I know Martin uses a dual-joystick control interface, but I want to know if anyone else does, how it fares, and more specifically in Windows.

Also, what is needed to use a joy (X-Y) for strafe? Do you need a third-party software program to integrate it into the game?

I currently have a Saitek X-52 flight set, but it gives me a lot of problems when trying to strafe using the throttle hat (unreliable) and will at random lose all its inputs, leaving you dead in the water until you release and repress all the controls you're using. Because of this, I'm considreing moving to a different system, and the most ideal for me would probably be two sticks... I just want to be sure it can be done in Windows before I go there with my money (it was bad enough spending $100 on the Saitek when it wouldn't work for me)

So can anyone confirm that a setup such as Martin's would work in Windows, and if it requires special software/programming, how to acquire it/set it up?

Thanks

Links:
http://vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/5/8320 (Mainthread - Joys)
http://vendetta-online.com/x/msgboard/5/8320?page=2#101920 (Martin's comment on dual-joys)

~Cunjo

I have on occasion run two joys in windows Xp. (i normally dont because
A) my desktop is just to friggin small for joystick, keyboard, joystick, mouse
B) i've only got one decent stick, and a crappy stick is useless

anyhow, I didnt have to do anything really special to make it work, just set one stick to strafes and one to roll/pitch. (you might have to go into your config file in the VO directory and change the deadzones on the stick you use for strafes depending on how sensitive your joystick is.

down near the bottom the config file will have a listing for each joystick, just change the zaxisdeadzone, xaxisdeadzone, and yaxisdeadzone to a steadily larger number if you need to.

is the strafe boolean as it is with keyboard/hat operation when using a stick? or can it be controlled in a linear fashion?

I might go for it... sure, desk space is an issue for me too, but if I can fit the Saitek on my desk, I can fit two smaller sticks (I haven't been able to keep my mouse on my desk since the saitek)

Nah... strafe *can* be totally linear... I run two sticks on an XP comp now... (and by the way, I moved to the dual stick config *from* an X52 myself... it's on another comp, and I still use it occasionally, as well)... Strafing with the X52 (to be anywhere consistent) should be moved to the throttle mouse... believe it or not. *NONE* of the tophats on that setup are consistent enough to give you assured strafing... trust me on that... I've tried every stinking one... they simply drop out all the time (and I've had my X52 reboot on me in the middle of a fight - so I lost all of the profile settings at a *very* inopportune moment).

Moving strafe to the throttle mouse actually gives you advantages... (but you'll have to change the profile to send keystrokes in the four quadrants of the mouse movement with deadzones - heh, whatta you know... how about the strafe keys!) The major drawback is that the throttle mouse is teeny-tiny, and you have to get used to what you are actually doing with that left thumb (and I have the top button set as my FA/Physics toggle)... so it gets interesting with that setup to get the finger stretch to hit the turbo, FA, strafe, and jerk the throttle back and forth... (I *also* set the throttle to ACCEL, not throttle so I can go back and forth... with another toggle to enable throttle-throttle)...

it can be moved to the throttle mouse? how?

/me really wants to have a look at your config file...

I couldn't figure out how to do half those things... though now my yaw and boost seem to be failing too (major b0rkage), so I might just move on to something else anyway...

Well... the secret is in the "Profile Editor" for the stick, NOT in the Config file... Here is the Saitek section of my config.ini (well, this is actually from the backup of the cfg file on the comp with the X52 installed):

[Saitek X52 Flight Stick (USB)]
enabled=1
JOYX=Roll
xaxisinvert=0
xaxiscenter=0
xaxismindeadzone=-5
xaxisdeadzone=5
xaxisminsaturation=-95
xaxissaturation=95
JOYY=Pitch
yaxisinvert=0
yaxiscenter=0
yaxismindeadzone=-5
yaxisdeadzone=5
yaxisminsaturation=-95
yaxissaturation=95
JOYRZ=Turn
Rzaxisinvert=1
Rzaxiscenter=0
Rzaxismindeadzone=-5
Rzaxisdeadzone=5
Rzaxisminsaturation=-95
Rzaxissaturation=95
JOYZ=Accel
zaxisinvert=1
zaxiscenter=0
zaxismindeadzone=-5
zaxisdeadzone=5
zaxisminsaturation=-95
zaxissaturation=95
JOYRX=NONE
Rxaxisinvert=0
Rxaxiscenter=0
Rxaxismindeadzone=-10
Rxaxisdeadzone=10
Rxaxisminsaturation=-95
Rxaxissaturation=95
JOYRY=NONE
Ryaxisinvert=0
Ryaxiscenter=0
Ryaxismindeadzone=-10
Ryaxisdeadzone=10
Ryaxisminsaturation=-95
Ryaxissaturation=95
JOYRU=NONE
Ruaxisinvert=0
Ruaxiscenter=0
Ruaxismindeadzone=-10
Ruaxisdeadzone=10
Ruaxisminsaturation=-95
Ruaxissaturation=95
JOYBUTTON0=+Shoot2
JOYBUTTON1=+Shoot1
JOYBUTTON2=+TopList
JOYBUTTON3=Activate
JOYBUTTON4=+Brakes
JOYBUTTON5=
JOYBUTTON6=+Turbo
JOYBUTTON7=FlyModeToggle
JOYBUTTON8=tab1
JOYBUTTON9=tab2
JOYBUTTON10=mes1
JOYBUTTON11=mes2
JOYBUTTON12=mes3
JOYBUTTON13=mes4
JOYBUTTON14=+Shoot3
JOYBUTTON15=+StrafeUp
JOYBUTTON16=+StrafeRight
JOYBUTTON17=+StrafeDown
JOYBUTTON18=+StrafeLeft
JOYBUTTON19=+StrafeUp
JOYBUTTON20=+StrafeRight
JOYBUTTON21=+StrafeDown
JOYBUTTON22=+StrafeLeft
JOYBUTTON23=
JOYBUTTON24=
JOYBUTTON25=
JOYBUTTON26=
JOYBUTTON27=
JOYBUTTON28=
JOYBUTTON29=
JOYBUTTON30=
JOYBUTTON31=
JOYPOV0UP=RadarNextFront
JOYPOV0RIGHT=RadarNextNearestEnemy
JOYPOV0DOWN=RadarHitBy
JOYPOV0LEFT=RadarNextFrontEnemy

but please note the strafe assignments there are to the tophat testing that I left there... and I do *not* use them... I programmed the throttle mouse (called the ministick) to send the strafe keys (W, S, A, and D) on the appropriate axis... and you do that with the "profile editor"... email me at seta.ralel*at*viperguild*dot*com, and I will send you the profile file that I use on that comp... you can just load it... (although, you'll probably want to make changes because that profile does a *lot* of stuff... and if you don't have the appropriate binds behind it, well... let's just say I'm not responsible).

Sweet merciful crap. /me holds his dear, simple Powerbook track pad/custom keyboard layout close

well, I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems with that overpriced Saitek...

maybe I should consider the dual-stick option too... I looked at martin's setup, and it looked pretty damn sweet. I wonder if ti would work in Windows though.

Yeah Lecter, I don't know how people live a week in the big wide world of joysticks either. Keyboards all the way!

-Calder

my joystick pwns you sorry touchpad losers!

(sorry, just had to say it... I mean, how the hell can you fight on a touchpad anyway? I can't even use mine for navigating my GUI, much less for gaming where things like AIM actually MATTER)

On a serious note, I think the best joystick ever made for windows is the Sidewinder Precisicion Pro. It is the only optical JS that was on the market. I also use the Belkin Nostromo 52 Speedpad for strafing. http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=&Section_Id=2071&pcount=&Product_Id=157024

Now I need to work on my PVP skills!

yes... but, is it as cool-looking as this?

I will agree, it looks "state of the art" but... after using computer joysticks for the last 25 years (geez I'm a retard, it's a wonder I ever got a career and got married) and having to manage analog "pot drift", I even bought another sidewinder off ebay because it works so well in XP. I'd rather have a js that stays centered 100% of the time, then have to fiddle with it every time I boot up.

Then again, maybe I need Levitra (stay in the game!!!).

tianzi: Agreed. It's the reason I still use my antique CH Flightstick Pro for (most) flightsims. :S