Hi folks,
I have put together my config-profiles and pilot-profile to use a Steel-Battalion-controller with FS2_Open.
Additionally, I have included the enhanced Speech-Recognition-profile for the Shoot-1.6.4 Tool.
You have to buy/build an adapter-cable like the SmartJoy X2 USB and install the vtchid-driver 0.2.1 from
http://www.tamanegi.org/prog/vtchid/ to be able to use the controller with the PC.
I am still working on the Comm-section of the controller, so that you can give orders to single ships out of 4 wings.
At the moment, you can give orders to the entire wings.
The controller-pedals are supported for Afterburner and Throttling, but you can also use the Gear-Lever for setting speed.
Installation and usage-tips are included in the ZIP-file.
Let me know what you think about it.
StingerAJ
EDIT: I have noticed the Comm Switches are not working correctly, it is something with the timing of the Comm-Menu sequences. Maybe the delays between the keypresses are too short. I will look into it.
EDIT v2: I have fixed the Comm Switches, they are now working perfectly. I have also reprogrammed the Comm Dial, so that you can issue orders as follows (quoted from readme):
- Use the Comm Dial to select the targets of your order:
- Comm Dial set to WEST (Channel 1): All Fighters
- Comm Dial set to NORTHWEST (Ch 2): First Wing
- Comm Dial set to NORTH (Ch 3): Second Wing
- Comm Dial set to NORTHEAST (Ch 4): Third Wing
- Comm Dial set to EAST (Ch 5): Fourth Wing
- The red Comm-Buttons send the order to the selected wing depending on the setting
of the Comm Dial:
Comm Dial is on W/NW/N/NE:
- Comm-Button 1: Attack Target
- Comm-Button 2: Disable Target
- Comm-Button 3: Disarm Target
- Comm-Button 4: Attack Subsystem
- Comm-Button 5: Protect Target
Comm Dial is next to W/NW/N/NE (clockwise):
- Comm-Button 1: Ignore Target
- Comm-Button 2: Form on my wing
- Comm-Button 3: Cover me
- Comm-Button 4: Engage enemy
- Comm-Button 5: Depart
Issues left:
- Viewing around with Shift-Cursor mapping is ugly ATM, so I modified the pilot-profile to use the Sight Change Stick as a POV to view around. Strafing thrust is mapped to Shift-Cursor, because you cant use it in the normal FreeSpace-Campaigns (with exception to the terran Mara). Could the coders please enable support for POV 2 on Joystick input devices?
- Power management and View Management is not bound to the controller, because I do the first with Shoot Voice Recognition and dont need the second.
I am also looking into the sources of the vtchid-driver to enable the user to program the lighting of the controller-buttons. Wtih this you could add some cool immersive feedback-effects (switching on butotn-panels with toggles on startup, or simply show which buttons are used).
It would also be cool to let the game engine control the lighting of the buttons, just as in the orginal Steel Battalion. This would be cool for several reasons:
- Show the rookie the flashing button he has to press in Flight Training (training-sexp's)
- Status of flight-systems (Glide enabled? Yes, the button is glowing; Missile on your tail? Let the Chaff-button go crazy, and so on)
But I am not proficient in coding in C/C++. Is anyone able/willing to help with this?
How many forum-users here are actually in posession of a VT-controller?
Please give me your feedback, a lifesign, something....
StingerAJ
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