Hacking Wii U GamePad for PC Input

[vashgs]

Hello, tempers!

A couple of days ago I read a thread concerning the use of Wii U's GamePad as an input method on one's PC. All of the posts I read basically reiterated the same issue: "You need a hacked Wii U to better understand the data transfer protocol used with the GamePad."

I, for one, think that notion is just silly. We have a perfectly good web browser at our disposal, and I'm certainly not going to waste that potential. Now it is true that we can only use a limited amount of the GamePad's functionality from the web browser, it is still better than sitting around idly waiting for others to do the hacking.

And so, I present to you, my solution for GamePad input. I will update this post as I further develop it:

Current Progress: Full input support!
Next Step: Public Release...

Current Video:

 

[kisamesama]

bright idea! looking foward for more progress! good job

 

[uyjulian]

great idea?

how did you connect the Gamepad?

 

[vashgs]

Local web server, javascript/html page on the GamePad side, javascript/html page on the PC side, both ends connect to a node server through js, npapi plugin on the pc end, node server communicates to the PC js/html page, which communicates with the npapi plugin to emulate mouse activity and key presses

 

[Maxternal]

Local web server, javascript/html page on the GamePad side, javascript/html page on the PC side, both ends connect to a node server through js, npapi plugin on the pc end, node server communicates to the PC js/html page, which communicates with the npapi plugin to emulate mouse activity and key presses

You know, if you were to put this up on a public web server and then just throw in a couple of ads on the PC side of the webpage you might be able to get some cash out of this.

 

[vashgs]

You know, if you were to put this up on a public web server and then just throw in a couple of ads on the PC side of the webpage you might be able to get some cash out of this.

I'm actually going to throw one or two non-intrusive ads on the PC side once I make a release. Tech-savvy individuals will be able to quickly remove them if they'd like, but it never hurts to help a fellow developer out.

 

[SuzieJoeBob]

This is what I'm thinking after reading the first post:

 

[Ray Lewis]

So...use controller for pc via internet connection? Or, like a mouse? Not feeling well and seems creative but I would love love to use usb cable and hook controller to pc for emulator use. That would be my want;-)

 

[Maxternal]

Just a thought with the virtual keyboard, if you're looking to cut any corners you could always (at least on Windows) just have it automatically open the already existing software keyboard on the PC and see if you could type with that. Not ideal, I know, but it could help for starters.

And I second Ray's desire for a PC gamepad emulation feature. (Not even sure if the web browser has access to the buttons and joysticks on the gamepad but that WOULD be nice.)

 

[vashgs]

So far I am able to detect the following:

A Button (perfect behavior, down and up)
Left Stick (perfect 8-direction behavior)
D-Pad (perfect behavior, down and up, differentiates between Left stick and D-Pad)
B Button (Press only, hacky detection)

I'm currently working on the right stick, with minor success. It doesn't look like I'll be able to include full right stick support.

The plan is to complete a customizable application in which you can map each of the available buttons to any virtual key on your PC. This would allow you to control your mouse, use a virtual keyboard, or (for all of us gamers) map the Gamepad to certain buttons for use within emulators!

I'll keep you all updated. Cheers!

 

[nukeboy95]

i still want a way to connect via Bluetooth
but still cool

 

[Ray Lewis]

Not knocking your work, I think this is VERY creative. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[megazig]

http://wiiubrew.org/wiki/Internet_Browser

lots of this has been doc'd and done long ago.

 

[vashgs]

http://wiiubrew.org/wiki/Internet_Browser

lots of this has been doc'd and done long ago.

Thanks for the post, it has been very helpful. I didn't mean to offend by my project or anything. Like I mentioned above, I didn't know if it had been done before, so I started to do it myself.

Edit: Ohai thar, megazig. Nice to see a familiar face ;-)

 

[megazig]

howdy vash, long time no see

 

[vashgs]

I've completed full input support, and I've made it so the user sets up hotkeys on the PC end. I've added a video in the first post to demonstrate using the GamePad as an emulator controller.

 

[Maxternal]

OH, seeing the video I thought the PC screen was being streamed to the gamepad but it doesn't look like that's the case? if it isn't right now, that would be a great feature to add.

 

[vashgs]

I've already attempted it using the one available streaming method for the Internet Browser (Apple's livehttp). Unfortunately, the segments don't load rapidly enough at a shorter length, and when the length of each segment is too long then the delay becomes massive and unusable in this situation. That basically exhausts my options for streaming the PC screen to the GamePad. I have one more option that I've thought about, but I haven't given it a shot yet. If I do decide to try it, I'll definitely post about it here.

 

[Pattonfiend67]

any update on this? i would be very interested in giving it a go soon... very excited for this. thanks for taking your time to do it!

 

[Ray Lewis]

Yeah, this is great work. Mega pointed out a link where people had mapped something on this before. Sorry if I seemed to discount what you're working on. Very interested in seeing this come to fruition;-) My question would be of LAG. If playing an emulator, would there be lag with controller--->PC--->emulator? Oh, to clarify, I had a massive migraine when I commented previously and thought it was cool but hurt my brain trying to think on it even more. If there is no lag, and fully functional (lag like, it is playable with emulators) THEN this is amazing. Actually usable for all of us;-) Thanks for the work and the effort.