Solved Using an old joystick in Windows 11 24H2

Hello!

Old folks should remember the classic Amiga joystick with the arcade style game stick with the ball on top. Some years ago I had found a PC joystick resembling this Amiga joystick with 4 buttons (one normal size and three smaller). This could connect to a standard PC game port like that on the old SoundBlaster audio cards, or you could use a game port to USB adapter like the Logilink UA052C. This way is compatible with MS-DOS and all Windows versions from Windows 95 to Windows 10. With the USB adapter you can use it on a laptop too.

Recently I played some arcade games on MAME arcade emulator. I then thought that it would be better experience if I played with the joystick than with the keyboard. I connected it on my main PC running Windows 11 24H2 and I tried to find the calibration settings. Of course the old Game controllers setting is no longer available in Control Panel. I went on Settings, Bluetooth and Devices and at first I could not find it! Panic! I thought either the joystick or the adapter was broken and both are hard to replace! The specific brand is out of business and replacing the adapter didn't guarantee the joystick would work! Thankfully after a more careful look at the Settings revealed it as 2-axis 4-button game controller, thanks God. However there was only a Remove option, not calibration. I had to search for Game Controller to find the good old calibration setting which used to be in Control Panel.

I bought one of these about 15 years ago to play MAME. It still works.

$244US for that? No thanks

Mine has the stick on the right side and the buttons on the left, like most arcade games in Greece. Having the buttons on the right side is not convenient, so I hesitate buying a new one. Also I had bought it for about 40€ including the adapter, so I find it ridiculous to pay more than 50€ for a new one.

My CSM Super 8+ 4-button joystick:


If you can find me a similar model with 4 or more buttons on the left side at a reasonable price you are welcome. USB connection is preferable, but if it has game port connector I can use my adapter.

OK just to summarize for other readers, when you connect an old game controller in Windows 10 and earlier, you could go to Control Panel, open Devices and Printers, find it and calibrate it from here. I am not sure for older Windows 11 versions, but in Windows 11 24H2 clicking Devices and Printers in Control Panel takes you to Settings, Bluetooth and Devices instead. The controller is not visible there, but don't panic, click on Devices and scroll down to find it. A rather inconvenient "bug" is that you cannot calibrate it from there, you can only remove it. Not very useful. How do you calibrate it then? Just search for game controller to see Setup USB game controllers. Open it and you get the familiar good old "traditional" setting from Control Panel where you see your game controller. Click on it and then click on Properties and then Calibrate. Not very intuitive, let's hope they add a link to open calibration from Devices in Settings. I had set MAME to also select game by joystick and it was scrolling uncontrollably because of bad calibration. Once I calibrated my game controller everything was normal again and I could enjoy my arcade games in Windows 11 24H2 with my old fashioned arcade style joystick (see picture above).

Here's mine. I bought this is 2002 or 2003. Still works like a champ.
Detected with zero issues on Win XP through Win 11. (USB)



MS Sidewinder Precision 2 joystick

spapakons said:

OK just to summarize for other readers, when you connect an old game controller in Windows 10 and earlier, you could go to Control Panel, open Devices and Printers, find it and calibrate it from here. I am not sure for older Windows 11 versions, but in Windows 11 24H2 clicking Devices and Printers in Control Panel takes you to Settings, Bluetooth and Devices instead. The controller is not visible there, but don't panic, click on Devices and scroll down to find it. A rather inconvenient "bug" is that you cannot calibrate it from there, you can only remove it. Not very useful. How do you calibrate it then? Just search for game controller to see Setup USB game controllers. Open it and you get the familiar good old "traditional" setting from Control Panel where you see your game controller. Click on it and then click on Properties and then Calibrate. Not very intuitive, let's hope they add a link to open calibration from Devices in Settings. I had set MAME to also select game by joystick and it was scrolling uncontrollably because of bad calibration. Once I calibrated my game controller everything was normal again and I could enjoy my arcade games in Windows 11 24H2 with my old fashioned arcade style joystick (see picture above).

Click to expand...

just run this:

heres a controller for you haha

Yes, it is a little pricey, but "Santa" hasn't visited me yet. Since I am "Santa" (I pay), I can make a little exception and get it after Christmas

Thank you!

What about games without game controller support?

Some games do not have an option to play them with a game controller. However, a little utility called AntimicroX (derived from the ogirinal Antimicro) can remap any keyboard key or mouse move/key to a key in the joystick! All you have to do is map the arrow keys to the respective joystick moves and every other game key to the joystick buttons! Then you load your game and instread of playing with the keyboard you play with the joystick! Mission accomplished!


PS: For all of us with a "legacy" joystick (aka DirectInput mode compatible), there are also utilities that convert it to Xbox 360 controller mode to play with modern games that don't support DirectInput mode game controllers. I don't remember which one I had tried, I will post back.

EDIT: I found this site: How to use old DirectInput controllers in new XInput games