cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/3508656 . I made some modifications since the last rig post, thought I'd cross post here too.
I don't have a lot of space where my desk is but wanted a combo space combat and racing rig that was fully rigid except for the seat.
The chair sits in a wheel trough with some 3d printed wheel chalks that fit the wheels exactly so it doesn't really move much at all when braking.
Everything is running on Linux using a lot of SDL and input device spoofing hacks to get it all recognized correctly in games. I mostly play DirtRally2.0, BeamNG, AMS2, and Overload. Trying to get into Elite Dangerous but it's not really my type of game. Maybe it will be some day though. Also play a little RBR but not all that much.
List of gear:
T300rs with a R383 Mod wheel - tmff2 driver. I designed a "quick" release ring so it's not a pain to take the wheel off for flight.
Heusinkveld Ultimate+ pedals - protopedal or xboxdrv depending on the game
TH8A shifter - heavily modified to fit in the small space I had and with a 3d printed short throw plate that I designed. It's not ideal, but works for occasional use.
Some ebay handbrake - I use xboxdrv for this sometimes if necessary but most games can find it. I also modified it to be mounted under the plate for a bit more space on top.
Gladiator NXT EVO Omni Throttle (Left and Right hand models) - These are a pain in most games. I use a winehid hack where I adjust the registry values
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE System CurrentControlSet Enum WINEBUS VID_231D&PID_{200,201} {Service, CompatibleIds}from xinput to winehid. This works but depends on the bus the device is currently connected to. Looking for a better SDL env var alternative but haven't got it working yet.Acer Nitro 37.5" QHD+ 3840 x 1600 curved display
NextLevelRacing "Wheel Stand 2.0" - I made some steel parts for it on the mill to increase rigidity, 3d printed spacers for the adjustable arms to tighten them up a bit since the stock ones are a bit sloppy, and made some extra plates for mounting the sticks and other stuff out of 10mm aluminum plate.
VKB UCM-S drop mount brackets for the sticks. I modified these as well to fit under the aluminum plates. The left one is hinged so that it can be folded upwards to get in and out of the chair when the chair wheels are fixed in place.
annnd... yes I know the shifter and handbrake are reversed... I like it that way.
Sweet! Looks great, you've done a really good job.
I want to one day build a custom Elite Dangerous rig. Some sort of custom controller that can control a ship that has 3 rotation axes and 6 thrust directions.
Thanks! Between the two sticks I have there are 6 centered analog axes without removing your hands from the grips, 2 more on the analog hats operated with your thumb, and 2 uncentered axis on bases. I'm not sure about Elite Dangerous because I haven't played it that much (really only made it through the training thing and tested input devices) but in Overload I have more analog inputs than things I can assign them to and that's a 6DOF game.
I should try Elite Dangerous again sometime and really pay attention to what you need assigned to analogs. I really just want to fly around and shoot things, not really play a procedural game, so I didn't pursue it that much. Overload is like Quake3 with space ships =]. Sit down, start game, shoot everything that moves.
Yeah those dual sticks look really nice, I'm jealous!
My setup includes a Thrust master Warthog stick, with a CH Pro throttle. The CH Pro has 5 hats, 2 of which I have assigned to up/down and left/right thrust.
Nice! That warthog stick looks like it has much better build quality than the VKB stuff. Sounds like a really nice setup. I sometimes play Overload with a friend who has a TM T.Flight HOTAS and I believe he does pretty much the same thing you do for control assignments. I lose a lot when we play.... And by a lot I mean basically every time, he's very good.
The build quality of the Warthog is excellent, but the software pretty much requires you program for a living and are willing to spend a large fraction of your play time just chasing down bugs and incompatibilities (if you play under windows). Plus, the lack of yaw/twist on the stick is a non-starter - I sold mine for a VKB HOSAS. The quality/build is sufficient, I just can’t bring myself to bind a third control system in as many years, so I’m back to playing with the T.Flight I originally learned on.
Going VR for space combat is, imho, night and day better. I’ve tried wide screens and head tracking, but VR is just chef’s kiss. I can’t do road racing in vr though. No matter how good I think I’m doing in DiRT, there will come a point in the first hour when some movement hits me wrong and I throw off the headset, lay flat on the floor, and spend ten minutes praying I don’t heave. (Until then it’s awesome, of course). I’m still not sure why Space combat doesn’t throw me. Maybe there’s not enough visual cues from the stars to seem disconnected.
lol, yeah I'll be honest, binding controls in Elite Dangerous is an activity that seems to never end. I played for a while just now and pretty much the whole session was changing my mind over and over about what should be bound where.
Interesting info on your experience with VR. I get queezy when racing in some sims even with the curved 37in monitor and I have astigmatism and wear glasses so I'm not sure VR would be for me, but I haven't tried it so I can't be sure.