Solving Accidental Keyboard Interruptions in PC Gaming
Emmanuel Proulx
Writes innovative, engaging games, leveraging patent-pending technology with the potential to create a brand new genre of action-packed video games.
A new open-source library tackles the annoying problem of unwanted Windows shortcuts during gameplay
Every gamer knows the feeling. You're deep in the zone, fingers dancing across the keyboard in perfect synchronization, when suddenly—whoosh—you're staring at the Windows desktop. Maybe you accidentally hit the Windows key, or Windows+D while reaching for a complex key combination. Perhaps you triggered hitting the Shift key multiple times triggered the Sticky Keys dialog as you were about to claim victory in a competitive match.
These moments of accidental interruption have been a common annoyance for PC gamers. So much so that serious gamers disable they Windows key by hacking Windows, or even completely physically bypass their Windows key. Some high-end gaming keyboards allow you to disable this key directly! But these complicated or expensive solutions only solve one part of the problem: the operating system includes dozens of keyboard shortcuts that can pull players out of their gaming experience at inconvenient times.
Consider the modern competitive gaming landscape, where split-second timing can mean the difference between victory and defeat. A single accidental press of Alt+Space (when you really wanted to press Space) will open the application menu which can cost players crucial matches or simply break the immersive experience they've worked hard to achieve.
The Problem: Multiple System Shortcuts
Windows includes an extensive array of keyboard shortcuts designed to help users navigate the operating system efficiently. From Alt+Tab to switch to the next app, to the Win+Shift+S to bring up the screenshot tool, these shortcuts serve an important purpose in day-to-day computing. But for gamers, they can cause unwanted interruptions.
The scope of the problem is significant. A comprehensive audit I conducted reveals over 80 different system-level keyboard combinations that can interrupt gameplay, ranging from the common Windows key and Alt+F4, to accessibility features and virtual desktop management shortcuts.
The Solution: Keyboard Interception
The Keyboard Basher Windows library takes a direct approach: intercept potentially problematic keyboard shortcuts before Windows can process them. The library creates a barrier between keyboard input and the operating system's shortcut handlers. And no, the key inputs are not discarded; they do reach your game.
The library's approach is thorough, blocking an extensive array of interruption sources:
Built for Game Developers
What sets the Keyboard Basher Windows library apart is its focus on integration with existing game development tools. The library is delivered as a DLL (Dynamic Link Library) that can be easily integrated into games built with popular engines like Unity and Unreal Engine. The interception can be turned on and off so that it only takes effect during gameplay. Simply start it when the more input-intensive parts of the game are happening, and stop it when they’re not, or if the game is sent to the background. The library also offers a test application that can be used as an example or test tool.
This DLL can easily be added to any Unity or Unreal Engine projects, allowing games to enable and disable keyboard interception as needed. The library's design philosophy prioritizes both simplicity and flexibility.
Players Can Tweak It Too!
One of the library's most flexible features is its use of environment variables for configuration. This allows players to specify additional key combinations that should be intercepted, using a clean syntax based on Windows virtual key codes.
Why would anyone want to do that? Perhaps because this particular player uses OBS Studio configured to use these shortcuts to control the app, and they don't want to accidentally trigger its functions during gameplay.
The opposite is also possible: players may specify key combinations that the library must not intercept.
This approach elegantly solves the problem of software-specific conflicts. Every gamer's system is different, with various applications, configurations, and hardware-specific software that might use global hotkeys. Rather than trying to predict every possible conflict, the library empowers users to add their own problematic shortcuts without requiring code modifications or library updates.
Who Can Benefit?
This Keyboard Basher Windows library is ideal to make tools and games for the following market:
Looking Forward: Improved PC Gaming Experience
Beyond that, major gaming platforms and launcher applications could integrate similar functionality, creating a more polished gaming experience across the entire PC gaming ecosystem. Game engine developers might incorporate keyboard interception as a standard feature, making it as common as graphics settings or audio configuration. Even operating systems could provide such functionality to the gamedev community.
The Keyboard Basher Ecosystem
The Windows library represents just one component of a larger vision. The technology was originally developed as part of the patent-pending Keyboard Basher technology, an innovative input method that utilizes the entire keyboard as a unified input device. Traditional input systems (mouse, controller) can only aim at one thing at a time. But with Keyboard Basher, you can shoot at multiple enemies at once. It’s intuitive and instantaneous. It’s akin to the old arcade light guns, but without buying any special equipment.
The Keyboard Basher input system also has an open-source library for Unity (and soon, Unreal), making it accessible to indie developers and hobbyists who want to experiment with these new input paradigms. This democratization of original input technology could lead to an entirely new genre of PC games that take full advantage of the keyboard's potential as an innovative input surface.
Dual License Approach
The Keyboard Basher Windows library uses a dual licensing model that balances accessibility with sustainability. The library is available as open source for learning, experimentation, and free game development. Developers can examine the code to understand exactly how it works, contribute improvements, and support additional platforms.
For commercial projects that generate revenue, the library requires nominal royalty payments. This kind of “free for non-profit” arrangement is common in the video game industry, including Unreal and Unity.
The open source component ensures longevity and community involvement. As Windows evolves and introduces new shortcuts or changes existing ones, the community can quickly adapt the library to maintain its effectiveness. This collaborative approach has already led to the discovery of additional problematic shortcuts and edge cases that might have been missed in internal testing.
The dual license model removes barriers for developers who want to experiment or create free games, while providing a sustainable funding mechanism for continued development and support of commercial users.
Conclusion: A Practical Gaming Improvement
The Keyboard Basher Windows library represents a useful step forward in PC gaming user experience. By addressing the problem of accidental keyboard interruptions, it removes a common source of frustration.
For developers, the library offers a straightforward way to improve player experience with minimal integration effort. For gamers, it addresses one of PC gaming's persistent annoyances. And for the broader gaming ecosystem, it demonstrates the value of addressing problems that impact user experience.
As the library continues to develop through community contributions and real-world usage, it could become a useful component of PC gaming setups. In a competitive gaming landscape, tools like Keyboard Basher Windows library provide helpful attention to detail.
The problem of accidental Windows key interruptions may become less common. For PC gamers, that's a worthwhile improvement.