Maximum no. of controllers in PC racers

[museumsteve]

I wasn't sure how I could search to see if this has been covered..but I'm sure many must have had the issue..but how do you get round the maximum no. of controllers in PC racers?
I've just added my DSD Pro shifter so suddenly I'm at 4 (only cos pedals are plugegd into the wheel) and I cant get games to see 4..so I have to forfeit something..and with a shiny DSD Black Max II also on the way I'll be gutted if I cant use everything

 

[superbike81]

All depends on the game. Some have a limit of only a few and some have no limit. iRacing for example has no limit.

 

[derekspeare]

Some sims have 3 limit maximums: Simbin's and rFactor. rFactor2 has a 4 controller limit. Some like iRacing don't have a limit. Fortunately, you'll be fine:

http://www.xpadder.com

Hundreds of my customers use xpadder to remap their button box commands to the keyboard (xpadder is an emulator) and bypass the controller limit. I personally use it and endorse it. The developer, Jonathon is very active with the program, and it's something tens of thousands people use. It's worth the 10 bucks for it and is SUPER easy to use.

d

 

[Mayaman]

I have xpadder and it's complicated I can never get it to recognize my Xbox pad and how the hell do you program it? Help lol

 

[superbike81]

Yup, Derek's endorsement got me to buy Xpadder several months ago. Great program!

I thought it was fairly simple. What steps are you having trouble with? I can't help with the controller recognition part, but the programming is simple.

 

[derekspeare]

I think Steve is running up against the controller limit in some of the sims out there (as an aside, I make it a point to contact all of the development houses about having unlimited controllers).

Xpadder itself is simple, but it has a ton of power in that you can program some pretty complex commands into it. My iRacing customers who use it have macros for fuel/tire loads on pit stops and other exotic functions. Mine are pretty easy like "hi"

@museumsteve - does this mean that HMRP delivered today?

@Mayaman - it's for the PC and doesn't work on the Xbox TBOMK. I just push a button and set the command. Jonathon has a great site with a comprehensive how to guide.

 

[museumsteve]

I got my shifter yesterday Derek 👍

I d/l JoyToKey and it really does seem overly complicated considering it should be very straiught forward. It doesn't seem to register my controllers (button box in this case), it just asks how many controllers I want to add. I dont know if it's a Win7 issue...guess I'll have a better look tomorrow. I have xpadder on another PC somewhere as I used it for a touchscreen project

 

[museumsteve]

I bought xpadder today and whilst I've yet to try it in game it seems perfect.
It took me a while to work out how to select the interface/controller I wanted to use but once I sussed it the rest was amazingly easy.

 

[CLIFFO_83]

I'm having trouble getting my xpadder to work with rfactor, well I had it working once and cant get it working again.

I have A T500RS + DSD PRO Shifter + DSD button box

Rfactor will only recognize my T500 and either the DSD shifter or button box, not all three at once.

I have mapped all my button box buttons as keyboard keys and had it working in rfactor along with wheel and shifter, but cant seem to get it going again.

In the xpadder settings under controllers it's saying there are 2 DSD button boxes??? is this normal.

I'm kind of stuck and need some guidance........

 

[mrbasher]

museumsteve,

Which wheel do you use?

 

[museumsteve]

I have Fanatec CSR and Elite Pedals. I have the pedals plugged into the CSR so it shows as one controller.

 

[CLIFFO_83]

I have Fanatec CSR and Elite Pedals. I have the pedals plugged into the CSR so it shows as one controller.

Can you offer any help or suggestions as your the one that started the thread.

 

[derekspeare]

I'm having trouble getting my xpadder to work with rfactor, well I had it working once and cant get it working again.

I have A T500RS + DSD PRO Shifter + DSD button box

Rfactor will only recognize my T500 and either the DSD shifter or button box, not all three at once.

I have mapped all my button box buttons as keyboard keys and had it working in rfactor along with wheel and shifter, but cant seem to get it going again.

In the xpadder settings under controllers it's saying there are 2 DSD button boxes??? is this normal.

I'm kind of stuck and need some guidance........

Yes, normal - it's internal stuff and not anything which is related to XPadder. I run Xpadder in addition to three of the my boxes, all of that with various wheels, pedals and so forth. I really can't give any guidance on Xpadder other than it's pretty easy to use and user friendly.

 

[museumsteve]

Can you offer any help or suggestions as your the one that started the thread.

I gave up because there was no way round the max controller issue. I decided to not use the button box in the end. What I would say though is I'm sure one of my racers (probably GTR Evo) listed the DSD button box twice in my controller list which meant I lost one of my other controllers . I wondered if it was due to rotary switches etc (I have Black Max II) but never followed it up.

Your issue seems to be a problem with your setup as rFactor should see and use 3 controllers. I use Game Sock Car a lot which uses the rFactor game engine and I use CSR wheel, DSD pro seq shifter and TH8RS H shifter all the time.

 

[CLIFFO_83]

Your issue seems to be a problem with your setup as rFactor should see and use 3 controllers. I use Game Sock Car a lot which uses the rFactor game engine and I use CSR wheel, DSD pro seq shifter and TH8RS H shifter all the time.

I figured the keyboard was classed as the 3rd controller.

So rfactor should recognize my T500, shifter and BB with out xpadder?

 

[museumsteve]

I figured the keyboard was classed as the 3rd controller.

So rfactor should recognize my T500, shifter and BB with out xpadder?

Yeah it should mate, except if it sees the button box as 2 controllers (which is what it did in my GTR Evo). I'll plug my button box in this evening and see what it says in GSC and reply here

 

[CLIFFO_83]

Yes, normal - it's internal stuff and not anything which is related to XPadder. I run Xpadder in addition to three of the my boxes, all of that with various wheels, pedals and so forth. I really can't give any guidance on Xpadder other than it's pretty easy to use and user friendly.

So why is rfactor thinking there are 2x BB's?

I can only use t500, keyboard and shifter or BB

 

[lopsided]

The more I read the more confused I get as to what this program does.

I have 5 controllers:an h-shifter, button box, seq shifter, wheel and pedals (separate usb's).
Neither rFactor or rFactor 2 work with 5 controllers so I must unplug one (or two if rf1) controllers to play. Next time I plug that controller in the computer reassigns Joy2 to Joy3 (for example) and I'm forced to remap all of my buttons. I don't actually mind unplugging a controller, what I hate is re-mapping them when I unplug one to plug another in. Anyway, I know THAT is not what xpadder is for.
But does it allow me to plug all 5 controller's in and use them as intended?
Does the computer not see them as controllers with xpadder?

 

[superbike81]

I have Fanatec CSR and Elite Pedals. I have the pedals plugged into the CSR so it shows as one controller.

If you can, run them as separate controllers. The pedals will have double the resolution (more accuracy) when they are connected directly via USB. I think you play Xbox 360 though right? In that case you would have to leave them connected together (as you likely already know) but with PC sims you can take advantage of a separate USB connection and get better performance.

 

[Joven]

The more I read the more confused I get as to what this program does.

I have 5 controllers:an h-shifter, button box, seq shifter, wheel and pedals (separate usb's).
Neither rFactor or rFactor 2 work with 5 controllers so I must unplug one (or two if rf1) controllers to play. Next time I plug that controller in the computer reassigns Joy2 to Joy3 (for example) and I'm forced to remap all of my buttons. I don't actually mind unplugging a controller, what I hate is re-mapping them when I unplug one to plug another in. Anyway, I know THAT is not what xpadder is for.
But does it allow me to plug all 5 controller's in and use them as intended?
Does the computer not see them as controllers with xpadder?

What xpadder or joytokey do, is translate game controller input to keystrokes.

For instance, I use JoyToKey so I can use my sequential shifter and paddles on my wheel to shift in games with either without reassigning them (they are both mapped to the I and O keys, which I set up in games.)

So as far as the game is concerned, you arent hitting a button on a controller, you're hitting a key on a keyboard. So you can have more controllers than the game supports because all the game is seeing is 1 keyboard, and not input from a bunch of devices.

 

[museumsteve]

If you can, run them as separate controllers. The pedals will have double the resolution (more accuracy) when they are connected directly via USB. I think you play Xbox 360 though right? In that case you would have to leave them connected together (as you likely already know) but with PC sims you can take advantage of a separate USB connection and get better performance.

The reason I didn't is due to no.of controllers limits mate. I don't use consoles on my setup anymore
However, I am getting tempted to look again at xpadder again..as Joven says it can do almost anything. To be honest I never considered it for seq shifter...guess I'm gonna play some more tonight

 

[Cheeba]

Yeah it should mate, except if it sees the button box as 2 controllers (which is what it did in my GTR Evo). I'll plug my button box in this evening and see what it says in GSC and reply here

museumsteve interested to know how this works out since I am having the same issue trying to use my BB in GSC 2012.

Thanks

 

[museumsteve]

I just plugged my BB in and in GTR Evo it registers as 2 devices and takes place above my DSD seq shifter and CSR wheel (you cant change the order) so even if I use things like xpadder for buttons etc the game will still not recognise my CSR as it's no longer showing as an available controller. It wouldnt be so bad if you could change the order/priority of usb controllers but as far as I know you can't.

The same result in GSC

So for anyone using xpadder, I'd be interested to hear how it can actually help if you still have the same amount of controllers plugged in, bearing in mind you woudn't be expected to assign your wheel to xpadder.

 

[Cheeba]

Thanks for checking. I have x-padder but figured it wouldn't make a difference. You are right it would be nice to be able to change the order/priority of the usb controllers.

 

[Joven]

You can kinda change the order, but you have to unplug them all and replug them in in the order you want.

You'd want anything with an axis as the first devices you plug in, since thats really where the controller limits effect you most (and xpadder and the like can't help with.)

Basically, the games like rFactor can only accept input from the first 3 devices (not including keyboard), so you want those to be the ones you need the game to recognize natively. Wheel, pedals, analog handbrake, what have you.

The other devices can then be plugged in, and ones beyond the limit will need input to go through xpadder/joytokey, since it will accept input from those as though it were just a keyboard, allowing you to go beyond the limit for controllers in the game.

 

[Cheeba]

Yes I have tried plugging them in the order I want, but unfortunately, whatever order I plug them in, my BB is always placed at the top, taking up two slots.

If rFactor would just recognize 4 controllers that would do the trick! 3 devices seems a bit limiting.

 

[museumsteve]

You can kinda change the order, but you have to unplug them all and replug them in in the order you want.

You'd want anything with an axis as the first devices you plug in, since thats really where the controller limits effect you most (and xpadder and the like can't help with.)

Basically, the games like rFactor can only accept input from the first 3 devices (not including keyboard), so you want those to be the ones you need the game to recognize natively. Wheel, pedals, analog handbrake, what have you.

The other devices can then be plugged in, and ones beyond the limit will need input to go through xpadder/joytokey, since it will accept input from those as though it were just a keyboard, allowing you to go beyond the limit for controllers in the game.

I must try it again then cos I'm sure everytime I plug something in it goes to the same order as always, wth my CSR at the bottom

 

[museumsteve]

Thanks for checking. I have x-padder but figured it wouldn't make a difference. You are right it would be nice to be able to change the order/priority of the usb controllers.

One difference it made (as joven said) is that you can use paddles and a seq shifter without changing anything in the control settings, just map them in xpadder and assign the relevant keys..just tried and works a treat
Only slight downer is in GTR Evo you need to use setting 'Hold button for gear' if you want to use an H shifter with neutral position and for it to recognise neutral. I tried and when I used paddles/seq it wouldn't select a gear. Not sure if I missed something here, will look again.

Yes I have tried plugging them in the order I want, but unfortunately, whatever order I plug them in, my BB is always placed at the top, taking up two slots.

If rFactor would just recognize 4 controllers that would do the trick! 3 devices seems a bit limiting.

I guess it has a lot to do with how old the rFactor engine is and that perhaps there wasn't the demand. Unless it was a windows limitation at the time.

 

[Joven]

If you try it and they go back in the same order, try changing which USB port you plug each one into, that should force windows to re-recognize it as a new device.

(incidentally, there was apparently a way to change the order of USB devices in Windows XP, but was apparently removed in Vista and up.)

 

[Cheeba]

Yeah I've tried that also. No matter what port I plug the BB into. Windows places it at the top of my devices.

Yes researching this I've read that you could change the order in XP, but I guess not in 7 .

Thanks for your help.