Controls Reference

Complete guide to controlling your spacecraft in R-Type J.A.M.E.S.

🎮 Input Devices

R-Type J.A.M.E.S. supports multiple input devices:

• ✅ Keyboard (Primary, fully supported)
• ✅ Gamepad (Xbox, PlayStation, Generic USB controllers)
• 🚧 Mouse (Planned for menu navigation)

⌨️ Keyboard Controls

Default Keybindings

Action	Primary Key	Alternative Key	Description
Move Up	↑	W	Move ship upward
Move Down	↓	S	Move ship downward
Move Left	←	A	Move ship left
Move Right	→	D	Move ship right
Fire	Space	-	Fire primary weapon
Charge Shot	Hold Space	-	Charge and release for powerful shot
Pause/Menu	Esc	P	Pause game or open menu

Movement Characteristics

• Speed: Constant movement speed (no acceleration)
• Precision: Pixel-perfect control for dodging
• Diagonal Movement: Combine directional keys for diagonal movement
• Boundary Limits: Automatic screen edge prevention

Pro Tip

Use WASD for movement if you're more comfortable with FPS-style controls. Both arrow keys and WASD work simultaneously!

Settings

You can modify a lot of settings, like :

• bigger text
• input remapping
• gameplay changes (difficulty settings, rule changes...)

Planned Configuration File

Controls will be configurable via config/controls.json:

{
  "keyboard": {
    "move_up": ["Up", "W"],
    "move_down": ["Down", "S"],
    "move_left": ["Left", "A"],
    "move_right": ["Right", "D"],
    "fire": ["Space"],
    "pause": ["Escape", "P"]
  },
  "gamepad": {
    "move": "LeftStick",
    "fire": "ButtonA",
    "pause": "Start"
  }
}

🎯 Movement Guide

Basic Movement

       ↑ (Up)
        |
  ←─────┼─────→
   (Left) (Right)
        |
       ↓ (Down)

Diagonal Movement

Combine two directional keys for diagonal movement:

  ↖ (Up+Left)    ↗ (Up+Right)




  ↙ (Down+Left)  ↘ (Down+Right)

Speed: Diagonal movement maintains the same speed as cardinal directions (normalized vectors).

Screen Boundaries

┌──────────────────────────────┐
│ ← Playfield Boundary →       │
│                              │
│     🚀 Your Ship             │
│                              │
│                              │
└──────────────────────────────┘

• You cannot move outside the visible playfield
• Movement is automatically clamped to screen edges
• No "wrapping" around screen edges

🔫 Firing Mechanics

Rapid Fire

Press and release Space repeatedly for rapid fire:

• Fire Rate: Limited by weapon cooldown
• Projectile Speed: Fast, straight trajectory
• Damage: Standard damage per shot

Player: ░░▶ Space Space Space
Output: 🚀 ─→ ─→ ─→

Charge Shot (Planned Feature)

Hold Space to charge, release to fire:

1. Press and Hold Space
2. Visual Indicator: Ship glows/charges
3. Release when fully charged
4. Powerful Blast: Deals 3x damage

Player: ░░▶ Hold Space (1s)
Charge: 🚀 ✧✦✦✦ (charging)
Release: 🚀 ━━━▶ (powerful shot)

Charge Time

While charging, you cannot fire regular shots. Plan your charge timing carefully!

⏸️ Pause Menu

Press Esc to pause the game:

Pause Menu Options

• Resume: Return to game
• Settings (Coming Soon): Adjust volume, graphics
• Quit to Menu: Return to main menu
• Quit Game: Exit application

Multiplayer Behavior

In multiplayer, pausing only affects your local view. The server and other players continue running. Use this for brief breaks only.

🎛️ Advanced Control Techniques

Dodging

• Predictive Movement: Watch enemy bullet trajectories
• Perpendicular Dodging: Move perpendicular to incoming projectiles
• Safe Zones: Learn enemy spawn patterns to position optimally

Kiting

• Backward Fire: Fire while moving backward to maintain distance
• Circle Strafing: Move in circles around slow enemies
• Hit and Run: Attack, then retreat to safety

Precision Movement

For tight corridors and bullet hell sections:

• Use small, controlled taps on directional keys
• Avoid holding keys continuously
• Practice feathering inputs for micro-adjustments

🔧 Troubleshooting Controls

Keyboard Not Responding

1. Check Focus: Click on the game window to ensure it has focus
2. Test Keys: Try alternate keys (WASD if arrows don't work)
3. Restart: Close and relaunch the client

Gamepad Not Detected

1. Connect First: Plug in controller before launching game
2. Check USB: Try different USB port
3. Driver Update: Ensure controller drivers are installed
4. Test Tool: Use jstest-gtk (Linux) or joy.cpl (Windows) to verify controller works

Input Lag

If you experience input lag:

• V-Sync: Disable V-Sync if enabled
• Polling Rate: Ensure controller has standard polling rate
• CPU Load: Close background applications
• Network: In multiplayer, check network latency

Multiple Inputs

If multiple inputs register from one press:

• Sticky Keys: Disable OS sticky keys feature
• Controller Calibration: Recalibrate controller in OS settings
• Clean Keyboard: Physical debris may cause key bounce

📱 Platform-Specific Notes

Linux

• Controllers may require xboxdrv or SDL for proper detection
• Some keyboards may have key repeat enabled in OS - this is normal
• Use evtest to verify controller input events

Windows

• Xbox controllers work natively
• PlayStation controllers require DS4Windows or similar drivers
• Generic controllers require DirectInput drivers

macOS (Coming Soon)

• Support planned for future releases
• Will use native macOS input APIs

📚 Related Documentation

• How to Play - General gameplay guide
• Input Abstraction Layer - Technical input system architecture

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🎮 Control Layout Visual Reference

Keyboard Layout

┌─────┬─────┬─────┐          ┌─────┐
│  W  │     │     │          │ ↑   │
│  ↑  │     │     │     OR   │     │
├─────┼─────┼─────┤          ├─────┤
│  A  │  S  │  D  │          │← ↓ →│
│  ←  │  ↓  │  →  │          │     │
└─────┴─────┴─────┘          └─────┘

         ┌───────────┐
         │   SPACE   │ = Fire
         └───────────┘

Gamepad Layout

      Start
       [⏸]

    [↑]           ╭─────╮
[←] [↓] [→]      │  ʘ  │ = Left Stick
                 ╰─────╯

              [Y]
          [X]     [B]
              [A] ← Fire

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Last Updated: January 2026