   what are the advantages of using DirectInput8 over Windows funcitons
  Other than support for game pads and such, is there an advantage to using direct input over stuff like GetAsyncKeyState() and GetCursorPos? (namely in terms of speed) 
  You get more up-to-the-picosecond information (DirectInput working directly with the hardware, rather than through abstraction layers), plus you get things like buffered input that you don''t get with GetAsyncKeyState().So yes, better speed. ;  DI lets you, in effect, setup an interrupt handler for input devices (via event notification). It is almost as close to the metal as you can get in a protected-mode system, such as Win32.-Nik ;  and practically it allows two keys to be held down at once ;  And if you work with vibrating gamepads(or mouses and keyboards) DirectInput can make them vibrate.   --You''re Welcome,Rick Wong- Google | Google for GameDev.net | GameDev.net''s DirectX FAQ. (not as cool as the Graphics and Theory FAQ) ;  alright thanks, time to convert my lil project to direct input then. ;  What versions of the .lib and .h files should i be using? i get these errors:INPUT.OBJ : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_SysMouseINPUT.OBJ : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_SysKeyboardINPUT.OBJ : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _IID_IDirectInput8Adinput8.lib(dilib5.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_ZAxisdinput8.lib(dilib5.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_YAxisdinput8.lib(dilib5.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_XAxisdinput8.lib(dilib2.obj) : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _GUID_KeyDebug/Unreal 2D.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 7 unresolved externalsError executing link.exe.using dinput.h and dinput8.lib ;  dxguid.lib   "A soldier is a part of the 1% of the population that keeps the other 99% free"  - Lt. Colonel Todd, 1/38th Infantry, Ft. Benning, GA ;  1) link with dxguid.lib to make the errors go away2) if you need TEXT input, DO NOT   use DirectInput, use WM_CHAR messages.3) if you need control input (ie. key X = move player right), then DirectInput is suitable.   Simon O''ConnorGame Programmer &Microsoft DirectX MVP;  holy hell, fast responces! thanks.ok i guess they just seemed fast,i hadnt checked the times. (i just experienced a time lapse or something)   [edited by - unliterate on May 30, 2004 7:30:04 PM]