New Product: GP-Wiz - 32-input Fast USB Controls Interface

[tetsujin]

Tiger-Heli is right in that the market for this would probably be pretty limited, but I don't mind special versions for those who need them in a certain configuration.

Does this also apply to firmware?  I'd be interested in a version that encodes as two joysticks with 12 buttons each.  (Or otherwise, 4 axes and 24 buttons)  Of course I realize that this may not be an easy request to satisfy since it requires changing the HID reports and the firmware that generates them.  But it doesn't hurt to ask, right?    I'm really looking forward to playing around with the GP-Wiz.

Throughout the life of this thread I was going to groovygamegear.com and wondering where the heck all this other stuff was supposed to be...  I just saw the KeyWiz and Omni-Stik.  I guess I never thought of clicking the shopping cart image.

[RandyT]

Tiger-Heli is right in that the market for this would probably be pretty limited, but I don't mind special versions for those who need them in a certain configuration.

Does this also apply to firmware? 

Only to a very limited extent, and then usually only when quantities are required.  Too much work goes into customizing firmware to be able to offer the service on an "on request" basis.  In the case of the KeyWiz, we tend to do this for  small things like custom default codesets and disabling typematic for special non-gaming applications, but again, there are usually quantities involved.

There are no immediate plans to change the configuration of the GP-Wiz, as the end functionality would remain virtually identical to the original product, except for very rare instances.

Throughout the life of this thread I was going to groovygamegear.com and wondering where the heck all this other stuff was supposed to be...  I just saw the KeyWiz and Omni-Stik.  I guess I never thought of clicking the shopping cart image.

My apologies to anyone who this has happened with.  It's been a source of problems for a while now and will be fixed shortly.  We have a number of products emerging and quite frankly, I'd rather be "inventing" than "web designing".

There will be a new front page very shortly that will offer to take you directly to the store, or to the info site, along with a brief explanation as to how one gets from one to the other.  This will just a "band-aid" until I can devote more attention to the site.

RandyT

[Tiger-Heli]

We have a number of products emerging and quite frankly, I'd rather be "inventing" than "web designing".

I rather you be "inventing" as well.  Bring on the new products and maybe let someone else do the web design (no I'm not volunteering or recommending anyone).

[tetsujin]

Tiger-Heli is right in that the market for this would probably be pretty limited, but I don't mind special versions for those who need them in a certain configuration.

Does this also apply to firmware? 

Only to a very limited extent, and then usually only when quantities are required.  Too much work goes into customizing firmware to be able to offer the service on an "on request" basis.

Yeah, I thought that might be the case.  Thanks anyway!

[Tiz]

That's a good point. I will take a look at the Joy2Key software to see how well it performs.  It could be a nifty way to get compatibility with the occasional non-arcade/console title where it might be an issue.

RandyT

Randy,

I think I will almost certainly purchase one of your GP-Wiz units, but have
a few questions.

1) I would like to make sure that it will work flawlessly with Joy2Key using
all 32 buttons, so please post your testing results.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming  the 4 axes buttons : (Up, Down, Left, Right) will all  be recognized by Joy2Key?

2) If GP-Wiz is connected to a WinXP home PC, on the Control Panel- Game Controllers Properties- Test tab, would it show: a single Axis x/y and 28 buttons,
or would it show: just 32 buttons?

3) (forgive me, because this might be a stupid question)
Would a GP-Wiz using Joy2Key software be a better (i.e., faster, more reliable, etc.) than having a Key-Wiz using your Key-Wiz software?

Thank you very much so designing such an excellent product.

[RandyT]

.
First post in thread edited to show photo of GP-Wiz MAX version.

RandyT

[Tiz]

Looks awesome!

Randy, I know you are very busy with production, but could you please answer my stupid questions?

Thanks

[RandyT]

Randy, I know you are very busy with production, but could you please answer my stupid questions?

Not stupid questions, you just stumped me a  little with one of them.

1) I would like to make sure that it will work flawlessly with Joy2Key using
all 32 buttons, so please post your testing results.
Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming the 4 axes buttons : (Up, Down, Left, Right) will all be recognized by Joy2Key?

Here's the problem.  I can't find the utility out there for this.  Ideally, such an app would be a native windows app that hooks DirectInput and then  stuffs the keyboard buffer.  Nothing I have been able to find will do this.  Joy2Key seems to be a Linux  app, and would probably work, but then you'd  need to run Linux to use it.  I'll keep looking, but if anyone knows of a utility that meets the above, please let me know so I can test it out.

The one caveat I can add is that unless you absolutely need keypress data via the CP for your app, this isn't really necessary for a good running setup.

2) If GP-Wiz is connected to a WinXP home PC, on the Control Panel- Game Controllers Properties- Test tab, would it show: a single Axis x/y and 28 buttons,
or would it show: just 32 buttons?

A single, X/Y axis directional control (stick) and 28 buttons.  Of course, there is absolutely no reason that multiple sticks can't be attached to those button inputs for 99% of the software out there.

3) (forgive me, because this might be a stupid question)
Would a GP-Wiz using Joy2Key software be a better (i.e., faster, more reliable, etc.) than having a Key-Wiz using your Key-Wiz software?

If there exists a  utility that does what I described above, the functionality/speed would just about be a "wash" on decent system, with a possible small edge  to the GP-Wiz setup.  But the two products are really designed with different ideals in mind.  The GP-Wiz is a high speed alternative for users who want/need USB or their controls to be seen as Gaming controls to the OS.  The KeyWiz is more for the "traditionalists" who may have very complicated setups and want to be able to re-program controls on the fly.

But in the end, both will "get the job done" quite well and I don't think anyone will be disappointed with either.

Thank you very much so designing such an excellent product.

And thank you for considering it

RandyT

[pogo]

Joytokey can be found at http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA016823/joytokey/english.html

[RandyT]

Joytokey can be found at http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA016823/joytokey/english.html

You Da' Man!  I guess the "2" was throwing me

Thanks for the link.

RandyT

(...off to do some testing....)

[Tiz]

Randy,

Thanks a million for your answers.  I apologize for not spelling  "JoyToKey" correctly.
Now that you can download it,  I would really appreciate if you could give
GP-Wiz a thorough test with it.   I have a hunch it will perfom flawlessly.

Thanks again,
One of your future customers.   

[ozzi22]

I am considering getting one of these  to replace my keywiz max wich may have shorted out.  I got the keywiz max because it had the screw terminals instead of soldering.  How would I connnect the wires using the non solderless version of the gpwiz?  It says it has an Ide adapter on it for $3 extra.  How would I wire it up.  I am a novice when it comes to this stuff?

[tetsujin]

I am considering getting one of these  to replace my keywiz max wich may have shorted out.  I got the keywiz max because it had the screw terminals instead of soldering.  How would I connnect the wires using the non solderless version of the gpwiz?  It says it has an Ide adapter on it for $3 extra.  How would I wire it up.  I am a novice when it comes to this stuff?

If you want the screw terminals, he has a version of GP-Wiz that has screw-terminals, too:

GP-Wiz Max

Otherwise, you could buy ribbon cable and IDC connectors to connect to the board, and then wire up the lines from the ribbon cable to screw terminals or something like that.

[RandyT]

Thanks a million for your answers.  I apologize for not spelling  "JoyToKey" correctly.

No problem, you weren't alone 

Now that you can download it,  I would really appreciate if you could give
GP-Wiz a thorough test with it.   I have a hunch it will perfom flawlessly.

Ok, I checked it out.

The final report is that it works great with anything that doesn't use DirectInput for  controls.  The readme file says that some DirectInput applications may work under Win2k (and probably XP) but  it's a no go for 98.

That being said, if the app supports game controls via DirectInput, it wouldn't make much sense to map the inputs to keys, so it's not much of a drawback.

It does appear to be very useful  for front end software.  If the app uses  DirectInput, the JoytoKey software is cut out of the loop like it was never there.  But the instant you return back to the front end software, provided it doesn't use DirectInput, all the key defs kick in and you can run the PC like you were using a  keyboard encoder.

So, for the most part, a handy tool to have and the GP-Wiz works great with it.  But there are a few limitations.  If / how they affect you will depend on your setup.

RandyT

[Tiz]

Randy,
Thanks very much.
I doubt this would probably make any difference, but have you also downloaded
and tried the newest version 3.7.7, which is in Japanese?  I think the icons are
in the same places as the English version you tried.