remap a few games (i.e. enabled per game).
https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/features/steam_controller

[RiO]

hexaae původně napsal:

As usual, the hardest part for users to understand when proposing new ideas is the fact that it would be an OPTION, so nothing mandatory and therefore would not automatically work, don't worry because it will be the same as it is now if you don't activate the Steam Input option at all, and your controller input is unaffected.

Except for the cases where Valve broke controller input in applications not managed by Steam, when Steam input, the Steam overlay, and the option to expand Steam input to desktop Windows applications all were expressly disabled.

As usual, the hardest part for non-programmers is to realize that programs have bugs - and will always have bugs. Despite best efforts and competence of the software developers involved. (Which, given historical evidence over the past few years, is no longer an area Valve is notably strong in.)

That includes bugs in how certain behavior that should not be affecting other programs, could still inadvertently be affecting them. Because bugs. And the only way to make sure you don't get any of those, is to not start down the path that would introduce the potential for them to happen.

Software is simply complicated. If the average software product were likened to, say, the construction of a suspension bridge, with expressions and statements mapped onto number of girders and rivets, you'd already end up with a bridge that would loop the entire Earth no less than 3 times for a basic sticky notes app keeping 'todo'-lists.

And risk minimization should be a thing you factor into your decisions.

[hexaae]

RiO původně napsal:

As usual, the hardest part for non-programmers is to realize that programs have bugs - and will always have bugs.

Yeah there's always a minimal risk. Play games with console only then, never from a full-fledged OS (or even worse from game clients like Steam). Then you'll be sure there is no other software layer introducing potential bugs when playing ;)
Seriously, except very rare cases, when option is disabled hence no software hook applied I wouldn't be so paranoid... and update/fixes do exist anyway.

[RiO]

hexaae původně napsal:

Seriously, except very rare cases, when option is disabled hence no software hook applied

Ah, I see you applied selective reading and missed:

RiO původně napsal:

Except for the cases where Valve broke controller input in applications not managed by Steam, when Steam input, the Steam overlay, and the option to expand Steam input to desktop Windows applications all were expressly disabled.

[hexaae]

Can't remember that case since I use Steam (2007), but... Let's read it again: ... "except very rare cases" ... "and update/fixes do exist anyway".
You don't like the idea anyway, acknowledged thanks.

[hexaae]

At present I've found this free tool (with generic mouse driver) which could be useful, even though the idea would be to implement such thing in Steam Input as a deluxe option (OFF at default and working only with game in full screen of course, won't affect whole Windows system settings) for state of the art mouse gaming:

https://github.com/a1xd/rawaccel/blob/master/doc/Guide.md

[Phernost]

Without Steam Input support for mice, there is no way to control even the standard settings (sensitivity and acceleration) in Game Mode on the Steam Deck while using an external (blue-tooth or USB) mouse and keyboard.

So yes this needs to be a thing, because switching to Desktop Mode just to have mouse settings is a no go for some games while docked, since they refuse to full-screen on anything other than the Steam Deck's screen, which turns my 55" TV into a glorified nightlight with me sitting across the room squinting at the 7" screen in the dock. And this isn't even mentioning the loss in performance due the all the desktop cruft running in the background (arguably not THAT bad, but still...).

I think the keyboard should be added in too so that the combined keyboard and mouse is a single Steam Input for the game that can be assign to a player, just like how individual gamepads are. This also allows fun customization things like turbo key presses or mouse clicks.