rec.autos.simulators

I have been using a joystick to play gpl for the past 6 months and have
become reasonably good with this method - I have raced and beaten the AI
at Grand Prix level.  However, since my favourite joystick for gpl (a CH
Combat Stick) needed a new pot, and my current use of cheapo joysticks
(a Logic 3 PC Phantom) required me to get a new one every 4-6 weeks, I
decided to try something different - and hopefully longer lasting - and
bought a Microsoft Precision Pro (MPP).

Anyway, I couldn't fault the MPP for quality, however I was having a
very, very hard time keeping the car on the road despite setting the
linearity completely to the right to make it as non-linear as possible.
With the other 2 joysticks I can drive comfortably with the slider only
2/3rds of the way across.  So why was this joystick giving me so many
problems - as a for instance, even looking at my pitboard could result
in the car careering off to the right or the left - when my other sticks
had not caused me such grief?

Well the answer comes from the fact that the MPP has very little stick
deflection - full left to full right deflection is only about 2 1/2
inches at the top of the stick and about 40 degrees - whereas my
previous 2 joysticks have much greater deflections with the PC Phantom
having about 5 inches of travel and 90 degrees and the CH Combat having
about 6 inches of travel and about 90 degrees.

This means that any slight variations in stick deflection were being
transfered as wheel movements in the game and hence making the car much
harder to steer without immense amounts of precise control and
concentration.

So, my conclusions are, if you want to drive gpl well using a joystick,
then make sure you get one that has plenty of joystick travel otherwise
you may just find the game unplayable.
--
Peter Ives - (AKA Ivington)

No person's opinions can be said to be
more correct than another's, because each is
the sole judge of his or her own experience.

Im using the MS Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro with GPL, its great.
1.28.00 at Monza, 1.05.75 at Watkins Glen...
I had the same Problems with the MS Precision Pro, way too little
deflection.
You may take advantage of the Force Feedback Effects too.
My settings: Force Feedback Effects at low, Centering medium.
I know, the stick is expensive, but if you give it a try Im sure you will
not regret it.

Kalle

Chris

so now i use a logitech wingman interceptor.
initially it was no good, because although it has about 70 degrees of throw
the joystick input reached maximum left/right or up/down before the joystick
reached full throw.

as it is digital it was impossible to correct this in clibrating.
also it doesn't use pots.
it has a sort of electromagnetic sensor inside that detect joystick
movement.

i found that by careful placement of aluminium foil i could dampen the
signals and increase the throw required for maximum input.

now it works better that the wingman joystick

--
Rob.

Stephen