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How to set up the controls to play with the mouse only

By Experimenter

This guide will teach you how to remap the keyboard controls on the mouse. I’ve decided to make this guide to help disabled gamers to play this wonderful game and also make it more comfortable for those who can’t play for extended periods with the controller without hurting the joints.

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Created by

Experimenter
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Category: Modding or Configuration, Secrets, Walkthroughs

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

21 Oct, 2017 @ 8:57am

14 Mar, 2020 @ 11:44am

1,334	Unique Visitors
18	Current Favorites

Guide Index

Overview

Preparing

Downloading and setting the mouse remapper

Closing notes

Comments

Preparing

The first thing you need to do is change the "ball launch" command on the game’s option to make it easier to remap later.

To do this, launch Pinball FX3 > go to options > controls > go to keyboard controls > Ball Launch > type Enter and type the up arrow. It should be like the image below:

To save it, just type Esc and you’re good to go. Now, close the game.

Downloading and setting the mouse remapper

The software you need is the X-Mouse Button Control, which works with any kind of mouse. Download it on this link[www.highrez.co.uk] - by clicking on "Latest Version", and then install it. It’s worth mentioning that this guide is made for regular mouses, but if you use a touchpad you can make some adaptations on your own.

Now let’s make it work:

1. Run Pinball FX3

2. Run X-Mouse

3. Click on ‘add’ and select Pinball FX3 from the list of processes

4. Set the Left Button to "Simulated Keys (during) {SHIFT}" by doing this: Next to where it says "Left Button", select “Simulated Keys” and type "{SHIFT}" (without the quote marks) where it says "Enter the custom key(s)". Select "3 During" where it says "How to send the simulated key strokes", on the top right. This command is for the left flipper.

5. Following the step indicated above, set Right Button to "Simulated Keys (during) {RSHIFT}". This command is for the right flipper.

6. Now, set the Middle Button to "Simulated Keys (during) {UP}". This command is for launching the ball.

7. Now, set the Wheel Up to "Simulated Keys (during) {CTRL}". This command is to nudge the table to the left.

8. Now, set the Wheel Down to "Simulated Keys (during) {RCTRL}". This command is to nudge the table to the right.

9.Finally, in X-Mouse settings (located at the bottom left), select the box that says "Bypass ALL actions when SCROLL LOCK is ON".

If you configured correctly, it should be like the image below:

Closing notes

It’s all good to go now. The X-Mouse software initializes automatically with every boot, so you don’t need to launch the program every time you will play. It’s worth mentioning that this remap will not affect other games or your computer in general – it’s only applied to Pinball FX3. Also, there’s only one downside when you remap the keys to your mouse – you can’t navigate on the games menu with the mouse anymore, but you still can navigate using the keyboard and controller.

Enjoy your game! If you have any questions, post on the comments section and I’ll do my best to help you. Hit the balls!

22 Comments

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KALUAH69 12 Oct, 2023 @ 8:33am

Thank you for your help

KALUAH69 18 Sep, 2023 @ 9:47am

Especially ZENPINBALL THEYRE THE WORST on this... its not even configured to wat they say is compatible for the deck.... omg
Pinball really !@?!! honestly it doesn't even get easier than pinball not a racing game or killing game.... basic pinball....

KALUAH69 18 Sep, 2023 @ 9:40am

Thank you but im selling this stupid deck my laptop with controller worked just fine for Zen pinball.. but because they wont support window8 anymore I thought I'd get a deck right? WRONG!!! almost everything in my library doesn't work well on the deck unless your a computer tech person.. and know what to install what a waste of money... thankyou for trying to help...ps, switch, even Xbox much less frustrating... and I bought top of the line im really trying not to throw this waste of money over train tracks...lol..ive spent all my battery time trying to config. TWICE Just to try and play a game....thank you though I appreciate ur input..and help ... now I must put my head in the oven....its def calling me..
Ps.. wanna by a steam Deck 512g smh

Experimenter [author] 18 Sep, 2023 @ 4:03am

[1/2]

You can't use this method on Linux (this software isn't available for it), but you can remap the buttons of any Steam game by using Steam Big Picture mode. You can see how to do it in this video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NZrSR0ZFFs

I haven't found a video teaching this method using the new Steam UI, but after you get to the controller settings (at 1:35 of the video), the screen where you remap the buttons is the same (but it will show the Steam Deck buttons instead of an Xbox controller).

There is also a more in-depth article about remapping controls on the Steam Deck itself: https://www.pcworld.com/article/1364387/the-steam-decks-button-mapper-is-the-best-feature-youre-not-using.html

Experimenter [author] 18 Sep, 2023 @ 4:03am

[2/2]

I don't own a Steam Deck, so I can't give you the exact instructions (it seems a little bit different from the desktop method), but I play on Linux since a couple of years ago, and what I did to play Pinball FX3 more comfortably it's remapping the controls using Steam Big Picture Mode. I know it's a bit annoying learning how to do it, but after you get the hang of it, you no longer need to depend on each game providing a remapping option (which is comething that Zen Studios doesn't even offer, even in the newer Pinball FX for some reason - these guys don't learn from their mistakes).

I hope it helps!

KALUAH69 17 Sep, 2023 @ 8:10pm

how do you play on the stupid deck i hate the flippers where they are its easier to pushdown than to use r1r2 my steamdeck is nightmare im used to download and playing games.. i feel like im in school with lots of homework every freaking day lots and lots of homework

Experimenter [author] 30 Nov, 2022 @ 3:50am

Happy to help! Enjoy!

Mossy 30 Nov, 2022 @ 3:46am

Thanks mate! Very helpful guide

Arcade Buster 25 May, 2020 @ 7:56pm

I've found that you don't have to sacrifice menu navigation, or anything else, when using this tool. In the same window wherein you "select '3 During' where it says 'How to send the simulated key strokes', on the top right," there is a checked box that says, "Block original mouse input." The mouse will work as normal during the game if you uncheck that box for each input.

Experimenter [author] 14 Feb, 2020 @ 3:20am

As far as I know, Zen haven't said why PBFX3 doesn't support native mouse controls, even with people requesting it since FX2. It shouldn't be too hard to implement. I mean, even in the 3-D Ultra Pinball days (back on Windows 95), that game had mouse control for the flippers, so why can't we have it on FX3? Seems lazy to me. Native mouse support for the controls would make it possible to trigger both flippers at the same time, as well as being much more convenient to play without needing a workaround.

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