Input causes microstutters and I know exactly what causes it

[lorenzz369]

TLDR: having a joystick for movement but a keyboard for normal inputs causes it to constantly switch between controller and keyboard mode causing stuttering that is not only seen as flickering of the UI but also as actual frame drops

I know it's suuuuper niche but if this were to be fixed deadlock would become my main game. <33

I have built and programmed a custom keyboard running qmk software.

I have added a joystick to it as I think it's fucking cool. and it allows for button presses not to interfere with movement (on wasd can't press E and D for right at the same time)

I want to use the stick for movement while having it actually mapped to acting like a joystick. I can bind the stick to WASD movement but it does not feel great especially dashing.

the game actually recognizes the stick and movement does work with it however the game constantly switching between controller and keyboard mode causing frame stutters and UI glitches.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION:
1. Fortnite for example fixes this issue by having a option to lock the input method the keyboard and mouse while still allowing input from a controller without "optimizations" specific for controller like aim assist.

2. make it so that using the movementstick (left stick) doesn't make the game switch to controller mode just all the other inputs from a controller. as the only case this is a problem with cases like me.

xxx

 

[AubreyH]

I have a partial fix for this in the pipe which should reduce stutter - however I gave priority to controller glyphs.

So, I'll add the locked icons to my list of things to do.

 

[Dezvul]

Oh! I'm super interested in your setup. I have an extreme annoyance with various abilities interfering with my range of movement. I have my movement on esdf with my pinky accessing zaq12 and thumb accessing vbngh and space. My abilities are on q12v and my active items are bgh and a thumb mouse button, n is my parry.

I'm a vehement defender that esdf gaming is strictly superior to wasd for the range of inputs it opens up to the pinky, it takes a lot of rote muscle memory exercise to adjust to accessing so many keys with one finger, it makes you feel very sloppy while learning it but when you get it down it's very satisfying.

 

[lorenzz369]

I have a partial fix for this in the pipe which should reduce stutter - however I gave priority to controller glyphs.

So, I'll add the locked icons to my list of things to do.

Damn thank you for trying to fix the issue <3
hella cool.

stutters are definitely reduced but also definitely still there, but I'm confident that you'll fix it!

again thank you for fixing such a niche problem!

 

[lorenzz369]

Oh! I'm super interested in your setup. I have an extreme annoyance with various abilities interfering with my range of movement. I have my movement on esdf with my pinky accessing zaq12 and thumb accessing vbngh and space. My abilities are on q12v and my active items are bgh and a thumb mouse button, n is my parry.

I'm a vehement defender that esdf gaming is strictly superior to wasd for the range of inputs it opens up to the pinky, it takes a lot of rote muscle memory exercise to adjust to accessing so many keys with one finger, it makes you feel very sloppy while learning it but when you get it down it's very satisfying.

in my time gaming I have tried sooo many different ways to bind actions it's insane.

for example before I finished my joystick project I used 2QW1 instead of WASD. which is just WASQ shifted up.

one thing I learned too late in my journey is that while theoretically you can just learn about any weird and whacky binds because they're theoretically optimal is that in practice how intuitive some thing is is also a major factor and it's okay to have suboptimal binds.

although deadlock has a lot of keybinds but because none really need to be held/spammed (other than movement & melee duh) it is okay to have so many non movement actions overlap as with your keybinds.

as for my setup I have a ortholinear split keyboard with thumb button cluster, lol.
the biggest challenge when adding a joystick to a keyboard is ergonomics and size constraints.
I use a nintendo switch joycon hall effect replacement joystick as it's footprint is soooooo much more managable than a standard joystick.
I used moddeling clay and screw inserts to have a secure angled fixture for the joystick. the joystick is just right of the 'B' / 'G' switch.

if you want some more technical info on how to replicate it I'm happy to help.

 

[zombie182]

I have not understood half of what you have written, but i use Razer keypad (small keyboard with a stick) and i get the stutters sometimes. I hope you thread helps to fix this. =) Thanks

 

[Cetsuo]

positive side effect: fixing this would make the game more compatible with custom accessibility solution (which is good PR for valve/deadlock)

 

[AubreyH]

Damn thank you for trying to fix the issue <3
hella cool.

stutters are definitely reduced but also definitely still there, but I'm confident that you'll fix it!

I should clarify! Fix is in the pipe. To my knowledge it's not released yet.

Expect a glyph locking option next patch as well.

 

[lorenzz369]

I should clarify! Fix is in the pipe. To my knowledge it's not released yet.

Expect a glyph locking option next patch as well.

huh weird because when I originally made the post the glyphs would flicker between m&kb and the controller ones.

at the time when I replied to your first comment the glyphs would stay on the controller ones and I felt like there was less stuttering.

I just launched the game and dual input seems to work without problems. the glyphs now stay on the m&kb ones and my 1% lows seem to stay as high as with the joystick mapped to WASD.

Edit: huh it now after playing one game it is back to stuttering and the glyphs now stay on the controller ones weird that it worked for a short while

 

[AubreyH]

Just to confirm - we haven't released a new client for a bit so I don't expect it to be fixed until then.

 

[lorenzz369]

Just to confirm - we haven't released a new client for a bit so I don't expect it to be fixed until then.

yo okay

I just figured out why the joystick input didn't cause stutters and the glyphs to change to the controller ones:

I have code to calibrate it since the raw analog values don't reach their minimum/maximum and to center the output.

I accidentally reset those values, and so when I was pushing the stick to its bounds I wouldn't quite reach the maximum movement speed, which didn't seem to trigger the glyphs to change, but as soon as I realized that I wasn't moving at max speed and calibrated the joystick, the stutters and glyphs were back.