Tips and Tricks Page

Required Setup Scripts

• For the full setup instructions for the SideKick, go to the setup page.
  The only scripts you must copy into your autoexec.cfg or your custom *.cfg file are these:
   
                (for quake)
  • joystick 1
    joyadvanced 1
    joyadvaxisx 0
    joyadvaxisy 0
    joyadvancedupdate

        (for quake II)
    set in_joystick 1
    set joy_advanced 1
    set joy_advaxisx 0
    set joy_advaxisy 0
    joy_advancedupdate
     

  These commands disable the x and y axis of the joystick port.  If they are not inserted, you will spin uncontrollably in a circle, which is very bad for your gaming experience. ;)

  You can then bind to the joystick "buttons" to attach commands to the SideKick footswitches by using the names "joy1" and "joy2", like in the following examples:

               (for quake)

  • bind "joy1" "impulse 5" (assigns one of the footswitches to select the super-nailgun when hit.)
    bind "joy2" "impulse 7"  (assigns the other footswitch to select the rocket launcher when hit.)

   
               (for quake II)

  • bind "joy1" "use Chaingun"            (assigns one footswitch to select the Chaingun)
    bind "joy2" "use Rocket Launcher"     (assigns one footswitch to select the Rocket Launcher)
     

  Remember that if you are playing the first version of Quake (not Quake II), you must run the Winquake executable or the Quakeworld client to use these settings. The Dos Quake.exe does not accept advanced joystick setup options.
  

Play Methods

• You will undoubtedly come up with your own best method for playing with the SideKick, but here are some suggestions for you to try out.
   
  • In Quake version 1, bind the left switch to the super nailgun, and the right switch to the rocket launcher.  Run around with the SNG selected and if you need the RL, hit the right switch to quickly select it.  Alternatively, you can run around with the RL selected and switch to the SNG quickly if needed, but it's easier to blow yourself up this way.
  • If you use the next or previous weapon selector, you can use the left switch for switching to the previous weapon, and the right switch for selecting the next weapon.  This will free up your fingers for other tasks, such as jumping or strafing.
  • Quake2 has many more gameplay option available, and will be added here in the future.
  • Mail us your play strategy!

Scripts/ Configs

• Following are some slightly more "Exotic" script settings. PLEASE NOTE that most of the following are Quake 1 scripts.  New and better Quake II scripts are on the way. Be sure to send us a copy of your favorite script, and we will post the best ones.
• 
  By default, all our scripts (unless otherwise noted) have "impulse 1" through "impulse 8" aliased to "gimp1" through "gimp8," like this:
   
  • alias "gimp1" "impulse 1"
    alias "gimp2" "impulse 2"
    .       .       .
    .       .       .
    alias "gimp8" "impulse 8"  

  You can do this also, or you can choose not to do this and simply replace all the gimps with impulses.

  Script 1- 2 pedal

  • Here is an experimental script that has been used with the 2-switch setup.  It requires you to click combinations of switches to select 1 of 4 weapons.  Warning- this scipt can potentially confuse you more than help you! ;) As you can see, this script assigns one weapon to a pedal. Once a pedal is pressed and while it is held in, the other pedal is re-assigned to select another weapon as long as the first pedal is held in. When the first pedal is then released, the second pedal is "re-bound" to its original weapon. Depending on the sequence of pressing/holding/releasing, 1 of 4 weapons can be selected fairly quickly. Sounds complicated, but once mastered, can be deathly <for the other guys, of course!>. ;) Unfortunately, this particular script has a bug that if both footswitches are hit exactly at the same time, cross-binding will occur and one switch will be stuck on "gimp6" and the other on "gimp8". If they ever get stuck, you can press an assigned "un-jamming" key to fix it (in this case, the "c" key).
•  
  • bind c "bind joy1 +lfoot;bind joy2 +rfoot"
    (Replace c with whatever you want. Then if needed, hit that key to "un-jam" the script.)
    bind "joy1" "+lfoot"
    bind "joy2" "+rfoot"

    alias +lfoot "gimp5;bind joy2 gimp8"
    alias -lfoot "bind joy2 +rfoot"
    alias +rfoot "gimp7;bind joy1 gimp6"
    alias -rfoot "bind joy1 +lfoot"

  Script 2- 4 pedal

  • Here is a simple but useful script for using 4 switches to instantly select 1 of 4 weapons.  Instead of clicking one of the four switches to select the weapon you want, you simply rest your feet on all 4 with one under the heel and ball of each foot.  You keep them all clicked in, and temporarily "unclick" the switch for the weapon you wish to select.  Works fairly well, if you don't move around a lot.  This is the best 4-switch setup for now, until the new pivot-swicth setup is released later.
•  
  • bind "joy1" "+lfoot1"
    bind "joy2" "+lfoot2"
    bind "joy3" "+rfoot1"
    bind "joy4" "+rfoot2"

    alias +lfoot1 ""
    alias -lfoot1 "gimp5"
    alias +lfoot2 ""
    alias -lfoot2 "gimp6"
    alias +rfoot1 ""
    alias -rfoot1 "gimp7"
    alias +rfoot2 ""
    alias -rfoot2 "gimp8"
     

  Script 3- 2 pedal

  • A nice 2-switch setup which allows you to select one of four weapons.  It requires you to hold in a switch for the particular weapon and release it for another. This one takes little thought to directly select a weapon. (not well tested yet.)
•  
  • bind "joy1" "+lfoot"
    bind "joy2" "+rfoot"

    alias "+lfoot" "gimp5"
    alias "-lfoot" "gimp6"
    alias "+rfoot" "gimp7"
    alias "-rfoot" "gimp8"
     

  If you find a script setup that works well, mail it to us so we can post it here for others.  Remeber that the switches can be used for ANYTHING in Quake or Quake2, so experiment with settings other than just weapon selection.

   
   

Back to the SideKick main page