Playing on a PC is one of the most flexible experiences, but not all titles adapt well to the keyboard-mouse combo. Sometimes it’s convenient to connect a gamepad or special controller, yet mapping commands can become a true nightmare. GlovePIE is a program that takes on the role of “man in the middle”, recording a gamepad’s commands and emulating the corresponding command, but that’s only one of its functions.
When I decided to emulate some Nintendo Wii games on my PC, I found more than acceptable performance. Its main emulator (Dolphin) has made notable advances, but there’s a detail to keep in mind: a handful of games absolutely need a real Wiimote to avoid turning the experience into a horror story. If you want to connect a Wiimote to your PC, you’ll need a Bluetooth interface and follow the official instructions from Dolphin… but what if you want to use that same controller in another emulator, or directly in a game? That’s when the story gets complicated, not only with a Wiimote but with any other controller. The bad news is that the process tends to be complex. The good news is that we have an ideal tool to avoid the biggest headaches.
What Is GlovePIE?
The software is called GlovePIE, and it was originally created as an emulation layer for the Essential Reality P5 virtual reality glove. Since then, GlovePIE has advanced in its development to become what is probably the most complete emulator of controls, commands, gestures, buttons, and macros on the Web. The latest version of GlovePIE has been around for a while, and its script-based nature makes it very intimidating at first glance. The fact that its preliminary documentation has more than 150 pages doesn’t help either. However, its “GUI mode” reduces configuration to a simple assignment process: first you register the key/button/command that the game demands, and then you press the button or make the gesture with the gamepad.
More Than a Simple Middleman
Another very important aspect is that GlovePIE also works in the opposite direction: you can program gestures and commands on the keyboard that would only be possible with a dedicated gamepad. The more obscure the controller you want to use, the deeper you’ll need to work on scripts, but honestly you shouldn’t worry. There are many tutorials and YouTube videos about GlovePIE, so don’t hesitate to give it a try.
