Control 3ds Max with a joystick.

This is prototype to use joystick input inside 3ds Max. You can move the currently selected object with it, e.g. a camera or any scene object.

Note: Your joystick should have a throttle control and be able to twist around its Z axis.

Sadly the python backend does not yet seem to support proper threading, so the joystick control will block any other user interaction in Max.

The dependencies come bundled with this script to make it easier to run it inside the 3ds Max python interpreter:

pyglet : For joystick input and event handling.

To use the script inside 3ds Max easily you can define a simple macroscript that you can bind to a toolbar button or hotkey. Edit the following maxscript as needed, then copy and execute it inside 3ds Max:

macroscript maxstick_joystick_control
category:"Buelter"
buttontext:"Joystick"
(
    fileIn @"path\to\maxstick\start.ms"
)

• Make sure have a joystick connected (with throttle and z-rotation).
• Select an object in 3ds Max, e.g. a camera. Its orientation should be correct when you have created it in the top viewport, otherwise you must rotate its pivot.
• Launch the joystick control using the supplied start.ms or the macro.

Button controls:

Button 0 ('gun' button) : Pause/resume control (blocks 3ds Max interface).

Button 1 ('rocket' button) : Stop control to free the 3ds Max interface.

Once stopped, you can restart it using start.ms again.