node-pad v0.0.15

node-stick

Is a library for using game controllers with nodejs. Currently only the dualshock 3 is supported, but support for xbox360 controller is planned for a future release.

##Installation Easy install using npm

npm install node-pad

Beware it uses a third party node module with c++ bindings to communicate with hid devices and is not guaranteed to work on your system.

Preview

First, some taster code. Just to blow your mind.

var dualshock3 = require('node-pad').dualshock3

dualshock3.on('connect', function(controller) {

  var player = game.createPlayer()
  
  controller.on('join', function(){
    
    player.joinGame()

    controller.lthumb.on('move', function(event){
      player.moveInDirection({
        x: event.x,
        y: event.y
      })
    })

    controller.lthumb.on('release', function(){
      player.stopMoving()
    })

    controller.rthumb.on('move', function(event){
      player.updateCameraDirection({
        x: event.x,
        y: event.y
      })
    })
    
    controller.rthumb.on('release', function(){
      player.stopCamera()
    })
    
    controller.r2.on('press', function(){
      player.fireWeapon()
    })
    
    controller.l2.on('press', function(pressure){
      player.throwGrenade(pressure)
    })
    
    controller.cross.on('press', function(pressure){
      player.jump(pressure)
    })
    
    controller.l3.on('press', function(){
      player.enterCrouchingPosition()
    })
    
    controller.l3.on('release', function(){
      player.leaveCrouchingPosition()
    })

  })

  controller.on('disconnect', function(){
    player.exitGame()
  })
})

Connecting controllers

The nodepad module fires a connect event on the coresponding controller type when a new controller is plugged in.

nodepad.dualshock3.on('connect', function(controller){
  // controller object is available
})

In the case of the dualshock3 there is an additional event join that is fired when a controlle is connected and has started to send data. Sometimes it starts right away and sometimes it waits for the ps button to get pressed. This has to be figured out in a future release.

nodepad.dualshock3.on('connect', function(controller){
  controller.on('join', function(){
    // Bind events
  })
})

controller object

The controller object has buttons, dpads and thumbs(sticks) that you can bind events to. What kind of elements it has depend on the controller layout and naming.

dualshock3

The dualshock3 controller object has this layout:

cross, square, circle, triangle

These buttons are pressure sensitive and emits the followin events:

controller.button.emit('press', pressure)
controller.button.emit('release')
controller.button.emit('pressurechange', newpressure)

r1, r2, l1, l2

These buttons are pressure sensitive and emits the followin events:

controller.button.emit('press', pressure)
controller.button.emit('release')
controller.button.emit('pressurechange', newpressure)

r3, l3

These are buttons and emits the followin events:

controller.button.emit('press', pressure)
controller.button.emit('release')

dpad.up, dpad.down, dpap.right, dpad.left

These buttons are pressure sensitive and emits the followin events:

controller.dpad.direction.emit('press', pressure)
controller.dpad.direction.emit('release')
controller.dpad.direction.emit('pressurechange', newpressure)

lthumb, rthumb

These are thumbs(sticks) and emits the folowing events

controller.thumb.emit('move', event)
controller.thumb.emit('release')      //This is emited when the stick returns from and off to a centered position
controller.thumb.emit('move:x', x)
controller.thumb.emit('move:y', y)

start, select

These are buttons and emits the followin events:

controller.button.emit('press', pressure)
controller.button.emit('release')