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deathboyI just got my Wiimote working with my PC!
Starting my reading [here], it only took about 15 mins - there are a few requirements that might stop it working immediately, but it's not really that hard.
You'll need:
* Wiimote (dur)
* Wii (if you want to use the pointer functions, otherwise not)
* Bluetooth dongle
Now, the Bluetooth dongle will be the sticking point. It apparently has to work with non-MS Bluetooth drivers - the ones used in the example I followed, and that work on mine are BlueSoleil.
The BlueSoleil drivers come free with some dongles, or if you download their trial software, if your dongle is in some magical list, it will apparently work for free. If not, it will go into a trial mode and you have to pay. Unless you locate the full, working, cracked drivers somewhere else for instance.
I'm using THIS dongle - a cheap SafeCom one that I remember came with BlueSoleil, I've had kicking around for ages. Another cheap one I have (Belkin) does NOT work with BlueSoleil. I think this is the same one (it's a fiver).
So, install drivers. Plug in dongle. Run BlueSoleil. Check that BlueSoleil works with your dongle (if it doesn't, it'll say "Please insert a bluetooth device" at the bottom).
Now, you want GlovePIE. This is some hobby software that converts from a variety of controllers to various Windows (and MIDI!) messages.
It's being used with Wiimotes a lot at the moment, so it comes with a tonne of scripts you can try.
Now, you'll want to connect to the Wiimote.
I'm not sure if I did this right, or if there's a better way, but I did this by pressing the power button, then quickly pressing 1+2 on the Wiimote at the same time. If it's in the right mode, the blue lights will all flash for about 30 seconds, which means that it's disclosing itself to nearby BlueTooth devices. If the lights stop flashing, press 1+2 again OR just hold them down continually while you link up :P
The various guides I read implied that you had to PAIR with the Wiimote. You don't. In BlueSoleil, I hit F5 (or click the sun icon in the middle of the app) to look for new devices. It spots a new device (and gives it an icon a bit like a keyboard). Right-click / "Discover Services" and it should grab the name of the device (Nintendo RVL CNT-01).
It should light up just one icon, indicating it's found a BlueTooh HID (Human Interface Device) service. Connect to ths (click the mouse icon) while the Wiimote's lights are flashing. It should show that the service is activated, the BlueTooth icon on the taskbar goes green, etc.
Now, you just need to run GlovePIE and pick a script, hit RUN. Apparently, GlovePIE has a bug that when you run a script, the STOP the script, you have to quit and restart before it'll run another script properly. Nice. So, I associated .PIE files with the GlovePIE exe, so I saved a few clicks between runs.
If you run the TestWiimote.PIE script, you should see loads of quickly fluctuating numbers in GlovePIE to show it's getting controller data in.
Within WiimoteScripts, there's a few (with "mouse" in the title) that control the mouse. dur. And lots of others (including a drum script that will play midi drums on your Windows soundcard - badly!) If you're going to use the Wiimote as a pointer, you'll need your Wii turned on so the "sensor bar" is active (a misnomer, actually, it's not a sensor, it's a bank of LEDs that the Wiimote looks for).
And that's it, for now! Yell me if you try it and have problems. With a little experimentation, it seems to be quite simple.
Next up, checking what comedy things we can control (ie, filter sweeps in soft-synths and mixing in video programs).
Starting my reading [here], it only took about 15 mins - there are a few requirements that might stop it working immediately, but it's not really that hard.
You'll need:
* Wiimote (dur)
* Wii (if you want to use the pointer functions, otherwise not)
* Bluetooth dongle
Now, the Bluetooth dongle will be the sticking point. It apparently has to work with non-MS Bluetooth drivers - the ones used in the example I followed, and that work on mine are BlueSoleil.
The BlueSoleil drivers come free with some dongles, or if you download their trial software, if your dongle is in some magical list, it will apparently work for free. If not, it will go into a trial mode and you have to pay. Unless you locate the full, working, cracked drivers somewhere else for instance.
I'm using THIS dongle - a cheap SafeCom one that I remember came with BlueSoleil, I've had kicking around for ages. Another cheap one I have (Belkin) does NOT work with BlueSoleil. I think this is the same one (it's a fiver).
So, install drivers. Plug in dongle. Run BlueSoleil. Check that BlueSoleil works with your dongle (if it doesn't, it'll say "Please insert a bluetooth device" at the bottom).
Now, you want GlovePIE. This is some hobby software that converts from a variety of controllers to various Windows (and MIDI!) messages.
It's being used with Wiimotes a lot at the moment, so it comes with a tonne of scripts you can try.
Now, you'll want to connect to the Wiimote.
I'm not sure if I did this right, or if there's a better way, but I did this by pressing the power button, then quickly pressing 1+2 on the Wiimote at the same time. If it's in the right mode, the blue lights will all flash for about 30 seconds, which means that it's disclosing itself to nearby BlueTooth devices. If the lights stop flashing, press 1+2 again OR just hold them down continually while you link up :P
The various guides I read implied that you had to PAIR with the Wiimote. You don't. In BlueSoleil, I hit F5 (or click the sun icon in the middle of the app) to look for new devices. It spots a new device (and gives it an icon a bit like a keyboard). Right-click / "Discover Services" and it should grab the name of the device (Nintendo RVL CNT-01).
It should light up just one icon, indicating it's found a BlueTooh HID (Human Interface Device) service. Connect to ths (click the mouse icon) while the Wiimote's lights are flashing. It should show that the service is activated, the BlueTooth icon on the taskbar goes green, etc.
Now, you just need to run GlovePIE and pick a script, hit RUN. Apparently, GlovePIE has a bug that when you run a script, the STOP the script, you have to quit and restart before it'll run another script properly. Nice. So, I associated .PIE files with the GlovePIE exe, so I saved a few clicks between runs.
If you run the TestWiimote.PIE script, you should see loads of quickly fluctuating numbers in GlovePIE to show it's getting controller data in.
Within WiimoteScripts, there's a few (with "mouse" in the title) that control the mouse. dur. And lots of others (including a drum script that will play midi drums on your Windows soundcard - badly!) If you're going to use the Wiimote as a pointer, you'll need your Wii turned on so the "sensor bar" is active (a misnomer, actually, it's not a sensor, it's a bank of LEDs that the Wiimote looks for).
And that's it, for now! Yell me if you try it and have problems. With a little experimentation, it seems to be quite simple.
Next up, checking what comedy things we can control (ie, filter sweeps in soft-synths and mixing in video programs).
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no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 09:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:12 pm (UTC)I found that the Wiimote could get confused if your Wii was turned on or in standby mode nearby though.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:21 pm (UTC)I had to do this at work recently, so that we could prototype the controls for a game we're writing on the Wii - I ended up using BlueSoleil too, although apparently any non-ms bluetooth stack should work.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:25 pm (UTC)what sort of thing can you use for replacement IR emitters?
no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:39 pm (UTC)We all know you already have that set up. With dragon-bat candlestick holders. We all know.
(two infra-red remotes with buttons taped down ought to do similar too)
no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 01:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 06:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 09:22 am (UTC)Two remote controls with the buttons taped down
Any pair of strong heat sources
Homemade IR emitter - you can buy IR leds from a variety of places. I'm planning to replace my own IR bar with two boxes this way - I already have the parts, and once done, I'll be able to vary the length of the "bar", and improve the aim to my projector.
no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-02 10:38 pm (UTC)3.1415927OMNYOMNYOMNYOM...
no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 10:55 am (UTC)is that the actual serial number or did you name it?
no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 12:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-12-03 03:23 pm (UTC)