Controllers?

[freddiestarr]

Hi, thanks for making this great little game! 
I have never played games but my kids are having a hard time at the moment so I thought I'd find them one game I can install on Linux to help pass the time. 
I can't work out how to do 2 player. they would LOVE this. I am on Fedora. I can't understand the settings, I tried setting up 2 players, tried plugging in a second USB keyboard, got nowhere. Is it doable?

Also, is it possible to use game controllers, for example if I bought a couple of used Playstation 1 controllers off ebay or whatever, would they work?

thanks again

[Alayan]

It is absolutely possible to play with a second keyboard. Go in Settings > Controls, and you'll have a list of the current devices.

Keyboards are a bit special because they are not recognized individually, but with "add a device" you can add a new keyboard configuration. Make sure both keyboard configs don't conflict (the game should warn you if they do), and then you can have two players each using a different config.

Both keyboards remain able to produce input for both of the active configs, but that's not really an issue in practice as with proper key choices there is no risk of mistakenly pressing a neighbouring key that is used by the other kart. It's even possible for two players to play splitscreen using the same keyboard, but that can be less comfortable and is more likely to run into issues if the keyboard doesn't have n-key rollover.

I would advise using the same general layout for both configs, arrow keys and bottom letter row for one player and numpads and right of the top letter row for the second player works well and it means there is no learning curve when using one config or the other.

As for the PlayStation 1 controllers, I suppose they should be supported by SDL2 and work. I've never tried, but it should be plug-and-play.

[freddiestarr]

Hi, thanks very much. I am still confused though. I should have said, please use idiot proof instructions! I may be using Linux but I am far from being your average linux user. I used Mac for 20 years (and became pretty good with it) but once I decided to dump Apple in the trash, I moved to Linux and it's been a struggle but one I won't be giving up on!

"Go in Settings > Controls, and you'll have a list of the current devices" - If i go in there it shows two devices, one is a keyboard, the other is some kind of 'touch' device. I don't know what that means, I certainly do'nt have any. I have a Dell laptop with wired mouse and keyboard.

2 keyboards - Forgive me but can i clarify what you mean... Are you saying I can add a second keyboard (by just plugging one in), but I would need to make a second keyboard CONFIG in the settings, and use DIFFERENT keys? if so, is that because basically both configs work on both keyboards, and thus I have to make the command keys different to avoid conflicts?

n-key rollover - no idea what this means. But you mention split screen and that wouild be VERY cool

Is it possible to use two bluetooth keyboards, do you know?

Learning curve - these won't be similar keyboards, so I guess they can just make do with having to learn two diferent configs.

PS1 controller - SDL2? plug and play - would be very cool! So if I can get my hands on a PS1 controller, hell even 2 would be good, then you're saying I should be able to just plug them in and they will work? How does the game know which key does what? Or do I need to teach the game a new config with the controllers?

Are there any other controllers (that are cheap!) that are recommended, if PS1 controllers aren't commonly used?

thanks again

[Alayan]

Are you saying I can add a second keyboard (by just plugging one in), but I would need to make a second keyboard CONFIG in the settings, and use DIFFERENT keys? if so, is that because basically both configs work on both keyboards, and thus I have to make the command keys different to avoid conflicts?

Correct.

n-key rollover - no idea what this means.

Most keyboards only handle a limited number of simultaneous inputs, so if you have two people playing on the same keyboards with an office keyboard, you're likely to get some inputs that are not properly transmitted. Gaming keyboards will often support unlimited or very high number of simultaneous presses.

Is it possible to use two bluetooth keyboards, do you know?

The bluetooth connection of the keyboard is between you and your operating system. If the keyboards work in the OS, the game will be able to receive input from them during play.

Learning curve - these won't be similar keyboards, so I guess they can just make do with having to learn two diferent configs.

Even if the key sizes are different, it's nice if the relative positions of keys are similar, so that the same finger gets always used for nitro, the same for drifting, etc.

PS1 controller - SDL2? plug and play - would be very cool! So if I can get my hands on a PS1 controller, hell even 2 would be good, then you're saying I should be able to just plug them in and they will work? How does the game know which key does what? Or do I need to teach the game a new config with the controllers?

Are there any other controllers (that are cheap!) that are recommended, if PS1 controllers aren't commonly used?

All the controllers that work with SDL2 (that's a code library) should work with STK, and that should be most controllers.