Sim Systems Controller Command Module

Controller Command Module (CCM)

Manufactured By: Sym Systems

Retail Price: $29

Review Date: 07-18-99

The Controller Command Module (CCM) utility is the game controller "controller's" ultimate add-on. It allows you to program a huge array of functions including your game controller, keyboard and mouse.

The functions available include (take directly from the Sim Systems webpage)-

_Program Keystrokes

Using CCM, you can program a virtually unlimited number of keystrokes and assign them to a button on your joystick device. Easily program standard keystrokes, cyclic keystrokes and repeating keystrokes.

Program Mouse Clicks

Using CCM, you can program mouse clicks which can be performed by pressing a button on your joystick device, no more reaching for the mouse at that critical stage in your game. Mouse clicks can be any combination of left, right and middle buttons with any combination of click, double click, mouse down and mouse up. You can even program it to just move the mouse without a click.

Program Force Feedback Effects

Using CCM, you can create your own force feedback effects. Ideal for those games that do not have any FFE built in. Bring your favorite old game to life by programming and assigning FFE to any button on your joystick device. Comes with a simple to use FFE editor to make this job really easy.

Program Sound Events

Using CCM, you can program a button to play a WAV file when pressed. Another great way to add more life to your games. You can even record your own voice and use that in your games, very easy to do with the built in voice recorder.

Program Synthesized Text to Speech

Using CCM, you can listen to computer generated text to speech. Add different effects to make the computer voice sound however you want (male, female, angry, excited, spacey etc etc).

Program Joystick Axis

You are not limited to just programming the buttons on your joystick device, you can even program the axis (left, right, up, down, forward, back). Ideal for older games that do not have any joystick capabilities, or for enhancing existing games.

Program Keyboard Keys

With CCM, most of the keys on the keyboard can be treated the same way as a button or joystick axis on your joystick. You can program a keyboard key to send any number and combination of "events" just like a joystick button. Even if you already have a fully programmable joystick, you can still use CCM to add any extra functionality you need.

Virtual Buttons and Modes

CCM provides a unique concept called modes. This allows you to program more buttons and keyboard keys than you really have. CCM supports 5 modes, each mode can be programmed independently of the others. You tell CCM how to change modes and when. If for example your joystick has 8 buttons and you use 5 modes, you end up with 40 joystick buttons to program. Remember, you can even program keyboard keys and axis in each mode, this all adds up to total control during gameplay.

Templates and Profiles

All programming of events is performed using a very simple interface. Commands and settings can be kept in profiles for easy maintenance. For example, you may have a Doom profile, a Flight Simulator profile and a LinksLS profile. All separate commands, all stored apart, but can be used together if required.

Automatically Loads and Unloads Templates

You can configure a template to load automatically when your game starts and then to unload automatically when your game finishes. If you have CCM running in the task tray and all your templates are set to load automatically, you never have to start and stop CCM, it will do it all by itself.

Different Controllers

You may have more than one joystick device, for example a joystick, a gamepad and a steering wheel. CCM can easily accommodate this as you can create your own controller settings and simply program the one you want, when you want.

Mix and Match Combinations

All the features mentioned above can be assigned in any combination to any button. For example, you could program the trigger on your joystick to send some keystrokes, move and click the mouse, play a WAV file, fire a gun, play a force feedback effect and then send some more keystrokes. A slightly ridiculous example we know, but if you can think of it, CCM can do it..._

I can't help but feel I have just begun to scratch the surface of the function of the CCM even though I have had it installed and in use for nearly a month.

Features-

See above.

Appropriate For-

Any game controller, mouse or keyboard lacking programmability function with games having complicated keystrokes, lacking force-feedback, lacking game controller support, etc.

System Requirements-

IBM PC compatible with Windows 95/98

Price -

The CCM is available as a free download. The download is a fully functional version of the utility with a 15 minute timer.

For a $29 fee an unlock code can be obtained to disable the time limitation.

Performance -

The CCM is a great tool for enhancing your game control experience. I have just begun to scratch the surface of its function but the features I have used are worth the purchase price alone.

The first feature I explored was adding force-feedback effects to games that do not support force-feedback. I actually used the feature with the AVB Force-Feedback Wheel and Carmageddon II (which does support force-feedback but very poorly). I assigned forces to the button presses and finally had force-feedback in the game, although it only occurred when I pressed action buttons. I also used this feature with the InterAct Fx Force Feedback Racing Wheel with the same success. You can program force feedback effects with both of these controllers using either the I-Force Studio for the AVB Wheel or the InterAct profiler for the Fx Wheel but both were handled through the CCM.

Other features that will receive much use by users are the button programming and mode options. You can assign keystroke (or multiple keystrokes) to a controller button press. Using the mode feature you can setup 5 modes that allow you to switch the functions of the buttons on your controller. Combining these two features allows you to program every function of a complicated sim to joystick buttons. I put these features to work with the Thrustmaster Reflex 3D USB which offers no button programmability and has 8 buttons, 4 axis and a 8 way hat stitch. I was able to program 40 actions to the buttons using the mode switching action (I couldn't find a game with that many functions I use). The tricky part here is remembering what mode you had the buttons in otherwise it worked fine.

Not only was I able to program all of the button presses but I was able to assign keystrokes to the button presses. Again, access to 40 actions with a single 8 button joystick is impressive (and also a memory test!). Flight Unlimited II was the best sim to test these features on because its a great sim but doesn't allow you to assign button functions within the game. I created a profile using the Reflex 3D allowing me to have 2 different modes, switched with the "1" and "2" keys on the keyboard and programmed the useful functions of the sim to the buttons. For good measure I used the Sound Events feature to record my voice saying what the functions were and programmed them to the buttons.

The end result was having 16 functions on the 8 joystick buttons each identified by a verbal description after being executed. Not bad for a game that is not too friendly to button assignment. Like any other utility that runs in the background, the CCM did use up some system resources. It was not until I implemented the Sound Events did I see a system slowdown, but it still left the sim playable.

Setup-

Setup is straight forward. Download the 4.5mb file from the Sim Systems website and run the executable. The installation process takes but a few minutes and is self explanatory. The install version includes all of the features of the full version but it has a 15 minute per use limit activated.

To register the CCM and remove the time limitation you must extract your system key, and forward it along with $29 to Sim Systems for the unlock code. This can be done through standard mail or E-Mail.

You can add the CCM shortcut to your start up folder if you would like it to automatically start when your system boots up but I prefer to activate it when I want to use it instead.

**Documentation -

**The CCM does not come with any printed documentation on its use. However, it has a very extensive help module that details every aspect of the CCM. It took me a good part of an evening just to read it through. There are many definitions and explanations in addition to the instructions on how to use the CCM. I highly recommend the Force Feedback Discussion.

Overall Rating -

The CCM is a great utility that combines all of the controller utilities you have for various controllers. None of its features are really new but no other utility offers all of them in one package. It offers the advantage of being a single interface that works with different manufacturers products.

The CCM is a recommended product for anyone looking for better control of their controllers.