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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: digitap on August 02, 2005, 02:12:59 pm

Title: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: digitap on August 02, 2005, 02:12:59 pm

Has anyone ever tried to hack a v-smile joystick?  I tried plugging one into my pc serial port, but it disn't seem to be recognized by the PC.  I tried a couple of keyboard mapping programs, but it never registered any inputs.  I suppose it doesn't use a keyboard encoder inside it.  Also, shortly thereafter, it started giving up the ghost when plugged back into the v smile, so I'm wondering if I might have fried it to some degree by this testing.  It would seem interesting to try to do for a unique look.  Also, it almost looked like it would have some type of analog feature to the stick since when I opened it up, the x-y axes had 3 distinct "sections" on the contacts for each direcetion (up, down, left, right).  Also, it has 4 lighted buttons, plus 2-3 others, and at $15 might be a fairly cheap alternative for some applications.

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: RayB on August 02, 2005, 02:26:20 pm

Did you install the drivers?

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: Havok on August 02, 2005, 03:54:24 pm

Quote from: RayB on August 02, 2005, 02:26:20 pm

Did you install the drivers?

That's funny!

The joystick really stinks, I have played with my daughter, and the 8 way is very sloppy in it's detection of the position.

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: digitap on August 02, 2005, 04:04:42 pm

To some degree, yes - it's not a commercial arcade stick, but I've also noticed it seems to depend on the game. The one included with the unit is very hard to control, but others are much easier.

I'm not answering the question regarding drivers (assuming that was a joke).

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: RayB on August 02, 2005, 10:34:24 pm

Quote from: digitap on August 02, 2005, 04:04:42 pm

I'm not answering the question regarding drivers (assuming that was a joke).

Wasn't a joke. People these days are becoming so used to the conveniences of USB, that many don't know a Serial port device will NOT work without drivers, unless that device is compatible with a generic device such as a standard mouse, or standard keyboard.

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: digitap on August 03, 2005, 08:38:26 am

Then the answer is 'no'.  The joystick is meant for the V-smile console, not the pc, therefore there aren't any drivers available to my knowledge.

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: RayB on August 03, 2005, 10:58:56 am

Now I will ask... What is a v-smile?!?!  ;D

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: _Iz- on August 03, 2005, 02:10:33 pm

It's a kids educational toy disguised as a console game.

http://www.vsmile.co.uk/

Title: Re: Anyone hack a v-smile joystick?
Post by: Adeptus on August 03, 2005, 09:41:49 pm

I'm glad someone else tried this...
I've seen them in the shops & thought