[Neb]

I got a joystick today (finally!) and started playing FS Open with it.  The game recognizes the stick, and it seems to work fine, except I can't bind anything to its Z-Axis (being the rudder) and the Z-Rotation (rotating the stick).    When I click "bind", and use the rudder or rotation, nothing happens.  Is it possible to bind these features, or am I out of luck?

[Agentbolt]

Pretty sure it's not useable in Freespace.  I have a Z-axis too but I've been unable to get Freespace to recognize it.  Kind of like it won't recognize more than 3 mouse buttons. 

[G0atmaster]

well, I can at least give you a spark of hope.

I forget entirely how I did this, but I somehow managed to bind my Saitek 3D cyborg stick's twist to turning, my pulling the stick left and right to banking, and the throttle, to, well, the throttle.  I know it can be done, I just forget how.

[Wanderer]

Go from the main hall to Options screen and continue to Control Config.

Click on the 'ship' logo on the lower left part of the screen. Select the axis you want to bind from the list and then click on the 'Bind' in top right corner. Now move the rudder/whatever (=what controls the axis) from one extreme to another.

[jr2]

I'm not sure... I think my Z-axis is my throttle.

[Neb]

After some more investigating, only certain options will recognize the Z-Axis.  Look for the options toward the bottom.  Absolute Throttle should accept a Z-Axis, as well as others.  But most only use a button.

[Nuke]

well theres this

this program was designed so that people could adapt old controllers from a hodgepodge of old systems for the purpose of console emulation. anyway it installs a virtual joystick driver on your system so that you can adapt controllers through a paralell port or serial port, you can also emulate a joystick with a mouse/keyboard/or dll. it also comes with a tool called ppjoyjoy. this allows you to combine multiple axes from any installed controllers. this is what i use when i play mechwarrior 2, in order to use my x52 without crashing the game.

[JGZinv]

If it's anything like a Saitek x52 stick...

(Had to do this for Tachyon)

Bind your Z rotations to keys on the keyboard like normal....
you'd probably have 4 keys used up there... (left/right etc)
The two directions that you are able to go for each function of the axis.

Now... use the joystick software or find some such as Nuke recommended
to bind the Joystick to those keys representing those functions.

Thus it emulates you pressing the keyboard... when using the stick.
Should work for you.

[Nuke]

well of old games dont like the drivers for new sticks. the ppjoy virtual driver was designed for older games and usually works. if freespace doesnt recognize it right off the stick driver, theres a good possibility it can recognize it if it goes through ppjoyjoy. thes way you dont have to settle with an axis bound to a couple of keys.

[Tamlin]

with mine it's defaulted but to bind; twist...What stick? brand that is

[Backslash]

well theres this

Thank you SO much Nuke, I've been needing something like this.

As for the joystick, Neb, what settings have you tried on the Joystick tab in the launcher?

[Nuke]

ppjoymouse is also a convinent alretnative to my mouse script if you cant run it for some reason or simply want to play multi and my script prevents it, only thing is you wont get a gauge for reference. it also has the added bonus of a scroll wheel throttle.

its a shame its not being developed anymore though. id like to see more features in that.

[Zacam]

My Siatek Cyborg 3D Gold USB has all functions working perfectly. I have to re-bind the hat switches if I want them to do anything than changing the view because what FS calls them vs what they actually are, the FS name over-rides.

Throttle and Twist work perfectly.

If it helps, I never bothered installing the Saitek software. I only have an INF for Device Manager purposes of naming the joystick properly.