Got a Wired Xbox 360 Controller AND Flight Simulator 2004?

How 'bout milk? Got that? Well, as you've heard me say (write?) before, the Xbox 360 controller goes with Flight Simulator like peanut butter sandwiches and milk---mmm, mmm, good! I like mine so much I just had to make it work with Flight Sim 2004, too. And since Microsoft has a DirectInput driver available from Windows Update this was a piece of cake (which, come to think of it, goes good with milk, too). So, if you've got a wired controller and Flight Sim (the milk is optional) here's all you have to do:

 

1. Locate your FS root folder.

2. Open the DEVICES.CFG file in Notepad.

3. Copy and paste the following lines into the end of the file:

 

[Microsoft Xbox Wired Gamepad (Controller)]
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_AILERONS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=20
AXIS_NULL_00=1
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_ELEVATOR_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=20
AXIS_NULL_01=1
AXIS_EVENT_02=AXIS_RUDDER_SET
AXIS_SCALE_02=-1
AXIS_NULL_02=0
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_PAN_HEADING
AXIS_SCALE_03=64
AXIS_NULL_03=30
AXIS_EVENT_04=AXIS_PAN_PITCH
AXIS_SCALE_04=-64
AXIS_NULL_04=30
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=THROTTLE_DECR_SMALL
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_00=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=THROTTLE_INCR_SMALL
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_01=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=GEAR_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=BRAKES
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_03=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=VIEW_MODE_REV
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_05=VIEW_MODE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=PAUSE_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=USER_INTERRUPT
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_08=ELEV_TRIM_DN
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_08=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_09=ELEV_TRIM_UP
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_09=1
POV_MOVE_EVENT_00=PAN_VIEW
POV_MOVE_REPEAT_00=1

[Microsoft Xbox Wired Gamepad (Controller) SLEW]
AXIS_EVENT_00=AXIS_SLEW_SIDEWAYS_SET
AXIS_SCALE_00=64
AXIS_NULL_00=20
AXIS_EVENT_01=AXIS_SLEW_AHEAD_SET
AXIS_SCALE_01=64
AXIS_NULL_01=20
AXIS_EVENT_02=AXIS_SLEW_BANK_SET
AXIS_SCALE_02=-32
AXIS_NULL_02=0
AXIS_EVENT_03=AXIS_SLEW_HEADING_SET
AXIS_SCALE_03=32
AXIS_NULL_03=5
AXIS_EVENT_04=AXIS_SLEW_ALT_SET
AXIS_SCALE_04=-127
AXIS_NULL_04=10
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_00=SLEW_PITCH_PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_00=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_01=SLEW_PITCH_MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_REPEAT_01=1
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_02=MINUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_03=PLUS
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_04=VIEW_MODE_REV
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_05=VIEW_MODE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_06=PAUSE_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_07=SLEW_TOGGLE
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_08=SLEW_RESET
BUTTON_DOWN_EVENT_09=SLEW_FREEZE
POV_MOVE_EVENT_00=PAN_VIEW
POV_MOVE_REPEAT_00=1

 

4. Save the file.

5. Plug in the controller (and wait for the driver to update if necessary).

6. Launch FS.

 

This file provides a reasonable default set of control mappings although you can tweak them by using the Assignments dialog in FS. Oh, and as a BONUS, if you have an Xbox 360 headset you can simply plug it into the controller and it will show up as a sound device in Control Panel. Just select it as your default output device, sit back on your couch (provided your PC is nearby <g>), relax and enjoy the elegance of comfortable flying. Ahhh, it doesn't get any better...