No Zoom using Touchpad

from Sins Forums

So, I have had SOSE for a couple of months now.  i want to play it.  I want to enjoy it.  It looks to have all the elements to be a kick butt game.  Sadness however, as I cant ever seem to get past the odd interface, which looks to be all about zooming into and out of situations.

If only the zoom thingies worked with my laptop touchpad.  I mean, every other program out there understands that the right edge of the touchpad does the same bit as the wheel on a mouse.  Why is this game so dead set against doing this?

Zooming with the keys works but it is clunky, and I find myself forever trying to get the touchpad to work.  Please make this work someday soon.

Thanks!

  --Dave

 

technical
7,833 views 16 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

It doesnt work, and they seem to be ignoring the issue.

 

It makes me a truly sad panda :(

 

I even sent blair an email about it, no response.

 

edit: using the keys for zooming makes sinse virtually unplayable.

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

caps lock does give you two zoom levels - galaxy view and planet view - but it can be awkward.

Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

I mean, every other program out there understands that the right edge of the touchpad does the same bit as the wheel on a mouse.
End of quote

Games too? Apps are one thing, but games tend to look at the input more directly, and touchpad scrolling is typically handled by a TSR, not at the hardware level. If that TSR doesn't also override DirectInput then there's not much a DirectX based game can do about it.

Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting kryo, reply 3

I mean, every other program out there understands that the right edge of the touchpad does the same bit as the wheel on a mouse.
Games too? Apps are one thing, but games tend to look at the input more directly, and touchpad scrolling is typically handled by a TSR, not at the hardware level. If that TSR doesn't also override DirectInput then there's not much a DirectX based game can do about it.
End of kryo's quote

It works in every game I've ever played on this laptop, with only 1 exception: SOASE.

I sure as hell would not be able to play EVE or Guild Wars without a working scroll.

Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Soor, reply 1
they seem to be ignoring the issue.
End of Soor's quote

And that ain't changing, looks like. :(

Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top

Just buy a cheap usb mouse and plug it in, even a wireless one.

Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 6
Just buy a cheap usb mouse and plug it in, even a wireless one.
End of DarthCaedusMorgan's quote

"Buy a mouse" is not a solution to "half the touchpads on laptops PCs don't work with this game".

Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top

the keys "v" and "b" let you zoom in and out. "z," "x," and "c," give you single ship, gravity well, and galaxy view, respectively. I learned these because my touchpad didn't zoom. I always blamed the touchpad. It only works half the time for anything I'm doing. Didn't work for Battle for Middle-Earth 2, either.

Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Soor, reply 7

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 6Just buy a cheap usb mouse and plug it in, even a wireless one.
"Buy a mouse" is not a solution to "half the touchpads on laptops PCs don't work with this game".
End of Soor's quote

Ok so buying is not a solution, but I have one question for you guys do any of you have a mouse that connects to you computer by a usb port?

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 9

Ok so buying is not a solution, but I have one question for you guys do any of you have a mouse that connects to you computer by a usb port?
End of DarthCaedusMorgan's quote

 

Yes, I have one that wirelessly connects to a USB plugin that came with my desktop, and now use it on my Laptop. I'm afaid I don't understand if their's anymore to your question.

Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting darksaber1, reply 10

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 9
Ok so buying is not a solution, but I have one question for you guys do any of you have a mouse that connects to you computer by a usb port?

 

Yes, I have one that wirelessly connects to a USB plugin that came with my desktop, and now use it on my Laptop. I'm afaid I don't understand if their's anymore to your question.
End of darksaber1's quote

Well it just on temporary solution for those who use it only on there laptop. I have a laptop with those scroll lines on the touchpad, right now I'm tinkering with them to make them work.

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting Armaneus, reply 8
the keys "v" and "b" let you zoom in and out. "z," "x," and "c," give you single ship, gravity well, and galaxy view, respectively. I learned these because my touchpad didn't zoom. I always blamed the touchpad. It only works half the time for anything I'm doing. Didn't work for Battle for Middle-Earth 2, either.
End of Armaneus's quote

I have found an application for windows apart from SOASE which desnt like the Synaptics emulated scroll; its PyGTK based.

To add isnult to injury, if I could run SOASE under WINE, I would not have this problem. Games4WIndows indeed.

Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top

Ya, i have a lenovo also, however, i usually use a wireless mouse so I am good

Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 9

Quoting Soor, reply 7
Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 6Just buy a cheap usb mouse and plug it in, even a wireless one.
"Buy a mouse" is not a solution to "half the touchpads on laptops PCs don't work with this game".
Ok so buying is not a solution, but I have one question for you guys do any of you have a mouse that connects to you computer by a usb port?
End of DarthCaedusMorgan's quote

wow, all new mouses these days connect via usb, how far off from tech are u?

Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top

The point that all new mice are new USB is moot - this is a laptop, and I use it as such; on the bed, on a chair in the garden, things like that.

That precludes the kind of environment with a table and mouse where you might as well be using a (cheaper) desktop.

Sure, laser mice might work well on the garden table, but why bother with that when i can just keep the laptop on my lap O.o

Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top

Quoting dchan1936, reply 14

Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 9
Quoting Soor, reply 7
Quoting DarthCaedusMorgan, reply 6Just buy a cheap usb mouse and plug it in, even a wireless one.
"Buy a mouse" is not a solution to "half the touchpads on laptops PCs don't work with this game".
Ok so buying is not a solution, but I have one question for you guys do any of you have a mouse that connects to you computer by a usb port?
wow, all new mouses these days connect via usb, how far off from tech are u?
End of dchan1936's quote

I knew that all new mouses are usb, I am up to date on a lot computer technology info. The computer i built last year still used and had a ps/2 style mouse.

Right now I am working with my dell vosotro laptop to make it able to zoom in the game