T.A.R.G.E.T. new configuration software from Thrustmaster

[Reschke]

Guys has anyone from AH spent any time working on a script file for the game to use the different buttons and switches on the controls? So far the support is only there for Cougars, Warthogs, T16000 and the Cougar MFD panels and its a little different than what I was used to doing with the Foxy software where it was pretty straight forward right out of the box so to speak.

[FLOTSOM]

i didnt even know it was out. do you have a link for it?

[Reschke]

http://ts.thrustmaster.com/eng/index.php?pg=view_files&gid=1&fid=3&pid=311&cid=5

[steely07]

I've played around with it a little bit, it's easy to use, but I'm having some trouble (self-inflicted I'm sure) with making the H3 hat into an 8-way for views in Aces.

I can see how it should be done, click the (say) top right position marker in the virtual keyboard interface part, then choose keyboard command keypad 9 etc etc.

I save the config, run it, Aces sees that it is now an 8 way, but won't let me set views properly.

For the meantime, i'm using H1 for views, and it's quite annoying.

The other thing I miss (had a Cougar) is that the stick remained programmed at all times, running TARGET every time so that the programming works is a bit of a backwards step IMHO.

Apart from that, how do you like the setup Reschke?

Salute

Steely

[Reschke]

Well only having it for a few hours since it just arrived yesterday after I like the feeling. I used it offline for a bit to see if I could program in AH the buttons and its a good feeling stick. I can tell my hit percentage is probably going to suffer before it gets better just because its going to take some getting used to but I can also tell that it is way more precise in the movements than anything I have used from any manufacturer including TM.

The biggest adjustment for me is the throttle and trying to get that setup just right. At this time I have the throttles controlling opposite engines in twin engine rides and that is crazy but I only set it up in AH and screwed that up. The good news is that in AH you can adjust on the fly. For the joystick the force it takes to move it to me is somewhat less than the stock Cougar. So my triceps and biceps aren't going to be bulging out anytime soon.

I am going to post a user review over on SimHQ.com soon. That is part of the agreement that I made when I won the controller.

[Reschke]

Steely if you can put that up for a download I would like to play around with that and see if I can learn something from it. Trying to wrap my brain around this version is harder for me than Foxy was; even with the GUI and pointing and clicking through everything.

[FLS]

Steely have you tried mapping H3 to up/down/left/right and letting the controller combine the views for the corner positions?

Reschke I just programmed the buttons in AH since there's more than enough. I haven't seen anything like the command list that Foxy used. You can still use I/O and U/M/D if you select Advanced instead of Basic when you make a configuration.
One advantage of not loading the program on the stick is that the virtual driver assigns I/O and U/M/D to all your devices so any MFDs can also be shifted to 6 different functions for each button.

[Reschke]

I was actually trying to replicate what I had with the Cougar for a shifted view on the hat switch to get up views but haven't been able to make that happen in AH's control setup. I don't have Track IR and probably will not have it for some time unless I get a job in the very near future.

[FLS]

If you only want to shift views you can just map the pinky button or lever to KP5. If you want to use an I/O shift button you should be able to program the hat to the keypad view plus the up view in Target.

[Reschke]

I had not thought of using KP5 for that; since that is the directly up view in the game. I have been fumbling around in Target trying to get the views and modifiers setup but realized after posting in the Target help forum at SimHQ that I need to setup the controllers in Target as "advanced" and not as "basic" to get to that type of setup.

[FLOTSOM]

if you dont mind a second or two of off topic i got a neat little trick you might wanna try.

while using foxy i found that the non-activation of a button can in itself act like a button. so try this, your views/hat switch when located in the center/inactivated position can be set to be any view you want, try setting it (this inactive position) as your straight up view, then set your push forward position as your forward/standard view.

now i could just imagine the quizicle faces you must be making right now while thinking "what in the hell is this tard talking about?" right? well dont worry ill explain.

when you use the trigger button with your index finger your wrist will without fail move ever so slightly throwing your aim off or jerking your shots by just a bit, with your thumb on the hatswith with the forward location activated by pressing your thumb forward you now preloead tension on your wrist and stop the movement of your palm when you pull the trigger. it allows your index finger to move with a minimum of engagement of your wrist and forearm.

get it now

use this set up as a practice setting for offline or TA playing until you build the tiny muscles and stretch the tendons in the back of the hand and wrist so you can move your index finger independantly of your wrist. after a little while of parcaticing you will find you are developing less wrist and forarm movement when you move your index finger.

now jerking is jerking, aint no cure for that except to learn how to engage the trigger smoothly. this will help with learning that.

[Reschke]

I have not heard of that before now...sounds like a good thing to do but I don't have any jerking or forearm movement when I move my index finger or if I do it is so miniscule that it does not effect the way I fly with this Warthog. Now in a X-52 or something I can honestly see that effecting me.

Point of fact...either the La-5 and George driver I went up against today in my FM2 were absolutely horrible or this Warthog really helped me with my movements not being jerky and uncoordinated. I out flew both of them in a furball with about 6 other planes around until I took a stray round from another flight in the nose and started loosing engine power. At that point the fight was over for me but not before they had spent all of their E and were set upon by the wolves hovering over us.

[steely07]

Steely if you can put that up for a download I would like to play around with that and see if I can learn something from it. Trying to wrap my brain around this version is harder for me than Foxy was; even with the GUI and pointing and clicking through everything.

Here's what I have, and all i'm worried about is the H3, as the internal Aces keymapper is excellent and does everything I need except that it doesn't see H3 as a hat, it sees it as buttons (unless TARGET is used)

@ FLS, i'll have a play around with that idea, hadn't thought of that, thank you.

I'm getting by with it set as it is, using H1 as main view hat, but life would be perfect if I could use H3.

Salute, and thanks to all for the help

Steely



http://users.tpg.com.au/steelyj//me_aces.fcf

[FLOTSOM]

I have not heard of that before now...sounds like a good thing to do but I don't have any jerking or forearm movement when I move my index finger or if I do it is so miniscule that it does not effect the way I fly with this Warthog. Now in a X-52 or something I can honestly see that effecting me.

Point of fact...either the La-5 and George driver I went up against today in my FM2 were absolutely horrible or this Warthog really helped me with my movements not being jerky and uncoordinated. I out flew both of them in a furball with about 6 other planes around until I took a stray round from another flight in the nose and started loosing engine power. At that point the fight was over for me but not before they had spent all of their E and were set upon by the wolves hovering over us.

just to show you what im talking about, roll up your shirt sleeve hold your arm straight out in front of you (so that if you bent at the elbow your hand would come up next to your ear) with the pinky edge of your hand pointed at the floor (thumb knuckle pointed at cieling).

now with your fingers and thumb extended forward watch your forearm, both sides, and smoothly curl in your index finger inward.

see how many muscles move? and how your hand slightly twists?

now curl all of your fingers in a circle like your holding a can and again curl just your index finger.

see how the bulk of the movement is now in your lower forearm and the back of your hand causing your hand to twist and move slightly?

now with your hand still holding the imaginary can point your thumb straight up at the cieling (like your giving the thumbs up) now curl your index finger again.

notice alot less back of hand/knuckle motion?

now the motions i am talking about look very very slight, but keep in mind how little deflection it takes to create the difference between a hit and a miss when your in the game. now keep in mind that while performing the above tests you were actively thinking about trying to reduce the motion in your hand (admit it, we all want to make the guy talking look wrong ) no imagine how much more motion you get in the middle of the mix yanking and banking and excited and not thinking of squeezing slowly instead of pulling quickly trying to get the kill shot off before you get picked or someone clears your 12 for you. it only takes a little to throw you off alot.

[steely07]

Steely have you tried mapping H3 to up/down/left/right and letting the controller combine the views for the corner positions?

Reschke I just programmed the buttons in AH since there's more than enough. I haven't seen anything like the command list that Foxy used. You can still use I/O and U/M/D if you select Advanced instead of Basic when you make a configuration.
One advantage of not loading the program on the stick is that the virtual driver assigns I/O and U/M/D to all your devices so any MFDs can also be shifted to 6 different functions for each button.

FLS, you're a legend, that did the trick, I now have H3 as i want it, just in time for FSO too.

Thank you very much again all

Salute

Steely