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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.
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Now I can play Microsoft flight simulator...oh wait.
Does anyone out there know of any Linux games that require a joy stick? I'm a keyboard/mouse junkie myself...
If my answers frighten you, stop asking scary questions.
with perhaps the exception of xmame, gaming on linux is almost as fun as,well, typing in an xterm while picking one's nose.
Actually, I find the d-pads on these things horrendous, especially after a month or so of use.
Your better bet by far would be to get several Dual-Shocks (PS1 version would be fine) and some -$10 USB adapters from Radio Shack. I did, and it works great.
Is it me, or does nobody use gamepads for computer games anymore?
Sports titles, racing titles, action titles fill the catalog of PS2 and XBox. Adventure and party-style titles grace the inside of a GameCube. These are suited to the gamepad.
But on the computer, what are the usual games? FPSes, RTSes, first person adventure/role-playing games, games that use the mouse to its fullest (The Sims). The sports titles exist... but I don't believe they are best sellers.
Why? Gamers simply don't play those kinds of games, gamepad games, on computers. Yes I'm sure that SOME do. Most do not. And it's for a reason, computers lend themselves to keyboard-and-mouse games quite nicely, and consoles lend themselves to gamepad style games.
So to me, this is no big deal. I love computer games, but I can't think of one computer game I have played in the last 5 years that I would have liked to play with a gamepad. And I love my PS2 also.
Also... Gauntlet on XMAME? 4 people crowded around your computer desk... I can imagine the comfort level there. 3 people probably can't see the screen well enough, and even if they can, the crowded space will make this interesting for about 20 minutes of gameplay... a novelty.
Nothing against the poster, but use the medium for what it is best at... one player and online multiplayer games, and leave the gamepad games to the consoles...
Mark
Tomb Raider series
Thief
Max Payne
Prince of Persia
007: Nightfire
Keyboards are hell with these type of games.
How long until there's good support for these in EMacs?
I got one of these -- just the controllers, not the gamepads -- back in the day when I was looking for a good emulator controller. It looks like it has 8 buttons, but it actually only supports the old standard of 4 -- the extras are just "turbo" buttons. Even though that's good enough for NES, they're still unwieldy due to the crooked cross controller, making Contra hard to play when you have to aim down -- it keeps running forward.
Linux's USB Sidewinder Pro support is perfectly fine, and they're not longer made and cheap. For $15, you get a controller with 9 buttons and good handling, more than enough for any console emulation.
So Linux finally got around to supporting a crappy gamepad setup that was released almost six years ago and isn't even supported by the manufacturer anymore, and we're supposed to...what? Help me out here. In what way could this even be remotely considered news or something that matters?
where the comment ends and sig begins
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?
Your arguments for the advantages of a game pad over a keyboard are completely unfounded.
I'd have to utilise 3 fingers, a joypad only required my thumb.
First of all, if you know what you're doing with a keyboard in any FPS, you would be using ASDF as your movement keys, or some kind of equivalent set of 4 in the same row.
Using WASD may seem the most intuitive to most people used to the arrow pad, but moving your middle finger up and down to go forwards/backwards is incredibly inefficient. Using the arrow keys is just plain stupid, you can't press any other keys with the left hand while using the mouse since they're so far away.
The other disadvantage of a gamepad over a mouse is the fact that you can't aim precisely. When you move a gamepad joystick, it only spins your view as fast as its maximum speed is set. The mouse however, just does a translation of your crosshair as far as you move your mouse. There is a reason why we use mice to navigate 2d computer interfaces instead of a joystick. Same for trackballs.
Then there's the case of ease. With the keyboard I'd have to give quick looks to make sure I didn't hit the wrong key.
Learn where the keys are on a keyboard, or at least change your keys for every new FPS you get to be virtually the same as all the others you've played. I've been mapping ASDF for movement and other keys nearby for everything else since Quake 1.
With a gamepad, I never had to look at it, my eyes could remain on the screen 100%
Just because you can't type doesn't mean that a gamepad is better.
And in closing, Turok is just another FPS, with the exact same control as all the rest. You cannot aim, or move quickly but precisely with a gamepad -- nor can you press nearly as many buttons for complicated games. But there aren't complex and detailed games for the console, that's not their market.
Yeah, I can't wait until we can emulate Linux on PC's. Then we'll be able to play Quake!
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Not trying to be flamebate but is there any reason someone has taken time to write new drivers for hardware that is 6 years old. I can understand legacy code, which is why linux will still boot on a 386 however this just seems a bit off. Is this bit of hardware really that good?
Rus
Cheap UK and US VPS
I have no connections with Maplin, I'm just a satisfied customer.
--
Thanks in advance.
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
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.
I normally just bite my tongue, but this is a big story because ...
"This input system used to cost more than $100, but it has been abandoned by Gravis since Windows 98."
everyone gets excited that linux finally has support for some ancient piece of hardware? Wake me up when most vendors support their latest video,raid,direct-to-disk-DVD+-RW,... by providing linux drivers & utilities.
-- Instant Karma's gonna get you! [320848 = 2*2*2*2*11*1823]
I've been using the multiport and driver off and on for a year or so now. I haven't had any issues with the gamepads at all, in fact, they're some of the better PC gamepads I've used. Could be better, yes, but all in all they're worth every penny I paid for them ($20? :) That's about the price of a single USB or console controller.
I'd like to see a DirectX version as well.
I like to use the USB cable that comes with a usb memory disk to do this mod. The cables are expensive when purchased on their own but they are virtually free with most flashram drives. HAve a look around you (not the parent) probably have one or two lying around.
p ://members.cox.net/lazerman/downloads.html
Assembling the cable is childs play, all thats required is chopping the female plug off one end of an usb extension cable and wiring it up colour matching colour with the cable on an xbox controller.
To get it working on a PC Windows drivers are needed which can be found at:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/xboxhid/
or
http://grooveyardfunk.com/projects/xid/
or
htt
The drivers are made by different people so find the one that works best for you. some are picky about the version of windows. I do not know if there are Linux drivers.
I always thought the inline release on the xbox controller a marketing gimmick but it comes in quite useful when you do this mod because if you have another unmodified xbox controller cable you can still use the xbox controller on the xbox just by plugging the unmodified cable into where the inline release is.
First of all, if you know what you're doing with a keyboard in any FPS, you would be using ASDF as your movement keys, or some kind of equivalent set of 4 in the same row.
:%s/badguy/nicedoggy/g is real handy too!
HJKL - those vi skills I learned at the office are just as useful at home! The cheat code
When information is power, privacy is freedom.
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.
Four-player Gauntlet under XMAME, anyone?
Blue Valkyrie... needs better technology... badly.
Anybody want a peanut?
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.
If you wanna get rich, you know that payback is a bitch
Two years ago I sunk 20 bucks into a very small ( about 1/5 the size of this hulk mentioned in the article ) powered USB hub, and 4 cheapo USB gamepads.
I've been enjoying 4-player MAME for years now, where has the author of this "story" been? The whole point of USB was to do away with complicated, proprietary gadgets like this one that nobody will buy.
Man is the animal that laughs.
And occasionally whores for Karma.