Ps2 controller calibration problem on Vista

[Spoony]

I just recently got a new laptop that has vista installed. Up until now, I've played XI on my Ps2. I finally got everything running, which took a bit thanks to the pain in the ass known as vista, but now i've encountered hopefully my last problem. When I go to FFXI config, gamepad settings, and then do the calibration(hold up and press button one, etc), it doesn't work. The cursor is never in the middle - it's always bugging out. When I start the game, I can't even move my char in a straight line. I tried using the windows gamepad calibration, and that doesn't work either. I started to think it was my controller, even though I tried four separate ones, but then I tried it on my PC, with windows XP. My regular PC can't run XI, but I calibrated the controller on it and it worked perfectly. However, as soon as I went back to my laptop, it went to buggin out again. I don't understand what to doooooooooooo. Any help would be appreciated. SN is salv0420 if it's easier to talk on AIM.

[Feba]

Re: Ps2 controller calibration problem on Vista

Personally, i'd suggest using the keyboard, it's much better from my experience, although on a laptop you might have to set it to Compact mode.

If you do want to use a PS2 controller, make sure your PS2 to USB adapter has the most recent Vista drivers.

[Spoony]

Re: Ps2 controller calibration problem on Vista

Thanks for the response. As for using the keyboard...I have been trying, and it honestly just confuses the fuck out of me. I've been playin on Ps2 since Ps2 release, so I'm just extremely used to it. Also, I'm not entirely sure where to get these new updated drivers?

[Feba]

Re: Ps2 controller calibration problem on Vista

Check the website of the company that manufactured the PS2 -> USB connecter, and see if they have new drivers.

You might want to get a PC gaming controller, so that it feels like PS2, but has more stable driver supports. I don't have much experience with them, but i've never been disappointed in the quality of a logitech product.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: Ps2 controller calibration problem on Vista

i've never been disappointed in the quality of a logitech product.

I have. The Logitech controller I bought was a piece of junk and did not play well with FFXI. It broke in less than a month.

The two Saitek "Rumble Force" controllers I use both are still functioning, surviving two years in fairly heavy usage. (I tend to let the controller slip form my lap and drop them on the carpet a lot, too--like, several times a day.)

Moving characters with keyboard sucks, IMO; a controller is really the way to go. A bonus of using a controller is that FFXI is more responsive to pressing of controller button to bring up the macro menu than the Alt and Ctrl key; in low frame rate condition, it's actually faster to use a controller to get to macros than key presses. (Well, you can get around it by always holding down either Alt or Ctrl key, but that makes typing difficult...) At least, that's the case on my computers.

If you buy a controller, make sure it's from a store which allows for convenient returns. Rating a controller is highly subjective, and with everything made in China, durability is always in question. =/ Make sure you can return whatever you buy if you don't like it or if it feels like it's going to break soon.

One thing to note: the Saitek apparently has higher resolution on the "analog" sticks than PS2 controller; my sister says it's harder to control movement, and she's a PS2 user. I have no problem when I use her PS2 controller, though, so YMMV. It's also larger than the PS2 controller, which ends up being more comfortable in my hands, but bugs the heck out of her.