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How are computer games reading potentiometers now?

G

Gary Peek

Jan 1, 1970
0
Someone asked me about designing something to read two
potentiometers to provide input to his custom program
running on a Windows machine. But why re-invent the wheel?

What is the state-of-the-art now for computer games and
other things like flight simulators reading pots? Used
to be you just insured that the user had a game port board
installed?

Has this changed to USB interfaced devices now?
If so, can you point me to something cheap to tell him to buy?
 
N

Nobody

Jan 1, 1970
0
Someone asked me about designing something to read two
potentiometers to provide input to his custom program
running on a Windows machine. But why re-invent the wheel?

What is the state-of-the-art now for computer games and
other things like flight simulators reading pots? Used
to be you just insured that the user had a game port board
installed?

Has this changed to USB interfaced devices now?
If so, can you point me to something cheap to tell him to buy?

Two rotational controllers, connects to a computer ... it's called a
"mouse" ;)

Well, almost. The quadrature sensors used in mice only report relative
movement; there's no defined "zero". But they cost almost nothing, will
connect to just about any PC, and don't require additional drivers.

Or you could use each pot to set the frequency of an oscillator and
connect to the audio input. For two pots, use stereo.

If you want the "state of the art", it's likely to be USB and a
DirectInput/Xinput driver.

[Console controllers are much worse; they often encrypt the communication
as an anti-competition measure. If that doesn't help, they'll find some
way to integrate the controllers into the copy-prevention mechanism, so
that cloning will constitute "circumvention" under the DMCA.]
 
A

Archimedes' Lever

Jan 1, 1970
0
BlueTooth.

Oh, you want cheap? USB is probably better.


No. It's called a JOYSTICK. Or even a GAMEPAD.

'something to read two pots' is NOT the interface with which it is
connected.
 
google AVRUSB or Objective Development AVR

Its not what I use for my devices, which need a blazing update rate,
but it works well.

microchip is now making a pic with usb and analog inputs , but I
haven't used it yet

you want to access HID , ie Human Interface Device, in windows.

IE you plug in a usb joystick or other game controller, you get a
HID, it "mounts" itself into windows, sends windows a text file
telling windows what its controls are, your software associates
itself with those controls, and off you go. It will show up as a
hardware device in the device manager menu in windows as a " Sound,
Video, and Game Controller" and there is sample code on the net on how
to read them.

If you only need 8 bits of analog, these are hackable and average 22
dollars or so.

"Logitech Dual Action Gamepad"

The traces on the PCB are printed polymer conductive ink, but the
actual switch contacts and potentiometer pads are solderable, as are
the vias on the board. You can get on the pads with #22 stranded
wire if your looking for a quick hack, and its fairly immune to 60 hz
noise pickup when hacked, many of its competitors are not.

It comes with excellent software that makes hacking its connections
with a ohm meter and a jumper wire a breeze.

Hope that gets you started.

Steve Roberts
 
G

Greegor

Jan 1, 1970
0
No. It's called a JOYSTICK. Or even a GAMEPAD.

'something to read two pots' is NOT the interface with which it is
connected.

http://www.rahji.com/wordpress/2007/09/19/joysticks/

http://www.answers.com/topic/game-port

http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/GameportPCMidi_pinout.shtml

http://vvvv.org/tiki-index.php?page=howto+Gameport

I see that while Microsoft has tried to abandon game ports
in Vista, many sound cards still include them and
drivers are being written, though some not written well.

Yet another reason to avoid Vista.

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/01/bad-vista.JPG
 
G

Gary Peek

Jan 1, 1970
0
If you only need 8 bits of analog, these are hackable and average 22
dollars or so. "Logitech Dual Action Gamepad"
Hope that gets you started. Steve Roberts

It does, thank you.
 
I

IanM

Jan 1, 1970
0
Gary said:
Someone asked me about designing something to read two
potentiometers to provide input to his custom program
running on a Windows machine. But why re-invent the wheel?

What is the state-of-the-art now for computer games and
other things like flight simulators reading pots? Used
to be you just insured that the user had a game port board
installed?

Has this changed to USB interfaced devices now?
If so, can you point me to something cheap to tell him to buy?
Google 'usb "game port" adaptor'
plenty of choice and you'd be back to wiring 2 pots to a D connector.
 
J

Jamie

Jan 1, 1970
0
Greegor said:
http://www.rahji.com/wordpress/2007/09/19/joysticks/

http://www.answers.com/topic/game-port

http://pinouts.ru/Inputs/GameportPCMidi_pinout.shtml

http://vvvv.org/tiki-index.php?page=howto+Gameport

I see that while Microsoft has tried to abandon game ports
in Vista, many sound cards still include them and
drivers are being written, though some not written well.

Yet another reason to avoid Vista.

http://cache.gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/01/bad-vista.JPG
well, where did you think they were going to get that extra resource
from for that eye candy on the screen?

http://webpages.charter.net/jamie_5"
 
G

Gary Peek

Jan 1, 1970
0
IanM said:
Google 'usb "game port" adaptor' plenty of choice and
you'd be back to wiring 2 pots to a D connector.

Another good idea.
I keep forgetting-
They have a USB adapter for damn near everything.
 
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