koobas.hobune.stream
Capture Joystick Direction Accurately
I'm trying to use the joystick (and keyboard keys) to select a direction without actually travelling in said direction. For example, I want to point an arrow in a direction using the joystick. However, when I release the joystick, I want the arrow to remain in that direction without changing. Here's the code I've come up with so far (in JavaScript):
var dir : Vector3;
var randomObject : Transform;
function Update()
{
var horiz = Input.GetAxis("Horiz");
var vert = Input.GetAxis("Vert");
// Check that they're not BOTH zero - otherwise
// dir would reset because the joystick is neutral.
if(horiz != 0 || vert != 0))
{
dir.x = horiz;
dir.z = vert;
dir.Normalize();
}
randomObject.position = dir;
}
This works when going up, right, down, or left. It also works when I press a diagonal direction; however, when I release the keys or joystick, it's pretty much random whether it stays that direction or heads off to the left or right. I know it's just a matter of processing the input correctly, but I'm at a loss as to how to do this. Any ideas?
I don't care what programming language an answer is in, and I'll try to keep working this out myself.
So, I ended up solving this by adding a 'timing' dead zone - a small grace period for the user if they're transitioning AWAY from a diagonal value. I have yet to fully test it with a joystick, but it works with WASD quite nicely.
var timeDeadZone = 0.0;
var dir : Vector3;
function Update()
{
var moveHoriz = Input.GetAxis("MoveHoriz");
var moveVert = Input.GetAxis("MoveVert");
// If one of them's not zero, set moveDir
if(moveHoriz != 0 || moveVert != 0)
{
// If we're coming from a diagonal direction, wait for a bit
if(Mathf.Abs(moveDir.x) > 0 && Mathf.Abs(moveDir.z) > 0 && currTimeDead <= 0)
currTimeDead = 0.1;
if(currTimeDead > 0)
currTimeDead -= Time.deltaTime;
// If we're done waiting, set the direction
if(currTimeDead <= 0)
{
moveDir.x = moveHoriz;
moveDir.z = moveVert;
moveDir.Normalize();
}
}
}
Thanks to those who answered for taking time to do so, though!
This "ti$$anonymous$$g" dead zone is a good trick for improving accuracy.
You simply need a dead zone. At the moment you only have a "dead point" which is 0,0. If you release the stick one axis will probably reach 0 before the other or bounce around 0 for a short moment. This will result in a more or less random last result when both axis reach 0. The solution is to create a dead zone:
var dir : Vector3;
var randomObject : Transform;
var deadZone = 0.2;
function Update()
{
var horiz = Input.GetAxis("Horiz");
var vert = Input.GetAxis("Vert");
var tmp = Vector3(horiz, 0, vert);
if(tmp.sqrMagnitude > deadZone)
{
dir = tmp.normalized
}
randomObject.position = dir;
}
I thought of this, too - just make a bigger dead zone! Although I don't know why I'd need code when I can set the dead zone in the Input $$anonymous$$anager. I did try this anyway, but to no avail - I ended up solving it with a 'ti$$anonymous$$g' dead zone, if you will.
