Katana is a Scratch 2.0 extension to interface with gamepads
The Scratch 2.0 extension API has always remained experimental so getting extensions loaded requires a trick.
To use this extension, connect your gamepad, run the server in katana.py and
then, in Scratch 2.0, Shift-click on the File menu, this will make a hidden
option appear to Import experimental scratch extension, click that and select
katana.s2e.
That should be all that's required, you can find the Katana blocks under "More Blocks", usually a black or grey color in the blocks menu. There's red/green indicator dot next to the katana subsection, green denotes a connection to the server but does not indicate whether a controller is connected.
The katana server doesn't currently have a graphical UI, rather it is to be run in a text terminal and emits copious messages that reflect the current state of inputs on the controller. To check whether your controller is connected you can look at this log output, if values change when you interact with the controller it's connected.
Katana currently only supports connecting a single controller to scratch.
There's an older similar project with more polish available at the Coolest Projects website (in dutch). Be sure to check it out because they have some great advice.
Is there any point to this project existing if there's an alternative? I can come up with three reasons:
- One of the express goals of this project is to "keep it simple" the extension is composed of only two files. The server is written in Python and aims to be understandable, with some effort, by beginner programmers.
- We've been using
gamepad2scratchin our dojos and it generally works really well, the GUI is definitely easier to understand. However, we've run into a controller simply not working withgamepad2scratchbut working fine with Katana. - Katana uses a better algorithm to deal with an inherent property of Joysticks known as "deadzones." Based on an excellent article on the subject, Doing Thumbstick Dead Zones Right.