Configuring SteamDeck Controls for use with LAC

[bbosen]

I am totally bewildered by the SteamDeck's control mapping utilities. However, I have found one way to set up the default controls that works very very nicely with LAC. Before worrying about this control mapping, I have installed LAC and configured my desktop with a prominent icon that launches LAC as described in THIS page:

http://askmisterwizard.com/2019/LinuxAirCombat/LacAndSteamDeck.htm

Accordingly it is very easy for me to launch LAC. This will be important later, as you will see.

Without doubt there are other ways to match LAC's control expectations with the SteamDeck's offerings, but I have given up attempting to understand any other method. Here is how I do it:

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From Desktop mode, I activate Steam from the prominent desktop icon.

Then from Steam's prominent dropdown menu, I click or finger-tap to select the following series of menu options:

"Steam" -> "Settings" -> "Controller" -> "Desktop Configuration"

After a brief delay, that yields a graphic display of the SteamDeck controls in the center of the screen, surrounded by a series of buttons with labels naming individual controls. Each button activates a bewildering, poorly documented set of logic that defies my understanding. However....

...at the bottom of that complex, bewildering screen there is a button that says "X Browse Configs". I activate that button either by double-tapping it with my finger or by pressing the "X" button.

A new menu screen is displayed. Along the left edge a stack of vertical buttons seems to offer preconfigured control mappings arranged according to various priorities like "Recommended", "Personal", "Your Friends", "Community", "Templates", and "Your Other Games". I choose "Templates", activating that choice with a tap of my finger.

A scrollable list of named control map arrangements is displayed. Each named list is contained within a nice rectangular box, and within that box is a prominent name and a helpful text description in English. I scroll down that set of boxes until I see the one named "Gamepad With Joystick Trackpad". The accompanying description says "This template is for most games that already have built-in gamepad support and have a first or third person controlled camera. FPS or Third Person Adventure games, etc." I double-tap that box with my finger to activate it. The screen is immediately updated with a big new diagram of the SteamDeck controls with updated labels according to this new control map. "PREVIEW" is prominently displayed across this diagram. At the bottom of that screen there is a small button labelled "Apply Configuration". I press that button to activate it. The "PREVIEW" status label disappears. Then I press the small "DONE" button at the bottom of that screen.

At that moment, all of the SteamDeck's "Desktop Mode" controls are immediately remapped according to that new arrangement. THIS CHANGES THE WAY YOU NAVIGATE THE MENUS AND DESKTOP ICONS OF YOUR STEAMDECK'S DESKTOP MODE. MANY ACTIONS ARE NOW MORE CUMBERSOME! However, LAC works splendidly.

.... At this point I am always very glad that it is so easy to launch LAC even though some operations are now more cumbersome. I just use my finger to double-click on the prominent LAC icon that I had previously placed on my desktop as described at the beginning of this thread. LAC's controls are mapped like this:

I think you will LOVE that control arrangement when you are flying LAC aircraft.

However, I think you will find that control arrangement cumbersome when you are NOT flying LAC aircraft.

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You can restore the standard desktop control mapping with a similar process that I will describe in my next posting... Here's a link to that:

https://sourceforge.net/p/linuxaircombat/discussion/lacandsteamdeck/thread/5cee54f7a1/

[bbosen]

I recently visited with my young nephew, who has a Steam Deck. I had my Steam Deck with me and I showed him now nicely LAC runs on it. He liked it a lot, and within half an hour he had it on his Deck, duplicating my method for configuring it and running it in "Desktop Mode" as described above.

But he took things a lot farther. Within an hour or so, he somehow got LAC running in a much more "Steam-Friendly" way. I think he has it running as a Steam application without using Desktop Mode. He told me that he has Steam automagically configuring and mapping his controls. He further assured me that his methodology was consistent with the usual and customary configuration and control mapping steps in common use among Steam Deck players.

I remain mystified by the associated Steam Deck jargon and consequently I cannot provide further details about exactly how he did it. I hope to persuade him to enter these forums and post further instructions. In the meantime, I can only assure my readers that I have seen LAC running in a mode that seems much easier to activate and manage among other Steam applications on a Steam Deck.