PS3 controller with tilt for headlook

Retrograde

Retrograde
After some fiddling around, I finally managed to set up my PS3 gamepad with tilt control for looking around. So in order to look in any direction, you just turn the controller! :D

In case somebody else wants to try this, here are the steps:

1) Install drivers
Download and install Motioninjoy drivers (0.7.1001) here:
http://www.motioninjoy.com/download

Download and install the Dualshock configuration tool from Better DS3:
http://betterds3.ciebiera.net/

Better DS3 is vastly better than the somewhat dodgy configuration tool included with the Motioninjoy drivers. Run Better DS3 and plug in your PS3 gamepad in a USB port. It should be recognized.

2) Configure the gamepad
Make a New profile in Better DS3 using DirectInput
Use the following settings
1058uie.jpg
Save the profile. Check that it all works from Better DS 3 by selecting "Control Panel" -> "Properties". Click a few buttons, move the sticks around, etc.

3) Configure Elite
Download my custom settings file (Right click -> Save Link as...):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10043989/Elitebinds/Custom_PS3tilt.binds

Put the file here (or wherever you have bindings):
%AppData%\..\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

If you want to set this up from scratch yourself, looking up and down is on the JOY V-AXIS and left-right is on JOY RZ-AXIS. I recommend setting a small deadzone on both axes, as it can get a bit twitchy otherwise. Also remember to turn off mouselook! I initially had mouselook on, and the inputs were fighting each other causing mayhem.

4) Check that it all works
Make sure that Better DS3 is running and using the right profile before starting the game.

I've mostly set this up to mimic the Xbox360 controller. A few changes: Pressing L1 and R1 together sets speed to 0. The PS button is set to target next, and holding the start button turns roll into yaw. Pressing down on left stick toggles flight assist. Change to suit your needs.

Edit:
Slight tweak. Since the shoulder buttons, L2 and R2, are used for firing weapons, they need twitch timings. I recommend lowering their "analog to digital threshold" to from 25% to 5%. I can't be bothered to update the image.
 
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.Stu.

S
I tried a setup like this but could ne get it working, it would not pair, perhaps my laptop BT(Bluetooth) was not up to it.

What BT do you use for your setup please?

Retrograde said:
After some fiddling around, I finally managed to set up my PS3 gamepad with tilt control for looking around. So in order to look in any direction, you just turn the controller! :D

In case somebody else wants to try this, here are the steps:

1) Install drivers
Download and install Motioninjoy drivers (0.7.1001) here:
http://www.motioninjoy.com/download

Download and install the Dualshock configuration tool from Better DS3:
http://betterds3.ciebiera.net/

Better DS3 is vastly better than the somewhat dodgy configuration tool included with the Motioninjoy drivers. Run Better DS3 and plug in your PS3 gamepad in a USB port. It should be recognized.

2) Configure the gamepad
Make a New profile in Better DS3 using DirectInput
Use the following settings
1058uie.jpg
Save the profile. Check that it all works from Better DS 3 by selecting "Control Panel" -> "Properties". Click a few buttons, move the sticks around, etc.

3) Configure Elite
Download my custom settings file (Right click -> Save Link as...):
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/10043989/Elitebinds/Custom_PS3tilt.binds

Put the file here:
%AppData%\..\Local\Frontier Developments\Elite Dangerous\Options\Bindings

Rename the file "custom.binds". If you already have another custom.binds file, remember to back that up first.

If you want to set this up from scratch yourself, looking up and down is on the JOY V-AXIS and left-right is on JOY RZ-AXIS. I recommend setting a small deadzone on both axes, as it can get a bit twitchy otherwise. Also remember to turn off mouselook! I initially had mouselook on, and the inputs were fighting each other causing mayhem.

4) Check that it all works
Make sure that Better DS3 is running and using the right profile before starting the game.

Press down on the right stick to activate headlook.

I've mostly set this up to mimic the Xbox360 controller. Change this to suit your needs. I have very low roll resulting in a yaw instead, and pressing L1 and R1 together sets speed to 0. The PS button is set to pause, and the start button toggles random spinning (aka flight assist).
Click to expand...
 

lemonist

L
Thanks Retrograde, this was a huge help getting a DS3 controller working. I can now actually fly rather than flailing all over the place with keyboard and mouse controls :->
 

Iain M Norman

Iain M Norman
I actually tried strapping a second DS3 to my head to do head tracking.

It was a bit heavy. :)

Got an ED-tracker now.

Much better.
 

blazingice

B
Thanks for this how to. It works perfectly. Haven't tried BT yet. Initially I was a bit concern installing unrecognised drivers/software, but in the end decided to follow the crowed. Everything works great.

I have done a minor swap. I use the tilt instead of the left stick for the roll. In my opinion this gives a more realistic feel to the flying experience, but it can make you feel a bit sick as you find yourself moving the entire body to control the aircraft. I find docking a lot easer this way as you can get the spinning just right. Plus your left thumb is free during fighting, which can be useful when changing constantly power between sys/eng/wep.

Thanks again Retrograde
 
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Azekus

A
Elite: Dangerous Controller Problems

I can't seem to get my controller to actually work on Elite Dangerous. DS3 Tool and Better DS3 both register my actions via the tests. I want to say I've checked everything, but I guess not. Retrograde, I've followed your steps. This is my first time doing anything like this. Took some screen shots, so you can see what I'm looking at.

http://imgur.com/a/ovimF

Any help is deeply appreciated.
 

Tumiplex

T
Just tried this and using only Better DS3 after pairing with bluetooth I could automatically navigate in game via menu on first load. This setup emulates an xbox controller but I had to setup my own bindings since the one linked here wasn't compatible with it.

http://imgur.com/sQZBjOL
Copy of this DS3 set up: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ydn8qqgwouxtys1/BetterDS3.zip?dl=0

Place the folder in C:\Users\*Username*\AppData\Local\ and restart Better DS3 but only use Motioninjoy for the drivers and pairing portion.




Azekus said:
I can't seem to get my controller to actually work on Elite Dangerous. DS3 Tool and Better DS3 both register my actions via the tests. I want to say I've checked everything, but I guess not. Retrograde, I've followed your steps. This is my first time doing anything like this. Took some screen shots, so you can see what I'm looking at.

http://imgur.com/a/ovimF

Any help is deeply appreciated.
Click to expand...
 

Climberfx

Climberfx
Great Retrograde.

Gona try this one. My first PS3 stick is for flight, so, I will turn the second one into my Head tracking, put it in together my headphone.

Until today, I was using Facetracknoir, that works great, if you don't think the lag in response are bothering. But it's cool. Better that not have any one.

But if I can manage this to work, it will be faster and more precise, because it not have to track my face with a simple camera...

Thank's by sharing anyway.

Cheers.
 

Climberfx

Climberfx
I see a problem putting the stick on the head. PS3 stick's don't have yaw. And if you turn it face front up, the sensor will not work. So, for now, still using Facetracknoir for me. T'goes great with iMac HD camera.
 

Climberfx

Climberfx
The question I made in other words:

How did you do yaw, with rotation your head left to right, if ps3 joystick don't have yaw? Or it does? What I saw is only pitch and rotation on both ps3 stick's I have, originals.
 

markuslig

M
Anyone else still using ps3 controller? im trying to use L1 + Dpad buttons for target/sub target selection. It always deselects right after it selects... any ideas on this?

never mind mixed it... was stupid and had "select infront (whatever its called:p)" on L1 and tried to have L1 + Dpad buttons. to select next target subtargets and so on. [wacko]

Great fun trying this with ps3 controller today, using the controller tilt for ship controll, awesome :) Bit of a chalange to fit in all 2 million other bindings on that little controll though :p
 
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