Common button box functions

Miguel Gonzalez · May 10, 2017

I'm in the process of redesigning my rig with new hardware and currently researching parts to build a custom handbrake but since i need to buy a controller board to map the axis i got to thinking it would be a waste to only use 1 input. I havent decided on which board im going to use (dsd, bodnar, arduino, etc) but any board i buy will have multiple button/axis inputs i dont want to waste. I'm thinking of making a button box (not sure exactly where i'll mount it just yet) but from doing research on pre-fabricated units and community diy models i got to thinking what exactly would i use it for? What are some common functions across multiple games that you or people you know have mapped to button boxes? Aside from engine start, up/down/left/right inputs, enter, pause, escape, what functions do you find you use on a regular basis while driving? The sims i play are the codemaster F1 series, rfactor 2, iracing, and soon looking into asseto corsa.

My new rig will have VR incorporated so i'd like to map it out in a way that i can navigate menu's with just buttons so i don't have to look for my mouse/keyboard blind but aside from the control functions i talked about above i'm not sure what car functions are worth putting on it.

Emery · May 10, 2017

Lights, wipers, DRS, pit request, pit limiter, horn, multiplayer voting, multiplayer text messages ("Hi!", "Sorry", etc.), push-to-talk for microphone, brake bias, anti-swaybar adjustment, fuel mixture, boost level, pause game, live/delayed video, alternate exit (instead of escape key), HUD select, HUD on/off, look left/right/behind.

Miguel Gonzalez · May 10, 2017

Thanks Emery, those are some good suggestions, I forgot to mention I'm going to be racing with a clubsport wheel so I'll have some buttons to work with on the wheel, I'll probably put car functions(pit, radio, wipers etc) there and game functions/navigation on the box, like HUD etc. I didn't even think of multiplayer functions. That would be handy. Anyone else have functions they use regularly that are standard in multiple sims?