Actionable Input!

[cpp]
class InputAction
{
public:
bool IsDown(void) const;
bool IsPressed(void) const;
bool IsReleased(void) const;

void ClearBindings(void);
void AddBinding(const tbApplication::Key& keyBinding);
void RemoveBinding(const tbApplication::Key& keyBinding);

private:
KeyContainer mKeyBindings;
};
[/cpp]

Just before LudumDare 36 I added a new way to handle input to TurtleBrains framework, it is quite simple but so far I really enjoy the way it is used. It is just a powerful little object that can

check the input manager for each of the bound keys allowing an action to bound to:

• Any key (supported by framework)
• Multiple keys at once!
• No keys at all!

The second one is quite interesting, consider implementing a splash or title screen with multiple ways to continue into game. Without the input action, it required multiple checks, and more lengthy code.

[cpp]
{
//Old way of performing input check
if (true == Input::IsPressed(KeyEscape) ||
true == Input::IsPressed(KeySpace) ||
true == Input::IsPressed(KeyEnter))
{
//Goto gameplay scene.
}

//New way with InputAction:
if (true == mSkipForward.IsPressed())
{
//Goto gameplay scene.
}
}
[/cpp]

Of course to a slight degree this is just moving the code from the update area to initialization:

[cpp]
{
mSkipForward.AddBinding(KeyEscape);
mSkipForward.AddBinding(KeySpace);
mSkipForward.AddBinding(KeyEnter);
}
[/cpp]

But considering it could allow use WASD and arrows keys for movement, or, _with a binding screen_ the user could configure controls to their own liking. This is the first pass I make over such a system and so far I’ve enjoyed the usage better than the previous methods.