How to configure multiple Dual Strikes

[unclet]

I understand you can have MANY USB ports connected to the computer at the same time.  If I plug in four separate Dual Strike USB gamepads to my computer then will the Dual Strike software realize there are four separate gamepads connected and allow me to configure each one separate than the other?  Also, I guess the Dual Strike software somehow lets you map individual keystrokes to each of the buttons/triggers ... correct?

Probably a "very" stupid question, but I am clearly trying to make sure "everything"will work before I purchase these gamepads.....

PS:  Someone is selling a Dual Strike on Ebay for $8 and shipping will be very low since the seller lives close to me.  However, it does not come with any drivers, manual or software so I am not sure whether to get it.   I would assume the drivers would be for Win98 which I do not have anyway (I have Win2000 or WinMe depending on which computer I use) but I was wondering whether I need any of this software stuff to help me install the gamepad for Win2000/WinMe or help me to map the gamepad buttons or do other stuff.   Please let me know what it entails to program one of the Dual Strike gamepads so I will know whether I should just go and get the one for $8 or not.

uncleT

[rampy]

http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/

I don't have multiple dual strikes... but i'm sure the software can cope with it... I do use 2 sidewinder gameport gamepads and I can configure/use either one via their little systray applet software thingie...

Good luck,

Rampy

doh! they've changed their site...  there used to be a download for sidewinder software that worked with most usb sidewinder products...  might still be there.. but take some digging to find.

[unclet]

Are your two sidewinders USB?  If not then doesn't your first sidewinder connect into the gameport on your PC and the second sidewinder connect into your first sidewinder?

uncleT

[rampy]

Are your two sidewinders USB?  If not then doesn't your first sidewinder connect into the gameport on your PC and the second sidewinder connect into your first sidewinder?

uncleT

NOT usb... and it is as you say. The gameport sidewinders daisy chain...

rampy

[unclet]

Because they daisychain then I can understand how the software can determine which gamepad is being configured respective to the rest.   It would be easy for the software to realize gamepad number 2 mappings should be X and gamepad number 1 mappings should be Y.

When you plug game controllers into a USB port (any of the 127 available ports allowed) then how does the software remember the mapping for the gamepad located in USB port 5 and keep those settings different than the gamepad in USB port 3 say?

I guess I still do not know whether multiple Dual Strike gamepads could be connected at the same time or not so I am hesitant to buy 4 of these things....

Although you would think two players could play a game at the same time...I mean we are in the 21st century, so I would believe somehow it would be possible to connect multiple of them via USB...just can not convience myself how it works...  oh well.   Maybe I will just buy a couple and see...it is only money.   Might be my curse for finding such a good price on my yoke .... payback in some sort of warped way.

unclet

[u_rebelscum]

If I plug in four separate Dual Strike USB gamepads to my computer then will the Dual Strike software realize there are four separate gamepads connected and allow me to configure each one separate than the other?

First of all, I don't have dual strikes, but have heard 2 or three are okay, but sometimes if a forth is plugged in, it's slower than the rest.  Mind you, this is only what I heard.

When you plug game controllers into a USB port (any of the 127 available ports allowed) then how does the software remember the mapping for the gamepad located in USB port 5 and keep those settings different than the gamepad in USB port 3 say?

Depends on the driver.  

I think USB port # only matters at bootup when checking against last shutdown.  I don't think it matters once the device is unplugged and replugged.

Some drivers remember the individual serial number (like a license plate #) of the device, others just remember the device ID (like a car model & make).  If the dual strike drivers are like the first, you can unplug and replug as you want.  If it's the latter, you need to plug them in in the same order they were installed and only when the computer is on, or have a max of one unplugged at a time and maybe do the plugging/unplugging only when the computer is on.

Also, I guess the Dual Strike software somehow lets you map individual keystrokes to each of the buttons/triggers

Yes, but unless you want to use those buttons outside of mame, I advise not doing this.  Mame can map a joystick buttons to things like UI_Cancel (usually ESC) without the driver remapping to a keystroke.  Having the driver do the remapping will slow down the joystick response speed a little, and if the driver does a lot of remapping, it really slows it down.  And if you need to have the driver remap, it's better to have one joystick with 2 buttons remapped, than two joysticks each with one button remapped.