G13 Joystick Emulator

[Xevious]

Here's a simple utility to make your G13 act like a "joystick", allowing you to use the analog stick in games.

Instructions:
- To keep this download under 90K, I'm using the shared VC2005 Runtime, which if you don't have, you can get from here(2Mb download):
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en
- This tool requires PPJoy which you can get it here:
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showa...hmentid=679673
- NOTE: PPJoy is pretty old, but it seems to work under Vista and XP.
- Once you install PPJoy, go to Control Panel, select "Parallel Port Joysticks", "Add", and under "Parallel Port", choose "Virtual Joysticks".
- This will create a virtual 2 Axis, 16 Button joystick.
- Using this tool, assign G-keys to each button. Pushing the G-key will simulate a joystick button press.

This tool runs completely independently of the G13 Profiler, so you might want to disable any existing assignments you have on the stick.

[noodle]

I just noticed a semi-official (?) mirror of the original PPJoy page, here: http://ppjoy.bossstation.dnsalias.org/

Neat utility.

[tweak41]

Xevious,

I'm having trouble getting this to actually work. Could you give better step by step directions following installation of the necessary items in order to get this thing up and running? It could be the software I'm trying to use with it, but it could also be user error because I really don't know where to start and what I need to do to properly configure the application(s).

If you could offer any more insight it would be greatly appreciated.

[Xevious]

Here are the exact steps:
1) Click on the PPJoy URL I provided and download "PPJoySetup.zip".
2) Unzip to a directory and run the "Setup.exe". This will install the drivers and a Control Panel entry "Parallel Port Joysticks". I am running XP and have it set to "Classic View". I just noticed if you have it set to "Category View", you don't see "Parallel Port Joysticks" anywhere. Hmm. In this case, select "Windows Start - Run" and enter "PPJoy.cpl" which should start it directly.
3) Follow the step above to add the virtual joystick. Once you do this, if you go to the Windows Control Panel, Game Controllers, you should see a virtual joystick.
4) Unzip the G13Joystick.zip and run it. Under Status, you should see "G13 Attached, "PPJoy Installed". You you see that, you're almost there. If it says PPJoy is not installed, you need to make sure you installed it.
5) Now, if you go to the virtual joystick properties in step 3, keep the window in focus, and move the G13 stick, you should see the x, y axes moving.

At this point, you have successfully bridged your G13 to a joystick. You can now run a game that has axes support and (hopefully) use your ministick within the game.

[tweak41]

Xevious,

Thanks a bunch. I didn't realize I needed G13 Joystick Emulator running in order for things to work. Unfortunately it looks like the program I had intended to use it with won't work. It plays fine with my Saitke Cyborg Command Unit, but I guess the emulated joystick isn't supported. Fortunately I know the person who's coding the software so hopefully he can provide some input as to how to make it work and/or update the code.

Thanks again, this is superb.

[noodle]

Heh, that really seems to work. Tried it with Microsoft Flight Sim X, and was able to fly a plane (in true analog fashion) with the thumbstick.

It's really odd as a flight controller, though - big surprise there...

[tweak41]

Xevious,

Do you know how this PPJoy enumerates the emulation? I was told that it needs to be DirectInput from the guy working on the software I want to use it with:

"That's really disappointing about the G13. That stick being analog is really important. I hope Logitech is working on surfacing the thing as a DirectInput device (like the CCU does). Otherwise, games aren't going to support it."

It would make my month to figure out a way to get it to cooperate.

[Xevious]

It works just fine with DirectInput. I've tested it myself. The one thing to note is that it requires polling (DIDC_POLLEDDEVICE), so you'll have to call IDirectInputDevice->Poll().

[tweak41]

I did some tinkering through the Parallel Ports Joystick link in control panel and now it works beautifully for my purposes.

It required removing the additonal axes and eliminating the POV hats.

Thank you so much!!!

[Marshall5]

I have everything working up until running the G13Joystick.exe. It won't work for some reason. It appears that the C++ Redistrib installed correctly.

Here is what I get after unzipping the file and attempting to run in XP: