rec.autos.simulators

Many PC gamepads with 2 analogs sticks but none with analog trigger...

I don't want a wheel, nospace..

Are they anay good PC gamepad or should I use an adpater with the xbox or
gamecube controller ?

Thanks

I've done very well with a Logitech Rumblepad.  It takes a while to develop
a fine finger control on the two sticks, but it works really well.  I have
no troubles matching my best wheel times in GPL with the pad, using the two
shoulder buttons for shifting, the left stick for steering and the right for
throttle / brakes.  The only thing you can't do is trail brake, but with
only two hands, I don't think any controller is going to let you do that
unless you are a concert pianist.

The rudimentary rumble effects actually give you a decent "feel" for what
the car is doing in GPL, with distinctly different wobbly pulses for
wheelspin, brake lock and understeer.

I use it with my notebook and have GPL anywhere, anytime.  I hardly take out
my wheel anymore.

Stephen

A hint on the Logitech - pull off the plastic joystick knobs and
you'll have two metal rods sticking up.  If you get used to them,
you'll have even finer control in twitchy steering situations.

I bought a cheap no-name PC rumblepad at Wal-Mart, but it was
distincly inferior to the Logitech and I took it right back.  Don't
waste your time and money.

Another good PC gamepad to check out is the newer Thrustmaster
rumblepad.  I don't have any *** experience with it, but it felt
good in my hands at the store. Better than the Logitech, actually. And
they also have a wireless version of it. If I hadn't already bought
the Logitech, I probably would have bought the Thrustmaster instead.

- Ted

http://www.racesimcentral.net/

Ice D

Like I said before, I think you would have to be a concert pianist to do
this effectively, but perhaps I underestimate the finger dexterity of people
who really use gamepads a lot. I grew up with simple joysticks, starting way
back with the Atari 2600!  I find I literally have my hands full managing to
use my left thumb for steering and look left/right, right thumb for gas /
throttle / hand up, left index finger for shift up and right index finger
for shift down.  My other fingers are too spastic from years of canoeing and
mountain biking to have any sort of fine control.

What I have tried with mixed results is to define the vertical axis of the
right stick from centre to top for throttle, and the horizontal axis of the
right stick from centre to right for brake.  If I follow a circular arc from
full throttle to full braking, I effectively have some trail braking, but it
didn't do much for my times or control without true independent control of
the two.

Stephen

Donovan

Works VERY nicely and is highly programable.

I also like my old original MS Sidewinder gamepad  and the way you can
easily map keyboad/keystrokes to the button on the gamepad and have
them saved in auto-launching files for your various games.

Jay J

http://rsdg.net/images/forum_posts/alms2go.jpg

RG
Racing Sim Developers Group
RSDG.net

Btw, how does it work, do you turn that round thing like an analog wheel?

Ice D

I have a PSX to USB adapter, but have not tryed it with the NegCon yet,
so I am not sure it would even work. But it would be a hoot playing GPL
with it, just for a laugh.

http://www.ncsx.com/ncs0330/ncs0413/negcon.jpg

Yes, those two red buttons are analogue gas/brake.

MRSisson

--  

LOAD "GPL",8,1
RUN

RG
Racing Sim Development Group
RSDG.net

I also had one for my notebook, and loved it while it worked, but it died
after only a few months.

Stephen