Experience Hands-on Using GestureWorks'' Gameplay Virtual Controller (Video)

Windows 8 tablets, with the exception of Razer Edge, are not suitable for gaming. Most PC games are designed with keyboard, mouse, or a gamepad. Although Civilization V and other select games have multitouch controls that are designed for the Surface Pro enthusiast, the majority of games are simply unplayable without peripherals. The solution? Find a middleman.

GestureWorks Gameplay promises that it can solve tablet owners'' issues with mobile gaming by introducing a virtual touch interface which emulates keyboard and mouse inputs. The program lets users design multitouch controllers that can be customized using virtual joysticks and d-pads as well as buttons, buttons, and swipe gestures that can be mappable. It''s an interesting idea especially when you consider the efforts Android and iOS gamers make to avoid touchscreen controls. We met with the company to take a quick look at the beta versions the program.

GestureWorks CEO Jim Spadaccini welcomed us with the ThinkPad Helix. His son was also there, playing through Castle Crashers on his Windows 8 device. A digital directional pad, as well as small buttons dotted the lower edge of his tablet''s screen and were superimposed on the game as like native controls. Spadaccini made it appear easy and enjoyable to play with them, but he stopped us from playing. He wanted to first demonstrate how to set it up.

Gameplay''s menu system is easy. It divides its main screen into profiles that can be downloaded as well as an array of layouts that have been saved locally. At present, the community has more than 50 profiles available to download, however editing or creating a new one is easy. Spadaccini tapped the edit icon on Castle Crashers to pull up an identical layout to the display on his son''s slate. From here we were able add, move or resize buttons with a few easy taps. Buttons can be mapped to any input from a mouse or keyboard and the virtual joystick can be added for direct cursor control. A gesture menu allows users to translate commands to swipes and pinches. We were also informed that motion control options will be available in the near future which could lead to the possibility of using accelerometers to steer for driving. Users can save their profile from here, but if they aren''t satisfied the layout, it can be tweaked in-game.

After creating a profile users can link the layout with the program it was created to be used with. This allows you to launch multiple games simultaneously by using the customized control setup. It was as easy as pressing the play button to launch Castle Crashers with our host''s son. The game''s simple controls were compatible with the touchscreen configuration. Spadaccini described Castle Crashers as the program''s "sweet spot," and they worked with ease. Portal 2 and Borderlands 2 were a bit different even though GamePad offers easy access to the main functions of the game it was difficult to control the entire game with our fingers. We had a little trouble with the virtual joypad too it emulates a unstable mouse control, rather than an actual analog joystick input. Despite these hiccups we were able to resolve a couple of GLaDOS"maniacal" tests with ease and were informed by GestureWorks to expect improved mouse emulation before the release.

Gameplay isn''t an ideal application, but it seems to at least be an acceptable one. It fulfills a need, lives up the promises it makes and does it all with an user-friendly and intuitive interface. Its touchscreen gamepads will never replace a tangible one however, they do provide Windows 8 tablets with a mobile gaming experience that would otherwise be impossible without additional hardware. However there is one compatibility issue - it only works with games that run DirectX (that means no Minecraft Sorry kids!) If you have a Windows 8 tablet, a Steam backlog, and don''t mind that compatibility caveat, however, GestureWorks Gameplay just might be right for you. You can sign up to be a beta tester on the website of the company, or wait until the full version will go live on November 5th, and will cost $14.99.