Hard Light Productions Forums
General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: OverDhill on September 09, 2013, 09:59:34 am
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Here is my pit for Freespace 2. It has a 39" monitor, Trackir, 24" touchscreen running Helios, Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals, and Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS. Thanks for all those that had contributed to the Freespace Open project (s). I will enjoy playing a lot of missions this winter when the snow flies.
(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5521/9711178710_03d30e0080_c.jpg)
Here are some snapshots of the Helios touchscreen
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2845/9711195738_7b3a6bff6f_c.jpg)
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3797/9711198062_b2c6966ffa_c.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/9711198580_5614a4e18c_c.jpg)
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I just hate rich people! :D
(don't worry, I'm just jeallouz :))
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Thanks... but far from rich. I just don't have that many hobbies or vices... hahaha
I am retired so I have more time than money so I wait for deals.
I use this pit for Falcon BMS (free), IL-2 STURMOVIK and Rise of Flight. But I really like space combat sims and can't wait to see Star Citizen. I am hoping it has extractable cockpit gauges as that is where the virtual cockpit touchscreen shines.
I will also be playing B5 Project when I get done with FS2 campaigns.
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Wow, this is really cool. :)
(I like the red self-destruct switch front-and-center. :p)
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How does FSO recognize all of this as one controller? Are you using PPJoy or some other utility?
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Heh. Enjoy yourself! :nod:
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How does FSO recognize all of this as one controller? Are you using PPJoy or some other utility?
I use PPJoy (combine axes and 16 buttons) as well as Xpadder (for the all the extra buttons). Helios sends button keystrokes from the touchscreen PC to the main PC with a small keysend utility. There is a new utility like PPJoy that doesn't require you to run Win7 in test mode but I have not tried it yet.
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Holy ****. :eek2: So jealous.
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oops, sorry, i've totally forgotten to answer your PM about this stuff :(
but it seems as you have set up everything all right!
i must say, this is way too cool
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Does you has gaming chair?
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Nope.... I do have a Steelcase computer chair that was originally around $700 and I paid $25 for it from a place going out business. Nice and comfortable.
I got the idea for using PVC pipe for the pit frame from this place. I did my own design for the HOTAS and 24" touchscreen support.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7unF2tIXDs
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oops, sorry, i've totally forgotten to answer your PM about this stuff :(
but it seems as you have set up everything all right!
i must say, this is way too cool
Yeah Google Image is your friend... did a few searches to come up with the PNG for the cockpit that was used as part of the Generic Cockpit MOD. Once I have played Freespace 2 and FreeSpace Port and Silent Threat Reborn I will proceed with the other campaigns down the road and will see what cockpits are available. I know Blue Planet 1&2 have working cockpits. I am sure I will not get to all the campaigns but will play what you guys consider the best before moving on to Babylon 5 Project. Also might look into multiplayer when I get better at the controls.
I have been really gathering up all the latest files and MODS this past few months as I travel and want to have it all ready when the weather turns bad and we stay inside more. I am sure the controls will be tweaked as I learn what is the higher priority.
I think I have all the options set for maximum graphics quality. I get around 120 FPS at the moment.
If anyone has any tips or tricks to squeeze the ultimate best out of Freespace 2 I would be glad to hear them. I have a Nvidia 660 Super Clocked graphics card so I have used the Nvidia control panel to tweak it as well.
I can't thank all of you enough for the hard work you have put into this and for all the help. This is a great forum.
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There is a new utility like PPJoy that doesn't require you to run Win7 in test mode but I have not tried it yet.
What utility is that?
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There is a new utility like PPJoy that doesn't require you to run Win7 in test mode but I have not tried it yet.
What utility is that?
this is it.... if it works let us know
https://sourceforge.net/projects/vjoystick/
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Does the self-destruct button...work (in singleplayer)?
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Does the self-destruct button...work (in singleplayer)?
It better come with a working ejection seat while you're at it.
Edit: Also, awesome pit, this is pretty much the sort of ideal set up I'd love to have for myself if I had the space, time and money for it, good to see the newer cockpit being used well for this purpose too.
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Dude! That's really cool! Jealous. :nod:
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For those interested here is a couple of my other Helios skins for some of the other sims I play
IL-2
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8393177391_2f1a02b010_c.jpg)
Lockon Flaming Cliffs 2
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8516/8393252291_acc4dc2c6a_c.jpg)
Falcon BMS
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8346774861_cc9d2acf4d_c.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8224/8296639671_4914db49cd_c.jpg)
And another long time hobby of mine is my home automation project
http://cocoontech.com/forums/blog/8/entry-119-nowplaying-2012-showcase/
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Ooh big red button
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Thanks for sharing this is awesome. I am jealous. I have used hidmacros in the past but this is way better.
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Hey everyone I have a cool suggestion after I discovered it myself.
I finally got my Logitech Wheel working under Windows 7. It sits clamped to my pit off to the left when not being used for racing sims. I realized that by checking off the Force Feedback I now have some cool collision shaking effects. I first started to use it in IL-2 1946 so decided to try it in Freespace 2 Open. Works really well and adds to the immersion of the game.
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Well it has been awhile since I posted. I had some health issues last winter so did not get to play a lot. In the spring I went to test things out and my 24" touchscreen had some hardware problems so I decided to rebuild my sim pit. First I wanted an extension for my Warthog joystick so I lowered the stand and made the extension. Next I decided I wanted the real tactile feel of buttons so I decided to create button panels which also include analog controls for things like trim. I also wanted a setup where I could quickly change labels for all the buttons so using my wife's Silhouette Cameo I created templates out of heavy card stock. This lets me use this pit for any sim I decide to play (ready for Star Citizen)
For sims like IL-2 Cliffs of Dover and Flaming Cliffs 3 I am using a 19 inch monitor in the center running directly off my main PC. So viewing extracted gauges with VirtualCockpit and UDPSpeed work with little effort.
I am using a GP-Wiz40 as well as a BU0836X card for the buttons and analog inputs)
Here is the work on progress. I am almost done (just need to do the labels on the templates and create the Xpadder profiles)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5597/15287749039_693fd332f5_c.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3928/15451560506_0347bdd5c7_c.jpg)
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15286014758_f03e8b791c_c.jpg)
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Wow, thats pretty amazing, hats off to you
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Hoping that Star Citizen will support extracting gauges for people who like to build sim pits.
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Most impressive!
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Want.
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Show off... :D
It's very impressive. I can imagine playing on that at night, no lights on, let your imagination go to work, it's just you in the cockpit of your ship in the darkness of space with the enemy in front of you...
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very cool, love it a lot
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Bet diaspora launches rock.
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Getting ready to make the button template
I have a question for you veterans of FS2. Which keys do you feel are the most important and used the most? I would think some of the Shield and Energy management would be one. There are seriously a lot of key binds. Also I have yet to find a text file with all the keybinds listed.
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Off the top of my head.
Shield balance
B - Targets bombers and torpedos in flight
M - Match Speed
Power Distribution
Weapons Bank Selects
Target Object Under Reticule
Target Subsystem under Reticule
Countermeasures
If possible Comms Menu Options like Attack, Ignore, Support Ship
As many targeting options as you think you can cope with
Jump
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BTW fightermedic I want to thank you for all your work on the cockpit mod.
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On my el-cheapo joystick I have the following bound - although it changes from mod to mod depending on (e.g.) the presence of glide, or other features of the mod (so cycle primaries or secondaries will go if most ships only have a single bank, or there's no point in cycling, e.g. a Diaspora Viper & primaries)
Fire Primaries
Fire Secondaries
Target under reticle
Countermeasures
Target closest hostile targeting me
Cycle Primaries
Cycle Secondaries
Equalise ETS
Cycle Target Subsystems
Look back (or Toggle Glide)
Reverse Thrust
Equalise Shields
Target Bombs/Bombers
Target Subsystem under Reticle
Transfer laser energy to shields
Afterburner
As for a complete list of keybinds, you can't get any more "truth" than the code itself :) It's not that hard to read, see the following link, it's line 46 to 196.
https://github.com/scp-fs2open/fs2open.github.com/blob/master/code/controlconfig/controlsconfigcommon.cpp#L46
(edit: typo)
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my opinion of controls importance is as follows. leaving out the "DUH"s like fire/throttle/turning
absolute essentials, at your fingertips at all times:
primary/secondary select (forward only is sufficient)
countermeasures
equalize shield
target nearest hostile
target nearest attacker
target ship in reticle
afterburner
next priority for stick/throttle mapping:
full shield management
secondary dual firing
target subsystem
cycle turrets/subsystems
target bomb
rear view (other angles much lower priority)
glide/reverse thrust (for mods that use it)
useful on hand but not really a great hindrance on the keyboard:
target escort
target target's attacker
target bomb/bomber
non-critical but still useful commands that may be ideal for mounting on the button panels:
communications shortcuts as you see fit to use, highest value IMO:
- attack/protect/ignore my target
- cover me
energy management
stop targeting ship/subsystem
occasionally useful targeting options:
- last ship to send transmission
- newest ship
obviously, YMMV. these are based off of my playstyle and using x-45 HOTAS with in-game mapping only. you can get more creative if you use programming software with macros, shift modes and such.
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Thanks for the input.
Well here are my templates as well as my HOTAS setup
Left Panel
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3939/15333647387_d82b4708b7_c.jpg)
Right Panel
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3951/15519848862_b537386d46_c.jpg)
HOTAS
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15333648227_b03a825946_c.jpg)
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I want to get a Warthog HOTAS... but I also really dig the way x52 is set up. This thread just makes me want to get one more. :(
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To be honest I really liked the X52 Pro I had for about 3 weeks. Well everything except the terrible (and I mean terrible) deadzone issue it had. I was flying like a drunk man oversteering so bad. That and the fact that Windows kept not seeing it and I would have to reconnect the USB to have it show up. In the 3rd week it died and I sent it back. I then ordered a X45 off Ebay (used) and it was decent but I did and still do miss the X52 throttle. My wife surprised me and bought me the Warthog as a retirement gift.
If you get one you should also make or buy an extension for it. It will improve your precision as well as reduce the movement efforts (the main spring is pretty stiff). Most of the switches on the throttle are toggle which is a pain for most sims even if you tell the software to send one key press as you still have to switch them back. With only 3 axis on the Warthog Throttle it is a bit more limited than the X52 Pro I had.
Overall you have to love the quality and precision of the Warthog stick. With the added 60+ buttons and 7 12 bit analog axises on my panels this pit can handle pretty much any sim I will play. Only wish FS2 handled more controllers.
The overlay templates I have made so far are working out great. Now if only I can get the time to play (we travel a lot with two kids living out of state).
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I haven't had much problem with my x52 Pro except for the green color for the C button not lighting up. Every now and then it tends to "reset" itself in mid maneuver, so the center is stuck in whatever direction I was pointing until I unplug the joystick. Happens rarely these days, though.
I've been thinking about the x55 as a cheaper alternative, since I can't really afford pedals. I'd have to get a USB hub for it, though.
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When did you purchase the X52? I wonder if they fixed the deadzone issue?
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Umm.. Two and a half years ago, I think? Somewhere aroubd then. I still have to drop the deadzone in Freespace 2 by a notch to get satisfactory performance, but it was still a huge improvement over the original.
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Have you thought of doing the MOD for the X52. It would make it a lot better
two ways
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfJNiHmEszk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JGZSx7UaVU
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Don't really have the desire to do so. Maybe when I get an x55 or Warthog and I can spare a joystick. :P
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Finished labels
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3934/15416627820_d64f769e2b_c.jpg)
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So much did one of those touchscreens set you back?
I want one.
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Well I bought a used 24" off Ebay for $190 but it died in less than a couple years. My new pit does not use touchscreens as I decided I would rather have the tactile feel of real buttons. That is why I built the button panels.
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Well I decided to install my Neospeech Paul and Kate to use for the TTS voices where needed. They are better than the one that comes with Windows.
It would be nice if it were possible to adjust the attributes of the voices on the Launch screen.
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Well since I don't use a touchscreen monitor anymore for the second screen I figured out how to still use Helios for displaying help screens or other things. You can do popup panels by using assigning a game controller to monitor 2 in Helios and use toggle hidden when a button is pressed.