Force Feedback

[Cromagnon35]

Hi, I'm trying to use my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 controller with the game and for some reason, when I launch X3, it immediately loses it's Force Feedback ( the stick goes slack). I've tried the various configuration settings in the launcher (child, adult, bodybuilder) with no change. The stick otherwise works fine in other games.

I'm running windows XP SP3, etc...

Any ideas?

[CBJ]

No, the Sidewinder doesn't work with X3R either. Microsoft stopped supporting it with drivers quite a few years, and quite a few DirectX versions, ago. It apparently simply doesn't support the standard DirectX methods used by the game. Aside from a utility that used to be around to stop it going slack (it's called RTC which stands for Return To Center, but I'm afraid I've not seen a link to it in a long time) I'm afraid you're out of luck with that joystick.

[Cromagnon35]

* Sigh * Thanks, I wasn't aware that they had so completely stopped supporting it. Too bad, it's a good stick and has served me well over the years.

Thank you again!

[Dino]

Im using the same controller and i have all the force feedback i could ask for. Im using the original applets that came with the thing. Except for having to fidle with DEP - Data Execution Prevention it works fine.

[Thurmonator]

Seems odd then that other games I own and recent ones at that, like PURE for instance, they use force feedback wonderfully. My joystick works as intended and just like new.

Seems that egosoft should learn how other developers get the hardware to work just fine in 2009 on 2008 and up games.

the fact is, in X3TC, the joystick driver loads up right at the beginning of the game screen coming on, only to drop it (i'll call it limp mode)

SO again. for someone at egosoft to hopefully fix, what happens is that the joystick goes from working, or ERECT mode, where the choices of CHILD, ADULT, and BODYBUILDER actually work and make a difference as to the tightness of the joystick, and then 1 second later it goes into LIMP mode .

It's like it is working and then it loses itself.

Excusing egosoft would work if other development houses weren;t able to support the joystick anymore either.

But that is not the case.

AND THIS IS THE GAME TO OWN THAT JOYSTICK FOR!!!! A GAME THAT HAS A FORCE FEEDBACK JOYSTICK SETTING WINDOW FROM THE OPTIONS SCREEN. A game where it teases you like it is going to work, only to go LIMP!!!!


Now I know why girls have a problem with ED!!!

[CBJ]

Different games use different DirectX features so some may be affected while others are not depending on the methods used. There are other games that have the same problem with that joystick, because developers do not make important design decisions such as how to implement joystick support based on working around a problem with the drivers for one fairly old joystick model that is no longer supported by its own manufacturer.

I'll be blunt here: don't hold your breath for it to be fixed. That model of joystick has not worked in the X series games since at least X3R, possibly longer, and I don't see any prospect of that changing.

[NewtSoup]

Acutally I have a FFB2 as well and the Force Feedback does work, it just doesn't provide a "spring".

What you get is vibration, nudges and pulls on impacts and explosions.

What you don't get is a "return to center".

I grew to love it so much I now have FFB turned off permanently, I find the completely neutral joystick so precise to use I hate having to use any stick with a spring now.