TUTORIAL - How to change keys in Orcs Must Die

[Faryn1975]

Currently, Orcs Must Die does not permit players to change the keys. While this is unfortunate, it's not the end of the world. Here's a very simple solution.

1. Download GlovePIE
GlovePIE: http://glovepie.org/GlovePIEWithoutEmotiv043.zip

2. Unzip (decompress) the contents somewhere. It doesn't install anything. Just put it where you want, like c:\

3. Run GlovePIE.exe

4. You will be presented with a large blank window. This is where you enter your "script" which is just a set of instructions. This is VERY EASY. Here's what I use:

W = Up
A = Left
S = Down
D = Right
Space = rightcontrol
E = End

You can copy/paste this example right into the window, if you want.

5. Under FILE select save. I called my script file OMD.PIE . Do yourself a favor and save the file in the GlovePIE folder.

6. Hit RUN at the top of GlovePIE. At this point, your script is active.

7. Play Orcs Must Die. It's awesome. Have fun.

8. When you're done playing, hit STOP in GlovePIE, which will be where the RUN button was.

That's it. Next time you want to play OMD, run GlovePIE first, load the script you saved, hit RUN, and you're good to go. (Just don't forget to STOP the script and close GlovePIE once you're done playing.)


If you want to tinker the other Orcs Must Die keys, go for it. You can see from my script example above how it works. You can also tinker with what the mouse buttons do, but I won't go into that here. GlovePIE has a good HELP section.

[Vortimous]

Thanks, I have used it... works great... I use arrow keys to move and it really helps... will be makeing one for the full game when it comes out... will test on demo till then

[Faryn1975]

Vortimous, you don't have to make a new script for the full game. The script runs whenever you tell it to, regardless of what you're actually doing on the computer at the time.

[Vortimous]

Vortimous, you don't have to make a new script for the full game. The script runs whenever you tell it to, regardless of what you're actually doing on the computer at the time.

Yeah, I know... I just havent tweaked the one you made yet... gonna change just a few keys... but def will use arrows for move...

Thanks again

[SixOkay]

Thanks for writing this up! I tweeted it just now from our OMD! account.

[Faryn1975]

Thank you, SixOkay!

[avidwriter]

Seems kinda wierd you have to go through all that to change the keys. I'm going to play the demo but now I'm worried. I'm not gonna download something else just to change my keys.

[Bragdras]

We shouldn't have to do any of this to change our keybinds, we should be able to change them from within the game to begin with, this isn't a console.

[Evil Kerek]

Not going to waste my time working around a failure of the company to properly code a PC game. There is no suprise heat is coming from this. They knew it was. I suspect they rushed it out to get ahead of DD - but that's simply no excuse.

[Faryn1975]

Not going to waste my time working around a failure of the company to properly code a PC game. There is no suprise heat is coming from this. They knew it was. I suspect they rushed it out to get ahead of DD - but that's simply no excuse.

While we're all annoyed at the lack of key mapping, let's be honest here, it's not that big of a deal. It's still a great game, and I won't allow this one issue to ruin the fun for me. Dead Space had the same issue, but two minutes of effort and the problem was solved. Same here.

[Bragdras]

While we're all annoyed at the lack of key mapping, let's be honest here, it's not that big of a deal. It's still a great game, and I won't allow this one issue to ruin the fun for me. Dead Space had the same issue, but two minutes of effort and the problem was solved. Same here.

It IS a huge issue, the game is great, but not being able to select your keybinds is a huge issue, a lot of people do not like to use ZQSD / WASD mapping, they prefer RFDG / directional arrows (and being able to add keybinds to around said arrows, I know you can play omd with arrows already) and such.

I'm still going to preorder the game because it's still a very fun game, but I sure as hell hope I won't have to go through the whole game in the terrible french version because it thinks english = qwerty.

Dead space didn't have this issue, you could choose your keys. If you're talking about the odd sensitivity on the mouse, that was but a matter of time to get used to it.

[Faryn1975]

Actually, there were a few keys in Dead Space you couldn't modify, ones I wanted to use.

In any case, the point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to settle for their key config. The tutorial I wrote takes about two minutes to setup and the problem is solved.

Everyone here is complaining. That's fine, but I'm offering a simple solution to a simple problem.

[DuckStab]

Actually, there were a few keys in Dead Space you couldn't modify, ones I wanted to use.

In any case, the point I'm trying to make is that you don't have to settle for their key config. The tutorial I wrote takes about two minutes to setup and the problem is solved.

Everyone here is complaining. That's fine, but I'm offering a simple solution to a simple problem.

a problem that should NEVER be there in the first place. Rebindable keys has been a STANDARD PC game feature for over a decade. Its absence is inexcusable and I won't be buying this game until it's properly implemented. I shouldn't have to jump through hoops for basic stuff like this.

[Askjosh]

Here is to hoping that they will have a key binding menu implemented by the time the game is released. In any case I still have it pre ordered and will play it on my computer using an xbox controller so it doesn't make much of a difference to me

[bryonhowley]

It IS a huge issue, the game is great, but not being able to select your keybinds is a huge issue, a lot of people do not like to use ZQSD / WASD mapping, they prefer RFDG / directional arrows (and being able to add keybinds to around said arrows, I know you can play omd with arrows already) and such.

I'm still going to preorder the game because it's still a very fun game, but I sure as hell hope I won't have to go through the whole game in the terrible french version because it thinks english = qwerty.

Dead space didn't have this issue, you could choose your keys. If you're talking about the odd sensitivity on the mouse, that was but a matter of time to get used to it.

It is a non issue period the game works with Xbox 360 controller and that is ALL any one needs to use with this game.

[DollerDollah]

>Have to install a third party program to change the keyboard controls
>2011

I knew this game reeked of rushed garbage, but holy cow.

[arqueturus]

This doesn't work for me as I wish to remap the keys to:

A = Forwards
S = Backwards
Z = Left
X = Right

So that would be:

W = A
A = Z
D = X

What it seems to do when I hit Z is that it inputs an A then a W.

Frankly, I really shouldn't be having to resort to 3rd part stuff to remap keys in this day and age and as of now, it's preventing me from buying the game as i'd never be able to manage the more complex stuff that will in later levels.

What a shame.

zaw

[MrMud]

This doesn't work for me as I wish to remap the keys to:

A = Forwards
S = Backwards
Z = Left
X = Right

So that would be:

W = A
A = Z
D = X

What it seems to do when I hit Z is that it inputs an A then a W.

Frankly, I really shouldn't be having to resort to 3rd part stuff to remap keys in this day and age and as of now, it's preventing me from buying the game as i'd never be able to manage the more complex stuff that will in later levels.

What a shame.

zaw
Yep, cant rebind as well
Using ESDF doesnt work

W=E
A=S
S=D
D=F

[DARK_Turd]

Yeah I use EDSF as well, and I think it won't work because some of those keys are hardcoded and ignore 3rd party programs. I tried autohotkey as well.

[Tinsel]

Yeah I use EDSF as well, and I think it won't work because some of those keys are hardcoded and ignore 3rd party programs. I tried autohotkey as well.

I tried in AHK just for kicks, and it worked fine. As a test, I swapped W and S and A and D (so W went backward, S went forward, A went right, D went left). I also tried to move them over to EDSF, and it also worked just fine.

You are able to completely remap your movement controls, including to EDSF if you like.

[Malice_Unarmed]

I have no arms so I am forced using arrows since toes do not bend it a way that allows me to press W and D at the same time. Annoys me when a dev doesn't bother to insert something so simple as key binds. Very kool game tho and this program does work pretty easily.

[DJ Splendid]

Robot Peeps: Genuinely interested in the game but you don't get my monies until I can natively bind the UI functions to arbitrary input devices.

Why the industry is regressing on this issue I do not know. It is beyond crazy.

Please address this.

[r1nce]

Hi there Robot devs,

My girlfriend gifted me OMD on launch day, and I really enjoyed the first two levels (this was all I managed to squeeze into my lunch break), though I had to use a foreign control style to do so.

I just wanted to add my voice to the growing list of people that would appreciate the ability to change the controls input.

I really hope that OMD is super-successful, so you can make a sequel and add-in all those nifty extras (and any features/ideas that got dropped for OMD), like being able to rebind actions to other buttons.

Sadly, I cannot use GlovePIE as well as I would like, as I rebind the forwards and backwards commands to the M1 and M2 buttons, and this makes navigating GUI menus somewhat problematic.

It is my guess that the controls are all hard-coded for OMD, and that you cannot simply append these into some kind of editable text file for users that are so inclined to be able to change things in the backend via Notepad. While obviously not ideal, for you guys or for users, at least this would offer at least some flexibility to the users who are experiencing this issue.

Despite this personal issue for me, I have recommended OMD to several friends and colleagues and they all seem to be enjoying it as much as I am.

I look forward to future releases by your dev team, and wish you well in the post-release patch-o-mania and post-crunch environment. =)

Peace,
r1nce

[eggrock]

While we're all annoyed at the lack of key mapping, let's be honest here, it's not that big of a deal.

YES. IT. IS.

This game is nearly impossible for lefthanded people to play with the current keybindings, without downloading and installing an unwanted third party program that has to be stopped every time the game is to avoid conflicts with other programs.

Other games don't recognize swapped mouse buttons, either partially or completely. Still more don't recognize numpad input.

Even if we're able to overcome obstacles and play (usually with limitations) we're still stuck with multiple instruction sets to memorize and train muscle memory for.

Or vote with our wallet.

[Riddance]

Enjoying the game so far, but I really, really don't want to download 3rd party software to re-bind my keys.

I hope you add this functionality soon. (even editing a cfg file would be better than this)

[Valdorganos]

Yeah I use EDSF as well, and I think it won't work because some of those keys are hardcoded and ignore 3rd party programs. I tried autohotkey as well.

Well I'm using AutoHotkey and it works, it's version v1.1.02.00. But also it's XP but I would be surprise that change game behavior about keys, but well possible.

Here the setup I'm using, I put it in My Documents folder, the file is named AutoHotkey.ahk.

; Next line tests if it's OMD that is in front
#IfWinActive ahk_class VVideoClass

; SELL/ACTIVATE key, I'm using y
y::e
; BACKWARD key, I'm using spacebar
space::s
; FORWARD key, I'm using r
r::z
; STRAFE LEFT key, I'm using e
e::q
; STRAFE RIGHT key, I'm using t
t::d
; JUMP key, I'm using q
q::space
; RUN key, I'm using s
s::LShift

Still a hassle to have to do that, and at least the game should have a config file easy enough to edit to change key binding.

Quote that AutoHotkey also allow rebind mouse buttons or simulate mouse buttons, game setup was ok for me so I didn't changed that.

[Friendliest]

Thanks for writing this up! I tweeted it just now from our OMD! account.
I almost loled.


Seems kinda wierd you have to go through all that to change the keys. I'm going to play the demo but now I'm worried. I'm not gonna download something else just to change my keys....agree
We shouldn't have to do any of this to change our keybinds, we should be able to change them from within the game to begin with, this isn't a console....and basically agree


and before about 6 hours ago, you would have heard me giving very vocal scorn to the game mfrs who put out games with such obvious oversights and flaws.

but then I had somewhat of a revelation:

as I was firing up my AHK* "adapter" script for another "lazily coded" game, it occurred to me (*AHK (http://www.autohotkey.com/) is a thing kinda like GlovePIE for those of u who do not know. Only not so much glove or pie. :P):

Would it be so bad if I had to write a little config script like this for every game?

Like if there was some perfectly universal UI API that every game could use and people could just easily plug their own controller/configs into...?

Like ... when u got a new shooter game u could just copy ur last shooter game's config and have 95% of the work already done when setting up a new game. (Like u used to be able to do when so many games all used quake-based engines. Now, sadly, there are too many ppl trying -- and failing massively (*cough* DICE *cough*) -- at re-inventing the wheel, that greatest of software development crimes! :P)

What that would ultimately accomplish is to enable me to set my controls exactly how I like for every game, meanwhile freeing up the developers to work on "more important stuff".

The rhetorical, idealist answer is "No it would not be so bad. In fact it would probably be pretty awesome."

But the problem is when the developers take the time and money savings from not having to do as much UI code and instead of giving us more cool stuff in the game, or even (*gasp*) lower prices, they simply put that money in their pockets, ramble something about how the industry is uber-competitive, and keep trying to push products that are broken or inferior in other ways. (Such as: remember when games used to come with a server browser that WORKED, and didn't expect u to use some 3rd party tool to cover their laziness? :P)

Yeah, they're not really to be trusted, so .. my idealist revelation pretty much died there, but it seemed relevant to this topic, and obviously a lot of ppl giving thought to these issues.

[freshdachs]

I am lefthanded, so not being able to customize controls is a huge issue for me...
But since this is not the first title to lack this "feature" I am already familiar with Autohotkey (similar app like glovepie)

[zarakon]

It is a non issue period the game works with Xbox 360 controller and that is ALL any one needs to use with this game.

1. Not everyone has a 360 controller, and they cost more than the game.
2. Mouse is superior

[Nethlem]

YES. IT. IS.

This game is nearly impossible for lefthanded people to play with the current keybindings, without downloading and installing an unwanted third party program that has to be stopped every time the game is to avoid conflicts with other programs.

Other games don't recognize swapped mouse buttons, either partially or completely. Still more don't recognize numpad input.

Even if we're able to overcome obstacles and play (usually with limitations) we're still stuck with multiple instruction sets to memorize and train muscle memory for.

Or vote with our wallet.

Totaly agreed...
Lost customer sounding off, i've been playing with ESDF controls for nearly 2 decades. And these piss poor ports have been anoying the hell out of me.

If you can't be bothered to at least add standard platform settings to your game then i can't be bothered to buy it. Because i won't support poor ports, especialy if the developers solution to this is using third party applications that get recommended by the community.

And i encourage everybody else to do the same, don't support stuff like that thinking "oh yeah i can work around that!", we shouldn't have to. In the past 5-10 years PC gaming has become increasingly streamlined thanks to steam.

Poor ports like this are destroying this by forcing people to once again bother with half a dozen of third party applications and work around hacks, when people just want the same settings and options they have known for decades..

[Fenz]

I can not use my right arm. I can not play this game at the moment since I need to rebind keys so my setup works (forward with the mouse2 for example). I can not be bothered to use 3rd party programs, my pedals, Razermouse (left handed edition) and G510 keyboard should be enough.

I hope the option to rebind keys will be put in soon.

[AntoxaGray]

That's actually interesting software, I googletracked here to rebind controls in OMD, but now I use it for other stuff aswell (rebound unfunctional F13-F18 keys)