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Controls.ini and the GP-49

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Toonces:
I wanted to start this a seperate thread because the product announcement thread is too long to address other things.

Ok, where to start. Basically, I have 2 GP-49 with Midway sticks and have switching the modes controlled via the PC via batch files that set bits on the parallel port. The next logical extension of this is to get control information from controls.ini and automatically switch modes based on the control information in controls.ini. The information would be passed to the batch file in the form of a variable i.e. relay.bat %control%

Mostly this is straight forward and most games can use the info from controls.ini directly by using the info after the + in the control definition.

Thus P1Controls=8-way Joystick+joy8way becomes the variable %control% joy8way and it is passed to the batch file and the mode is set. This works for most games as the information is there and set. There are a couple of instances in control.ini where things are not handled in the same manner though which makes passing the info a little bit more difficult. Q*Bert is one example.

Qbert uses P1Controls=Diagonal 4-way Joystick+joy4way and only passes joy4way. Compare that as to how 2 way sticks are handled and you can see that it's effectively dealt with there and only a slight modification is needed for Q*bert to works in the same manner.

Here's stargate: P1Controls=2-way Joystick (Vertical)+vjoy2way
and uniwars: P1Controls=2-way Joystick (Horizontal)+joy2way
and lastly, The End:
P1Controls=Directional Buttons(2-way left/right)+joy2way

From the above examples you can see that 2 way controls are handled properly with the vjoy2way for Vertical and joy2way for Horizontal. I included The End only because even though the first part of the control description is different it still passes te same, correct info about the controls.

My solution was to go through and add a d to joy4way making it djoy4way in the case of diagonals. My only point in bringing this up is maybe controls.ini could be standardized to account for those type of differences? Since it is technically correct already in the 4 way mode I was just thinking in terms of it being used as a control file itself rather than just display and it does make a difference there. I have not been far enough through it yet to hit every difference. I really just started because I got my GP-49 mode selection under computer control now:)

Thanks to SirPoonga and the team that maintains, adds, and updates controls.ini for the GREAT utility!

Toonces

Tiger-Heli:
I just want to take a minute to say I am really impressed with the progress you are making.  Software control of mode switching was the one thing I thought the GP-Wiz49 lacked and I'm amazed how well you've taken the project on and the progress you are making.

Tommy Boy:
Ditto to what Tiger-Heli said.  Actually, the same goes to many others on this forum too.  As a guy who has very little design/engineering talent, I find it amazing to see how much talent there is in this community.  The creativity, quality, and speed with which new products have been developed lately is amazing and very exciting!  Thanks to all who bring so much to this community!!

MrSaLTy:
This is great news as far as I'm concerned.  I love the idea of the 49 way sticks and 'auto switching' from the PC via software.  Hopefully, when you get things ironed out you will provide some how to info like schematics and software etc. so everyone can enjoy this.  What I would like to do in addition to this is have led indicators that can show which mode is selected.

I am waiting with great anticipation!   ;D

jer2665:
now that i'm thinking of going with 49 ways, this'd be fantastic.  or i'd love one mode change button with the led's to show which mode it's in. 

not to hijack this joystick thread too, but for those with experience with the 49 ways, have you also used the p360's?  if so, planning on playing fighters, are these at least pretty close to as good for those games as the p360's?

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