New Buttkicker Gamer PLUS and Simshaker

[Youtch]

Buttkicker released this year a newly upgraded model: the Buttkicker Gamer PLUS.

 

I don t know if anyone in IL2 community has already this new model and tried it with Simshaker.

 

Among other improvements, it is now coming with USB connection and new software called Hapticonnect.

 

Hapticonnect uses game telemetry but it does not support IL2 (at least not yet).

 

I understand you can still connect it through Andre s Simshaker Wings software as the older model, but the question is if it can then take benefit of USB connection to PC or we still need to rely on audio connection through soundcard?

 

Buttkicker seems to state that USB is only working while using their proprietaty software Hapticonnect.

 

Thank you very much in advance for your insight,

Y.

[CosmiC10R]

Just got my Gamer Pro in the mail today and just got it set up.

 

Initial impressions

 

-Quality built but no previous experience with other models

-Easy to connect

-Cables are braided and good quality, the quick disconnect already worked once on my office chair

-Very immersive. About to fly a mission with it.

 

To answer your question, I just tested it out with the USB and IT DOES work with USB only. 

I selected buttkicker pro as the device in the simshaker software and it just tested it and getting appropriate feedback in game!

 

[CosmiC10R]

just did a quick mission and skip bombed some ships on the volga.

 

For whatever reason, I shut off the engine shake last go round and just realized it and turned that back on.

 

What a difference to the feel of the game having some engine vibration. The feeling of the bombs releasing is crazy. 

 

A couple of notes  now

-I guess this means you dont need the seperate soundcard? FWIW, Im using a Logitech X Pro with the usb dongle for sound and that's selected in sound settings and then in simshaker i selected the Buttkicker Pro device and Not the Virtual device. This is working fine and no issue with sound or feedback. I did notice it did recognize the device when I plugged it in and set it up as normal for windows.

-I got the pro as I figured I might as well get the bigger one and take the pain once. I have volume set to 23 on the amp and the engine set to about 5% in simshaker and its way better. The engine at 50% gain felt like a massage chair. There doesn't seem to be any clipping at these settings based on the amp lights.

-Clamping mechanism seems really solid and the sound from vibration was the little plastic cones covering the shaft so I just secured those.

 

Overall I am very very pleased with it. Should  be a blast in Assetto corsa and f12021 as well. 

[Youtch]

Many thanks for your clarification. I will go for gamer plus as i have just an office chair, no rig.

[CosmiC10R]

4 hours ago, Youtch said:

Many thanks for your clarification. I will go for gamer plus as i have just an office chair, no rig.

Im not totally sure my usb dongle isnt functioning as a sound card usb device.

Im using it as the sound device in settings but i would imagine the same would go for any soundcard and you would select the buttkicker as the output for the haptic feedback. below in black is the windows settings from the bottom bar overlaid on the simshaker setup screen for reference.

 

im using an office chair too but went for the more powerful model so i didnt have to come close to the clipping point.

 

after a week i totally love it. with the usb connected it turns itself on and the pro comes with the IR remote which is nice.

Edited November 20, 2022 by CosmiC10R

[Youtch]

I understand your point with the usb external soundcard. Have you tried to connect it directly to computer?

 

The gamer plus has a remote control as well.

 

It is good to read that you are very happy with your purchase. I will buy it as well on black friday.

 

What about external noise and vibration for neighbor s below or in the room?

 

Will my wife gets upset?  ?

[CosmiC10R]

5 hours ago, Youtch said:

I understand your point with the usb external soundcard. Have you tried to connect it directly to computer?

 

The gamer plus has a remote control as well.

 

It is good to read that you are very happy with your purchase. I will buy it as well on black friday.

 

What about external noise and vibration for neighbor s below or in the room?

 

Will my wife gets upset?  ?

 

Originally I used the 3.5mm sound jack into the front panel of my PC as others have done on the older model and that worked fine as well. There the buttkicker used the Realtek audio out and the headset used the Logitech dongle so it worked fine both ways.

 

The remote is nice to have to tune the settings for sure!

 

External noise wasn't bad except for the rattling of the little cones over the shaft on the chair. I just put some stuff between them so they werent lose and its fine.

Im on the basement floor so sound and vibration isnt a problem but I could see it being an issue. I would recommend the foam pads you can get for work out floors to put under it. You could likely use 4 pads and it would absorb the majority of the vibration and noise.

 

If you are above another room then the gamer plus might be the better choice as there isnt as much mass moving.