Hello fellow Ace of Spades players. I am here today to announce a new innovation for this game and community. Let me introduce you to the Leap Motion controller.
As you can see from the pictures above, users control their computer, in midair, by using the Leap Motion Controller. Via USB, the Leap Motion uses two monochromatic IR cameras and three infrared LEDs to sense where your hands and fingers are in the air. It understands different gestures to perform functions for your computer. Using the Airspace Store, Leap Motion’s personal app store, you can download free/paid applications to either play games (Cut the Rope, Fruit Ninja, etc.), control Media Player, or take full control of your operating system.
By now you might be asking why I am posting this here. I am happy to reveal that I have finally found a way to use this technology to control the great game of Ace of Spades. My configuration does require one hand on the keyboard. But, with your other hand, it is definitely an interesting and fun way to aim your sights. Let me show you what I found works.
I downloaded gameWAVE, an app that costs $3.99. It works in the background to let you control your entire OS, plus most video games. The best thing about this app is the ability to program different gestures to perform different things. Here is a picture of the Configuration Window for gameWAVE.
As you can see, gameWAVE allows you to turn any key, mouse movement, click, etc. into a Leap Motion gesture. I experimented with this app for days before finding a combination that works for AoS. I did try to make enough gestures to use the controller on its own. I had no success with that. Although, I did find a combination that worked for aiming/panning only… Here is a picture of my combination.
With my right hand, I use the Leap to aim in midair, turn, and right click zoom. I use my left hand to WASD, Shift, Tab, Ctrl, and (thumb) for left click shoot. This setup works for me, but gameWAVE will let you experiment to find your best setup…
Here are some things you need to know about the Leap Motion. It costs only $80 for the controller! The controller can be found at Best Buy and Amazon.com. Some of the apps can be pricey, but they are definitely worth it. Buying an app is limited to credit card use only… As with most things, there are always haters. Some people may say that the Leap Motion is worthless, because it can be unreliable and touchy. It is simply difficult to get used to. Once you get the hang of it, your motions become smooth and less shaky. My main advice is to never give up on it. Also, a moderate internet connection is needed, or else it can get a little laggy. I have found that a ping of <150 is perfect, <500 is moderate, and >500 gets quite poor. The use of gameWAVE does raise your PING a little…
Here are some links:
Leap Motion Home Page: https://www.leapmotion.com/
Wikipedia Page: Leap Motion - Wikipedia
Airspace Store: https://airspace.leapmotion.com/
I absolutely recommend everyone to buy the Leap Motion. I also promote the use of gameWAVE, and my aiming configuration. I hope that people can trial with different setups and gestures, to make the perfect combination to work with every part of this game. This technology is fun to experiment with, use, and will amaze anyone who sees you use it.
If you need help, information, or anything else; feel free to contact me in the reply section of this post, or simply PM me.
Good luck,
FerrariFlunker
