Shifter questions

[GCS]

My cab/cockpit will be using a G29 wheel, pedals, and shifter.

Can I (or should I) convert the G29 shifter to a sequential one and would this deal with those games that are just Hi/Lo shifting like Outrun but also us to use it for 4 position shifting etc like Cruisin etc.

And how do you guys deal with something like Hydrothunder?

TIA

Greg

[nipsmg]

so.. there's no great single answer to this/  For high/low i generally just use 1 and 2 and High/Low.

For sequential, I've found a few mods online where people have converted an H shifter to a sequential shifter -- you basically need to find a way to set a physical switch/restrictor that springs the shifter back to center --- then you just assign "up" and "down" buttons in the configuration.  I don't think it's that easy.  For something like Hydro Thunder ----- I just use a pedal and button.  You can't have it all.

[nipsmg]

Use google translate to view this:

https://www.gamoover.net/Forums/index.php?topic=42105.0

[BadMouth]

I always preferred using the paddles for sequential shifting.
Used 1st and 2nd gear for hi/lo,
1st through 4th for 4 speed games.

[nipsmg]

I’d love to find paddle shifters for my SF Rush for that reason.

[GCS]

Thanks for the comments/info guys much appreciated.

Guess my best bet is paddles for up/down shifting and the standard G29 h-shifter for the rest.  Will just have to be a learning curve for people who use the cab then.

[nipsmg]

That’s always a problem when you have a multi-game cabinet where the controls aren’t identical.  Comes with the territory.

[GCS]

I always preferred using the paddles for sequential shifting.
Used 1st and 2nd gear for hi/lo,
1st through 4th for 4 speed games.

Quick question should I stick with the G29 shifter or get something better?  Reading a lot of reviews about it and many feel its like a toy not a shifter and since I do plan to do some sim racing with this wondering if this is a bad choice.

My concern is the old school arcade games - am I right or wrong that they will not see a secondary device (i.e. a USB shifter from some other company) when using a wheel?  Meaning I need to stick with the G29 shifter since it is connected to the G29 and looks like one device to MAME etc?

[BadMouth]

I always preferred using the paddles for sequential shifting.
Used 1st and 2nd gear for hi/lo,
1st through 4th for 4 speed games.

Quick question should I stick with the G29 shifter or get something better?  Reading a lot of reviews about it and many feel its like a toy not a shifter and since I do plan to do some sim racing with this wondering if this is a bad choice.

My concern is the old school arcade games - am I right or wrong that they will not see a secondary device (i.e. a USB shifter from some other company) when using a wheel?  Meaning I need to stick with the G29 shifter since it is connected to the G29 and looks like one device to MAME etc?

The input system of MAME is super flexible and has no problem with multiple input devices.
However, it could be a problem for some other emulators or PC games or hacked PC based arcade games which you might also want to play.
MAME is only a small part of what you'll end up running on a driving cab.

Just use the G29 shifter for now until you've gained enough experience to know what you prefer.

[Howard_Casto]

Here is what I'll say about that.   Anything that shows up as a joystick is going to give you issues due to the fact that windows sometimes like to randomly swap around device IDs.   This isn't a problem on modern racers and sims as they are programmed with that in mind, but emulators and older games might have issues with it.   My shifter spoofing project is going to show up as a keyboard instead of a joystick and there is a reason for that.... it just makes life more simple.  My spoofing project will be supporting the g29 output in theory (I don't have one) so that might be an option once it is released.  I've been swamped with unexpected real world stuff all week but I hope to get back to it tomorrow.

[GCS]

Here is what I'll say about that.   Anything that shows up as a joystick is going to give you issues due to the fact that windows sometimes like to randomly swap around device IDs.   This isn't a problem on modern racers and sims as they are programmed with that in mind, but emulators and older games might have issues with it.   My shifter spoofing project is going to show up as a keyboard instead of a joystick and there is a reason for that.... it just makes life more simple.  My spoofing project will be supporting the g29 output in theory (I don't have one) so that might be an option once it is released.  I've been swamped with unexpected real world stuff all week but I hope to get back to it tomorrow.

I understand this part for sure.  My MAME cab has this issue with the myriad of USB devices I am currently running in that cab (4 zero delays, 2 U360 flightsticks, usb trackball, usb spinner, etc etc etc) and Windows screws around with the IDs all the time.  I have actually had success using a program called devreorder to deal with the issue.  It runs whenever Windows runs.

[Howard_Casto]

If you've got a solution then I wouldn't worry about it.   I've gotten reports from some that programs like devreorder don't work for them.  Mind you I haven't had that problem but enough people chime in to make me think it's still an issue.

[buttersoft]

I have actually had success using a program called devreorder to deal with the issue.  It runs whenever Windows runs.

Hmmm, i didn't have any luck with that. Does it have a GUI finally?

Admittedly I find once i get my three encoders and one wheel into place, windows stops changing the order each boot. But when i reconfigure things it's be nice to be able to re-order the devices.

[GCS]

I have actually had success using a program called devreorder to deal with the issue.  It runs whenever Windows runs.

Hmmm, i didn't have any luck with that. Does it have a GUI finally?

Admittedly I find once i get my three encoders and one wheel into place, windows stops changing the order each boot. But when i reconfigure things it's be nice to be able to re-order the devices.

On my main cab I would say yes for the most part it has worked fine.  It does not have a gui at all.  And yes if I unplug something or accidentally turn off one of the ports on the USB hub Windows goes and screws things up for sure and I end up having to rework things from time to time.  Fortunately this doesn't occur very often (i.e. I move anything around etc) at this point.

I do agree with Howard_Casto that this is still a problem. It is a Windows issue which is annoying as hell and you would think would be a simple fix at the OS level.

At least for me with the driving cabinet there will be the wheel (g29) and the pedals and shifter will be attached to it.  The only other USB items that will be attached to the computer will be a receiver for a KB/mouse and that's it so I don't expect too much trouble there.  Of course it would be great to have what Howard is working on as I would definitely prefer a different shifter and perhaps even pedals at some point but as we know that would be multiple USB items which may or may not be an issue.

Again if I was 100% convinced that a full Fanatec set up would work properly with old school arcade games I would pony up the funds for that instead of the 29.

My project is continuing though.  Cockpit is complete and ready.  I am still working on games/PC but moving a long.  I have lots of games on the PC now and running/launching from LB/BB which is good.  Games are playable via KB but not wheel yet as I haven't cracked it open.  Hope to get the cockpit in the house next weekend and once in the room I can mount the wheel/pedals/shifter etc and get to work on game configs with the wheel.  As I understand it this will take a bunch of my time since I need to do every game one by one and test and tweak many times over (unfortunately).  I wish there was a database/spreadsheet out there where someone had a list of the games and decent starting point for settings/configurations but such is life.

Appreciate all the comments and advice folks.