Haptics

The first step to more exciting playing experiences is changing simple options within the Gameplay software. Many players using the Remote option to use their Android device as a separate controller may want more feedback than a touchscreen control normally provides. The GestureWorks Gameplay Remote for Android app has a section of options to make the remote more like a console controller. These options allow players to turn on controller sounds and rumble effects for games that support them. With these options enabled, the games can send physical feedback through the controller.

Invisible Options

Some people might not be used to the feeling of a controller where the buttons and joysticks are not raised, but for gamers who want something to touch, there are easy modifications to be made to Remote Android controllers as well as other on-screen controls. Using screen protector material, screen protector shapes can be added over an existing screen protector to create a slight raised surface where the controllers are. Usually this only involves cutting out a few simple circles and rectangles.

Another option is to create a negative space cutout, where the controls are cut out from a whole screen protector, creating slightly lowered surfaces where the controls are. These solutions are great for people using the same types of controller who want minimal visual interference - the extra screen protector is almost invisible on a bright screen.

For those who don’t want to do their own arts and crafts, products like the Invisible Gamepad are available to make adding transparent controllers over your screen or screen protector a breeze. Like the cutouts approach, the invisible buttons won’t interfere with players’ normal phone use and they don’t need to remove them. They can just be left on until the next time players use Gameplay.

Stick-On Controls

Gamers might want even more tactile feedback and options for reconfiguring their controllers that might not be available with screen protector clings. For these gamers, there are a variety of existing devices built just for providing raised, removable, and repositionable controller elements over touchscreen controls. Through the use of these inexpensive add-ons, players can turn their computer or tablet into an arcade-style machine or their Android into a fully functional console-style controller.

Many available add-on controls are stick-on joysticks to settle over the on-screen joystick and provide tactile feedback that translates perfectly into movement for Gameplay’s on-screen joysticks. Joysticks such as the Ten One Design Fling joystick to the side or corner of your device so that you can settle the moving portion over the on-screen joystick.

For buttons as well as joysticks, the SteelSeries Free Gaming Controls come with fully detachable and repositionable buttons as well as a joystick. The SteelSeries has a fairly high price point, but there are many touchscreen buttons and joysticks available in lower price ranges.

The advantage of these in addition to providing gamers with controllers they can feel is that the clinging buttons and joysticks are as easy to reposition as the Gameplay controls beneath them.

In addition to the rumble and sound options available on the Android Remote, Gameplay’s accelerometer feature can be used with both the Android Remote and tablets with accelerometers. This control means that a player can steer a vehicle or make other movements in-game simply by moving the device. It can be added to the controller by dragging the Accelerometer hudget from the sidebar in the editor onto the controller screen and mapping it to any function (this will usually be a joystick or directional keys). The accelerometer frees up more screen space and allows players to have simpler-looking and easy to use control schemes.

Players can take Gameplay’s controls to the next level by adding peripherals that work with the touchscreens on their devices so they can get right into the action. Players can hold a steering wheel or a gun to better simulate the gaming experience, and best of all, it just takes an Android phone already running a Remote controller through Gameplay.

There are high-end (and pricey!) controller options for the seriously hardcore console gamers, like the SteelSeries SRW-S1 Steering Wheel, which costs over $50. But for everyone else, there are comparable tools that will cost you very little on top of Gameplay and give players a more immersive and tactile experience.

With the Appfinity AppDrive steering wheel, players can simply snap their Android device in and use Gameplay controls placed underneath the button press feet along with the accelerometer control to play racing games such as DiRT 3 and Burnout Paradise. The AppDrive is available for only five or six dollars on Amazon.

Controls used for driving are also great for flying games so that pilots don’t get left out! 

If you want more than the touch screen controls alone, it’s very easy to use Gameplay to get more out of your experience. Through the above methods, Gameplay controllers can be adapted to a variety of styles.

Learn more on the GestureWorks Gameplay web site!