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Cheap, Rugged, Multiplayer Gamepads for Linux
IceAgeComing writes "Anyone interested in exploring multiplayer games under Linux should know: you can now pick up a four-way gamepad hub, with four gamepads, for under $15. It is known as the Gravis Multiport, and now it is supported under Linux. The link describes patches for Linux 2.4, but the drivers are now included in Linux 2.6. This input system used to cost more than $100, but it has been abandoned by Gravis since Windows 98. Now it's possible to pick them up extra cheap. Four-player Gauntlet under XMAME, anyone?"
that actually sounds better than those [console]-to-usb adapters, especially for the price.
Moderation Totals: Flamebait=2, Troll=1, Redundant=1, Insightful=6, Overrated=1, Underrated=1, Total=12. (not mine)
I swear by the EMS USB2 adapter. it allows you to use 2 Playstation Dual Shock pads per adapter. fully supported under linux, and recommended by the PyDance authors for those who crave Dance Mats. Works wonderfully in every emulator that supports the kernel joystick driver, and especially rules for XMame's fighting games The PS2 Dual Shock is the best controller ever made, other than the Japanese Saturn controller. Why use a crappy Gravis "good enough" pad if you already have the real thing?
I beg to differ that only consoles benefit from gamepads.
I have one of the Radio Shack PSX to USB adapters, and use it for almost every game I play on my PC. Hell, I even play FPS games with a gamepad & mouse, instead of the keyboard & mouse combo people seem to be so fond of. Using the program JoyToKey to assign keyboard commands to the gamepad, I get 8 buttons in my left hand (Up,down,left,right on Left Analog, plus pressing the stick in, select, and L1/L2), and 5 buttons in my right hand with my wheelmouse.
I find this *so* much more ergonomic than a keyboard, and though it usually gets me some funny looks and comments at LAN parties, I don't get too many after I tend to run circles around them.
Also, you only get half the experience from any given emulator if you use the keyboard. SNES games in particular are horrid to play on one, especially since most keyboards won't allow more than 2 or 3 keys to be simultaneously pressed at once.
Maybe it's because the first computer games I played were on the Atari 2600, but I've never been able to get used to the gamepad. It's always HELL on my thumbs! I really LOVED the old Atari Joystick! Especially after you broke it in. Does anybody know of one of those that could be modified to work on a PC?
Does anybody else out there feel the same way?
My preference might not be specifically tied specifically to the 2600 game controller. Epyx made a 2600 controller (I think it was the 500XJ?) that was a 2600/C64 type controller with ergonomic design and "clicky" precision when you moved the stick into the right position.
With the Epyx controller I DESTROYED people in the Bitmap brother's "Speedball deluxe"!
Like cowbutt said, you can get cheap USB pads like Logitech in the $5 price range. Also, beware the cheaper PS2-USB converters, I bought a pair and they have a very noticeable delay between button-press and game response. Try before you buy...
USB natively supports up to 127 or so devices in V1, not sure how many in V2.
That's a lot more than four controllers.
Why bother with some obsolete and oddball hardware when you can just get a bunch of usb controllers?
May we never see th
Perhaps a legitimate question coming from those who have been into gaming on the PC for a long time.
Don't forget that there are people who are curious about gaming and want a way to find out what's there and how well it works without shelling out a considerable amount. If they like what they see after spending $15, then they can go ahead and shell out more for better stuff.
I have some to give away (the hub and four gamepads). They were bought unused from a reseller.
If anyone manages to help out in these ways, I'd be more than happy to mail you one.
Terminus (space sim type game, Linux, Mac, Windows one purchase), a joystick (analog) makes the game much more enjoyable.
That's for sure! Of course, I discovered that after I'd played the campaign through. Using the arrow keys to target something moving in 3 dimensions was a challenge... but not a very interesting one. :-P
Me and my flatmates acquired 5 USB gamepads for around 7 and a USB hub for 8 from www.dabs.com (UK). Then we downloaded ZNES and loads of games, and we play Super Bomberman 3 multiplayer (5 people together throwing bombs at each other) far too much. Well well worth the investment.
I have been unable to get any windows games working with wine. I've tried Civ3, CivCTP, Age of Empires, GTA3, and a couple other random games I'm not remembering atm. Invariably, it segfault, corrupts the display, can't find fonts, or some other dumb shit. Anyway, what I'm saying is, what's your secret?
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Yes, I RTFA. My point was that this was supported under Win98 5 years ago and is just now getting support under linux. The only reason it isn't supported by XP is the new driver model and Gravis's lack of support in providing a new driver for obsolete hardware. Noone is really to blame here since the market has moved on to USB-based devices. For the record, I'm really trying to completely dump Micro$oft OSes, but invaraiably my state of the art hardware is poorly supported by linux. No doubt that is my fault for not researching the support in advance. By the time support arrives the hardware is one or two generations old. My hope is that the hardware vendors see the light and provide linux drivers and utilities when the product is introduced, otherwise we are all dependent upon the 3rd party developers and whatever development schedule they feel likw working to. Micro$oft gets things to work by being the defacto standard that vendors design to. Apple does it by tight-fistedly controlling both the software and the hardware. With linux we wait and pray. I for one am happy to see the SUNs and Novells buying linux distros and whole-heartedly supporting the OS. I hope it helps the situation. I am watching the development of software that enables the windows drivers to be utilized by linux. This may be our near-term salvation.
Flamebait indeed. Off-topic probably.
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Most people have an PS 1 Dual shock laying around and the usb adapters are cheap. Beyond having to buy and hack a usb cable, Xbox controller are much more expensive then a Dual Shock 1 controller.
;)
Both controllers require an adapter/cable to hook up to a PC so I don't know why your saying its much easier to connect.
Lastly IMO the PS1 Dual Shock is just flat out a better controller and these things last for years and can take a real beating.
Like all things controller choice can be subjective, but considering price, availability, and feel, the Dual Shock is the one to get. Plus as an added bonus you won't be giving money to the Great Satan.
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