Using a Steel Battalion controller with Elite Dangerous.

[Waldo08]

I have seen lots of videos of people using the Steel Battalion controllers to play Elite Dangerous. So, I dug out my old Steel Battalion controller, bought a USB adapter for it and try following installation instruction. This is where I run into problems, everything I find is several years and for windows 7. I am running windows 10 and I get to controller working within window, but its recognized as an unspecified device and I cannot get Elite Dangerous to recognize it at all.

Does anybody currently use a Steel Battalion controller to play Elite? and if so, do you know where I can find a good recent tutorial and working software/drivers compatible with windows 10?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Bannor]

Did you check the manufacturer's web site? Have you used Google? Have you tried Windows Update?

[Waldo08]

I have googled a lot ant can't find anything past windows and more recent than a year ago. I don't remember the manufacturers name, but I doubt they will have info on this, the controller is from a 20 year old original Xbox game. I will check for windows updates, maybe that will fix this issue.

[DogMonster]

Something I figured out. If you can get the all in one installer with the steel battalion 64 executable and vJoy going and a .CS file, then that is all you need. I spent five hours chasing down other things like URJ and Goblinjoystick or JCurves to try figuring out why windows sees the controller just fine but ED couldn't. I was getting error in the bindings folder log stating missing device vJoy. It wasn't a problem with the setup apparently. I figured it out. The problem is Steam Big Picture Mode. To resolve the issue, start off fresh reboot. Remove all vJoy devices. Reboot. Start the Steel Battalion 64 executable. Open MonitorvJoy or windows game controllers to see if input is good for windows. If good, log into steam and go to Big Screen Mode. Go to controllers. You should see vJoy listed at bottom. Assign a couple buttons then save, it will prompt if you want to assign a profile to it. I chose and accepted 360 controller. Save and close big picture mode. Go to properties of ED in library and select the option to force off global preferences(or something similar, not at home right now). Launch ED. It will now detect a joystick, and you can get someone else's .bind file or make your own or assign things as you need through the in game config as you progress through the game or tutorial. I personally chose the latter and use the 9 pad to navigate the contextual menus. Hope this helps anyone trying to use the controller. One last thing, I highly recommend programming in a tiny bit of deadband for each analog control.

[Waldo08]

Thanks, I'm going to try this next long weekend I have and see if I can get this this thing working.

[Optimus TW29]

Originally posted by DogMonster:

Something I figured out. If you can get the all in one installer with the steel battalion 64 executable and vJoy going and a .CS file, then that is all you need. I spent five hours chasing down other things like URJ and Goblinjoystick or JCurves to try figuring out why windows sees the controller just fine but ED couldn't. I was getting error in the bindings folder log stating missing device vJoy. It wasn't a problem with the setup apparently. I figured it out. The problem is Steam Big Picture Mode. To resolve the issue, start off fresh reboot. Remove all vJoy devices. Reboot. Start the Steel Battalion 64 executable. Open MonitorvJoy or windows game controllers to see if input is good for windows. If good, log into steam and go to Big Screen Mode. Go to controllers. You should see vJoy listed at bottom. Assign a couple buttons then save, it will prompt if you want to assign a profile to it. I chose and accepted 360 controller. Save and close big picture mode. Go to properties of ED in library and select the option to force off global preferences(or something similar, not at home right now). Launch ED. It will now detect a joystick, and you can get someone else's .bind file or make your own or assign things as you need through the in game config as you progress through the game or tutorial. I personally chose the latter and use the 9 pad to navigate the contextual menus. Hope this helps anyone trying to use the controller. One last thing, I highly recommend programming in a tiny bit of deadband for each analog control.

Would you be able to help me out setting it up I've tried multiple times to no avail if you could help out that be great

[Bubba Fett]

I'd never even heard of the game or controller till this thread and after looking it up on YouTube, it looks pretty cool.
If I had one of these things that didn't have proper support any more, I'd be tempted to change the control board on it. If you look up arduino game controller on YouTube, there's a number of videos on how to build custom controllers using Arduino boards that are compatable with windows.
Usually the tricky part is building a case to hold your potentiomters and switches and lights and sliders. In this instance, you've got all that stuff pre assembled, you just need to wire it to the board which acts as an interface to windows.
It would be a big project and you'd need to know how to soldier and some basic arduino knowledge, but could make an awesome programmable controller that's usable in Windows 10.

The same system could be used to breath new life into obsolete controllers like old gameport devices, or the old Microsoft Strategic Commander in my closet.

[gamestermike89]

I'm also having difficulty getting the controller to work. i downloaded the github driver and im just getting a blue screen now. can any one assist me.

[Waldo08]

Originally posted by gamestermike89:

I'm also having difficulty getting the controller to work. i downloaded the github driver and im just getting a blue screen now. can any one assist me.

I kind of gave up on it, was able to get some buttons and one joystick recognized by windows. I was unfortunately not able to get the controller to work in any game.

[malorob]

here buddy found this in a few minutes of searching hope it helps

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/working-steel-battalion-controller.405175/

this guy on youtube showed that link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmaGe8WoIDA

if you struggle you cal send him a message

[gamestermike89]

i found that article too but its not drivers its just code. and i have no idea how to use that. any insight?

[gamestermike89]

Update. With the help from the original writer of the driver I got everything working and I'm working on a easy to explain set up and install for the drivers.

[OJS48]

Originally posted by gamestermike89:

Update. With the help from the original writer of the driver I got everything working and I'm working on a easy to explain set up and install for the drivers.

Would you mind helping a fellow out with my SBC in ED?
Thanks my friend

[PuffyLunk]

Originally posted by gamestermike89:

i found that article too but its not drivers its just code. and i have no idea how to use that. any insight?

Came in to say this. Old hard ware needed up to date drivers, your drivers are out of date and no longer supported by your operating system.

That said, there are work-a-rounds to getting your device registered within your machine.