ZEN Pinball Android supports gamepad

[rasterX]

I was playing around with a new bluetooth game controller (PhoneJoy) and was surprised to find ZEN Pinball (version 1.3.1) already works with it. The shoulder buttons trigger the flippers by default and the D-pad can be used to move around in the menus. After some trial and error, here's the key mappings I came up with:

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DEFAULT

In Bluez IME, create a new profile called ZEN Pinball and these buttons should already be set as follows):

Dpad Left = DPAD_LEFT
Dpad Right = DPAD_RIGHT
Dpad Up = DPAD_UP
Dpad Down = DPAD_DOWN

Button L1 = BUTTON_L1
Button L2 = BUTTON_L2

Select Button = BUTTON_SELECT

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MODIFY

In Bluez IME, re-assign these buttons as follows):

Button 2 = BUTTON_B
Button 3 = BUTTON_A

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CONTROLS

In menus:
The D-pad moves around items. Press Button 3 (equivalent to the Playstation's "X" button) to select an item, Button 2 (Playstation Circle) to go back to the previous screen.

In game:
Plunger = Button 3 (Playstation X)
Left flipper = Left Shoulder Button 1, or D-pad Left
Right flipper = Right Shoulder Button 1, or Button 2 (Playstation Circle)
Pause = Select Button, toggle between game and menus (to quit, restart, etc)

I haven't found a button to switch cameras, but that would make "playing from the couch" complete (I also bought the MHL HDMI cable from PhoneJoy). I still have to touch the screen to switch to Camera 5 (preferably, there should be a user preference for default camera). Also it would be nice to be able to map nudge actions to one of the analog sticks. If any of the developers are reading this, some un-official hints would be much appreciated.

This was tested with an HTC One X (Android 4.0.3, Software 1.28.401.9), ZEN Pinball THD (1.3.1); Sorcerer's Lair, Excalibur

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RESOURCES

PhoneJoy bluetooth game controller

http://www.phonejoy.us/

Bluez IME - driver for PhoneJoy (converts BT SPP data to key input)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hexad.bluezime&hl=en

Android Developers page listing all KeyEvent codes:

http://developer.android.com/reference/android/view/KeyEvent.html

[shogun00]

Also it would be nice to be able to map nudge actions to one of the analog sticks. If any of the developers are reading this, some un-official hints would be much appreciated.

Is the nudging mapped to the controller at all? The way I was reading your post, it sounded like the nudging was mapped to the d-pad.

[Rafie]

That controller looks quite familiar....

Anyway, I had no idea that anyone could use a wireless with a phone. That is crazy. I want an HTC One as, too! I'm tired of my G2.

Anyway, I was trying to look up Zen Pinball THD on the Play Store app and couldn't find it. What happened to it, or am I looking under the wrong name?

[rasterX]

Is the nudging mapped to the controller at all? The way I was reading your post, it sounded like the nudging was mapped to the d-pad.

No, I don't think the current build of ZP reads nudge commands (other than from the internal accelerometers). I just went through the entire list of KeyEvents, mapping them to the joysticks (let's me check 8 at once, but still took a long time), and now I'm pretty sure the only key/button scans are those mentioned in the top post. Too bad really, was really hoping for a camera switch button.

I came across an update for Bluez IME that would enable support for bluetooth keyboards. I took this to mean I could use a keyboard to emulate game controller input. Unfortunately I was unable to get this working with the couple of BT keyboards I have (Apple Wireless, iPazzPort Mini). Both paired and worked fine for normal key input, but in Bluez, the re-mapping page was not available. I'll check with the developer and see if keyboards are supposed to be supported.

http://code.google.com/p/android-bluez-ime/downloads/detail?name=BluezIME-HIDEnabler.apk

Anyway, I was trying to look up Zen Pinball THD on the Play Store app and couldn't find it. What happened to it, or am I looking under the wrong name?

ZEN on Android is currently Tegra-only, so if you're logged into Play, apps deemed not compatible with your hardware won't show up. Kinda annoying because there are a lot Tegra-only games that will run fine on some of the better GPUs (Mali, Adreno 225, etc).

[Rafie]

ZEN on Android is currently Tegra-only, so if you're logged into Play, apps deemed not compatible with your hardware won't show up. Kinda annoying because there are a lot Tegra-only games that will run fine on some of the better GPUs (Mali, Adreno 225, etc).

Thanks man I definitely appreciate the reply. I guess I'll keep playing on my 3DS, 360, PS3 and soon.... the Vita!