Gamepad Input¶

Gamepad API Method Reference¶

Method Signature	Return Type	Description
`Input.gamepads().current()`	`Gamepad`	Returns the currently active primary gamepad controller.
`Input.gamepads().getAll()`	`List<Gamepad>`	Returns a list of all detected, connected gamepad devices.
`Input.gamepads().onAdded(Consumer<Gamepad> c)`	`void`	Registers a listener invoked when a controller is plugged in.
`Input.gamepads().onRemoved(Consumer<Gamepad> c)`	`void`	Registers a listener invoked when a controller is disconnected.
`gamepad.getAxis(String axis)`	`float`	Reads analog stick/trigger value between `-1.0` and `1.0`.
`gamepad.isPressed(String button)`	`boolean`	Checks if a digital button (e.g. `Gamepad.Buttons.A`) is held down.
`gamepad.onPressed(String button, Consumer c)`	`void`	Registers a listener triggered when a button is first pressed.

LITIENGINE uses Input4j for gamepad support, utilizing the Java FFM API for cross-platform compatibility. This eliminates the need for native library deployment.

Note

As of LITIENGINE 0.11.1, gamepad support uses Input4j instead of JInput. No native libraries are required.

Accessing Gamepads¶

// Get the gamepad manager
GamepadManager manager = Input.gamepads();

// Get all connected gamepads
List<Gamepad> gamepads = Input.gamepads().getAll();

// Get the first connected gamepad
Gamepad gamepad = Input.gamepads().getCurrent();

Button Events¶

Handling Button Presses¶

// Using button-specific listener
Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.A, value -> {
  System.out.println("A button pressed!");
});

// Using generic button listener
Input.gamepads().onPressed((button, value) -> {
  if (button.equals(Gamepad.Xbox.A)) {
    System.out.println("A PRESSED");
  } else if (button.equals(Gamepad.Xbox.B)) {
    System.out.println("B PRESSED");
  }
});

Button Release Events¶

Input.gamepads().onReleased((button, value) -> {
  if (button.equals(Gamepad.Xbox.START)) {
    // Pause game
  }
});

Xbox Controller Buttons¶

The Gamepad.Xbox class provides constants for standard Xbox controller buttons:

Button	Description
`A`	A button (bottom)
`B`	B button (right)
`X`	X button (left)
`Y`	Y button (top)
`LB`	Left bumper
`RB`	Right bumper
`LT`	Left trigger
`RT`	Right trigger
`START`	Start button
`BACK`	Back/Select button
`LEFT_STICK`	Left stick press
`RIGHT_STICK`	Right stick press
`DPAD_UP`	D-Pad up
`DPAD_DOWN`	D-Pad down
`DPAD_LEFT`	D-Pad left
`DPAD_RIGHT`	D-Pad right

Analog Sticks¶

Read analog values from thumbsticks:

Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_Y, pollValue -> {
  if (pollValue > 0.5) {
    System.out.println("MOVE UP");
  } else if (pollValue < -0.5) {
    System.out.println("MOVE DOWN");
  }
});

Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_X, pollValue -> {
  if (pollValue > 0.5) {
    System.out.println("MOVE RIGHT");
  } else if (pollValue < -0.5) {
    System.out.println("MOVE LEFT");
  }
});

Polling Current State¶

Check gamepad state directly without event listeners:

Gamepad gamepad = Input.gamepads().getCurrent();
if (gamepad != null) {
  // Get button state
  if (gamepad.isPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.A)) {
    // A button is pressed
  }

  // Get axis value (-1.0 to 1.0)
  float x = gamepad.getPollValue(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_X);
  float y = gamepad.getPollValue(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_Y);
}

Gamepad Connection Events¶

// When a gamepad is connected
Input.gamepads().onAdded(gamepad -> {
  System.out.println("Gamepad connected: " + gamepad.getName());
});

// When a gamepad is disconnected
Input.gamepads().onRemoved(gamepad -> {
  System.out.println("Gamepad disconnected");
});

GamepadEntityController¶

Control entities with gamepad input:

public class GamepadEntityController<T extends IMobileEntity> extends MovementController<T> {

  public GamepadEntityController(T entity) {
    super(entity);
    Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_X, x -> {
      this.setDx((float) x);
    });
    Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_Y, y -> {
      this.setDy((float) y);
    });
  }
}

Dead Zones¶

Handle stick dead zones to prevent drift:

private static final float DEAD_ZONE = 0.2f;

private float applyDeadZone(float value) {
  if (Math.abs(value) < DEAD_ZONE) {
    return 0;
  }
  return value;
}

// Usage
Input.gamepads().onPressed(Gamepad.Xbox.LEFT_STICK_X, x -> {
  float adjustedX = applyDeadZone((float) x);
  if (adjustedX != 0) {
    controller.setDx(adjustedX);
  }
});