Possible Ideas for Dual Analog input for Indie Game

[mrneo240]

Hello!
Strange one today but had some ideas and wanted to toss em out and see what people think.
I've been wondering about dual analog input for the every-person and came up with 2 possible control schemes.

EDIT:
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Video showing these off in case they dont make sense:
https://streamable.com/jvv5jp
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Option 1: Controller + Fishing rod.
Controller (Left) contributes LTrigger, Analog, DPAD and start.
Fishing Rod contributes analog stick, 4 buttons acting as DPAD and start

Option 2: Controller + Sideways controller.
Fingers go into back vmu slot (keep em clean and washed)
Controller (Left) contributes LTrigger, Analog, DPAD and start.
Controller (Right/Tilted) contributes contributes analog stick and DPAD mirroring the other DPAD (directions will be rotated 90°), LTrigger acting as start.

Video:
https://streamable.com/xjnn0f

Option 3: Controller (Fallback)
Controller contributes LTrigger, Analog, DPAD and start, 4 buttons acting as second analog, Rtrigger.

Option 4: Controller + Light gun.
Controller (Left) contributes LTrigger, Analog, DPAD and start.
Light Gun contributes dpad emulating Analog, two buttons and maybe trigger, the actual lightgun stuff could be ignored.

Option 5: Controller Wonderswan style
Controller held sideways like the Wonderswan. Minimal input, only the left trigger usable "easily" start and others could do really low impact stuff.

Do you have any ideas? Thoughts?

[Cass]

Very interesting idea lad. The first two options give real dual analogue input on the DC by using two control ports? That would be incredible to experience in a homebrew FPS port of something like Quake but would probably need a bespoke controller to take advantage of it in a practical way. Is there not also a possible fourth combo? I might have this wrong but from memory I think one of the DC light guns may have an analogue stick - maybe it's just a dpad.

As a compromise the faux dual analogue from the Brook Wingman at £30 pairing with one of my kids old Xbox controller is a great option for me. MDK2 was a great game already but with the Wingman and an Xbox controller it is enhanced further. Maybe not a route for everyone and certainly not authentic but with that combo I'd say it's possibly the most enjoyable game on the system.

[mrneo240]

Is there not also a possible fourth combo? I might have this wrong but from memory I think one of the DC light guns may have an analogue stick - maybe it's just a dpad.

That is actually precisely where we started, someone suggested lightgun dpad. I didn't add it here as I didn't want to influence anyone but I'm incredibly pleased you also arrived at that thought. I will add that to the post. Thank you for the input!

I've heard of the brookman and I think that's definitely valid.

This would provide true dual analog inputs. But until a single dual analog controller is created, it would require 2 controllers.

[Alexislight]

I was thinking of using a third party controller that has analog, dpad, start button, abcxyz and trigger l and trigger r, trigger l and r are analogs, therefore they can be used as arrows, move left or right, etc., and the Y and Z buttons as up or down for example.

i dont know if it is valid...

[runkthepunk]

Cool idea. My most wanted unreleased game is the original version of Gun Valkyrie which of course was due to use controller and light gun combination so I like the sound of that. I also like the idea of the fishing rod (although aesthetically it wouldn't look as cool )

Using a third party light gun if one does have a proper analogue would be cool but limited availability of them would be a concern unless it was a widely available accessory back in the day.

If there was a way to implement the trigger on the gun or movement on the fishing rod (for melee attacks for example) that could really enhance any experience.

I hope you continue with this concept

[Ian Micheal]

Controller+Fishing rod just feels right

[megavolt85]

Something else
PS3 controller + BlueRetro

[mrneo240]

After some more clarification i think this is the current dc hardware only list:
```
Control types
0 = Single Controller: Left = Analog, Right = DPAD Emulation
1 = Single Controller(Tilted/Wonderswan): Left = DPAD Rotated 90deg, Right = Analog
2 = Dual Controller (Left normal, Right claw grip): Left = Left Controller Analog, Right=Flipped Right Controller Analog
3 = Controller+Fishing: Left = Left Controller Analog, Right=Fishing Rod Analog
4 = Controller+Lightgun: Left = Left Controller Analog, Right=Lightgun DPAD Emulation
```

Video:
https://streamable.com/jvv5jp

[machomanmo]

I play a lot of Xeno Crisis on Nintendo Switch and actually prefer to use the Analog stick for movement and the 4 Face Buttons for 8 way direction shooting.
You should also consider that as an option.

[mrneo240]

That doesn't provide analog though, it's a definite downgrade