Rockchip continues to bring some cool features to Android tablets and MiniPC devices based on their processor. A few months ago, they offered a remote control application that can be run from any Android device to control a Rockchip based MiniPC. The server part of the application is already included in most Rockchip MiniPC devices while the remote client end is a regular application that can be installed on any Android device (phone, tablet) .
The new feature added to their latest RKRemoteControl version 2.0 is a virtual button mapping tool to control games on a MiniPC from a remote Android phone or tablet. The mapping system works only on games designed with onscreen controls, the offered virtual commands consist of: 3 direction sticks (L, R and another one) with the addition of 8 buttons: A, B, C, D, W, X, Y and Z.
This two parts article will present how the game button mapping feature works, we have used a Tronsmart T428, a RK3188 based Mini PC (selling under $80 at geekbuying.com) running RKGameControlSetting and acting as a “server” together with a Hyundai T7 ($140 Android tablet) using RKRemoteControl v2 application as remote controller client.
Here is is a quick demonstration showing the whole virtual button mapping process on the setup above.
 Rockchip 3188 CPU, Mali 400 GPU, 2 GB RAM, WIFI 802.11ac, Bluetooth | $79.99 |
Using RKGameControlSetting, the embedded game control app on Rockchip Mini PCs
RKGameControlSetting is an Android application that will help you define the regions on the screen used in a game and the corresponding buttons to map these regions to. RKGameControlSetting is available on latest Rockchip CPU based devices (mostly RK3188 machines) like the Tronsmart T428, some other devices using the older RK3066 chip may get some updates in the future as well. Here is how it works:RKGameControlSetting interface is very simple, you have a toolbar on the right with 3 buttons that let you do the following actions, from left to right:
– minimize the interface, it will appear reduced as just an icon
– save current button mapping
– close the application
To map the buttons on a specific game, you first need to start the application by clicking on the RKGameControlSetting icon from your Android applications list. Only recent MiniPC firmware may have this application installed.
Then you can start the game where you want to map controls, within the game, move the playing part where you can see the buttons on screen. Some games may need to change the controller setup for touchscreen buttons.
Then, from RKGameControlSetting, click on New Setting to create a new empty profile.
Move the buttons according to the touchscreen positions expected in your game.
When all buttons have been positioned, you can Save your profile (middle button in the toolbar)
You can iconize the GameControl application by clicking on the last button to the right on the toolbar.
You can load existing profiles by clicking the the Settings list and clicking on a game name where you previously saved your profile. All mappings will be recalled after you click on the game line. The red cross on the right next to each game name let you delete the profile.
Rockchip 3188 CPU, Mali 400 GPU, 2 GB RAM, WIFI 802.11ac, Bluetooth | $79.99 |
That’s it for the first part, please visit us soon for the second issue of our article that will cover RKRemoteControl, the remote controller running on any Android device (phone or tablet).
Any status on using it for tablets? I’m using a pipo max M9. I tried it once, but got a message saying no compatible devices were found. Thanks for any input, I’d like to be able to use my phone for a game controller. I’m running the stock 4.2.2 rom currently.
Correction, there were no visible devices in the connection window, not a message saying there were no devices.
In fact maybe you know if it has been pre-installed: I used this ROM : http://www.arctablet.com/blog/featured/tronsmart-t428-rooted-android-422-jellybean-firmware-update-20130529/
Thanks for your quick answer.
I will check on my T428 that it has been pre-installed.
Thanks again
Great article. But where can i find these 2 apps ?
RKRemoteControl download will be linked in article part 2, here it is if you need it now:
http://www.arctablet.com/blog/downloads/apps/RKRemoteV2.0.2.zip
RKGameControlSetting should be pre-installed on the MiniPC devices which supports this feature and already have eHomeMediaCenter.
We will later have this APK available download in case you want to try.
Cheers.
How can I get this apk?
You’ll find links in the comments section below the article.
New update posted:
RKRemoteControlGeneralCastV2.0.3.apk
and RKGameControlSettingV1.0.1.apk is available here:
http://www.arctablet.com/blog/downloads/apps/RKGameControlSettingV1.0.1.apk
The apk download link and the mirror s don’t work..
Kindly provide correct link for Rkgamecontrolsetting
It’s not mirrored at the moment, please use the main server on the download page (first link)
Cheers.