Devlog #17 — Direct Gamepad Controls, Thanks to Next Fest Feedback

Hi everyone,

One of the best things about participating in Steam Next Fest is getting feedback from people actually playing the game.

During the demo, one player suggested something very specific:

When using a gamepad, why navigate through the train control panel when the most important actions could be mapped directly to the controller?

It made sense.

So we changed it.

Direct Gamepad Mode

You can now press the Select button to activate a new direct gamepad mode.

Instead of navigating through the control panel, the main train actions are immediately mapped to the controller.

Current controls:

Left Stick

• Up / Down: forward and reverse speed
• Left / Right: select the track direction at junctions

LT / RT

• Load and unload wagons

X

• Toggle locomotive smoke

Y

• Horn / interaction

B

• Show or hide Jeff

A

• Turn the locomotive engine on or off

D-Pad Left / Right

• Move the camera selection between the locomotive and attached wagons

Right Stick

• Control the camera

LB / RB

• Camera zoom

Mouse or Controller — Your Choice

The original control panel is still there.

With a mouse, you can continue interacting directly with the panel.

And with a gamepad, you can still navigate the interface if you prefer.

But now players who want faster, more direct controls can switch into gamepad mode and operate the train without moving through UI elements.

Built From Your Feedback

This is exactly the kind of feedback we wanted from the Next Fest demo.

A player identified something that could make the game feel better, we tested the idea, and it improved the experience.

So please keep sending us your comments.

Sometimes one small suggestion can change an entire part of the game.

Watch the New Controls

We recorded a short video showing the new direct gamepad mode:

Thanks to everyone who played the demo and sent us feedback.

More changes are coming.