24 replies to this topic

[Torquemada]

*EDIT* If you want drivers for this PM me and I am happy to send you the open source drivers that Philip Merwarth coded, or just search for Strategic Engine. To get Strategic Engine to work within MWO in Windows 7, you must tick 'Run as Administrator' in Properties for Strategic Engine, for Windows 8 it seems to run just using compatibility mode for Vista or XP. Also I notice on the bay in the UK there are a couple of these for sale for under £3 each.

If you can find one, I highly recommend a Microsoft Strategic Commander for MWO. I use the open source Strategic Engine drivers and UI by Bodyphat (Philip Merwarth) within Windows 7/8 and can honestly say it's far better than any Keyboard/Mouse combo, Game controller (I've tried most e.g. N52, BearClaw etc) or Joystick for MWO action. The sad thing is MS brought these devices out about a decade too early, if they were available now I think they'd sell really well.



Above is what they look like. It gives you three axis movement with your left hand, so for MWO I control steering, torso twist and throttle. Plus there are a number of programmable keys. My own set up means I have instant access to different weapon groups, night/thermal vision, I use the small 'map' key for jump jets, the 'record' key for tab targeting etc. The only extra you need with this device is a piece of bluetac to hold it in place on your desk. If anyone has one, or buys one from eBay etc and needs assistance settings it up you're welcome to PM me for help.

Edited by Torquemada, 30 January 2013 - 02:40 AM.

[Orbit Rain]

Hey Torq, I have one of those I've been carrying around for over a decade, still having not found a decent game/use for the thing, given what and how and play things....I was thinking I could use some autohotkey (AHK) scripts for command/info sorts of things. I have the program "Strategic Commander" to control the thing....works in win 8 last I knew. The thing I don't like about it is the (seeming?) lack of fine control with the directional movement..."scrolling" as it were...the throttle controls methinks....I think I tried it before with some mechwarrior title and found it lacking for super-fine piloting control....I could be wrong and not using it correctly though...what it *does* have is a sh*t-ton of buttons, which I do yearn for ... : /

[Torquemada]

The Strategic Engine software does allow you to include fine control so you can set the dead, low response (walk) and normal response zone for each axis. Also you can program full macro's for any buttons if you want to. I used to play a lot of MW4 Mercs over at MWL, particularly Solaris and my Strat helped me win many matches and also I won a couple of weight categories at the end of season. It's really well worth giving it a go.

[Gremlich Johns]

I use the Nostromo n52 vice the SC. I've owned/used both and the n52 is the better device for me.

And you can STILL get an n52 brand new.

Edited by Gremlich Johns, 23 January 2013 - 07:20 PM.

[Zathraszero]

Torquemada, on 23 January 2013 - 09:10 AM, said:

If you can find one, I highly recommend a Microsoft Strategic Commander for MWO. I use the open source Strategic Engine drivers and UI by Bodyphat within Windows 7/8 and can honestly say it's far better than any Keyboard/Mouse combo, Game controller (I've tried most e.g. N52, BearClaw etc) or Joystick for MWO action. The sad thing is MS brought these devices out about a decade too early, if they were available now I think they'd sell really well.



Above is what they look like. It gives you three axis movement with your left hand, so for MWO I control steering, torso twist and throttle. Plus there are a number of programmable keys. My own set up means I have instant access to different weapon groups, night/thermal vision, I use the small 'map' key for jump jets, the 'record' key for tab targeting etc. The only extra you need with this device is a piece of bluetac to hold it in place on your desk. If anyone has one, or buys one from eBay etc and needs assistance settings it up you're welcome to PM me for help.

I can't get MWO to accept the commands from my Strategic Commander, Got Strategic Engine and the keys are comming out in Notepad, but MWO is not seening them

[Santarine]

Quote

And you can STILL get an n52 brand new.

Well, for those in US who is interested in MS Strategic Commander, I just bought one for $19.95 (+$3.99 USPS Priority).
It is brand new and factory sealed. There are only 18 more left as I'm typing this, so hurry up

MS Strategic Commander @Amazon MarketPlace

Edited by Santarine, 30 January 2013 - 07:23 AM.

[Goose]

Wait: What?

Someone's got fresh drivers for one of these?

[Torquemada]

Indeed Goose, let me know if you need a link for the drivers or PM me your email, am happy to send them out.

To get it to talk to MWO:

Windows 7 - Find the program shortcut, right click, Properties, check 'Run as Administrator'.

Windows 8 - Find the program shortcut, right click, Properties, compatibility mode to Vista or XP seems to work fine.

Edited by Torquemada, 30 January 2013 - 02:39 AM.

[Urban UK]

Hi

I managed to grab a SC, could you give me a link for the drivers please

thanks

[Eyecon69]

Driver is here... http://blog.sav2880....they-play-nice/

Edit: sorry I wanted to put this in before but the thing I like about the Strategic Engine is that it can emulate keyboard inputs. So you can move the head unit up, assign W to it and it will move your mech forward. This is helpful as it seems MWO only supports 2 joysticks at the moment.

I am running pedals (with a race wheel) and a joystick so this helps a bunch. I don't like moving it around to much so I assigned the zoom in button as W and zoom out as S.

Its a great addition.

Cheers

Edited by Eyecon69, 05 February 2013 - 08:35 PM.

[D Isbell]

Dude, you're my hero. Just yesterday I tried to install my original drivers, & found they're not compatible with W8 (or W7 for that matter). I was afraid I'd eventually have to buy a new Razer product (Logitech is better, but lacks the button shift functionality). Only downside I've noticed is that they seem to have been unable to restore the record-on-the-fly functionality (something Razer also lacks). Any chance you know of something similar being created for the Sidewinder Force Feedback 2? I'm expecting to be in the same boat there.

Side note, I've been using a G600 for a while now, & it's a great tool for MWO as well. That extra top button comes in handy for weapon group 3, & I put night vision, heat vision, shutdown override, power, & groups 4,5,6 on the side. Definitely beneficial. 6 buttons on the sidewinder for weapon groups will be even better though.

[Skadi]

thats...alot...of...buttons...
0.0

[Torquemada]

I've shared the drivers here if anyone needs them: http://sdrv.ms/12ciVds

[Eyecon69]

I have a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick it works fine on win 7 64 and MWO. Far as I know my friend has the Precision pro Force Feedback 2 and he doens't have any issues running in Win 7 64, he doesn't play MWO but I don't see complications other than maybe force feedback.

[Torquemada]

@Eyecon69: Joysticks are completely different types of devices to the Strategic Commander. While a joystick can use generic drivers, the SC is a unique device that has to use specialist drivers. Unfortunately Microsoft stopped supporting it while Windows XP was still the newest OS, as such the only way to use it in a modern OS (Vista, 7 or 8) is to use open source drivers like those Philip Merwarth created.

[Eyecon69]

Sorry Torque,

My post about the Sidewinder precision pro should have been addressed to D isbell as he/she was asking about "the Sidewinder Force Feedback 2"

And yes.. I was crushed when I had XP and the SC wasn't working. I've been familiar with the Strategic Engine for sometime

[Torquemada]

@Eyecon69: No worries, misunderstood your post. Like you, when I moved beyond XP I was seriously distraught not to be able to use my SC (I actually now own 12 spare devices now just in case one breaks - although I've only ever had one fail since I started using them back when they first came out!). When Philip coded the Strategic Engine driver and UI it was one hell of a relief. Up until then I'd been trying all the other controllers on the market like the Nostromo N52, Bearclaw etc, have got quite a collection of alternative devices now, but only the Strat does what I want a game controller to do, the rest are poorly equipped in comparison.

[ego1607]

Does anyone perhaps know a store that shps this device to Europe?

[Torquemada]

Keep an eye on eBay, there's normally a few for sale each month on there and for a very low price. Many EU eBay sellers ship to other EU countries. Unfortunately Microsoft stopped making these around 10 years ago, maybe more, so second hand is generally the way to go, but they are seriously awesome to use in MWO.

[Santarine]

ego1607, on 26 February 2013 - 08:10 PM, said:

Does anyone perhaps know a store that shps this device to Europe?

Check my previous post. Looks like this seller ships internationally