Page 3
A Visit to Saitek
by Kurt GiesselmanThe SGE programming software allows for a ‘latched’ shift as do the Cyborg and X36 joysticks. This feature alone greatly expands the functional potential of the PCDash 2. A future version of the SGE software will toggle the mini-joystick's LED color to indicate shift state.
PCdash2 placed over keyboard
Saitek continues to look forward and beyond with the PCDash 2 product. I have been sworn to secrecy, but their ideas for the next generation are as exciting and innovative as the PCDash 2’s improvements over the original design. There is an in-depth review of the ‘Dash2’ underway which will include a full How-To and Help Guide to update my original Guide to Programming with Saitek Gaming Extensions.
The new version of Saitek Gaming Extensions (numbers to be determined, although I voted for v2.0 because of the number of new features, PCDash 2 support, and the squashing of the last few major bugs) does include a printing function. After I saw the print function work, I understood the difficulty in implementing it. SGE is an integrated package that supports USB joysticks, USB wheels, USB gamepads, the GM-2 gaming pad/mouse combo, and soon the PCDash 2.
Ali Farmer told me that all their controllers will, in all liklihood, be run through SGE. The print function had to recognize the different devices and configure its output to match each device. This first pass (and Ali Farmer assured me that this was a first pass) just creates a basic list of the key assignments for the device. The PCDash 2 gets a printout that can be cut-out for insertion under the flip-top but above the keyboard's spill-proof membrane. The printout will only have the keystroke labels. The label text and background color for each keystroke are selectable.
The fancy icons, available on the Saitek site, used to create the original PC Dash overlays cannot be used directly. All is not lost, however. Saitek has made arrangements to include a version of Paint Shop Pro on the installation disk included with the PCDash 2. I'm willing to bet that we will be awash in custom overlays for the new ‘dash2’ before it even hits the market.
New entry level joysticks
Turning to other news, the controller wizards at Saitek have several new trick sticks under development. A new line of entry level joysticks is already in production. The sticks are based on a Cyborg style design but without the full adjustability / flexibility of the Cyborg line. The three sticks are to be priced aggressively---below US $50 (perhaps starting under US $20). The two higher-priced models offer twisting action for rudder control; the top model includes a throttle control.
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