diff --git a/games/gamemenu.py b/games/gamemenu.py
index 45df2c5..6d71fce 100755
--- a/games/gamemenu.py
+++ b/games/gamemenu.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import argparse
 import subprocess
 import socket
 import struct
+import blup.balance_util
 import blup.frame
 import blup.output
 
@@ -210,9 +211,8 @@ class TestInput(AbstractInput):
         return None
 
 class BalanceInput(AbstractInput, threading.Thread):
-    def __init__(self, addr, player_id):
-        self.addr = addr
-        self.player_id = player_id
+    def __init__(self, balance_util):
+        self.balance_util = balance_util
         self.evt = None
         self.lastevt = None
         self.player_present = False
@@ -221,27 +221,13 @@ class BalanceInput(AbstractInput, threading.Thread):
         self.start()
 
     def run(self):
-        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
-        try:
-            sock.connect(self.addr)
-        except ConnectionRefusedError:
-            print('could not connect to balance server', file=sys.stderr)
-            self.evt = InputEvent.QUIT
-            return
         self.running = True
         evt = None
         oldevt = None
         lastchange = 0
         while self.running:
-            sock.send(b'a')
-            data = sock.recv(4)
-            p0x, p0y, p1x, p1y = struct.unpack('bbbb', data)
-            if self.player_id == 0:
-                xbal, ybal = p0x, p0y
-            elif self.player_id == 1:
-                xbal, ybal = p1x, p1y
-
             THRESHOLD = 40
+            direction = self.balance_util.get_4dir(THRESHOLD)
             MIN_TIMES = {
                 InputEvent.LEFT: 0.05,
                 InputEvent.RIGHT: 0.05,
@@ -249,24 +235,21 @@ class BalanceInput(AbstractInput, threading.Thread):
                 InputEvent.DOWN: 0.05,
             }
             if self.player_present:
-                if xbal == -128 or ybal == -128:
+                if direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.QUIT:
                     self.evt = InputEvent.QUIT
                     self.player_present = False
                     continue
-
-                if abs(xbal) < THRESHOLD and abs(ybal) < THRESHOLD:
+                elif direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.CENTER:
                     evt = None
-                else:
-                    if abs(xbal) < abs(ybal):
-                        if ybal > 0:
-                            evt = InputEvent.UP
-                        else:
-                            evt = InputEvent.DOWN
-                    else:
-                        if xbal > 0:
-                            evt = InputEvent.RIGHT
-                        else:
-                            evt = InputEvent.LEFT
+                elif direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.UP:
+                    evt = InputEvent.UP
+                elif direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.DOWN:
+                    evt = InputEvent.DOWN
+                elif direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.RIGHT:
+                    evt = InputEvent.RIGHT
+                elif direction == blup.balance_util.Direction.LEFT:
+                    evt = InputEvent.LEFT
+
                 if evt != oldevt:
                     lastchange = time.time()
                     oldevt = evt
@@ -281,7 +264,7 @@ class BalanceInput(AbstractInput, threading.Thread):
                 #print('player_id=%d event=%s' % (self.player_id, self.evt))
                 time.sleep(0.005)
             else:
-                if xbal != -128 and ybal != -128:
+                if direction != blup.balance_utils.Direction.QUIT:
                     self.evt = InputEvent.STEP_ON
                     self.player_present = True
                     continue
@@ -325,8 +308,14 @@ if __name__ == '__main__':
         inp2 = TestInput()
     elif args.balance is not None:
         host, port = args.balance.split(':')
-        inp1 = BalanceInput((host, int(port)), 0)
-        inp2 = BalanceInput((host, int(port)), 1)
+        sock = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+        try:
+            sock.connect((host, int(port)))
+            inp1 = BalanceInput(blup.balance_util.BalanceUtil(sock, 0))
+            inp2 = BalanceInput(blup.balance_util.BalanceUtil(sock, 1))
+        except ConnectionRefusedError:
+            print('could not connect to balance server', file=sys.stderr)
+            sys.exit(1)
 
     while True:
         evt = inp1.get_event()