Sony Sixaxis Controller not working (well) with DCSW

[MACADEMIC]

Devs,

 

I want to use the Sony Sixaxis Controller with DCS World and DCS P-51D. This controller is working very well with other games on the PC, for example Wings of Prey where it gives excellent control and viewing.

 

(Community, bear with me please. I fully understand that DCS is a serious simulation and that there are many more sophisticated solutions. However, first of all DCS also has a game mode. If DCS has that it obviously, at least to a degree, wants to also serve casual gamers. Many people get interested in Flight simulation coming from simpler games/simulations. When they do, they (rightly so) expect that their equipment will work, at least for a start. Secondly, I'm travelling a lot and this 'gamepad' is a very convenient, light and small solution to enjoy my hobby, even when on the road and in a hotel room. So long story short - if this piece of equipment is working with other software, I see no reason why it should not work with DCS).

 

The driver I'm using is a free one from this website: http://www.motioninjoy.com (again, works very well and without glitches in other games).

 

While I'm able to map functions and axis to the controller the way I want (left stick Ailerons/Elevator, Right Stick Absolute Camera Horizontal/Vertical View, Lower L/R analog triggers Rudder, I'm having the following problems:

 

- Controller momentarily 'loses' connection with game and produces false inputs; this is accompanied by a sound and a white flashing of the screen; Camera ends up full up and back, aileron and rudder with full left deflection. Needless to say, more often than not this is leading to very bad results in flight and even on ground.

 

- Absolute camera viewing is very very jerky and jumpy. Makes it nearly impossible to 'stay with' a target at viewing angels. Impossible to hold still. It should be possible to smoothen and slow down camera movement so it becomes at least as good as Mouse camera (which is working well, but impractical to use). Reading in the forum, this problem is shared with the users of POV hat switches.

 

Please look into this and have it fixed.

 

MAC

[MACADEMIC]

Dxdiag file

 

see attached

DxDiag.txt

Edited January 7, 2013 by MACADEMIC

[MACADEMIC]

Crash Logs

 

See attached

DCS-20130105-230830.zip

DCS-20130106-144849.zip

[Exorcet]

I use MotionInJoy and I don't have many problems with it, but I've heard of issues from other people. A 360 controller will probably be more reliable, if you happen to have one or have access to one, at least to try it and see if it works.

[Sarge55]

MACADEMIC, it sounds like you have some conflicts in your axis settings. Check that you do not have any doubled up, even try clearing all the axis and reset them.

 

It happens to me every once in a while that my rudder pedal axis also has a pitch or roll axis assigned under the CH Pedals column, no idea how it happened, just random occurence it seems.

 

Good luck.

[MACADEMIC]

I use MotionInJoy and I don't have many problems with it, but I've heard of issues from other people. A 360 controller will probably be more reliable, if you happen to have one or have access to one, at least to try it and see if it works.

 

That's interesting. When you say, not many problems with it, do you mean the same that I'm having, or different ones? Can you please explain? Btw, I don't have a 360 controller.

 

MAC

[MACADEMIC]

MACADEMIC, it sounds like you have some conflicts in your axis settings. Check that you do not have any doubled up, even try clearing all the axis and reset them.

 

It happens to me every once in a while that my rudder pedal axis also has a pitch or roll axis assigned under the CH Pedals column, no idea how it happened, just random occurence it seems.

 

Good luck.

 

Hi Sarge,

 

Thanks for your suggestion. Did as you said but problems are still there. Not having any doubled up settings now, except that maybe mouseview camera has similar (but not same) functionality as absolute camera views.

 

MAC

[SkateZilla]

This is a Driver Issue,

 

Either the Controller Driver, the Blue Tooth Driver, or USB Driver

 

The Controller is losing connection, and which case DCS losing input and throws everything to whatever max value.

 

Get Updated Drivers for the Controller, USB Controller and Updated Drivers for your BT Device.

 

It may not effect other games, because their polling rate for input controllers maybe lower.

 

Xbox 360 Controller works fine here, as does PS2 Controller via Adapter.

[Wolf Rider]

Wireless technology

In a change from previous PlayStation controllers, the Sixaxis features wireless connectivity based on Bluetooth technology. Although this is a standardized technology, connection of the Sixaxis to Bluetooth enabled devices other than the PlayStation 3 is not supported, with the exception of the PSP Go. This is partly due to the Sixaxis's lack of a "discovery mode", which is required for syncing bluetooth devices. When used with either the PlayStation 3 or the PSP Go the Sixaxis must be synced via a USB connection to the PS3 console. As a result use of the controller on the PSP Go also requires a PS3 console for initial syncing.

PlayStation 3 controllers are compatible with Bluetooth-equipped Apple Macintosh computers, with no external software required.[13] Workarounds have been created allowing the Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers to be used on PCs and Android devices despite this limitation, using custom software and Bluetooth drivers or in the case of Android, an App and Root access.[14][15][16]

[MACADEMIC]

Wireless technology

In a change from previous PlayStation controllers, the Sixaxis features wireless connectivity based on Bluetooth technology. Although this is a standardized technology, connection of the Sixaxis to Bluetooth enabled devices other than the PlayStation 3 is not supported, with the exception of the PSP Go. This is partly due to the Sixaxis's lack of a "discovery mode", which is required for syncing bluetooth devices. When used with either the PlayStation 3 or the PSP Go the Sixaxis must be synced via a USB connection to the PS3 console. As a result use of the controller on the PSP Go also requires a PS3 console for initial syncing.

PlayStation 3 controllers are compatible with Bluetooth-equipped Apple Macintosh computers, with no external software required.[13] Workarounds have been created allowing the Sixaxis and DualShock 3 controllers to be used on PCs and Android devices despite this limitation, using custom software and Bluetooth drivers or in the case of Android, an App and Root access.[14][15][16]

 

Hi,

 

I'm not using the PS3 Sixaxis wirelessly, but connected via USB cable. The motioninjoy driver provides both options, bluetooth wirelessly (however requires a USB Bluetooth dongle) and USB.

 

As previously stated, it's working perfectly in other games.

 

MAC

[MACADEMIC]

This is a Driver Issue,

 

Either the Controller Driver, the Blue Tooth Driver, or USB Driver

 

The Controller is losing connection, and which case DCS losing input and throws everything to whatever max value.

 

Get Updated Drivers for the Controller, USB Controller and Updated Drivers for your BT Device.

 

It may not effect other games, because their polling rate for input controllers maybe lower.

 

Xbox 360 Controller works fine here, as does PS2 Controller via Adapter.

 

Thanks for your reply. Not using Bluetooth with this, so we can disregard it. The controller's driver is a third party one, which is working without problems in other software. The USB drivers are included in the Bootcamp package which come from Apple and are at the latest version.

 

It would be interesting to know if the same issue exists on native PCs.

 

MAC

[SkateZilla]

if you hear a noise, your screen flashes, and your planes goes to full negative axes (Full left Rudder, Roll, Pitch), then it's lost input.

It's Very Likely then something is crashing the driver for the controller. Or it's Crashing on it's own.

 

Check Event Logs. the Flash is prolly the windows task bar notification bubble popping up.

 

Like I Said It's a Driver Issue, the SixAxis Controller isnt Supported For Windows By MS or For Windows By Sony, It uses an Unofficial 3rd party Driver. Which are Not WHQL Certified and can crash randomly, under load, or in set scenerios.

 

 

The Simple Answer is:

The PS3 Controller is Designed for a PS3, it isnt Officially Supported By the Windows Platform,

There's no "Windows Compatible"/"Works With Windows"/"Designed for Windows" Logo on the box.

 

ED Is not responsible, nor should they have to be for developing, coding, testing, and supporting Console Controllers that arent even Officially Supported by the Platform/OS their Titles run on.

 

And I Seriously Doubt Wings Of Prey has a Controller Polling Rate anywhere near DCS.

Edited January 9, 2013 by SkateZilla

[MACADEMIC]

if you hear a noise, your screen flashes, and your planes goes to full negative axes (Full left Rudder, Roll, Pitch), then it's lost input.

It's Very Likely then something is crashing the driver for the controller. Or it's Crashing on it's own.

 

Check Event Logs. the Flash is prolly the windows task bar notification bubble popping up.

 

Like I Said It's a Driver Issue, the SixAxis Controller isnt Supported For Windows By MS or For Windows By Sony, It uses an Unofficial 3rd party Driver. Which are Not WHQL Certified and can crash randomly, under load, or in set scenerios.

 

 

The Simple Answer is:

The PS3 Controller is Designed for a PS3, it isnt Officially Supported By the Windows Platform,

There's no "Windows Compatible"/"Works With Windows"/"Designed for Windows" Logo on the box.

 

ED Is not responsible, nor should they have to be for developing, coding, testing, and supporting Console Controllers that arent even Officially Supported by the Platform/OS their Titles run on.

 

And I Seriously Doubt Wings Of Prey has a Controller Polling Rate anywhere near DCS.

 

Can't argue with you on that, although it would be nice if it would work. However, apart from the disconnect issue, there is still the POV Hat switch issue where I see absolutely not reason why a DCS product should not offer Camera Speed settings and Camera smoothness. At the moment, really jerky, and this is not the fault of the controller, others with other products are having the same problem.

 

MAC