Treo 650 Select Button

I have a frustrating issue with the select button on my Treo. It's impossible to use the arrow keys without accidentally holding down Select on occasion. This brings up Palm's Alerts screen. I haven't found a way to disable this feature in the Palm prefs. The best workaround I came up with is to assign Pause in BoD to the Select key, but this causes me to accidentally pause the game constantly. Note that disable keys won't ignore the Select key, even if nothing is assigned to it.

20 comments

Dags

Sounds like a similar issue with the 680. I have my select key assigned to switch direction but the other keys don't get ignored if I accidentally hit them. I think the ignore other keys code is a bit suspect on treos as is the always display a message before quiting as that only works 50% of the time too. I'm guessing that SZ doesn't have a treo to test with so it's difficult for him to debug, but I don't mind beta testing a few versions to get these fixed!

grosfils

Using the default setting of having Select perform a direction flip is impossible with the 650. The select button is so prominent that you end up flipping at the worst possible time.

Dags

They must have re-designed it on the 680 as I don't have that problem, although hitting the green button by accident is a prob for me which then tries to dial a number in the phone app!

i have treo 650, but i don't use the select button (i still use the button layout i started on my first palm III

)
nevertheless, it means that once i know there is something wrong with the select button on treo - i can fix it.

and this reminds me that i successfully block the default "hold select" function (showing the alerts) in arcade reality - so it is doable

Dags

Good news then!! Thanks SZ - if you could check the ignore other keys code and have that function enabled when the game is paused too that would be great!!

handling the pause mode / game mode is the weak point of the game

the problem is that i use 2 different methods for reading the buttons state: polling while playing and event handling when paused. this duality was introduced in v1.4 to ensure the proper power saving function, but since then the button handling is not entirely correct during the transitions...

jxjx

I use a Treo 650 with the default button configuration (select reverses bike direction). I mess up often and press select when I shouldn't, but I've gotten used to it and can't really imagine using a different layout. What are some other key mappings that are in use? Are some palm devices more/less suited for playing BoD?

my treo 650 layout: up/down=default, messaging/red=left/right, calendar=flip, green=map

Dags

See I use - Phone as Accel, Calendar brake, D-pad left right default and select as switch direction. I think I have home as pause. Funny how everyone is different.

Vega

Wow! This is the most active the forum has been in some time!

I didn't know you could altar the button mapping, so I have been using the default settings since day 1 and still do. All my buttons are contained in the center circle

Dags

I know! Good isn't it!

Vega - how do you do 2 things at the same time using the defaults? I.e., Accelerate and wheelie together - isn't that quite hard? However, looking at you medal list obviously not!

Vega

How? 2 thumbs

It's very difficult.

I have always thought the buttons were very close. Quite often I hit the wrong button and mess up a good run

Dags

You'll have fingers and thumbs like bent tree branches by the time you are 50! Time to retire now and give those digits a rest!

Lee

Vega - now I'm frightenned - does this mean you're going to have a go at mapping some different buttons, and that your times will get even better?!
Will be quite a thing to see.

Henoch

WOW.. Vega getting bunch of gold with only one button ??

. If he is playing with two buttons it will be a clean sweep

My button is Message for accelerate, Calendar for brake, Phone for left and D-pad right for right. Select is still change direction and D-pad up for pause. It is very handy with your hand configuration

mike flips

I hate to upset you guys but i use the same buttons as Vega does. UP for go, down for break, left/right wheelie, and select to switch directions. Seems to be working for me

In terms of 650 problems all i have is the one where after a call if i ignore the call, the screen goes all black.

Also i sometimes screw up and press the home key but that happens rarely.

Henoch

I guess your finger is very tiny Mike

. With the default buttons, i keep pressing home key, so i rearrange the keys

Shane

I use 680 and the 5-way thing like Vega & Mike - no prblems here. I flip by mistake a lot though, but its ok.
Right thumb for balance right and left thumb for everything else.
For the wheelie, I just press the top and roll my thumb towards the corner and it gets both accelerate and balance together.

Kristopher

I tried playing a bit on the 650. The controls are very small, but I think you can get used to it.

Ibanez

I too use standard buttons on the 650, think the buttons are wearing out though as sometimes it reverses even without hitting select as they're all joined together underneath. Other than that I like the layout - maybe I'm just used to it.
I have had to stop for a while though as my thumb joints were really starting to hurt - and guitar takes priority!
Looking forward to the next level pack though - by the look of Sz's teasers it'll be the New Generation...