rec.autos.simulators

GPL: 'generic joystick driver'

Jonny Hodgso

GPL: 'generic joystick driver'

by Jonny Hodgso » Thu, 26 Apr 2001 01:09:27

I've recently re-installed Win98SE, and since then I've been unable to get
GPL to recognise the presence of a 'generic joystick' on my SB/PCI128.
I've tried re-installing GPL but it's still not having any - the Creative
Gameport Joystick /is/ present in System Properties/Devices.

The DirectInput driver I recall as being pretty horrible anyway, with an
un-drivable deadzone, but it's now developed a 'pull' to the right under
throttle and braking (Interact V3 Wheel, which uses two pots in series
for the pedal axis - recently cleaned - but an optical/toothed wheel
steering arrangement).

Help - I'm missing my trips to the 'Ring, especially now I've got some
free time to spend on GPL :-(

Any hints on either problem welcome - although those involving
spending money less so ;-)

TIA!
Jonny

Asgeir Nesoe

GPL: 'generic joystick driver'

by Asgeir Nesoe » Thu, 26 Apr 2001 22:19:55

In order for GPL to detect any axis, it needs to be configured in the windows
game controller panel first. You should start there. If your joystick is
apparent in your game controller panel, they should also be apparent in GPL.

DirectInput works very nicely, and if you have a dedicated game controller
board, you can only benefit from the filtering of the signals, and smoothing
out the input and cpu usage free game controller work only if you use
DirectInput.

The things that you describe about DirectInput is new to me. I noticed that I
had to use a utility to control the dead zone of a couple of games (F1RS, I
think), but I have never noticed any deadzone in GPL. Since you are using a SB
PCI128, there should not be any particular joystick port driver setting
concerning deadzone...

Two pots in series for brake/throttle is generally a very bad idea, because
pressing the brakes and the throttle at the same time yields no result. Not
like in real life, in other words.

---Asgeir---


> I've recently re-installed Win98SE, and since then I've been unable to get
> GPL to recognise the presence of a 'generic joystick' on my SB/PCI128.
> I've tried re-installing GPL but it's still not having any - the Creative
> Gameport Joystick /is/ present in System Properties/Devices.

> The DirectInput driver I recall as being pretty horrible anyway, with an
> un-drivable deadzone, but it's now developed a 'pull' to the right under
> throttle and braking (Interact V3 Wheel, which uses two pots in series
> for the pedal axis - recently cleaned - but an optical/toothed wheel
> steering arrangement).

> Help - I'm missing my trips to the 'Ring, especially now I've got some
> free time to spend on GPL :-(

> Any hints on either problem welcome - although those involving
> spending money less so ;-)

> TIA!
> Jonny

Jonny Hodgso

GPL: 'generic joystick driver'

by Jonny Hodgso » Fri, 27 Apr 2001 02:47:17


GPL.

Yeah, I've installed it and uninstalled it, then reinstalled it as a
joystick, then
uninstalled that... GPL still won't pick it up on the 'generic' driver, and
driving
a car that pulls right whenever you accelerate or brake is just impossible.

I don't *think* this is the wheel, since I played GPL with some success
shortly before my reinstall, but it might be that the effect is simply
reduced
by the generic driver.

Well, I recall being far more impressed when I switched to the generic
(i.e. standard PC Joystick Port) driver when I first started playing GPL.

that I

I'm suspicious of some sort of current limitation, since a PC joystick is
simply a pair of variable resistors - one of which is being simulated in
solid-state by this particular wheel.  I tried a joystick briefly, btw, and
that showed similar inter-linking between the axes but to a smaller extent.

Time to go to USB?

Yeah, I know, but a) I've been running it like that for ages and b) I
race R/C model cars, and they have one axis for throttle and brake
too (since both are provided by the drive motor).

Jonny


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