CyBerkut

IGN has an interview with the folks working on this ("MechWarrior Rebooted"), as well as game footage. Keep in mind that they don't have a publisher lined up yet, so things are subject to change. The game footage shown was done in the Unreal engine, which may not be the end-product. They are all about the mechs. They aren't talking about aerospace fighters or spacecraft, or even elementals. Re-playability is largely coming from re-doing the same campaigns within different class (weight) mechs, and online multi-player, of course. Their plan is to do both a PC and Xbox 360 version... so I'm not expecting a 3D, click-able cockpit. Subs17, if you want to fool around with Elementals (and using your current PC), if you have MechWarrior 4 Mercs there is a mod. The NetBattleTech (NBT) league developed a mod called HardCore that included Elementals, along with making the game's numbers ore in line with Classic Battle Tech specs. I suspect they still have it available for download.

Nice pics, Viper! Thanks for sharing.

What is your video display setup going to be?

Damn, you do nice work. If I weren't so lazy, I'd even say you are an inspiration!

If it interfaces/interacts with your teammates flying a DCS:Apache (or DCS:A10) mission, it could be interesting. As a stand alone sim, it would pretty much need to simulate the work environment that the pilot is in... all the various communications possibilties, and maybe your buddy handing you a fresh coffee to keep your eyelids open. ;) Throw in the elusive dynamic campaign, and maybe a dash of the woosie CinC making the rules of engagement more restrictive... I think it would be hard to find the right formula to make it commercially viable. Going Arcade-ish would get more action in for the ADHD crowd, but could you really make it enough action for them? Probably not. Do it as a proper study sim, and it would most likely be pretty boring in short order. I guess that could be somewhat mitigated by time acceleration options, etc., but selling enough copies to warrant the work... seems like a tough call on a stand-alone sim. As an add-on to existing sim software, where the programmers can utilize the existing software engine, tweak an existing flight model, and cobble up a pilot console to replace the usual cockpit... with the ability to interact in multi-player... I think that could be a market-able add-on product. (Maybe an add-on to the Lock On sims?)

You might want to take a look at http://www.betainnovations.com/support/secure/downloads/Plasma-MM2.pdf (page 8 in particular) It looks like Beta Innovations is going away, but maybe it will give you some ideas...

The other old style analog device that comes to mind is the MasterPilot MFD controllers.

Hmmm... Did a quick google on "Overcoming Directx 32 button limit" One link was: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Way/3390/mnoise.html ( scroll down to the "Calibration, Testing, and Multiple Joysticks" section. There is mention of a way to get beyond 32 buttons, but it may only be applicable to some application that the guy wrote. (I haven't read the whole thing yet). ------------------ I suspect the most likely solution is to make it into more than one USB device. Make it into 2 USB devices and give it two USB cords. Or, to be more elegant, albeit more expensive, make it a USB Hub with how ever many USB devices connecting internally to it that you want/need. If you are going to make a new USB interface for connecting controllers, consider giving it some input ports for the old analog joystick controllers and the old 5 pin din connector (or even the PS2 style) keyboard(s). As in, being able to take a Suncom HOTAS and interface it to a new USB based computer without having to rip the Suncom apart and adapt one of Leo Bodnar's boards to it. Computer USB port <==== USB Cable ==== < Alex's miracle box <==== Various old analog controllers / keyboard / keyboard substitutes as well as USB devices and PIT devices. Alex's MB USB output ===> ^ Internal USB Hub ^ Multiple USB controllers / Pit devices / Analog device converters Hey, I know it's a lot to ask, and not trivial... but a guy can dream! :joystick:

Alex, it's not nice to keep secrets! ;) Educate us, man! The USB board building sounds useful. :thumbup:

That's a fairly serious looking tripod in the background. What do you mount on that thing... a quad .50 anti-air? :gun_smilie::gun_smilie: I'm looking forward to the upcoming pics on the controller. Try not to snort too much of that dust! :P

Looks like you made some good moves there, Trigger!

When you go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/Game Controllers ... Is your Saitek X52 listed? Assuming it is, if you open that up, do the buttons and axis, etc. all test correctly? You mentioned drivers, but what version of the profiler (SST) software are you using? (Does it create .dat files, or .pro files?) You WANT the latest beta version of the SST software available from Saitek (check their forum announcements for a link). It includes differentiation between left and right shift/alt/ctrl keys, which is necessary for the default key assignments of many commands in DCS:BS. In your DCS:BS controller settings, do you see a column for the Saitek X52 (along with the keyboard and mouse columns)?

Nice. Thanks for the update on how it has turned out! I'm still pondering what I'm going to do when I finally put together a new desktop rig, etc. I'd really like to have a touchscreen as the center of 3, or the bottom center of 6, displays. I haven't decided if I'd like it enough to warrant the $$$ though...

It should work with your specs, although you may want to get out of SLI mode (not sure). I'm sure a number of us will be looking forward to reports on your experience with it.

You might want to spend some time checking out the SoftTH forums: http://www.kegetys.net/forum/index.php?board=1.0 There is a lot of knowledge archived over there on the subject. Another approach is an external hardware solution... Matrox Dual Head 2 Go and Triple Head 2 Go. One video cable out of your computer to the box, with it outputting to two, or three monitors respectively. This approach is intended for monitors of the same size/resolution. Good luck!

Maybe these will help... http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=32630&highlight=multi+monitor specifically: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=564147&postcount=47 http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=564318&postcount=49 http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=564328&postcount=51 http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=564410&postcount=55 http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=564860&postcount=60 and further along in the thread. Good luck!

If you go that route, let us know how it turns out. It seems like there would be some tradeoffs there. Leo Bodnar's boards look like a great possibility, (at a price, of course). http://www.leobodnar.com/ I still have a Suncom Hotas as well, and if I was going to attempt to get it going as a USB controller, one of Leo's boards would probably be the way I'd go at it. My interest on that may increase considerably when the next DCS module is due out. :)

I seem to recall that was originally the plan for the Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS.

That thread includes this little jewel: http://www.simhq.com/_commentary/all_090j.html Yes, there actually are controls on the front side of the throttle (that the promo pics have not been showing)..

A very ingenious solution to a tough problem (wife acceptance). Very well done!

The wiring system is looking gooood! It's nice when you can incorporate an industrial grade termination system. You won't regret it!

Accumulator info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_accumulator Basically, it is a device for storing pressure. Typically, they are used to smooth out the pressure cycles in hydraulic powered systems. This lets the designers either run the pumps less often, or use smaller pumps. For your fluid flow restriction system, I'd recommend against incorporating one, as pressure build-up is not what you are looking for. As for modifying your current setup... you can keep the resevoir, as it could be convenient. Just replace the check valve with a shut-off valve, and keep it closed normally. Just open it when you fill the fluid system. With the quality of your system build, you shouldn't need to replace leaked fluid very often. :)

That certainly sounds like it could get the job done. :)

An accumulator wouldn't be helpful to what the intended function is. Remember, this isn't a hydraulic power system... it's just a fluid loop for locking the collective handle when the brake is released.

Yes. I was just reading over in the SoftTH discussion forums that some were using a 30 inch monitor in the center, with a 20 inch monitor on each side in portrait mode. http://www.kegetys.net/forum/index.php?topic=1108.0 This approach requires SoftTH as opposed to using a Matrox TripleHead2Go, since the Matrox unit requires that all three of the monitors be the same resolution. What operating system(s) are you using? What do you have for video card(s)?