Difference between revisions of "Buttonboxes"
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Cholmondely (talk | contribs) (Tweaks!) |
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There are a number of buttonboxes/control panels/instrument panels which can be bought to add to the immersive experience. These include the following: |
There are a number of buttonboxes/control panels/instrument panels which can be bought to add to the immersive experience. These include the following: |
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− | |||
+ | [[File:Roolite HUD.jpg|thumb|right|320px|Part of the legendary ''Steel Battalion Controller'' (2002)]] |
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− | *''Blackhog'' (3 versions for flight sims and an upcoming 4th for space sims) ''Windows compatible'' |
+ | *'''Blackhog''' (3 versions for flight sims and an upcoming 4th for space sims) ''Windows compatible'' |
− | *''Elgato'' Streamdeck (3 sizes) ''Windows & AppleMac compatible''. '''Oolite-compatible!''' |
+ | *'''Elgato''' Streamdeck (3 sizes) ''Windows & AppleMac compatible''. '''Oolite-compatible!''' |
− | *''Saiteck'' (maybe 4/5 versions for flight sims) ''Windows compatible'' |
+ | *'''Saiteck''' (maybe 4/5 versions for flight sims) ''Windows compatible'' |
− | *''Thrustmaster'' Cougar Pack. ''Windows compatible''. |
+ | *'''Thrustmaster''' Cougar Pack. ''Windows compatible''. |
− | *''VKB'' (1 version, an upcoming second) ''Windows compatible'' |
+ | *'''VKB''' (1 version, an upcoming second) ''Windows compatible'' |
− | *''Virpil'' (1 version) ''Windows compatible'' |
+ | *'''Virpil''' (1 version) ''Windows compatible'' |
− | *Various hand made alternatives can be found on ''eg'' Etsy.com (search under Simulator). |
+ | *Various hand made alternatives can be found on ''eg.'' Etsy.com (search under Simulator). |
''Linux compatibility'' does not yet seem to be on offer. |
''Linux compatibility'' does not yet seem to be on offer. |
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− | These can combine with (for example) a [[Joysticks and Gamepads|joystick and throttle]] to give one a feeling of ''actually'' flying a cobra, the buttonbox serving as one's astrogation panel. |
+ | These can combine with (for example) a [[Joysticks and Gamepads|joystick and throttle]] to give one a feeling of ''actually'' flying a cobra, the buttonbox serving as one's [[Astrogation Console|astrogation panel]]. |
== Blackhog == |
== Blackhog == |
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{| cellspacing="3" align="center" border="0" text-align="center" |
{| cellspacing="3" align="center" border="0" text-align="center" |
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− | | align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Plantilla-cabecera9.png|200px|thumb|<br>|Waiting for this one since 2017]] |
+ | | align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Plantilla-cabecera9.png|200px|thumb|<br>|Plantilla-cabecera <br> Waiting for this one since 2017]] |
| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Front-view-03-A-web-1.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|A-explorer]] |
| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Front-view-03-A-web-1.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|A-explorer]] |
||
| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Blackhog.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|A-explorer: optional mount]] |
| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Blackhog.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|A-explorer: optional mount]] |
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| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Front-view-03-C-web-1.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|C-explorer]] |
| align="center" width="200" height="200"|[[File:Front-view-03-C-web-1.jpg|200px|thumb|<br>|C-explorer]] |
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|} |
|} |
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− | + | Blackhog's various ''explorers'' seem to be made of metal. The optional mount allows the throttle unit of a [[Joysticks and Gamepads|Hotas]] to be mounted on it. |
|
− | + | Their plastic ''Plantilla-cabecera'' was avowedly designed with ''Elite Dangerous'' in mind back in 2017. Perhaps software issues impeded its production? Or maybe the designer left the company? Or they vowed to disavow plastic? |
|
== Elgato's Streamdeck == |
== Elgato's Streamdeck == |
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*This is '''not''' an ".oxz"; so you will need to ''delete'' the ".oxz" ending of the filename to use this! |
*This is '''not''' an ".oxz"; so you will need to ''delete'' the ".oxz" ending of the filename to use this! |
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− | + | ''Galcop Health Warning'' |
|
− | It should be emphasised that the author of this page is by no means an expert in any of this. The designs you see are constantly evolving and are not necessarily the most sensible. You yourself could undoubtedly do far, far better! But you ''can'' download his attempts at the bottom of this page.<br>< |
+ | It should be emphasised that the author of this page is by no means an expert in any of this. The designs you see are constantly evolving and are not necessarily the most sensible. You yourself could undoubtedly do far, far better! But you ''can'' download his attempts at the bottom of this page.<br><div style="clear:both"></div> |
---- |
---- |
||
− | ---- |
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− | |||
== Saitek == |
== Saitek == |
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[[File:Saitek switch-panel.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Saitek Switch-Panel]] |
[[File:Saitek switch-panel.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Saitek Switch-Panel]] |
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− | The gauge in the Saitek Instrument Panel actually works |
+ | The gauge in the Saitek Instrument Panel actually works - unlike the Thrustmaster offering below (but maybe not for Oolite). There are quite a number of different settings (15, but for avionics, rather than space, so far). But if you have the programming skills .... |
The gauges can be mounted side by side and top to bottom to make say a block of 2x3. |
The gauges can be mounted side by side and top to bottom to make say a block of 2x3. |
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The other panels can be mounted on top of each other. |
The other panels can be mounted on top of each other. |
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− | All of these are Windows complaint. This does not of course intimate that |
+ | All of these are Windows complaint. It seems that the non-gauge panels ''might'' work with X-Plane 10 on an AppleMac. Not a word about Linux. This does not of course intimate that any of them are '''Oolite compliant!''' But Presti70 managed to hack his Steel Batallion Controller to work with Oolite, so if you have the skills... |
− | + | <div style="clear:both"></div> |
|
− | <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> |
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---- |
---- |
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− | ---- |
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− | |||
== Thrustmaster Cougar Pack == |
== Thrustmaster Cougar Pack == |
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The lighting is adjustable. <br> |
The lighting is adjustable. <br> |
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It is uncertain as to whether this would be compatible with Oolite. <br> |
It is uncertain as to whether this would be compatible with Oolite. <br> |
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− | <br><br> |
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+ | <div style="clear:both"></div> |
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---- |
---- |
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− | ---- |
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− | |||
== The Russians/Belorussians: VKB & Virpil == |
== The Russians/Belorussians: VKB & Virpil == |
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− | |||
[[File:VKB SEM (Side Extension Module).png|500px|thumb|left|'''VKB''' SEM ''Side Extension Module'']] |
[[File:VKB SEM (Side Extension Module).png|500px|thumb|left|'''VKB''' SEM ''Side Extension Module'']] |
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[[File:Virpil Button Box.png|300px|thumb|right|'''Virpil''': VPC Control Panel - #1 ''made out of metal'']] |
[[File:Virpil Button Box.png|300px|thumb|right|'''Virpil''': VPC Control Panel - #1 ''made out of metal'']] |
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Others took over Iceland and then made their way westwards to North America. <br> |
Others took over Iceland and then made their way westwards to North America. <br> |
||
Yet others invaded Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea! Busy chaps, those Norsemen! |
Yet others invaded Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea! Busy chaps, those Norsemen! |
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+ | <div style="clear:both"></div> |
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+ | |||
---- |
---- |
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− | ---- |
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+ | [[File:Etsy button box.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Button box found on etsy.com]] |
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− | |||
== Etsy's Offerings == |
== Etsy's Offerings == |
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− | |||
− | [[File:Etsy button box.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Button box found on etsy.com]] <br> |
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Etsy.com has a selection of rehabilitated gubbins made by the various companies listed above, as well as some hand made goods. <br> |
Etsy.com has a selection of rehabilitated gubbins made by the various companies listed above, as well as some hand made goods. <br> |
||
No details were found as to how one links the hand-made items to the game in such a way as to make them useful, but presumably this information is known to the manufacturers! <br> |
No details were found as to how one links the hand-made items to the game in such a way as to make them useful, but presumably this information is known to the manufacturers! <br> |
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---- |
---- |
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== Links == |
== Links == |
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+ | *[[Astrogation Console]] |
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+ | *[[Keyboard Issues]] - problems with using your astrogation console |
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+ | *[[Joysticks and Gamepads]] |
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*Presti70 modified the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5719 Steel Battalion VT Controller] for Oolite (2009). ClymAngus adds many links to other hardware possibilities. |
*Presti70 modified the [http://aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5719 Steel Battalion VT Controller] for Oolite (2009). ClymAngus adds many links to other hardware possibilities. |
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+ | :*[https://www.svg.com/113674/untold-story-insane-game-controller-ever-made/ The Untold Story Of The Most Insane Game Controller Ever Made (2018)] |
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*You can of course, always make your own: [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=278601#p278601 One armed man's child-sized cobra] |
*You can of course, always make your own: [http://www.aegidian.org/bb/viewtopic.php?p=278601#p278601 One armed man's child-sized cobra] |
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{| cellspacing="3" align="center" border="0" text-align="center" |
{| cellspacing="3" align="center" border="0" text-align="center" |
Revision as of 12:42, 21 October 2021
There are a number of buttonboxes/control panels/instrument panels which can be bought to add to the immersive experience. These include the following:
- Blackhog (3 versions for flight sims and an upcoming 4th for space sims) Windows compatible
- Elgato Streamdeck (3 sizes) Windows & AppleMac compatible. Oolite-compatible!
- Saiteck (maybe 4/5 versions for flight sims) Windows compatible
- Thrustmaster Cougar Pack. Windows compatible.
- VKB (1 version, an upcoming second) Windows compatible
- Virpil (1 version) Windows compatible
- Various hand made alternatives can be found on eg. Etsy.com (search under Simulator).
Linux compatibility does not yet seem to be on offer.
These can combine with (for example) a joystick and throttle to give one a feeling of actually flying a cobra, the buttonbox serving as one's astrogation panel.
Contents
Blackhog
Blackhog's various explorers seem to be made of metal. The optional mount allows the throttle unit of a Hotas to be mounted on it.
Their plastic Plantilla-cabecera was avowedly designed with Elite Dangerous in mind back in 2017. Perhaps software issues impeded its production? Or maybe the designer left the company? Or they vowed to disavow plastic?
Elgato's Streamdeck
Elgato's Streamdeck is not counted as one of the four joystick controllers for Oolite.
It is made of a tough durable plastic with LCD programmable buttons which can also work as toggles where the picture on the button changes when it is depressed.
One programmes each of the buttons individually for its effect in Oolite. One also chooses one's own images for each button.
The StreamDeck shown on the left is the medium sized version (15 buttons).
The Streamdeck shown below is the largest of the 3 sizes - the XL - (with 32 buttons). It has been programmed for 3 different conditions: docked, in-flight and combat.
These smaller layouts (and a third layout for the Docked state) were composed for teaching purposes, and thus are as simple as possible. They have been designed for playing the strict version of Oolite without any .oxps whatsoever.
*File:Stream Deck - Oolite Profiles.streamDeckProfilesBackup.oxz: 3 sets of 3 consoles (docked, in-flight & combat) Strict Play with standard equipment buttons only, for learners. No distractions! Strict Play adding only standard optional equipment (ie Fuel Injectors, Docking Computers, ECM etc) to limit complexity. Normal Play (ie. includes .oxp equipment buttons) adds fast activations, equipment priming & MFD's. *This is not an ".oxz"; so you will need to delete the ".oxz" ending of the filename to use this!
Galcop Health Warning
It should be emphasised that the author of this page is by no means an expert in any of this. The designs you see are constantly evolving and are not necessarily the most sensible. You yourself could undoubtedly do far, far better! But you can download his attempts at the bottom of this page.
Saitek
The gauge in the Saitek Instrument Panel actually works - unlike the Thrustmaster offering below (but maybe not for Oolite). There are quite a number of different settings (15, but for avionics, rather than space, so far). But if you have the programming skills ....
The gauges can be mounted side by side and top to bottom to make say a block of 2x3.
The other panels can be mounted on top of each other.
All of these are Windows complaint. It seems that the non-gauge panels might work with X-Plane 10 on an AppleMac. Not a word about Linux. This does not of course intimate that any of them are Oolite compliant! But Presti70 managed to hack his Steel Batallion Controller to work with Oolite, so if you have the skills...
Thrustmaster Cougar Pack
While this looks like a gauge, the gauge itself is only a paper insert!
What does work are the buttons on the rim.
20 backlit buttons and then another four switches.
The lighting is adjustable.
It is uncertain as to whether this would be compatible with Oolite.
The Russians/Belorussians: VKB & Virpil
If you go back a thousand years or so, there were three Russias: White Russia (Belorussia); Red Russia (Ruthenia) and Black Russia (the fertile black arable land of the Ukraine).
Belorussia is West of modern Russia bordering Lithuania, Poland and the Ukraine (Modern Russia, which had yet to be conquered by the Bogatyrs of Old Kiev or the Ukrainians).
The Bogatyrs were Norsemen who fought their way down the Volga, conquering as they went. Some of them ended up as the elite Varangian Guard of fabled Byzantium.
Other Norsemen invaded French Normandy, using it as a springboard to conquer England in 1066.
Others took over Iceland and then made their way westwards to North America.
Yet others invaded Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea! Busy chaps, those Norsemen!
Etsy's Offerings
Etsy.com has a selection of rehabilitated gubbins made by the various companies listed above, as well as some hand made goods.
No details were found as to how one links the hand-made items to the game in such a way as to make them useful, but presumably this information is known to the manufacturers!
One needs to search under simulator to find the various offerings for sale.
Links
- Astrogation Console
- Keyboard Issues - problems with using your astrogation console
- Joysticks and Gamepads
- Presti70 modified the Steel Battalion VT Controller for Oolite (2009). ClymAngus adds many links to other hardware possibilities.
- You can of course, always make your own: One armed man's child-sized cobra
- DavidTQ's version (comes with some oofiction in his BB thread: Deadly (interior) designs)