2 KB, 2 windows/monitors, 2 people, 1 PC

I am looking for a way for two people to share a single machine to play two copies of an online game. I know doing this with a mouse is not trivial, but having two keyboards or equivalent devices should be doable.

Note, that I don't strictly need a full keyboard. Just enough keys to play a MMO with a basic level of competency. I've toyed with the idea of mapping 2 controllers to different keys, and having something like hotkeynet routing to different windows. I'd imagine you'd have issues if one person hits ctrl+1 and the other hits alt+1 etc at the same time.

Is there a software solution for using two actual keyboards?

A quick google and I find Teamplayer. Just wondering what game would this be for? :)

I've checked Teamplayer out before. It is made for multiple people accessing the same application. Only one mouse can truly have focus at the same time, and the others are dormant until they become active again.

The applications coded specifically for Teamplayer work well, but any others, not so much.

I was looking at LOTRO, but was hoping to get a general answer.

In general, No, you cannot use a single PC in that way like it was two, I remember answering this question a couple years back as well.
The only exception might be if you were running linux, where i think such feats may be possible.

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Originally Posted by Maxion

The only exception might be if you were running linux, where i think such feats may be possible.

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correct. you basically want to make a 'terminal' of your linux machine. There is a ton of info out there about settings, what connectors to use, etc ... Each person connected has basically its own 'instance' of the OS and obviously his own input devices / screen. You can play many/most games on linux with wine (or solutions like crossover or cedega). It's not the most straightforward project if you have zero experience with linux, however if you are computer savvy enough, it's not rocket science either.

But in most cases you are far better off just getting another computer for the second person, even if it's not a great one.

technically, if you limit yourselves to keyboard controls you should be able to do it with a normal boxing software shouldnt you?
Not sure if LOTRO is mouse heavy or not.

but i'm thinking two instances of the game (A and B) and keymapping that send the keyboard presses only to one of the two instances.
for example send keys like WASD only to game A and cursor keys only to game B
then play together on the same (unique) keyboard, sharing the keys between players (and games)

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Originally Posted by Zub

technically, if you limit yourselves to keyboard controls you should be able to do it with a normal boxing software shouldnt you?
Not sure if LOTRO is mouse heavy or not.

but i'm thinking two instances of the game (A and B) and keymapping that send the keyboard presses only to one of the two instances.
for example send keys like WASD only to game A and cursor keys only to game B
then play together on the same (unique) keyboard, sharing the keys between players (and games)

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This is more what I was aiming for. I figure with ~100 key on a KB, that leaves 50 for each player (more if you use modifiers - ctrl and left shift for one, right shift and alt for the other?). I'd be worried about hitting some limit in the HW or driver stack for the number of keys you can mash at the same time and still have then transfered cleanly.

I know you can fairly easily have 2x keyboards on the same machine. I've also played a few games for the lulz with 360 controllers. From my limited experience, LOTRO is about as mouse heavy as WoW: it's doable without a mouse, but not the best idea in the world. The analog sticks on a controller help a little, but you are still essentially a KB turner.



I had never thought about the Linux angle, actually. I'm not a noob to Linux, but I don't wish to retask my main home theater/gaming machine to a Linux box, and dual booting isn't really an option for me. It's something to consider later however.

whatever happens you'll always have only 1 mouse cursor to play with.
place the mouse in the middle of you two and take turns :-)

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Originally Posted by zenga

correct. you basically want to make a 'terminal' of your linux machine. There is a ton of info out there about settings, what connectors to use, etc ... Each person connected has basically its own 'instance' of the OS and obviously his own input devices / screen. You can play many/most games on linux with wine (or solutions like crossover or cedega). It's not the most straightforward project if you have zero experience with linux, however if you are computer savvy enough, it's not rocket science either.

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A lot of schools are starting to run setups like this. Its horrid for doing anything other that running MSword.

OP would save a lot of trouble and hassle by just getting another machine :D