Running three joysticks together

[nightcaeryn]

Hi!

There are several people working on a flight simulator project (both
software and hardware) and we're running into a few issues with
Windows. We're trying to interact three joysticks together to control
the airplane (One for pitch, one for yaw, and one for roll where the
joysticks are only able to move in the designated directions for their
function). Two joysticks will interact together just fine, but it's the
addition of the third that's throwing us off, Windows will recognize
the joystick, but the simulator (We're using FlightGear specifically,
but we're pretty sure it's not a problem with FlightGear, but a general
Windows issue) just won't let the third joystick in on the control
equation. We know you can do it in Linux just fine, but it would be
much more convenient to be able to use Windows. From our research it
looks like Windows will recognize up to 16 game devices attached to a
computer, but will only let you use two at any one point in time. Has
anyone else had this problem of trying to use three game controllers
together in Windows? Is it even possible? Is there something we need to
change in a DLL somewhere? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Jimmy S.]

Hi (e-mail address removed),

It looks like you need to engage the full spectrum of Direct Input functionality
in order to proceed with the sucessfull development of your simulator project.

http://www.infiscape.com/~patrick/vrjuggler-config/2.0b1/configuring_vr_juggler/apcs05.html
The Direct Input game controller driver for Windows makes use of DirectX to communicate with a wide variety of game controllers. The
controllers may be attached to either a USB port or a game port. Essentially, if the device is supported by Direct Input, then the
Gadgeteer driver can communicate with it.

This device is not quite as flexible as its Linux counterpart due to fundamental differences between Direct Input and the Linux
joydev kernel module (see the section called "Linux Joystick Device"). While the number of digital and analog input sources is
determined at run time by querying the game controller device, the driver has the following limitations on the input sources:

a.. Zero (0) to thirty-two (32) buttons providing digital input

b.. Zero (0) to three (3) joysticks, each providing two analog inputs

c.. Zero (0) to two (2) sliders, each providing one analog input

d.. Zero (0) to four (4) directional pads (also known as "point-of-view hats"), each providing two analog inputs

Also see: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/input/hidgame.mspx

Follow up: Can be better addressed in the DirectX specific newsgroups.

--
Cheers, *Windows_XP_MVP_Shell/User*
Jimmy S. http://mvp.support.microsoft.com

Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site: http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center: http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________


(e-mail address removed) Wrote:
=================
| Hi!
|
| There are several people working on a flight simulator project (both
| software and hardware) and we're running into a few issues with
| Windows. We're trying to interact three joysticks together to control
| the airplane (One for pitch, one for yaw, and one for roll where the
| joysticks are only able to move in the designated directions for their
| function). Two joysticks will interact together just fine, but it's the
| addition of the third that's throwing us off, Windows will recognize
| the joystick, but the simulator (We're using FlightGear specifically,
| but we're pretty sure it's not a problem with FlightGear, but a general
| Windows issue) just won't let the third joystick in on the control
| equation. We know you can do it in Linux just fine, but it would be
| much more convenient to be able to use Windows. From our research it
| looks like Windows will recognize up to 16 game devices attached to a
| computer, but will only let you use two at any one point in time. Has
| anyone else had this problem of trying to use three game controllers
| together in Windows? Is it even possible? Is there something we need to
| change in a DLL somewhere? Any help would be appreciated.