Arcade fight stick compatible with PC...?

[martina2011]

I'm looking to buy a Hori VLX or Mad catz TE or any good sanwa stick.
Which platforms will work on PC?

It seems as if Hori VLX PS3 should work or Mad catz TE xbox360?
Does anyone know for sure?

Using an Asus laptop M50SV-AP012C intel core 2 duo T8100 with nvidia geforce 9500M.
I read that geforce could cause problems with some fight sticks on PC...?

Only playing MAME shmups games.

Confused...

[Fudoh]

They all with the proper drivers. Doesn't matter if you buy the PS3 or the 360 version or a Hori or a MC.

[martina2011]

Are you really sure? I have looked around and it does not seem that simple... I checked with play asia recently and they claim that the Hori VLX is NOT pc compatible, not PS3 nor xbox360 version... I don´t want to buy a USD300 stick to find it doesn´t work... I am running vista 32, if that makes any difference.

[Fudoh]

I'm pretty sure. I've used a dozen different Hori and MC controllers on Windows. You have to modify the .inf driver file to make windows accept the driver, but that's done within seconds.

Do you have any link where somebody claims that it doesn't work ?

[martina2011]

Ok then you know your stuff. I´m a complete beginner

Here is one http://shoryuken.com/f177/madcatz-fighs ... s3-263899/
regarding mad catz TE.
I´m using a lap top with nvidia graphics...

I don´t have much input on using the Hori VLX on PC. Most other Hori sticks seem to work on PC. What is the best choice then? A PS3 or a xbox360 version?

Thank´s

[spongdangly]

Ok then you know your stuff. I´m a complete beginner

Here is one http://shoryuken.com/f177/madcatz-fighs ... s3-263899/
regarding mad catz TE.
I´m using a lap top with nvidia graphics...

I don´t have much input on using the Hori VLX on PC. Most other Hori sticks seem to work on PC. What is the best choice then? A PS3 or a xbox360 version?

Thank´s

I highly recommend buying the 360 version of whichever stick you plan on buying. As you had pointed out above you may have trouble getting a PS3 stick to work. Also because it's easier (more convenient) to dual mod (unless it's a EX-SE, that pcb is not common ground).

[martina2011]

I just ordered a EX premium VLX 360.
Yes, all other Hori 360 seems to work on PC so I really hope the VLX does too.

There seems to be a neat way of making it compatible with other consoles using a "kitty board".
http://shoryuken.com/f177/official-kitt ... ad-268272/

[Barrakketh]

The Kitty boards are kinda like a mix between a ChimpSMD and MC Cthulhu, but Toodles made them easier to dual-mod by designing them for specific sticks (the MadCatz TE sticks and ones that use the same PCB, and the VLX) and providing ribbon cables to eliminate the need for soldering.

VLX installation looks stupidly easy.

[Stealthlurker]

Are you really sure? I have looked around and it does not seem that simple... I checked with play asia recently and they claim that the Hori VLX is NOT pc compatible, not PS3 nor xbox360 version... I don´t want to buy a USD300 stick to find it doesn´t work... I am running vista 32, if that makes any difference.

I have both 360 and ps3 Hori VLX sticks and they both work on my PCs (Win 7 64bit). Mad Catz TE's work also, although I hear that certain PC motherboards might have an issue with 360 TE's. Hori HRAP3's work too.


.

[Barrakketh]

One note about 360 sticks in general is that they won't work with doujin games Using the standard driver for 360 sticks will render a lot of doujin games unplayable.

For a test, try playing Crimzon Clover with your 360 VLX. Or one of the Touhou games, or (IIRC) Hellsinker. The buttons will work, the stick won't.

Mad Catz TE's work also, although I hear that certain PC motherboards might have an issue with 360 TE's.

PS3 TEs, not 360 TEs. Odds are if you aren't using an Intel motherboard a PS3 TE won't work on your PC. For some reason the PS3 TE uses an Intel-made interface (UHCI) for USB (the connector is the same), and will only work with an Intel or VIA USB chipset. Practically everyone else on the planet uses OHCI, and the 360 TE also uses OHCI.

[martina2011]

Just got the VLX.
Windows control panel shows the stick & buttons indicating and working ok.
But in MAME only the buttons work, the stick does not!!
What to do?
Change drivers?
How & where to find them?

[Fudoh]

If you only need the VLX for MAME, just enter the options menu within MAME (press tab once a game's running) and remap the controls. Should work.

If you want to use the VLX all around, leave your games and emus to keyboard input and use XPadder to map the stick to the keyboard buttons.

[martina2011]

I was hoping to get it to work within windows vista. Have tried XBCD without success. Maybe someone has a guide on how to install XBCD on vista 32. The ones out there suck! and makes no sense to me...

[Barrakketh]

I was hoping to get it to work within windows vista. Have tried XBCD without success. Maybe someone has a guide on how to install XBCD on vista 32. The ones out there suck! and makes no sense to me...

You'll need to edit xbcd.inf and add support for your controller, assuming you've followed the other steps in a recent guide (disable UAC, enable test mode with DSEO, sign the driver). You'll want XBCD 0.2.7.

Assuming you've done all of that, you'll want to find your stick in the device manager, open its properties, open the details tab, and find the Hardware Ids property:



In xbcd.inf, you'll need to add a line in the section that says:

Code: Select all

;Windows 2K/XP/Vista x86
[DeviceList.NTx86]

It'll look like this, but you'll need to customize it for your stick:

%XBCD_360.DeviceDesc% =Install, USB\VID_0738&PID_F738 ; MadCatz Street Fighter IV Fight Stick TE 'S'

If you look at the image I posted, you'll find that the part I bolded in the above line (VID_0738&PID_F738) is what actually identifies your stick. You'll need to replace the "0738" and "F738" values with what you see in the device manager. The name of the stick (after the semicolon) is just a comment. Feel free to change it to something like "Hori VLX".

[martina2011]

Thanks.
I´ve followed the XBCD 0.2.7 installation guide. But I must be doing something wrong.

XBCD_Installer_0.2.7.exe (runned as admin), dseo13b.exe (runned as admin), UAC is disabled, DSEO is in testmode, driver & folder path is loaded in DSEO testmode, reboot.

Next step acc to the the installation guide is then: "You must also change the Advanced system settings to allow unsigned (inf signature) drivers to be installed"..? How to do this? Whats then the point of DSEO?

If I try to install the xbcd.inf driver manually there is still only signed windows
system32 std driver "xusb21.sys" + wdfcoinstaller01005.dll present in the list.

The xbcd.inf is not loading for some reason?

I didn´t realize I then also need to edit the xbcd.inf to get support for the VLX stick?
Will it not work through the other hori sticks in the driver file?

[martina2011]

Through DSEO I have tried loading the following:

C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.inf
C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.sys
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\xbcd.sys

But none seem to want to load...

What am I doing wrong?

[Barrakketh]

Thanks.
"You must also change the Advanced system settings to allow unsigned (inf signature) drivers to be installed"..? How to do this? Whats then the point of DSEO?

Older versions of Windows. Test mode is basically this for Vista, except even then it only allows you to install self-signed drivers.

If I try to install the xbcd.inf driver manually there is still only signed windows
system32 std driver "xusb21.sys" + wdfcoinstaller01005.dll present in the list.

Did you browse to XBCD's driver folder and install from the inf there?

I didn´t realize I then also need to edit the xbcd.inf to get support for the VLX stick?
Will it not work through the other hori sticks in the driver file?

No. Basically all products will have a unique PID (every VLX stick will have the same one, but the VLX will be different from Hori's other products). If you don't edit the file to add it Windows won't know that the driver will work for the VLX.

Through DSEO I have tried loading the following:

C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.inf
C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.sys
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\xbcd.sys

But none seem to want to load...

What am I doing wrong?

Assuming you're signing the driver, it isn't supposed to actually load it. You enter the path, it signs it, and it is done. It doesn't load the driver, you do that through the device manager.

[martina2011]

Thanks.
"You must also change the Advanced system settings to allow unsigned (inf signature) drivers to be installed"..? How to do this? Whats then the point of DSEO?

Older versions of Windows. Test mode is basically this for Vista, except even then it only allows you to install self-signed drivers.

If I try to install the xbcd.inf driver manually there is still only signed windows
system32 std driver "xusb21.sys" + wdfcoinstaller01005.dll present in the list.

Did you browse to XBCD's driver folder and install from the inf there?

I didn´t realize I then also need to edit the xbcd.inf to get support for the VLX stick?
Will it not work through the other hori sticks in the driver file?

No. Basically all products will have a unique PID (every VLX stick will have the same one, but the VLX will be different from Hori's other products). If you don't edit the file to add it Windows won't know that the driver will work for the VLX.

Through DSEO I have tried loading the following:

C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.inf
C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.sys
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\xbcd.sys

But none seem to want to load...

What am I doing wrong?

Assuming you're signing the driver, it isn't supposed to actually load it. You enter the path, it signs it, and it is done. It doesn't load the driver, you do that through the device manager.

Yes, after signing & loading the driver in DSEO testmode (path C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\xbcd.inf) and restarting.
I then manually try to install the driver by browsing/enter its path C:\Program Files\XBCD\Driver\

Unfortunatly all I get is the response that "the best drivers are already installed and the unit is using the latest version
of the driver "xbox 360 controller for windows" (pls excuse my translation into english..)

If I pick "choose from a list of drivers..." All I get is "xbox 360 controller for windows" version 2.1.0.1011 (2007-08-28) or version 6.0.6001.18000 (2006-06-21)
If I try the alternative to load it from a disc then it responds that the folder does not contain a compatible driver.

UAC is disabled, XBCD is installed, DSEO is in test mode...

What am I missing here?
Is there any other way of doing this?

Thanks for your patience and help!!!

[Barrakketh]

What am I missing here?

Edit the INF yet? Have a screenshot of the hardware ids page (like the screenshot I posted) and whatever you added to said INF file?

Is there any other way of doing this?

Thanks for your patience and help!!!

Dual-mod your stick. Toodles' Kitty VLX board is pretty simple to install, but that would be extra money.

[martina2011]

What am I missing here?

Edit the INF yet? Have a screenshot of the hardware ids page (like the screenshot I posted) and whatever you added to said INF file?

Is there any other way of doing this?

Thanks for your patience and help!!!

Dual-mod your stick. Toodles' Kitty VLX board is pretty simple to install, but that would be extra money.

SUCCESS!!
Only after FIRST editing the xbcd.inf acc to your instructions would windows accept the driver! It also seemed as if DSEO was not needed at all. Vista simply just warned for using the driver.
Also its "folder" location within the device manager changed from some general device folder and ended up under HIDs similar to your instruction..?

Though, I still haven´t been able to get the stick to work in mameui32 0.142
I can still remap inside mame so that the stick works while in a game, but scrolling the game list with the stick doesn´t work.

I will try out XBCD to see what can be done.

I have heard about the dual mod kitty boards. Neat! But since I´m mostly playing pc mame (don´t have xbox or ps3) I might not need it.

Thanks! Great help!

[Fudoh]

but scrolling the game list with the stick doesn´t work.

this doesn't work without enabling it first in the options and restarting MAME. Standard setting is disabled...

[martina2011]

but scrolling the game list with the stick doesn´t work.

this doesn't work without enabling it first in the options and restarting MAME. Standard setting is disabled...

Allow game selection by joystick is enabled under interface options.
Joystick is enabled in default game options/controllers as well.
Buttons work, stick doesn´t (still need to remap joystick in mame for it to work at all)
xbcd indicates stick movements.

My old navitek gamepad worked scrolling the gamelist so why shouldn´t the VLX with the proper XBCD drivers?

[Barrakketh]

SUCCESS!!
Only after FIRST editing the xbcd.inf acc to your instructions would windows accept the driver! It also seemed as if DSEO was not needed at all. Vista simply just warned for using the driver.

Vista won't load unsigned or self-signed drivers without test mode enabled. It'll still warn you when you try to do it even in test mode.

Also its "folder" location within the device manager changed from some general device folder and ended up under HIDs similar to your instruction..?

That's normal. Most input devices will appear there.

Though, I still haven´t been able to get the stick to work in mameui32 0.142
I can still remap inside mame so that the stick works while in a game, but scrolling the game list with the stick doesn´t work.

While in a game hit tab, choose Input (general), User Interface, and make sure UI Up/Left/Right/Down is using a joystick.

If you have more than one controller hooked up to your PC the defaults (Joy 1) might not be right. If you have a gamepad or something that might be the problem. When you map the games for a game does it say Joy 1, or some other number?

[martina2011]

Ok but it´s still working after rebooting, disconnecting and without DSEO.
Is DSEO and UAC disabled only needed only during installation?

While in a game using the mame internal configuration TAB menu, input (general), user interface, the default stick settings are:
UI up = kbd up or joy 1 up, remapping it with joystick inputs will disable the keyboard up.
So I do it only under player 1 controls instead which then shows: p1 up = joy 1 hat switch u.
Then the joystick works controlling a game and the keyboard controls the TAB menu.
But still no matter what I can´t use the joystick scrolling the mame windows game list? Like I could with the saitek gamepad.

The settings under options, default game options, controller mapping doesn´t do much?

After screwing up the TAB menu keyboard settings I tried to restore the default settings by deleting the default.cfg file.
Now I get "cannot load controller file (japanesetext)%.cfg" when starting a game. What to do? Restoring it doesn´t seem to help.

[Barrakketh]

Now I get "cannot load controller file (japanesetext)%.cfg" when starting a game. What to do?

Restore default.cfg from MAMEUI's archive (7z/zip, whatever). I think you deleted the file in the cntlr folder. Key bindings are usually in the cfg folder.

While in a game using the mame internal configuration TAB menu, input (general), user interface, the default stick settings are:
UI up = kbd up or joy 1 up, remapping it with joystick inputs will disable the keyboard up.
So I do it only under player 1 controls instead which then shows: p1 up = joy 1 hat switch u.
Then the joystick works controlling a game and the keyboard controls the TAB menu.
But still no matter what I can´t use the joystick scrolling the mame windows game list?

P1 Up isn't the same as UI Up. You'd have to change what I said you need to.

Hat Switch is basically the "d-pad", not the left axis that you'd see on a analog stick or most Japanese sticks.

Another alternative would be to remap the d-pad with the XBCD Setup Utility. Change each "arrow" so it matches the left stick, like so:



Then click apply and close. If it seems to hang up after applying/closing just plug your stick back in, things should be fine after that.

[martina2011]

Ok, then how do I get UI up = joystick ? Any keyboard enterings after ENTER immediatly becomes UI up...

[Barrakketh]

Ok, then how do I get UI up = joystick ? Any keyboard enterings after ENTER immediatly becomes UI up...

Select UI Up, hit enter, move joystick up, wait a few seconds.

[martina2011]

I still can´t scroll the mameUI32 windows gamelist using the joystick? Like I could with my navitek gampad...
And scrolling the internal TAB settings using the keyboard doesn´t work anymore after setting UI up = joy 1 hat switch u.

[Barrakketh]

Delete cfg/default.cfg, then rebind the key.

If you did what I said to do regarding the XBCD utility, you shouldn't need to rebind it. Try scrolling with the stick first IF you did that.

[martina2011]

Changed the XBCD utlity.
Now playing and scrolling the TAB menu works fine with both stick and keyboard (UI up = kbd up or joy 1 up). Scrolling the game list by joystick still doesn´t?