FFShifter

[ghostve]

EDIT
New Release FFShifter_1_0_Beta_0_3.zip

Disclaimer and Introduction fom README.pdf

FFShifter v1.0 BETA 0.3

Important:
This is FFShifter v1.0 BETA 0.3

This software comes with no warranties of any kind.

By installing this software you agree that you do so at your own risk and you accept full responsibility for any damage caused by the use or installation of the software.

The producer of FFShifter makes every effort to ensure the program is safe but can not accept any responsibility whatsoever for personal injury or death that may arise during the use of the software, or any damage of any kind to your system including corrupted files, lost data or damage to hardware.

1) Introduction

FFShifter is utility program to simulate a car gear shifter with a Force Feedback Joystick. Its main functionality is to send key strokes to the active window (usually a racing or driving simulation). It is meant to be used by home-made gear shifters (with gear shifting plates) which use FF Joysticks.
The original idea was to provide a program that would actually simulate the gear shifting plate by constricting the joystick to move on predefined paths. Unfortunately, FF Joysticks do not provide the functionality of exact positioning. If you apply two constant forces in opposite directions, they cancel themselves out. Also, when you apply a constant force, it moves the joystick all the way to the force?s direction (depending on force of course). So the ideal use of FFShifter is with a FF Joystick and a gear shift plate.
With some practice you can use FFShifter with only the joystick, but expect to have some bad shifts. The reason behind it, is when a constant force is applied in one direction (lets say 180 degrees ? in the third gear), you get resistance trying to pull the joystick back, but you don not have resistance to the left or right, so by the weight of your hand it may slide to first gear (left) or fifth gear (right). Another reason for a bad shift is when a constant force kicks in, if you do not hold strongly the joystick it may end up on another gear. I hope you understand the programs limitations, and you find it useful.

Please read the rest of the README.pdf contained in the zip file before using the program. The program has been tested on a machine with DirectX 9.0c with a Logitech Wingman Force 3D Joystick, Logitech MOMO wheel (black) and Live For Speed S2 Demo. You must make sure that the game you are using is not "stealing" the force feedback joystick. In LFS I had to configure in the control options not to use the device id of the joystick.
People that modify their joysticks to work with shifter plates, post your mods for other people to see. Requests and suggestions are welcome, although not guaranteed to be implemented (bug fixes are high on the priority list).
Other things planned for future releases :
1) Clutch support from pedals, keyboard or joystick and emulation of bad shifts.

Hope you enjoy....

EDIT

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General performance tips.
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Try one at a time and then move to the next one until you get the performance you desire.

1) Turn all drawing options off - you do not need FFShifter to draw anything while you are playing.

2) In the config screen, disable error logging if enabled.

3) In the config screen change GearShift Delay (ms) from 0 to 5, then to 10, then to 15

4) In the config screen change the parameter Joystick Poll Rate (ms) from 20 to 25 or 30.

5) Joystick Poll Thread Priority from Real Time to Highest or Above Normal.

6) Try turning off sound effects.

In most cases turning drawing off will do the trick. You simply have to test and find the right settings for your hardware that won't kill your fps and you won't have delayed shifts.

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Using the Force Editor
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you can use the mouse to edit the size of the forcefield, the angle of the constant force, the min + max power values, the spring offset point and the spring force values, when you are adding a new forcefield (you have pressed add) or when you are editing (you have pressed edit) a forcefield. Only then if you move your mouse cursor over a forcefield you will see it change cursor type.
You will get a move icon when over a forcefield.
Up-Down or Left-Right arrows for changing dimensions (when over rectangle points).
And a cross over the rest of the rectangles.
You then press down the left mouse down (keep it pressed) and move your mouse.

Also when you are in edit mode you select a different forcefield either by clicking in the forcefields listbox or by holding down Ctrl and left clicking over another forcefield in the graphics window.

Beware though, when you have activated the forcefields you cannot edit them. The only time you can edit them is when adding or editing.

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Using FFShifter with LFS
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First thing to make sure is that in the games you plan to use FFShifter, they are set up so they do not use the joystick.
Let's take for example LFS :
Start LFS without FFShifter but with joystick plugged in - if you start the game and you are getting force feedback effects to the joystick, then you must go back to the control options and select another device to get the force feedback effects, preferably your wheel.
Also make sure you setup your shifting mode to shifter, and you configure the same keyboard buttons as your shifter plate (default ones are Q- Reverse, W - first, S - second , E - third, D - fourth, R - fith, G -sixth for the 6-gear plate).

After you have made sure the game is not using the joystick, exit the game, load FFShifter but do not press start.

Load LFS, go into the track and then press the hotkey that starts up FFShifter (sometimes the hot key does not get picked up - try it again).

If you Alt-Tab to windows and then back to LFS, chances are you may need press hotkey to deactivate and then press it again to start FFShifter again. Hope this helps...

[Asmodeus]

fantastic, downloading and testing...
thank you very much.

[milgo]

This sounds great. I'm tempted to go buy a joystick just to test it out

[nick_haak]

DARN!!!
I would've bough a new joystick (logitech force 3d) today, but it was sold out, if nothing goes wrong, i'll have it tomorrow, but I want to try the program :P

it looks very good Ghostve, too bad I suck in C++ (tried to create something like this) because it seems a very good language to make this kind of programs in.

[milgo]

ghostve does the ff actually make it feel like a real shifter yet? Or just hold it into position?

[ghostve]

Well as already stated is impossible by only using the FF joystick to program the force feedback to constrain the joystick to move on predetermined paths (like the shifter plate). So they only way to achieve it is to have a supporting shifter plate. Once you have this plate, the rest of the forces (locking force and spring force trying to reset joystick to center, also transition from spring to locking - the "bump" feeling we were talking on another thread) feel quite nice.
Of course you can use it with just the Joystick, but you wont have any restrictions like a shift plate path. I still have not modified my joystick to be used under a shifter plate (as I am afraid I might brake it, and I still need it to complete the program), but I am sure other people will be more brave and technical savvy to try it out and post their results.

[milgo]

Ah thats what I wanted to know thanks. Im going to go pick one up to dissmantle Might post the results within the next week or so.

[milgo]

Just tried the program, It has great potential! Once the joystick is fitted with a gate it will feel brilliant. Well done
I am just trying to dismantle my logitech force 3d and its proving a bit difficult.

[ghostve]

Just tried the program, It has great potential! Once the joystick is fitted with a gate it will feel brilliant. Well done
I am just trying to dismantle my logitech force 3d and its proving a bit difficult.

Thanks, when you modify your logitech make sure to snap some pics and post a walkthrough. Waiting for results....

[Ricou]

Ghostve, your prog is awesome !!!

I've been playing for hours with it on LFS, and the feeling is great !

I've configured it with my keys, and with the R gear in the 6 gear gate. Moreover, I've decrease the amount of forcefeeback in the gates (*FORCE_POWER_MIN 40.0) It's better for me 'cause my FF Joystick isnt hold by anything, and too much FF makes it move.

The only problem is that the gears 3 and 4 arent lock on the horizontal axe, but if I'm not wrong, you already said that you cant solve it because of FF own's limitations.

You've done a great job, thx you very much

[ghostve]

Originally Posted by Ricou

Ghostve, your prog is awesome !!!

Thanks

Originally Posted by Ricou

I've configured it with my keys, and with the R gear in the 6 gear gate. Moreover, I've decrease the amount of forcefeeback in the gates (*FORCE_POWER_MIN 40.0) It's better for me 'cause my FF Joystick isnt hold by anything, and too much FF makes it move.

Well all is matter of personal taste, gear shifting style, how much force you actually use on the joystick, how heavy your hand is and so on...

One thing I forgot to mention: All logitech FF devices come with the Logitech profiler through which you can set the overall force feedback characteristics (see attached image). So you may be using the same force characteristics with someone else with exactly the same joystick, but because your global device characteristics are different, you will get a different feeling. My guess is that other FF joysticks (besides Logitech) will have a similar setup.

Originally Posted by Ricou

The only problem is that the gears 3 and 4 arent lock on the horizontal axe, but if I'm not wrong, you already said that you cant solve it because of FF own's limitations.

You can also play with the *FORCE_ANGLE parameter and tweek it to your liking. Moreover, if you notice for example that you bad shift too often from 2nd to 5th instead of 3rd, simply change the coordinates of 3rd to make the area bigger and fifth smaller. The gears that are on the sides, can actually have a very small area, because there is a good way not to miss them.
For example if you want to shift to 2nd which is lower left, you take the stick to neutral, move it all the way left and then down (as you would in a real gear shifter in your car).

[milgo]

It suprises there hasnt been more attention on this. This program means almost anyone can create a shifter fairly quickly and easily. It has a lot of potential over traditional designs because of its flexibility eg. being able to stop you shifting if the clutch isnt down.

[FearWhat]

wow thanks for the program. I am definatly going to give this a try. Thanks for the work on this!!

[Wati]

Would this work with GPL?

[Karsten Borchers]

Man why dont I have a FF joystick, would love to try it .
Just thought about having different profiles for different gearbox types. Standard roadcar, Dogbox, sequential box etc. Would be cool .

Making this thread sticky.

[ghostve]

Originally Posted by Wati

Would this work with GPL ?

I don't have GPL so I can not tell you. The basic requirements for this to work with any game are :

1) You have a FF Joystick
2) The game can be configured to accept gears as key presses
3) The game does not "steal" the Joystick and reset it. If you have an FF wheel, you must be able to define in the game which controller you want to use (LFS does this). If your wheel is not FF, then you must be able to turn off FF for the joystick within the game.
4) The game does not use exclusively the DirectInput interface to accept key presses, and can process key presses through the normal windows message pump.

If someone has GPL and an FF Joystick they can post whether it works or not. Also people that have tried it, they can post what joysticks (and wheels/pedals) they are using and in what racing games they have managed to make it work.

Issues 3 and 4 require a technique called dll injection. Basically I have to program a dll to intercept directinput calls so I can stop games from getting access to the joystick (entering "guru" land). I am looking into it but it is not at the top of my TODO list. Next Item for development is the interactive editor.

[Belfiore28]

heres a link to GPL demo its really full version with out all the tracks hope this helps http://www.bhmotorsports.com/GPL/downloads/3239

[Asmodeus]

Originally Posted by milgo

It suprises there hasnt been more attention on this. This program means almost anyone can create a shifter fairly quickly and easily. It has a lot of potential over traditional designs because of its flexibility eg. being able to stop you shifting if the clutch isnt down.

Indeed, and I think nobody realised the potential for this software. Some previously unthinkable effects like a missed gear, a deffective gear not engaging, the need for using the clutch or the gear would not engage too, etc.
Once this program turns popular we will start seeing some amazing effects on actual and future games.
This is The Most important development I see in years when we think about joysticks and controllers for the pc. After the Act labs shifter some years ago there has been no real novelty in this area.

Congratulations Ghostve, this a genious idea.

[ghostve]

To Asmodeus

Thanks for your nice comments. What you described is what I have in mind for the final release of FFShifter, and no doubt I believe LFS might be the first game to actually emulate a real shifter with clutch support (you have to admit that its physics are pretty close to reality, so I am sure they will want to enhance other areas like shifting).
The only thing to note, that this is not my original idea: if you search the forum you will find lots of threads that discuss the use of a FF Joystick as a gear shifter, and at some point Futaris created a program similar to FFShifter (no longer posted, so I cannot compare). The only original about FFShifter I would have to say is the implementation of forcefields, which enable different forces to be activated at different areas and not have all the forces acting together, which causes the joystick to jump all over the place.

[Ricou]

Asmodeus, I think you're too enthusiast... I dont want to deceit you, but it seems very hard to match FF effect with the way a real shifter react...

Obviously, its already nice by now, but I dont think it can improve as much as you think... it would be great, indeed, but I wonder if it's really possible.

[ghostve]

Originally Posted by Ricou

Asmodeus, I think you're too enthusiast... I dont want to deceit you, but it seems very hard to match FF effect with the way a real shifter react...

Obviously, its already nice by now, but I dont think it can improve as much as you think... it would be great, indeed, but I wonder if it's really possible.

Ricou I would have to disagree with you here. I believe that because you are not using a shifter plate to support your joystick, you probably get some instability during shifting.
I'll be waiting for milgo to post his FF shifter with a shifter plate to see the results. My belief is that once clutch support is implemented where you will get kickback (or rumble effects) when trying to shift from neutral to a gear without pressing the clutch, or trying to get out of gear without pressing the clutch will be extremely difficult, and all these acompanied by the right sound effects, you will have a pretty decent simulation of a real gear shifter. My opinion anyway....

[Ricou]

Ok, you're the one who did the prog, so I will agree with you about that...

But for me, who isnt going to make a shift plate for his joystick, it would be more difficult to do something which would be really realistic

[Asmodeus]

Ricou,
I really don't think this is the case. If I were a simulation developer from let's say, dead papyrus, LFS, etc, I would be very interested. If you want the shifter to refuse a broken 3rd gear or just accept it or vibrate differently when you should have used the clutch, it is just a matter of sending the desired info to the ff joystick....and the shift plate is really necessary to make it work better.
Simple as that, once you have the idea and proves it can be done, like Ghostve did.

[milgo]

I think I remember reading something about BRD releasing a FFB shifter. There has to be a lot of potential! There is also that aluminium shifter plate and holder for a joystick in development from DE.

[selle]

Great that finally someone wrote a program like this!

Unfortunately, it does not work for me: I have an old Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (Gameport), but haven't used it for more than a year (race sims brought me away from flight sis ;-) ). Back then, the joystick worked flawlessly (even under WinXP with it's rather bad Gameport support). But now, when I try to use the ffshifter, it crashes as soon as I try to start it (clicking the start-button) with the message shown in the attachement.
My DFP works with the ffshifter (It does not crash), so I think it's not a Win/DirectX problem. The problem must be my joystick or less probably the ffshifter-program.
Does anyone here use a Microsoft FF Pro (Gameport) with the ffshifter and does it work?