Saitek P880 - please help an elderly noob

[susman]

I've searched a good bit on these forums for help using the Saitek P880 with MVP 2005, and while I've found bits and pieces of helpful information, I feel like I'm still wandering out in the tall grass (the documentation from both the game and the gamepad leave much to be desired, in my opinion). If anybody could help me get a better command of using this gamepad with the game, I'd really appreciate it. (Disclosure: I'm more of a PC strategy game-player, where I'm accustomed to having as much time as needed to plan my next move. I love baseball, however, and would like to give a game such as this a good college try. So games such as this involving quick reflexes and something as alien as a gamepad are more or less uncharted territory for me.)

How do I bunt? I understand that the analog sticks are supposed to control this, but I've had little luck. I recall someone mentioning to click the stick in - is that the solution?

I tend to mess up my throws to first base in the heat of the play (I seem to frequently throw home), so I tried to remap that function to the right flipper button. It didn't work - the player so ordered appears to be attempting a fake throw (and I did attempt to disable the fake throw - don't see the need for it). Does anybody else have this problem? Does anybody have any custom control-mapping schemes that have simplified things that they'd care to share?

Which buttons are associated with which numbers on the gamepad? I can see buttons 1-8, but which are buttons 9 and 10? Are these the analog stick clicks?

Lastly, I'd be interested in any general advice re: control of the game, remapping suggestions, etc. If it's simply a matter of pointing me in the direction of another posting, that'd be great.

Sorry for the long post, and my apologies if much of this information should be obvious. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[Jim825]

To get the player to square to bunt, press straight down on the right stick (You'll hear it click). Use the left stick to aim where you want the bunt to go (left, right, up, down).

You're correct regarding the button numbering. Button 9 is the left stick and button 10 is the right stick. Button 11 is the rectangular "digital" button (the one that lights up if you press it). This is the button I use to pause the game (to get to the menus to pinch hit, warm up pitchers, replace pitchers, etc.).

Like you, I tried remapping one of the flipper buttons, but in my case it was for outfield relay throws. I too could not get it to work, and it was interesting seeing my outfielder fake a throw to 2nd base.

I've just gotten used to using the buttons to throw to the bases. I can relate to messing up throws in the heat of the moment. I still have never been able to throw the ball properly to 3rd base if a runner attempts to steal 3rd. I end up throwing to 1st or 2nd base and the runner takes the base without a throw.

[txomisc]

this is the control scheme i use

left trigger, bunt

right trigger, fake throw

button 1 - third base

button 2 - second base

button 3 - home

button 4 - first base

i use the right analog to select pitches

i use d pad - up to hit the cutoff man

[MarkB]

Susman, I use a PS2 to PC converter controller, so unfortunately, I can't offer any advice with regard to the usage of the Saitek, but I'd like to congratulate and thank you on making such a perfect first post. Very rarely do we get one of that caliber.

Welcome to the board. :)

[RAM]

you'll need this to get the right analog stick to perform correctly in games. slides, big playes etc. simply go to my docs, mvpbasebeball2005 open controllerconfig w/ notepad, erase contents then copy and paste this in it's place:

profile= Saitek_P880_Pad

device= Saitek_P880_Pad

player= 1

number_of_buttons= 12

number_of_povs= 1

number_of_axis= 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_START= button 11

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SELECT= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CROSS= button 3

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CIRCLE= button 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SQUARE= button 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_TRIANGLE= button 2

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L1= button 7

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R1= button 8

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L2= button 5

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R2= button 6

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L3= button 9

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R3= button 10

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_UP= pov0 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_DOWN= pov180 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_LEFT= pov270 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_RIGHT= pov90 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_RIGHT= axis- 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_LEFT= axis+ 1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_UP= axis+ 2

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_DOWN= axis- 2

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_RIGHT= axis- 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_LEFT= axis+ 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_UP= axis+ 3

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_DOWN= axis- 3

VPAD_PITCH_1= button 3

VPAD_PITCH_2= button 4

VPAD_PITCH_3= button 1

VPAD_PITCH_4= button 2

VPAD_PITCH_5= button 8

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_FIRST= button 4

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_SECOND= button 2

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_THIRD= button 1

VPAD_PITCH_OUT= button 3

VPAD_THROW_BALL= not_assigned -1

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_WALK= button 10

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_HITBATTER= button 9

VPAD_PITCH_HISTORY_OPEN= button 9

VPAD_SWING_NORMAL= button 3

VPAD_SWING_BUNT= button 10

VPAD_CHARGE_MOUND= button 2

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_FIRST= button 4

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_SECOND= button 2

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_THIRD= button 1

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_HOME= button 3

VPAD_FIELD_SWITCH= button 7

VPAD_FIELD_RELAY_THROW= button 6

VPAD_FIELD_CUTOFF_THROW= button 6

VPAD_FIELD_FAKE_RUNDOWN_THROW= button 8

VPAD_RUNNER_FIRST_SELECT= button 4

VPAD_RUNNER_SECOND_SELECT= button 2

VPAD_RUNNER_THIRD_SELECT= button 1

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNFIRST= pov90 1

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNSECOND= pov0 1

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNTHIRD= pov270 1

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNHOME2SCORE= pov180 1

VPAD_BASERUNNER_ADVANCEALL= button 7

VPAD_BASERUNNER_RETREATALL= button 8

profile= Keyboard_Profile_1

device= Keyboard_Profile_1

player= 2

number_of_buttons= 0

number_of_povs= 0

number_of_axis= 0

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_START= key sc_esc

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SELECT= key sc_divide

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CROSS= key sc_down

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CIRCLE= key sc_right

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SQUARE= key sc_left

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_TRIANGLE= key sc_up

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L1= key sc_numpad0

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R1= key sc_numpadenter

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L2= key sc_add

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R2= key sc_backslash

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L3= key sc_pagedown

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R3= key sc_pageup

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_UP= key sc_numpad8

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_DOWN= key sc_numpad2

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_LEFT= key sc_numpad4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_RIGHT= key sc_numpad6

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_RIGHT= key sc_numpad6

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_LEFT= key sc_numpad4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_UP= key sc_numpad8

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_DOWN= key sc_numpad2

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_RIGHT= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_LEFT= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_UP= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_DOWN= not_assigned -1

VPAD_PITCH_1= key sc_down

VPAD_PITCH_2= key sc_right

VPAD_PITCH_3= key sc_left

VPAD_PITCH_4= key sc_up

VPAD_PITCH_5= key sc_numpadenter

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_FIRST= key sc_right

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_SECOND= key sc_up

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_THIRD= key sc_left

VPAD_PITCH_OUT= key sc_down

VPAD_THROW_BALL= key sc_rshift

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_WALK= key sc_pageup

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_HITBATTER= key sc_pagedown

VPAD_PITCH_HISTORY_OPEN= key sc_rbracket

VPAD_SWING_NORMAL= key sc_down

VPAD_SWING_BUNT= key sc_numpad0

VPAD_CHARGE_MOUND= key sc_up

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_FIRST= key sc_right

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_SECOND= key sc_up

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_THIRD= key sc_left

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_HOME= key sc_down

VPAD_FIELD_SWITCH= key sc_numpad0

VPAD_FIELD_RELAY_THROW= key sc_backslash

VPAD_FIELD_CUTOFF_THROW= key sc_backslash

VPAD_FIELD_FAKE_RUNDOWN_THROW= key sc_numpadenter

VPAD_RUNNER_FIRST_SELECT= key sc_right

VPAD_RUNNER_SECOND_SELECT= key sc_up

VPAD_RUNNER_THIRD_SELECT= key sc_left

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNFIRST= key sc_numpad6

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNSECOND= key sc_numpad8

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNTHIRD= key sc_numpad4

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNHOME2SCORE= key sc_numpad2

VPAD_BASERUNNER_ADVANCEALL= key sc_pageup

VPAD_BASERUNNER_RETREATALL= key sc_pagedown

profile= Keyboard_Profile_2

device= Keyboard_Profile_2

player= 0

number_of_buttons= 0

number_of_povs= 0

number_of_axis= 0

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_START= key sc_esc

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SELECT= key sc_divide

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CROSS= key sc_k

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_CIRCLE= key sc_l

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_SQUARE= key sc_j

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_TRIANGLE= key sc_i

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L1= key sc_f

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R1= key sc_u

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L2= key sc_q

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R2= key sc_x

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L3= key sc_tab

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R3= key sc_b

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_UP= key sc_w

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_DOWN= key sc_s

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_LEFT= key sc_a

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_DPAD_RIGHT= key sc_d

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_RIGHT= key sc_d

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_LEFT= key sc_a

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_UP= key sc_w

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_L_STICK_DOWN= key sc_s

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_RIGHT= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_LEFT= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_UP= not_assigned -1

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_DOWN= not_assigned -1

VPAD_PITCH_1= key sc_k

VPAD_PITCH_2= key sc_l

VPAD_PITCH_3= key sc_j

VPAD_PITCH_4= key sc_i

VPAD_PITCH_5= key sc_u

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_FIRST= key sc_l

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_SECOND= key sc_i

VPAD_FIELD_PICK_OFF_THROW_THIRD= key sc_j

VPAD_PITCH_OUT= key sc_k

VPAD_THROW_BALL= key sc_lctrl

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_WALK= key sc_g

VPAD_INTENTIONAL_HITBATTER= key sc_h

VPAD_PITCH_HISTORY_OPEN= key sc_tab

VPAD_SWING_NORMAL= key sc_space

VPAD_SWING_BUNT= key sc_b

VPAD_CHARGE_MOUND= key sc_c

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_FIRST= key sc_l

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_SECOND= key sc_i

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_THIRD= key sc_j

VPAD_FIELD_THROW_HOME= key sc_k

VPAD_FIELD_SWITCH= key sc_f

VPAD_FIELD_RELAY_THROW= key sc_x

VPAD_FIELD_CUTOFF_THROW= key sc_x

VPAD_FIELD_FAKE_RUNDOWN_THROW= key sc_z

VPAD_RUNNER_FIRST_SELECT= key sc_l

VPAD_RUNNER_SECOND_SELECT= key sc_i

VPAD_RUNNER_THIRD_SELECT= key sc_j

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNFIRST= key sc_d

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNSECOND= key sc_w

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNTHIRD= key sc_a

VPAD_RUNNER_RUNHOME2SCORE= key sc_s

VPAD_BASERUNNER_ADVANCEALL= key sc_q

VPAD_BASERUNNER_RETREATALL= key sc_e

[reddawg60]

I myself would suggest to rename said file in my documents to something different as opposed to erasing it.

[susman]

Thanks for all of the tips and suggestions. I really appreciate them.

Rambully, can you please explain to me what exactly that copy-and-paste you posted will accomplish? What does it do, and why is that my current, default setup is insufficient? Are there other variations of that (whatever "that" may be)? As you can probably infer, I'm not very technically sophisticated with this kind of stuff (jeesh, like I just wanna play some baseball, ya know?).

I'll gladly take steps to improve my gamepad's capabilities, but I'd like to first understand what it is that I'm correcting. Thanks.

[RAM]

simple really. for some reason the right stick on the controller is all out of whack out of the box IN THIS GAME, other games it seems to work ok i believe, it's been a while. let's take a simple example without using the copy and paste. let's take a headfirst slide, normally you would merely just push up on the stick, but since the calibration is off on these pads, you'll find if you push up he may slide feet first to the outside of the bag etc. same goes for your fileders when trying to dive for a gapper or slide for a ball they just can't get to. it can really produce some miserable results in the worst situations. the copy and paste will resolve that for you. it has the correct axis settings for the right stick. if your right stick is working correctly (don't believe we've come across one yet), then you're good to go.

[susman]

Rambully: I attempted the copy-and-paste that you suggested, and unfortunately it didn't work. It causes the game to crash after attempting to load. Thinking that the problem was with me - as such problems typically are - rather than your suggestion, I attempted the remedy a variety of times to rule out the possibility of it being my error. Thankfully, I kept a back-up of the original configuration, and each time I swapped the original back in, the game loaded cleanly. I even came back to this message thread to copy and paste the file again to make sure that that wasn't the problem - no dice; the problem persists.

I have the original file and at least will be able to play the game, so I'm no worse off than when I started if all remedies should fail. But I would like to fix my controller configuration file if that can be done. Any further suggestions for me as to what might be the problem? And again, thanks for helping a poor, technically unsavvy noob - such generosity earns you much instant karma.

(And it looks like this thread might have so evolved that it now properly belongs in the "Support" forum. My apologies for that, but it wasn't born as such.)

[susman]

I did some tinkering around with the controller config file, and I managed to get it to work - the game no longer crashes after attempting to load, and the right stick appears to be working properly. I'm posting the solution that worked for me for anybody who might find himself confronted with the same problem.

I originally copied and pasted the config file that rambully posted above. For reasons unknown to me, that caused the game to repeatedly crash. So rather than copy and paste the new configuration over the old one, I simply edited the original file to match the correct file. The game now loads crash-free, and the problem appears solved.

Why this worked I don't know, but it did - worth a try if you have the same problem I did.

[RAM]

not sure why i crashed but oh well as long as it worked for you. if you ever have problems again w/ the right stick just save this and edit the appropriate lines.

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_RIGHT= axis- 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_LEFT= axis+ 4

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_UP= axis+ 3

VPAD_VIRTUAL_BUTTON_R_STICK_DOWN= axis- 3