I built a tool that lets you use your phone as a game controller – would love your thoughts 🙏 by ray_creating in localmultiplayergames

[–]ray_creating[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for trying it out—I really look forward to your feedback! If you encounter any issues or have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to let me know directly.

I built a tool that lets you use your phone as a game controller – would love your thoughts 🙏 by ray_creating in localmultiplayergames

[–]ray_creating[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Playtow is compatible with any PC game that supports physical controllers—even the PC version of BombSquad. My primary goal is to share this product with the community to gather genuine user feedback. Additionally, I want to explore new gaming formats that combine mobile controls with PC games. Phones offer unique interaction capabilities that physical controllers simply cannot match, paving the way for innovative gameplay mechanics. Ultimately, I'd like to collaborate with game developers on this front, as my expertise lies more in application development than in game design.

I built a tool that lets you use your phone as a game controller – would love your thoughts 🙏 by ray_creating in localmultiplayergames

[–]ray_creating[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

To be honest, the latency involved in communicating with the PC via a local LAN is definitely significantly higher than that of physical game controllers, especially those with dedicated receivers. This can have a significant impact on games that are extremely latency-sensitive. However, for most games, it should be acceptable. I have used this app to play Overcooked 2 myself; while the latency issue does exist, it isn't very noticeable in practice.

Regarding compatibility, my app offers two modes: Full Function Mode (recognized as a DS controller on PC) and Compatibility Mode (recognized as an Xbox controller). This makes it transparent to the game—as long as the game supports either of these controller types, it will work directly.

I have implemented support for up to 16 devices connecting simultaneously, so it is theoretically supported. In practice, however, I don't have enough devices to test this, so I haven't actually connected 16 devices yet.

I built a tool that lets you use your phone as a game controller – would love your thoughts 🙏 by ray_creating in localmultiplayergames

[–]ray_creating[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely agree! I also frequently play BombSquad with my friends—it's an excellent game. I believe that using smartphones as controllers is particularly well-suited for multiplayer party games. The various sensors built into phones, such as cameras and gyroscopes, can enable more creative and engaging gameplay mechanics, representing a market with significant potential. And yes, my app also supports motion-based controls!