[Stomp357]

  I installed my retail copy of FreeSpace 2 with the 1.2 patch, then used the SCP installer to download, and install the full SCP package. At random times during the FS2 main campaign, my joystick would stop working in game, then it would come back to life. Now I'm at the mission that follows the arrival of the Colossus, and as soon as I start the mission, I lose joystick support. I have to quit the game, and restart it, but it still loses joystick support a few sec. after entering the mission. Anyone know what could be wrong?

[karajorma]

Do you have the joystick directly connected to the PC? Cause I had a similar problem once that turned out to be due to me running the joystick via an unpowered hub.

[Stomp357]

Do you have the joystick directly connected to the PC? Cause I had a similar problem once that turned out to be due to me running the joystick via an unpowered hub.

  I'm using a game port version of the CH FlightStick Pro, & the CH Pro Throttle. It's connected to my ESS 1938 Solo-1 PCI soundcard's game port. It only does this with the SCP... Not the normal FS2 retail, or any other game. I just added a Laser Mouse that connects to the USB port instead of the PS/2. Could this be causing this? I can't tell as I had installed the mouse right before the SCP, so I don't know if a PS/2 mouse would make a difference. The Laser Mouse is connected directly to the PC's USB port.

[Stomp357]

Do you have the joystick directly connected to the PC? Cause I had a similar problem once that turned out to be due to me running the joystick via an unpowered hub.

  I'm using a game port version of the CH FlightStick Pro, & the CH Pro Throttle. It's connected to my ESS 1938 Solo-1 PCI soundcard's game port. It only does this with the SCP... Not the normal FS2 retail, or any other game. I just added a Laser Mouse that connects to the USB port instead of the PS/2. Could this be causing this? I can't tell as I had installed the mouse right before the SCP, so I don't know if a PS/2 mouse would make a difference. The Laser Mouse is connected directly to the PC's USB port.

  It's not the USB causing the problem. I took the USB laser mouse off, and installed another  PS/2 mouse, but it still loses joystick support at random times during the mission. I even turned off the USB ports from within the BIOS, and the problem remains. Are the SCP developers supporting joysticks anymore (actually testing)? These days it seems everyone plays all games with a mouse, so game developers don't even try to code the support... Even in Flight/Space/Vehichle sims. Since I'm not blessed with "normal" non-disabled limbs, I don't have the pleasure of using a keyboard to steer/shoot, & other functions with. It's turning out to be the same thing in the virtual world as in the real world... Where you have to sit on the side-lines, & watch everyone else have fun while you only wish you could. 

[Cobra]

Works fine for me, I have an x52. Besides, you can just use the keyboard, your life isn't gonna end if you can't use the joystick.

[Johnmike]

Check the site for your sound card and joystick manufacturer's to ensure that your drivers are up to date.

I recommend updating your joystick anyway, however.  Gameport joysticks have been dead for years and years, nothing but discontinued relics.  Get a USB joystick; I recommend the Saitek Cyborg Evo.

[Taristin]

Gameport joysticks........ hmm. Vista dropped support for them, I wonder if SCP will too >..>

[Mongoose]

Gameport joysticks FTW.  Thanks to an amazing Descent community member's custom-made USB adapter, I can keep using my trusty MS Sidewinder 3D Pro for years to come.  Best stick ever made.

Back on-topic, I know that taylor has some major control input updates planned for 3.7+, but I can't specifically recall hearing about anything that fundamentally changed the way controllers are read.  I don't know if this is going out on a crazy limb, but could FS_Open's use of OpenAL have anything to do with the problem?  I wish I had my 3D Pro at home; I'd be more than happy to try to get the SCP running on this machine and to see if I experienced the same problem.

[Shade]

Say... are those USB adapters available somewhere or was it just a homemade job? I wouldn't mind future-proofing my old flightstick pro by being able to run it over USB

[Stomp357]

Works fine for me, I have an x52. Besides, you can just use the keyboard, your life isn't gonna end if you can't use the joystick.

  No, but unlike you, I don't have normal ability of my limbs to take for granted. Keyboarding is not an option. You can't play with keyboard when you don't have any feeling in you hands, and type with 2 fingers at 2 words a min. while having to watch the keyboard to make sure your finger hit the correct key.

[Stomp357]

Check the site for your sound card and joystick manufacturer's to ensure that your drivers are up to date.

I recommend updating your joystick anyway, however.  Gameport joysticks have been dead for years and years, nothing but discontinued relics.  Get a USB joystick; I recommend the Saitek Cyborg Evo.

  I just tried a USB Logitech Wingman Digital Extreme 3D joystick. It's still doing the same thing. I even uninstalled both the SCP, and FS2, and cleaned the registry of all the references. Then reinstalled FS2, with v1.2 update, then used the SCP installer to install the SCP files. Still loses joystick support randomly in game.

[Taristin]

What is your operating system? Do you ever notice your usb mouse losing connection outside of the game?

[Mongoose]

Say... are those USB adapters available somewhere or was it just a homemade job? I wouldn't mind future-proofing my old flightstick pro by being able to run it over USB

There are generic gameport-to-USB adapters available from places like RadioShack; however, since the 3D Pro is a rather unique stick, those particular converters didn't allow it to retain its full functionality.  (The particular converter I was talking about is a homemade affair made specifically for the 3D Pro.)  I don't know whether or not the Flightstick Pro would work properly, but it's worth a shot. 

As for those having problems, I don't know the specifics of the SCP installer, but are you absolutely sure that you're using the latest Release Candidate build?  Try re-downloading just the build from the thread in the Recent Builds subforum.  It's just a shot in the dark, but I've heard of stranger problems being solved by upgrading to the most recent build.

[Stomp357]

What is your operating system? Do you ever notice your usb mouse losing connection outside of the game?

  No. It works fine, as does the Logitech USB joystick. It's only the SCP doing this.. Whether I'm using the CH Flisticek Pro, & Ch Pro Throttle, or the Logitech. I'm running WinXP Pro SP2 with all the latest updates.

[Turey]

As for those having problems, I don't know the specifics of the SCP installer, but are you absolutely sure that you're using the latest Release Candidate build?  Try re-downloading just the build from the thread in the Recent Builds subforum.  It's just a shot in the dark, but I've heard of stranger problems being solved by upgrading to the most recent build.

While I haven't heard of any joystick issues being solved between RC7.8 and RC7.9x, You should grab RC7.9x anyways. The Installer uses RC7.8 because 3.6.9 final is supposedly going to be released very, very soon, and there's no real point in updating the Installer to RC7.9x when 3.6.9 final is almost ere.

[bizzybody]

Mongoose, any info on a gamport to USB adaptor that can support force feedback functionality? Someone gave me (as in FREE) a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro stick. It does have basic FF support in XP, but I'd rather not have to put my old Soundblaster Live! 5.1 card in my newest PC just to have a gameport for this stick. (The new box has something like 7 or 8 channel noise built in...)

IIRC, Gravis made a PCI gameport card some years back, haven't been able to find one anywhere.

[Wobble73]

Mongoose, any info on a gamport to USB adaptor that can support force feedback functionality? Someone gave me (as in FREE) a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro stick. It does have basic FF support in XP, but I'd rather not have to put my old Soundblaster Live! 5.1 card in my newest PC just to have a gameport for this stick. (The new box has something like 7 or 8 channel noise built in...)

IIRC, Gravis made a PCI gameport card some years back, haven't been able to find one anywhere.

I know here in the UK that GAME^(TM) sell Gameport to USB adaptors for around £10. I don't know about Force Feedback functionality though!

[neoterran]

Anyone upgrading to vista had better realize that the gameport isn't supported by the OS anymore. So don't expect any non-USB devices to work !