Anyone tried using Switch Joycon as a tool?

bitinn

I am not sure anyone in the west has done it, but in Japan:

https://twitter.com/kuromelon257/status/839106285429641217

(lots of japanese illustrators use other game controllers for this purpose, seems like a good fit for 3D designing too. And I prefer having a lighter controller/mouse in hand)

monster

I did exactly that with my MS Surface Pro and one of these little controllers: https://www.amazon.com/Gamepad-Bluetooth-Wireless-Controller-function/dp/B01FJQC4WG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1489269254&sr=8-3&keywords=mini+controller

It even comes with an app to map each button to a keyboard button. Sadly the little controller only lasted a couple of months. The Joy Con is probably higher quality than the 8bitdo controller.

fearian

I saw this and got super excited! Then I realised that I probably just want a breakaway numpad on my desk that I can map shortcuts too

I hope someone with a switch can get in here and try this out for us!

thomasp

the video on twitter does not play for me (probably script/adblocked) but using a gamecontroller as a keyboard shortcut replacement - definitely done that: back in the day i had all my shortcuts for modelling mapped to gestures and buttons on one of these: http://netego.dk/wp-content/strategiccommander.jpg
it's basically a joystick where the upper part can slide 8-ways and be twisted left/right.

speaking from experience with that i would point out that if you end up really relying on such a nonstandard device then:
- make sure it does not require some exotic, platform-specific driver (mine did, switch to windows 64-bit killed off support)
- buy at least one replacement unit. one day they won't be selling this thing anymore, yours will be long in the tooth and you'll be crying sooner rather than later heck, half my friends are still bitter about microsoft discontinuing the intellimouse explorer...

Zack Maxwell

That would just be objectively worse than using a Wacom Remote. Similar cost, even.

bounchfx

I imagine there will be a good handful of artists that own a switch and might want to try it, so it would essentially be zero cost in that case