28.08.2008, 18:01
MS Force Feedback 2 joysticks
For those of us using one of these, I've come across some useful information about this stick. (All of which dates from before my time..)
The original heyday of this stick was around 2000-2001 and it was seemingly designed to work with Windows98. It came with and required the use of an install disc with drivers to set it up and get it to work. (If you don't have this disc it's available at M4T download section, under joystick utilities, called "2 Microsoft Sidewinder gamer control software v4.0").
This software originally (under win98) allowed the setting up of a dead zone, macro keystrokes, and FF strength settings. Under plug and play, which arrived with the introduction of XP some of these options are no longer available and I haven't yet tried to see if the macros are still programmable.
Under XP's stock drivers all stick forces are set to max. These crucially include return to centre forces, which according to the user guide for the original software, should only be enabled for games that do not support this.
In IL2 it appears we have twice the required RTC forces which probably accounts for the wobbles when you shoot and the hopeful pleas by all of us for a better profile.
Having installed this software and turned off the RTC forces, the stick gets much easier and smoother to use. It also permits stick feedback forces to be lowered. Set to minimum , this gives a really nice subtle feel when flying and shooting, particularly when used together with a FF effects profile called "2 Mantis feedback", found with the above at M4T. See what you think, I think it's a big improvement on the xp drivers for this stick.
For those of us using one of these, I've come across some useful information about this stick. (All of which dates from before my time..)
The original heyday of this stick was around 2000-2001 and it was seemingly designed to work with Windows98. It came with and required the use of an install disc with drivers to set it up and get it to work. (If you don't have this disc it's available at M4T download section, under joystick utilities, called "2 Microsoft Sidewinder gamer control software v4.0").
This software originally (under win98) allowed the setting up of a dead zone, macro keystrokes, and FF strength settings. Under plug and play, which arrived with the introduction of XP some of these options are no longer available and I haven't yet tried to see if the macros are still programmable.
Under XP's stock drivers all stick forces are set to max. These crucially include return to centre forces, which according to the user guide for the original software, should only be enabled for games that do not support this.
In IL2 it appears we have twice the required RTC forces which probably accounts for the wobbles when you shoot and the hopeful pleas by all of us for a better profile.
Having installed this software and turned off the RTC forces, the stick gets much easier and smoother to use. It also permits stick feedback forces to be lowered. Set to minimum , this gives a really nice subtle feel when flying and shooting, particularly when used together with a FF effects profile called "2 Mantis feedback", found with the above at M4T. See what you think, I think it's a big improvement on the xp drivers for this stick.