EPTWarning: + Show Spoiler +
Due to my lack of real programming skills, these are made in Flash. I made them into projector files, which are just combinations of Flash movie files (the usual .swf) and the standalone Flash player. This allows anyone to run the programs on their desktop without needing to have the standalone player (different from the browser plugin) installed. The file is .exe after you unrar it, so I figured I should mention this for those concerned. There is no installation involved for either of these programs.
Also, the keyboard program stores your settings and last used character set based off of the directory that the program is run from. So, if you move the file to a different directory, your settings will be lost. Once you use the program, you'll realize that it's not a big deal to lose your settings, but I still suggest just storing the programs in a permanent place like "C:/Starcraft Practice" or something.
Also, the keyboard program stores your settings and last used character set based off of the directory that the program is run from. So, if you move the file to a different directory, your settings will be lost. Once you use the program, you'll realize that it's not a big deal to lose your settings, but I still suggest just storing the programs in a permanent place like "C:/Starcraft Practice" or something.
Mouse: http://www.mediafire.com/?e91578kt237o0ln
Five circles that move to a new random place within the current window area when you click them. That's it, I didn't want anything fancy with scores and the like. I know when I miss, and I know when I'm getting faster.
Although much simpler, the advantage of this program over websites like Mission Red is that it goes full screen. When practicing using a browser flash game or java applet, you tend to just practice mouse movement in a small section of your screen.
After opening the program, use Ctrl+F or the view menu at the top to go into fullscreen, and escape to return to windowed mode. Pressing the enter key will randomize the circles within the current window area, so if you change the size of the window and some circles are off screen, just hit enter. Use your mouse wheel to change the size of the circles to make things more or less difficult.
Tips:
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If you want to practice minimap clicking accuracy, open the program twice and make one of the windows the size of the minimap, make the circles quite small, and place it in the bottom left corner of the screen. Remember that you can hit the enter key to get back any circles that may have left the screen while resizing. Make the other window take up the same part of the screen that would normally be the game view. You'll have an unused area along the bottom of your screen to the right of the minimap window, but you don't click down there very much anyway. Place a third window there if you want to.
Keyboard: http://www.mediafire.com/?ncty6npticlydnc
Randomizes whichever characters you enter (must be at least two) without repetition, and lets you practice with control or shift as well.
Enter some characters (like 0123456789 to practice number keys, maybe add unit construction hotkeys) into the field at the top, and select your options (click the circles to toggle them on and off) and hit enter to start. Escape returns to the main screen, which you will need to do when you finish one set of characters.
Three of the four options available are self explanatory, but the first one, "Make every second character a one or a zero", may be confusing. It considers the keyboard to be divided between 5 and 6, t and y, g and h, and b and n. If the character it picks from your custom set is on the left side of the keyboard, it will place a zero after it, or a one if it is on the right side of the keyboard. This just makes sure that the positions of one and zero are pounded into you (very important), and guarantees that your hand is moving back and forth across the keyboard constantly.
Tips:
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GO SLOW. You're training muscle memory. This is very, very different from acquiring knowledge. If you make a mistake, you are learning that mistake. The more you make that mistake, the more you will have to work later to get rid of it. Go slow, and if you're missing a lot, look at the keyboard. Whether you look at your hands or not, you will still end up with the same muscle memory. Don't think of being able to hit the keys without looking as the goal, because that will simply come a side effect of practice. Watch your hands if you need to, and go slow until your hands can do it automatically on their own. Any accomplished musician can confirm the benefit of this. When it comes to muscle memory, speed is a side effect of accuracy.
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Center yourself on your keyboard's arrow keys. This places the keyboard a good amount to the left of where it should be for typing with two hands, but makes it significantly easier to use the keyboard with one hand. Set hotkeys like this:
1: Use your pinky on left control and your middle finger on 1.
2 to 6: Use your pinky on left control and your index finger on the desired number key.
7 to 0: These are actually really easy if you follow the previous tip and go slowly and carefully. You only need to memorize one placement of your hand. Place your thumb on the right control key, with your pinky on 7, ring finger on 8, middle finger on 9, and index finger on 0. If you can quickly and easily get to this position, and you can do if I can do it, then you will never miss or have to think while hitting these keys.
1: Use your pinky on left control and your middle finger on 1.
2 to 6: Use your pinky on left control and your index finger on the desired number key.
7 to 0: These are actually really easy if you follow the previous tip and go slowly and carefully. You only need to memorize one placement of your hand. Place your thumb on the right control key, with your pinky on 7, ring finger on 8, middle finger on 9, and index finger on 0. If you can quickly and easily get to this position, and you can do if I can do it, then you will never miss or have to think while hitting these keys.
I didn't create these programs with the intention of releasing them, so if you don't like the color scheme of the keyboard program or something, then sorry about that.
