Configuring the controls
VDrift aims to be very user input friendly, and thus there are many different ways to adjust the controls in the game to fit each user's needs. There are options which affect all the controls, options which affect only a certain type of controls, and options that affect each individual control assignment.
Features
- Any input method can be used to navigate the menu.
- Joysticks can be used by calibrating them in the Options -> Controls -> Joystick -> Calibrate menu.
- Any input can be assigned to any control.
- Gas, brake, and steering controls only allow a single setting. All other controls can have any number of settings on any types of input devices.
Control options
Control options are defined in the text configuration file options.config, set in the Options -> Controls menu and its submenus, and stored in the text configuration file VDrift.config.
AutoClutch
- type: boolean
- setting: control.autoclutch
- values: on, off
Enable/disable automatic clutching (prevents car from stalling). Simulates the driver pressing the clutch in using foot when RPM gets close to the stall point.
AutoShift
- type: boolean
- setting: control.autotrans
- values: on, off
Enable/disable automatic transmission shifting.
Button Control Delay
- type: float
- setting: control.button_ramp
- values: off (0.0), long (5.0), medium (7.5), short (10.0)
Slow down application of button inputs on analog controls.
Speed Affect on Steering
- type: float
- setting: control.speed_sens_steering
- values: range 0.0 to 1.0
The higher the value on this setting, the more steering is limited as car speed increases.
Joystick Type
- type: string
- setting: joystick.type
- values: "joystick", "wheel"
Change the type of joystick device.
Force Feedback Device
- type: string
- setting: joystick.ff_device
- values: something like "/dev/input/eventX"
Device file for force feedback events. For more detail, see Setting up force feedback.
Force Feedback Gain
- type: float
- setting: joystick.ff_gain
- values: range 0.5 to 5.0
Multiplier to adjust strength of force feedback.
Invert Force
- type: boolean
- setting: joystick.ff_invert
- values: on, off
Reverse the force feedback, if necessary for your wheel.
200 Degree Wheel
- type: boolean
- setting: joystick.two_hundred
- values: on, off
Limit steering range to 200 degrees, gives a realistic feel to limited range wheels.
Assigning controls
Control assignments can be configured through the submenus of the Options -> Controls -> Assign Controls menu, and stored in the text configuration file controls. Control assignments can be edited after they are set.
There are two basic types of control, analog and digital. Analog controls include joystick axes and mouse motion, while digital controls are keys, mouse buttons and joystick buttons. Any type of input can be assigned to any type of control.
So, for example, a digital control - like a key - can be assigned to an analog control. If the "Button Control Delay" option is something other than 0.0, then the key will behave just like a true analog control.
Car Controls
Gas
- control name: gas
The gas control causes the car to speed up.
Brake
- control name: brake
The brake control causes the car to slow down.
Steer Left
- control name: steer_left
The steer left control causes the car to turn left.
Steer Right
- control name: steer_right
The steer right control causes the car to turn right.
Start Engine
- control name: start_engine
The start engine control will restart the engine if it stalls.
| Note: The engine will not start unless the car's transmission is in neutral. |
Handbrake
- control name: handbrake
The handbrake brakes only on the back wheels.
ABS Toggle
- control name: abs_toggle
The ABS Toggle turns anti-lock braking on or off while playing.
TCS Toggle
- control name: tcs_toggle
The TCS Toggle turns traction control on or off while playing.
Transmission
Shift Up
- control name: disengage_shift_up
The shift up control changes the car's gear to the next one.
Shift Down
- control name: disengage_shift_down
The shift down control changes the car's gear to the previous one.
Engage Clutch
- control name: engage
The engage clutch control lets out the clutch. This must be done after every shift.
Analog Clutch
- control name: clutch
The analog clutch control can allow you to use an external clutch pedal.
Gears
Neutral
- control name: neutral
The neutral control shifts the car into neutral.
1st
- control name: first_gear
The first gear control shifts the car into first gear.
2nd
- control name: second_gear
The second gear control shifts the car into second gear.
3rd
- control name: third_gear
The third gear control shifts the car into third gear.
4th
- control name: fourth_gear
The fourth gear control shifts the car into fourth gear.
5th
- control name: fifth_gear
The fifth gear control shifts the car into fifth gear.
6th
- control name: sixth_gear
The sixth gear control shifts the car into sixth gear.
Reverse
- control name: reverse
The reverse control puts the car into reverse gear.
Game Controls
Pause
- control name: pause
The pause control freezes the game (except in multiplayer).
Camera Views
Previous Camera
- control name: view_prev_camera
This moves to the previous camera in the set (hood, in-car, chase rigid, chase loose).
Next Camera
- control name: view_next_camera
This moves to the next camera in the set (hood, in-car, chase rigid, chase loose).
Hood
- control name: view_hood
The hood camera control moves the camera to the car's hood.
In-Car
- control name: view_incar
The in-car camera control moves the camera to driver's view.
Chase (Rigid)
- control name: view_chaserigid
The rigid chase camera control moves the camera to a fixed distance behind the car.
Chase (Loose)
- control name: view_chase
The loose chase camera control moves the camera to follow the car like a helicopter.
Orbit
- control name: view_orbit
The orbit camera control swings around the car as the camera moves.
Free
- control name: view_free
The free camera control can be moved anywhere using the arrow keys.
Focus Next
- control name: focus_next_car
Changes the camera to focus on the next car.
Focus Previous
- control name: focus_prev_car
Changes the camera to focus on the previous car.
Camera Movement
Pan Left
- control name: pan_left
Turn the camera view to the left.
Pan Right
- control name: pan_right
Turn the camera view to the right.
Pan Up
- control name: pan_up
Turn the camera view upwards.
Pan Down
- control name: pan_down
Turn the camera view downwards.
Zoom In
- control name: zoom_in
Zoom camera in.
Zoom Out
- control name: zoom_out
Zoom camera out.
Replays
Skip Forward
- control name: replay_ff
The skip forward control skips ahead ten seconds during a replay.
Skip Backward
- control name: replay_rw
The skip backward control goes back ten seconds during a replay.
Tools
Screen Shot
- control name: screen_shot
The screen shot control saves a snapshot of the game while playing.
Joystick Info
- control name: joystick_info
The joystick info control shows debugging info for available joysticks.
Editing Controls
After controls have been assigned they can be edited to change some properties of the control. To edit a control just click on it in one of the control assignment menus.
Analog control properties
Analog controls include joystick axes and mouse motion. These have options for deadzone, gain and exponent.
Deadzone
Deadzone allows motion under a certain threshold percentage to be ignored. This is useful if you use a joystick which "wobbles" around the center. You may see the brake lights come on when you let go of the gas, or the car is hard to keep going straight, deadzone will help to fix these things.
Gain
Gain multiplies the input value by a percentage. This will make the input value increase linearly.
Exponent
Exponent raises the input value on an exponential curve. This helps give more fine-tuning of controls such as steering around the center but still allows for making sharp turns if needed.
Digital control properties
Up/Down
This controls whether the action will be triggered when the button/key is pressed (down), or released (up).
Held/Once
This should be set to "held" when they a digital input is mapped to an analog control, like when using keys for gas, brake or steering. This is set automatically when the control is assigned.
Deleting controls
There is a Delete button on each Control Editing screen, so to delete a control just click on it, then click Delete.
