Curse

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 01:31 PM // 13:31

So i'll just start of by saying that this may belong in the q&a forum or the technicians, but I couldnt decide which, so i'm putting it here - as it will likely be a bit of a challenge anyway.

At home i've got a pretty powerfull computer that has no problem running two instances of guild wars at once. I also have dual monitors, and theres nothing more fun that maximising guildwars on each screen as if I'm playing two copies at once.
But its not really the same as actually playing two copies at once... which is what i'm asking you guys for help with!

Essentially I want to be able to invite my friend over some time, grab some beers, fire up my computer and play some split-screen co-op with him. Him on his keyboard and mouse, using the left moniter, and me using my own keyboard and mouse, on the right moniter.

As far as I can see, all that I need for this to become a reality would be a programme that is able to keep two applications 'active' at the same time, and then feed the button presses on one keyboard and mouse to one of those aplications, while sending the other presses to the second application. (Hope that didnt sound too confusing)

So has anyone ever done this? I think it'd be pretty awesome, especially in the more competitive aspects of the game.
If not, i'm sure by putting our heads together we could find something in the vast interwebs that would make this a reality, and the whole community could benefit from it.
Thanks all. Questions, comments, critisms appreciated.

LeoX · May 17, 2009, 01:47 PM // 13:47

Yeah sounds like fun.

Although it's very possible for your friend to unplug his computer, keyboard, mouse, get the wires and bring that over to your house.

Actually you'd need extra wires to connect him up to the internet too, unless he has a wireless card inside.

;D

immortius · May 17, 2009, 01:49 PM // 13:49

Closest thing I can find is an application called TeamPlayer, which allows you to attach multiple keyboards and mice and have separate cursors for each mouse, bit I don't think it allows you to lock each keyboard/mouse combo to a separate application. I could be wrong.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 01:59 PM // 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by LeoX

Yeah sounds like fun.

Although it's very possible for your friend to unplug his computer, keyboard, mouse, get the wires and bring that over to your house.

Actually you'd need extra wires to connect him up to the internet too, unless he has a wireless card inside.

;D

hehe, yeah, this is exactly the reason why I think people dont play guildwars together (physically, i mean). Which is a shame. But ts just so messy having to take an entire freaking computer with you and hooking it up. Another reason why i'd love this to work, itd just be like "oh grab my spare keyboard and mouse andwe're ready!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by immortius

Closest thing I can find is an application called TeamPlayer, which allows you to attach multiple keyboards and mice and have separate cursors for each mouse, bit I don't think it allows you to lock each keyboard/mouse combo to a separate application. I could be wrong.

Sounds interesting... so that achieves half of what I would need to pull this off - a way to seperate the key presses between keyboards. Has anyone else had any luck with this app?

Thanks, guys.

Narcin · May 17, 2009, 03:01 PM // 15:01

cant really help you with the dual keyboard/mouse thing, but running two guild wars at once is simple. program called gwx2. Download it at gwx2.co.nr There is a guide on guru right here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10301247

The poster posts his own link for the download, i dont know how safe it is so i posted the official site. Also, i dont know much about this program: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10373154

Its something that seems like it could work, i have not tried it though.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 03:30 PM // 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Narcin

cant really help you with the dual keyboard/mouse thing, but running two guild wars at once is simple. program called gwx2. Download it at gwx2.co.nr There is a guide on guru right here: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10301247

The poster posts his own link for the download, i dont know how safe it is so i posted the official site. Also, i dont know much about this program: http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10373154

Its something that seems like it could work, i have not tried it though.

Hehe, yeah, thanks. I've used gwx2 many times before, thanks!

Empress Amarox · May 17, 2009, 03:35 PM // 15:35

Pretty sure you'll need a second PC.

I don't think you can make two GW windows active at the same time

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 03:52 PM // 15:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Empress Amarox

Pretty sure you'll need a second PC.

I don't think you can make two GW windows active at the same time

Well yeah this seems to be the problem. But if there is an application that can make any two windows active at the same time, there is no reason why it shouldn't work with guildwars.
Its just a question of finding that application.. xD

The Nite Crawler · May 17, 2009, 04:03 PM // 16:03

Google GWx2, that should be all you need for running 2 instances of GW, easy to use. GL HF

Abedeus · May 17, 2009, 04:22 PM // 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Nite Crawler

Google GWx2, that should be all you need for running 2 instances of GW, easy to use. GL HF

Read the FUUUUUU text. It's not about 2 GW windows. It's about having 2 windows ACTIVE. So he can switch without problems between skillbars, windows and effectively move two characters (+ heroes) at the same time.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 04:22 PM // 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Nite Crawler

Google GWx2, that should be all you need for running 2 instances of GW, easy to use. GL HF

Erm... yeah. Please try to read the post before commenting xD.

I appreciate the thought to help, though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abedeus

Read the FUUUUUU text. It's not about 2 GW windows. It's about having 2 windows ACTIVE. So he can switch without problems between skillbars, windows and effectively move two characters (+ heroes) at the same time.

Yep, think of the possibilities.. *daydreams about playing HA alone*. xD

Kiva-chan · May 17, 2009, 04:24 PM // 16:24

I think the trouble lies in the fact that if both windows are active,
then any input from the keyboards would be sent to both instances of GW.

I have heard something about a company called Userful inventing a program that can 'split' one computer into multiple computers using several monitors, keyboards and mice.

I don't know much about it, but I'm sure if you google it you'll find something.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 04:29 PM // 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiva-chan

I think the trouble lies in the fact that if both windows are active,
then any input from the keyboards would be sent to both instances of GW.

I have heard something about a company called Userful inventing a program that can 'split' one computer into multiple computers using several monitors, keyboards and mice.

I don't know much about it, but I'm sure if you google it you'll find something.

Hmm, yeah I sure will have a look. Really all we need is two things; A way to run two active windows of guildwars at once, and a way to split the keyboard input to the two windows.
I'm not sure I like 100% the idea of spliting into 'mini computers' as that sounds way more complex for what I actually need to do... but whatever. Google is my friend.

EDIT: Is it just me, or is this just for linux?

Kiva-chan · May 17, 2009, 05:19 PM // 17:19

It might be just for Linux.
As I said, I don't really know much about it and didn't bother to look =P

I used to multibox on WoW, which involved using a program that sent keystrokes to multiple windows at once.
There were two different programs... one completely cloned my key presses and sent them to other windows.
The other let me assign which key presses should be sent to other windows and which should be ignored.

The latter may possibly be capable of something similar to what you're asking.
What you would have to do is have different bindings on each instance of GW,
and set up the script for the program to send certain keystrokes to specific windows.

I'm not very good at explaining, but I'll try...

GW #1 = The keys 1-8 are your skills and W, A, S, D are for moving.

GW #2 = Numpad keys 1-8 are skills and the arrow keys are for moving.

The script for the program will send keystrokes on 1-8 and W, A, S, D to GW #1 only
...and it will send the keystrokes on numpad and arrow keys to GW #2 only.

This kinda makes it so you can control both characters at once, using different keys.
However, you'd have to write the script yourself and as you can see, it's rather complicated...

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 05:31 PM // 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiva-chan

It might be just for Linux.
As I said, I don't really know much about it and didn't bother to look =P

I used to multibox on WoW, which involved using a program that sent keystrokes to multiple windows at once.
There were two different programs... one completely cloned my key presses and sent them to other windows.
The other let me assign which key presses should be sent to other windows and which should be ignored.

The latter may possibly be capable of something similar to what you're asking.
What you would have to do is have different bindings on each instance of GW,
and set up the script for the program to send certain keystrokes to specific windows.

I'm not very good at explaining, but I'll try...

GW #1 = The keys 1-8 are your skills and W, A, S, D are for moving.

GW #2 = Numpad keys 1-8 are skills and the arrow keys are for moving.

The script for the program will send keystrokes on 1-8 and W, A, S, D to GW #1 only
...and it will send the keystrokes on numpad and arrow keys to GW #2 only.

This kinda makes it so you can control both characters at once, using different keys.
However, you'd have to write the script yourself and as you can see, it's rather complicated...

I see what you mean. And could it be scripted so that the keys 1-8 on keyboard #1 send to guildwars #1, and the keys 1-8 on keyboard #2 send to guildwars #2? and so on?

Though mind you... thats a lot of scripting. Every single action would have to be done... :S.

Thinking about it, with something like this you wouldnt even need to have two apllications active, would you? It just does that automatically.

Hengis · May 17, 2009, 05:38 PM // 17:38

I found this product called Team Player:

http://www.wunderworks.com/teamplayer/

It allows two sets of keyboards and mice to connect to one PC, however at the moment it does not seem that it will allow you to set the focus to separate applications.

Reading on their forums though, it looks like this feature is under developement, so it might be worth keeping an eye on it.

Kiva-chan · May 17, 2009, 05:49 PM // 17:49

I'm not too sure, but if I remember correctly the program also supported the remapping of keys
and the use of joysticks/gamepads and such too, so it might be possible to do that.

Anyway, the name of the program was AutoHotkey I think.
So if you google that, no doubt you'll be able to find if it's of any use to you or not.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 06:13 PM // 18:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiva-chan

I'm not too sure, but if I remember correctly the program also supported the remapping of keys
and the use of joysticks/gamepads and such too, so it might be possible to do that.

Anyway, the name of the program was AutoHotkey I think.
So if you google that, no doubt you'll be able to find if it's of any use to you or not.

Ahh. Autohotkey. God I strugled with scripting on that... Just creating a rapidfire script was a nightmare for me. Hmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hengis Stone

I found this product called Team Player:

http://www.wunderworks.com/teamplayer/

It allows two sets of keyboards and mice to connect to one PC, however at the moment it does not seem that it will allow you to set the focus to separate applications.

Reading on their forums though, it looks like this feature is under developement, so it might be worth keeping an eye on it.

Hmm, thankyou. I'll have a looksie.

Windblade Ionic Z · May 17, 2009, 06:43 PM // 18:43

Unfortunately, doing what the OP asked is not possible. Here is why:

The purpose of an operating system is to coordinate tasks and manage system components. To allow users to be able to easily define new tasks, the GUI was created. Hence, everytime you move your mouse, you are creating a new task for the computer. When I say task, I do not mean task in the sense of "Task Manager".

Your mouse and keyboard input falls under the category of system interrupts. User interrupts have high priority. This means that no matter what the system is doing, it must listen to mouse and keyboard inputs (for general understanding this is enough).

Now, mouse and keyboard inputs have to be translated by the OS and the mouse/keyboard drivers. To make this as simple to understand as possible, lets take a look at only 3 of the main requirements.

For a mouse click, the system needs to know the x,y coordinates and what window/application those x,y coordinates exist in. This idea of focus comes from the need to know what application/window the user define action must occur in.

When a certain window/application has focus, all of needs of that application/window take priority over other processes. This also means that the OS will send instructions to the system hardware to focus on the needs of application/window in focus.

When you introduce a second mouse/keyboard and want it to behave as a separate second user input, you need to create another user interrupt and again introduce another "focus".

All system components execute instructions linearly and therefore it is not possible to have two different items both in focus as this creates no focus.

In other words, try to look at 2 different pictures at the same time with your eyes and draw the first picture with your left hand while you draw the second picture with your right.

I tried to make this as simple as possible to understand. Hope this helps.

Bill Clinton · May 17, 2009, 06:53 PM // 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windblade Ionic Z

Unfortunately, doing what the OP asked is not possible. Here is why:

The purpose of an operating system is to coordinate tasks and manage system components. To allow users to be able to easily define new tasks, the GUI was created. Hence, everytime you move your mouse, you are creating a new task for the computer. When I say task, I do not mean task in the sense of "Task Manager".

Your mouse and keyboard input falls under the category of system interrupts. User interrupts have high priority. This means that no matter what the system is doing, it must listen to mouse and keyboard inputs (for general understanding this is enough).

Now, mouse and keyboard inputs have to be translated by the OS and the mouse/keyboard drivers. To make this as simple to understand as possible, lets take a look at only 3 of the main requirements.

For a mouse click, the system needs to know the x,y coordinates and what window/application those x,y coordinates exist in. This idea of focus comes from the need to know what application/window the user define action must occur in.

When a certain window/application has focus, all of needs of that application/window take priority over other processes. This also means that the OS will send instructions to the system hardware to focus on the needs of application/window in focus.

When you introduce a second mouse/keyboard and want it to behave as a separate second user input, you need to create another user interrupt and again introduce another "focus".

All system components execute instructions linearly and therefore it is not possible to have two different items both in focus as this creates no focus.

In other words, try to look at 2 different pictures at the same time with your eyes and draw the first picture with your left hand while you draw the second picture with your right.

I tried to make this as simple as possible to understand. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the post. You obviously know a lot more about computers than me... but are you telling me there is no possible way for a PC to have two seperate mouse cursors controled by seperate mice at the same time? Because, if so, how are things like this possible?: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUOn_nJmRA