[SOLVED] Roccat Vulcan 120 arrow keys issues

[MetalDad]

Hi,

Bought myself a Roccat Vulcan 120 keyboard, just to find out that the arrow keys malfunction in TrackMania.
I use the default keys for throttle, left and right (the arrow keys), but when I hold the throttle key (UpArrow) and then steer left or right or break (in my case the "Q"-key), the UpArrow gets released while holding down. Sometimes I don't even have to press another key to see the UpArrow gets released while holding down.
I have this issue in ManiaPlanet 3, 4 and in Turbo. But not in any other game I play. The keyboard works fine in any other case, no matter what. Tried Dirt 4/Rally: no problem. Tried other keyboards: no problem. Tried the Vulcan on other computer: same issues.
I sent the keyboard back to the reseller. They tested it, but couldn't find any issues.
I can use any other key for throttle and steering: they work like they should. It's only the UpArrow key that gets disconnected, while steering, while in mid air or sometimes doesn't even respond at the start of a track.

Is there anybody out there who has the same issues? Any help would be very much appreciated!!

[Miss]

Almost sounds like it's not a mechanical keyboard, but you claim it works in other scenarios so that's weird.

Have you tried resetting all input settings to their defaults?

Do you have any drivers installed for the keyboard?

[undef.de]

Maybe not related, but... anyway, maybe it helps:

I have ManiaPlanet configured to use the arrow keys (Up, Down, Left and Right) as usual for driving, but also W, S, A and D (for left hand). If I hold the ArrowUp key to accelerate and want to switch to the left hand and hold W together with the ArrowUp, then the ArrowUp key gets released. This is really annoying.

In your case, maybe you have a setup where other keys stroke in and "release" your ArrowUp. Or if you have a controller connected too, maybe there is a button or something that interacts while your gameplay. I had that a long time ago and was wondering wtf. was going on, the car was sometimes steering to the left (my subwoofer was the problem here ).

[MetalDad]

Almost sounds like it's not a mechanical keyboard, but you claim it works in other scenarios so that's weird.

Have you tried resetting all input settings to their defaults?

Do you have any drivers installed for the keyboard?

They claim it's a mechanical keyboard. And it only happens in the Maniaplanet games. I reported it to Roccat and the guy from support said it looks like bad wiring. And it really feels that way. Like I'm out of petrol every once in a while. But again: only in Maniaplanet games. So now I'm thinking it's caused by the way ManiaPlanet detects a keypress. Had exactly the same problem in Maniaplanet with an XBox controller a few years ago. But again: only in Maniaplanet and only with that specific controller.

Yes, I've tried to reset all settings to their defaults. No luck.

Yes, latest drivers installed.

[MetalDad]

Maybe not related, but... anyway, maybe it helps:

I have ManiaPlanet configured to use the arrow keys (Up, Down, Left and Right) as usual for driving, but also W, S, A and D (for left hand). If I hold the ArrowUp key to accelerate and want to switch to the left hand and hold W together with the ArrowUp, then the ArrowUp key gets released. This is really annoying.

In your case, maybe you have a setup where other keys stroke in and "release" your ArrowUp. Or if you have a controller connected too, maybe there is a button or something that interacts while your gameplay. I had that a long time ago and was wondering wtf. was going on, the car was sometimes steering to the left (my subwoofer was the problem here ).

I do have other keys configured for driving: the arrow keys on the num-keypath. But I don't use them at the same time as the regular arrow keys. So I don't switch from throttle with UpArrow to throttle with num8 while racing. In TrackMania you steer and break all the time while holding the throttle key, so the game should be able to handle this perfectly.

I have another keyboard connected atm to play TM. But I connected it after I encountered the Roccat problems. No other input devices connected (except for my mouse of course).

I think I could get a new keyboard from Roccat. But before I ask, I want to be 100% sure it's not a Maniaplanet problem. Otherwise I would most likely end up with a shiny new keyboard which would still be "broken" in TM.

It's a crazy problem. I've been playing TM since forever with lots of different keyboards. Never had this issue. Those were mostly low-end keyboards. Now I finally decided to buy a more or less high-end keyboard and it doesn't work like it should. But only in TM. So is it the keyboard (not likely), is it TM (not likely too) or is it the combination? The only thing I need is just one other not MP-related game where I will run into the same problem...

[MetalDad]

Maybe worth mentioning:
The UpArrow keys reconnects after a second. Like it lost it's connection, reconsiders and then finds out: "Heck! I'm still pressed! Sorry!" and then continues.

[Miss]

I'd recommend uninstalling the drivers for a bit to see if that fixes it.

Some technical info on how ManiaPlanet detects keypresses by the way, if it helps you troubleshoot - it's using DirectInput for all keyboard inputs rather than relying on window messages. So if your keyboard driver does weird things with DirectInput this can be a likely cause.

If uninstalling the driver fixes it, perhaps you can look through some driver settings if there's anything to tweak there.

[MetalDad]

I'd recommend uninstalling the drivers for a bit to see if that fixes it.

Some technical info on how ManiaPlanet detects keypresses by the way, if it helps you troubleshoot - it's using DirectInput for all keyboard inputs rather than relying on window messages. So if your keyboard driver does weird things with DirectInput this can be a likely cause.

If uninstalling the driver fixes it, perhaps you can look through some driver settings if there's anything to tweak there.

Thnx for the information!
I uninstalled the driver, but it didn't make any difference.
So I passed your suggestion on to the Roccat Tech support.
The funny thing is that I can sometimes play for 15 minutes without any trouble and then suddenly the stuttering starts to occur.
Anyways, let's see if the people from Roccat have any bright ideas...

[Miss]

Damn, I don't know what would be causing this then. I've never heard of this issue before, so I'm kinda suspecting it's an issue with that specific keyboard, somehow.

[MetalDad]

Damn, I don't know what would be causing this then. I've never heard of this issue before, so I'm kinda suspecting it's an issue with that specific keyboard, somehow.

Kunnen het gesprek trouwens de volgende keer net zo goed in het Nederlands houden, volgens mij...

As I said earlier (I think): I had this issue with an XBox controller. A cheap controller worked fine, but the XBox controller didn't. Same issues. But that was years ago on a totally different computer. I guess TM only works with cheap input devices...