Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Gaming => Topic started by: rade0000 on November 24, 2008, 10:34:57 AM
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Hi,
I have bought two Competition Pro USB but when I tried them out, I was very disappointed: their reaction time is way too slow - playing any action/sports games (e.g. Kick Off 2) is a pain because the Joystick just takes too long to react.
I have googled a bit about the Joystick and have found out that this is a common problem. There seems to be no help, or is there?
How about writing a specialized USB driver for the Competition Pro? Has anyone got the knowledge? Would it be possible e.g. to do polling more often to get faster reaction times?
Just an idea...
Cheers, Ralph
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On which machine / usb stack name / configuration please...
Arch Windows XP :-)
Check sometings in "Control Panel" / "Game"...
USB is intended to scan triggers each 10 milliseconds.
I hope you have not plugged this device via an external hub.
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no problem here
// euae under mos2.1 peg2 with poseidon stack
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I am using it under Windows XP (tried it on several XP machines to be honest). There is a slight lag in reaction time which is slight but it is there and when you notice it, it's totally annoying. E.g. I cannot beat the computer in Kick Off 2 anymore, because I keep losing balls which I never lose when I switch to play on my old, real Amiga...
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Maybe the stick runs better on non-Windows machines? Have you tried the same game using a real joystick (e.g. on your old Amiga) and really spotted no difference?
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So what I really wonder is whether is would be possible to write a new driver for Windows which would cure the lag problem for the Competition Pro USB. Probably the fault is in the hardware and writing a new driver would not help, but I don't know.
Anyhow, the slight delay in reaction time is so annoying, it makes me crazy - I would love it so much to be able to play the old games as they are supposed to be...
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I have a blue Comp USB too and I was very disappointed by it, it plays like a metal rod set in cement. I can't really remember if it was 'slow' though.
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The USB version of these joysticks are total garbage, completely useless. Throw them in the trash and don't look back. You can find the same complaints here on Amiga.org and other Amiga sites like AWN.
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What alternatives are there? I searched the web and found only a discontinued alternative (Stelladaptor) and Keyrah where old Joysticks can be plugged in and their input is converted into cursor movements (which then could be mapped to the WinUAE joysticks again).
Do you know of any other alternatives (except DIY)?
Which of the alternatives is best?
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The Stelladaptor is still available at the AtariAge website. You can go directly to the Stelladaptor (http://www.atariage.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=267&zenid=e81153809a6f0fff86e4b19801bacc20) from this link.
Current price is $39.95. I've been using this with my Window and Mac computers without any problems. I was about to get the USB version but perhaps I'll get a spare Stelladaptor instead!
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Here's a DIY-kit, I don't know if extra firebuttons are supported: Clickety-click. (http://www.retrousb.com/index.php?productID=125)
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redrumloa wrote:
The USB version of these joysticks are total garbage, completely useless. Throw them in the trash and don't look back. You can find the same complaints here on Amiga.org and other Amiga sites like AWN.
Agree 100%. I was very disappointed when I bought it. And not only the reactionspeed, but the sucker broke down also and I didnt even use it much or in any intensive game. The stick just jumped up.. I managed to fix it but it happened again some times after. The insides are as cheap as it gets. I threw the sh1t away.
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Those Competition Pro USB is worthless for lefthanded people as well. Why isn't there a setting to switch buttons?
I'll guess i have to switch the wires in the joystick :/
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I built a homemade Amiga 9pin to USB adapter with the help of a few people over at EAB. Very easy to do and works a treat in WinUAE using Vista.
Here is a thread I made with a few pictures.
http://eab.abime.net/showthread.php?p=479779#post479779
The adapter works very well, supporting 2 independant fire buttons and could do autofire but I chose not to due to laziness.
No lag with this crude but very effective adapter.
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odin wrote:
I have a blue Comp USB too and I was very disappointed by it, it plays like a metal rod set in cement. I can't really remember if it was 'slow' though.
I remember that stupid thing. I couldn't even give it away.
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I don't know if some Amiga shops still sell them but you could also use the 4 player adapter for the parallel port and use that on windows to give two normal Amiga joystick ports.
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Are the original Competition Pros still available? I *do* have the Stelladapter. It works well with my Wico joystick but I've always heard rave reviews about the Comp. Pro and have never used one myself.
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The best joysticks are home made :P
Here (http://home.xmsnet.nl/toto/) are some pics (joy01 and joy02).
I build this 6 or 7 years ago with an IPAC from Ultimarc.
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I know a little about USB HID and windows USB programming and it should be possible to have a low enough latency.
Did the competition pro require a custom driver or did it use standard built in Windows USB HID drivers?
If it uses standard Windows HID then the latency is almost certainly in the chip (or more likely it's firmware) at the heart of the USB competition pro.
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alexh wrote:
If it uses standard Windows HID then the latency is almost certainly in the chip (or more likely it's firmware) at the heart of the USB competition pro.
Windows HID :-x
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jdryyz wrote:
Are the original Competition Pros still available? I *do* have the Stelladapter. It works well with my Wico joystick but I've always heard rave reviews about the Comp. Pro and have never used one myself.
Yes they are! I was going to recommend Red's Ebay shop but it appears he might be out. AmigaKit usually has a supply in stock. Looking at the box mine came in, it's made by Speed Link which also makes the USB sticks. The box, however, also says that it's "powered by Individual Computers. Perhaps that's the difference between the USB and this one.
I bought two so I'd have a spare!
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I had heard that the response of the USB Competition Pro joysticks was terrible, but thought it was only under Amiga emulation, not while playing Windows games, but then I haven't played any Windows games that use a joystick.
@Tempest,
Great homemade joystick you created. Was it your design, or did you build it from someone's plans? (Also, nice MOS desktop image)
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beller wrote:
Yes they are! I was going to recommend Red's Ebay shop but it appears he might be out. AmigaKit usually has a supply in stock. Looking at the box mine came in, it's made by Speed Link which also makes the USB sticks. The box, however, also says that it's "powered by Individual Computers. Perhaps that's the difference between the USB and this one.
I bought two so I'd have a spare!
Actually I have some left (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120339467332). Thanks for letting me know my ebay store needed update :-D
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@Tempest,
Great homemade joystick you created. Was it your design, or did you build it from someone's plans? (Also, nice MOS desktop image)
Thanks. I designed it myself, it's made of MDF glued together, solid as a rock :P
The MorphOS screenshot was from an old MorphOS 1.x skin I made. I was working on it before I sold my Pegasos II, the menu colors where wrong under MorphOS 2.0 (just like most of the other skins I made for MorphOS 1.x).
This (http://home.xmsnet.nl/toto/Untitled2.png) is another skin I was working on. They're on hold until MorphOS is available for the MAC.
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redrumloa wrote:
Actually I have some left (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120339467332). Thanks for letting me know my ebay store needed update :-D
No problem, happy to help! You've been a busy guy lately!
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Hi,
Anyone know whether the stelladaptor would be any good with e-uae under Amiga OS4.1?
Cheers,
Rudi.
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Anyone got some photos of the inside of a competition pro USB? So I can identify which chip it is using? There is a slim chance that I can get a firmware update from the manufacturer (assuming they are not OTP)
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alexh wrote:
(assuming they are not OTP)
What does OTP stand for... an uneducated guess...
Often
Total
Pr*cks
? :-?
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One Time Programmable i.e. not upgradable.
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Just use a gamepad, Really cant see why a joystick is better easier. I find an analouge stick controlled with your thumb gives me much more accuracey than a joystick anyway. plus much more comftable, god the number of times I used to have extreme cramp from holding joysticks
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Has anyone here tried using there usb sticks under linux? I got one today from amigakit and it works great with no lag in E-UAE wip4 build and Vice 64 running on Mandriva 2009, tho when i tried it in WinUAE on XP i did experience some lag and while googling for help came across this thread!