RockGOG: I just bought the 3D Pro and experienced the exact same problem.
My solution is totally different.
1) Install the software on the disc that came with the 3D Pro.
2) Go to the Logitech website and install the latest gaming software for your operating system:
(
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/441/291?selectedcrid=441&selectedcid=291&WT.z_sp=Product&osid=&bit=)
Click on Software Downloads and make selections that apply to your system.
3) Part of the software that gets installed is a utility called a "profiler". The profiler maps joystick actions to game commands. The Logitech software includes a bunch of "profiles" for various popular games ... but not Descent :(
4) Go to the WingMan site and grab the profile for the Descent game you're interested in:
http://www.wingmanteam.com/profiles/profiles_team.htm#D 5) Back on the Logitech profiler utility, import the WingMan profile you just downloaded.
Now you have a Descent profile :)
6) This is the fun part - assigning game actions and/or "keystrokes" to the 12 buttons-hat switch-twist handle-throttle-trigger components in the joystick. I assigned the slide action to the hatswitch and forward&reverse to the throttle, but it's totally a matter of personal preference. You can assign the slide action to the joystick twist instead.
(See attached image)
Some caveats:
I'm using the GOG versions (DosBox and no mods) of the game (so far ;).
This is my first attempt at using a joystick in this game - this solution seems to work great in Descent I and II (haven't tried it on Descent III yet) but there might be a better way. I used the Descent II profile and it just "magically" worked in Descent I as well.
You have to run the Logitech profiler when gaming.
The Logitech profiler cannot launch or auto-detect the GOG Descent games:
It has the capability to launch the game for you as well as detect when a game is being launched externally. It's supposed to automatically start working no matter how the game is started by giving it the filespec to the game executable in one of the setup menus. The problem with the Descent I and II GOG setup is that a batch file is used to launch the game ... the game executable isn't directly called.
So once the profile is setup, playing the GOG game is a three step process:
1) Launch the Logitech profiler and manually select the Descent profile you've set up.
2) Double-click the Descent icon GOG places on the desktop.
3) Game-on!
Hope this helps!
See 'ya in the mines - when I figure out what steps are required to go multiplayer :)
Brer_Rabbit10: I seem to remember the frustration I had 15 years ago when I tried to set up my joystick for this game. It's all come back to me~ ;->) First, thanks so much for the wonderful instructions. I couldn't have gotten as far as I have without them. But my frustration level is growing because I can't "quite" seem to get it all to come together.
- Same joystick as yours (got the best reviews).
- All has apparently been downloaded successfully.
- The Profile was set up with the name of Descent I and the executable file as C:\Program Files\GOG.com\Descent and Descent 2\DOSBOX\DOSBox.exe. I chose that file because that's the target of the Descent icon created by the Descent download and installation program.
- The button assignments in the profiler are not assigned as you look at the window.
- When I run the profile I get two windows: a DOSBox status window that says "One joystick reported, initializing with 4axis" "Using joystick Logitech Extreme 3D Pro USB with 4 axes, 12 buttons and 1 hat(s)"
- Second DOS window welcomes me to DOSBox v0.74 etc., and then "Z:\>SET BLASTER=A220 I7 D1 H5 T6"
- And that's it. No Descent
- Tried using the DESCENT.BAT as the target but got an error message indicating that "C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe This system does not support fullscreen mode. Choose 'Close' to terminate this application."
- Then I tried aiming the profiler at the DESCENTR.EXE file rather than the .BAT file. I got the same message about the lack of support for the fullscreen mode.
I suspect I've missed a basic but very necessary step. Can you put my feet on the right path. I'd greatly appreciate it.
Hey Brer - a couple of things come to mind.
First, I never was able to get the game to launch from the Logitech Profiler.
Like you, I tried targeting a couple of the "obvious" Descent files, but no-joy.
When you double click the installed Descent desktop icon, does your game launch?
Regarding your observation about the missing button assignments.
The WingMan game profile only imports the Descent game
commands ...
i.e. "slide up", "rotate right", "move down", "fire primary weapon", etc..
So, first you import the game profile into the Logitech profiler.
Then, in the Logitech profiler, you directly assign the Descent commands to whatever joystick "button/twist/pull action" you like. This allows for total customization of the joystick behavior :)
Hopefully this helps and I'll see 'ya soon in the mines!
hoppingmad: http://www.wingmanteam.com/profiles/profiles_team.htm#D is attempting to load, Im surprised it hasnt timed out yet
In the .conf files Ive found, joystk set to auto
Lets just say Ive not enabled the joystk yet
in the game I can scroll thru the joystick mouse options but can not select anything , mouse just seems to be default
Grab a 2x4 and beat it into me
grandkids coming thursday, would like it working
Not sure what the problem is here.
The WingMan profile has to load properly in the Logitech Profiler for this method to work.
In my setup, the joystick seems to be the default Descent contoller and I am unable to select anything else. Never had to go into the config files.
First things first - try to get the WingMan profile imported into the Logitech Profiler.