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THE GRAVIS HELPER
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A Publication of Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd.
Winter 1996 Edition
Issue 1
Please address comments or suggestions to helper@gravis.com
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TOPICS AT A GLANCE
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In this issue, you will find:
- GRAVIS - A Little History
- FEATURE - GrIP Technology
- NO PROBLEM! - Answers to 4 common PC GamePad questions
- NEWSLINE - New product info in a nutshell
- MYSTERIES OF MIDI - The nitty-gritty on patch conversion for
UltraSound Plug & Play
- TALK BACK - 101 (well, almost) ways to reach a real person at Gravis
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GRAVIS - A LITTLE HISTORY
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Founded in 1985, with the introduction of the Apple Analog Joystick,
Gravis (Advanced Gravis Computer Technology, Ltd.) has grown into a
world leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of high-quality
entertainment devices (peripherals) for the personal computer market.
With a product range that includes joysticks, control pads, and sound
products, Gravis has earned a reputation for introducing innovative
products with award-winning design.
With its headquarters in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, Gravis
markets its products throughout the world, generating over 90% of its
sales from export markets (35% outside of North America), and was
awarded the Canada Export Award in 1995. The Company distributes
products from facilities in Canada, the USA, Belgium, and China. Gravis
also maintains a European sales and technical support office in Almere,
Netherlands.
The Company has a strong worldwide distribution network of close to 200
dealers/distributors in more than 40 countries. The combination of
leading edge products, brand equity, and strong distribution channels
has resulted in a dramatic growth in sales revenues from $250,000 in the
company's first year to Fiscal 1996 sales of over $42 million.
OUR MISSION
Advanced Gravis will design, develop, and market personal computer
entertainment devices that embody both leading technology and superb
quality. The Company will continue to be recognized as a worldwide
market leader in game controllers_recognized for their innovative award-
winning design and functionality_and as a technological leader in the
wavetable sound card market. Advanced Gravis' products will provide the
best in functionality and performance at a wide variety of price points.
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GrIP TECHNOLOGY
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GRAVIS GrIP TECHNOLOGY BRINGS MULTI-BUTTON, 4-PLAYER ARCADE
GAME ACTION
TO THE PC. Gravis GrIP digital game interface technology levels the game
platform playing field, then blows the other players away! With the new
GrIP Game System from Gravis, you get the four-player, multi-button
support and blazing arcade speed that have become common on the newer
game console platforms_but on your PC.
What is it exactly? The GrIP MULTIPORT is an adapter box that connects
to your PC game port with a standard D-15 connector. On one side, the
MultiPort has two D-15 pass-through connectors, so it is backward-
compatible with all your older joysticks. The MultiPort's other wing has
four D-9 connectors for GrIP controllers. These GrIP ports are digital
and allow two-way digital communication between your game port and
attached controllers. What does that mean? First, it means SPEED. A
standard game port uses 12 to 15% of the CPU's cycle time to read the
position of a single joystick. The GrIP MultiPort uses less than 1% of
the cycle time to read four controllers. That means faster game
performance. The MultiPort's two-way communication also gives you auto-
calibration.
Even more exciting for the future, the MultiPort supports "virtual
reality" control features that you could be seeing in upcoming GrIP
controllers_like 3-D and 6-D controls, tilt, tactile force-feedback, and
velocity-sensitive buttons: for instance, one day you'll be able to kick
hard, kick soft, kick anywhere-in-between in your PC soccer game by
using a harder or softer touch on the buttons.
The GrIP Game System also includes two 8-button digital GrIP-Pad
controllers (extra pairs of GrIP-Pads are available separately). In
games that support GrIP, the MultiPort supports all eight buttons on
each of up to four GrIP-Pads at one time. In Windows 95, and in games
that you can run from a Win 95 DOS box, the GrIP-Pads are programmable
for keyboard controls, too. So in games that don't support GrIP
directly, you can still use custom controls. Or you can choose to use
the GrIP-Pads in GamePad Emulation mode, emulating a standard PC GamePad
with a choice of control styles for arcade or driving games.
A Gravis GrIP MultiPort driver is built into Windows 95. GrIP works with
every Win 95 DirectInput game automatically, and support for GrIP is
also built into new titles from Electronic Arts, Virgin Interactive
Entertainment, Acclaim Entertainment, and MINDSCAPE. Gravis provides
active support for game developers, so you'll be seeing GrIP support in
all the best new games.
The GrIP Game System is available now in two $99.95 software bundles:
the ultimate Team Sports Set with a special GrIP edition of EA SPORTS
NHL Hockey 96 and the ultimate Fighting Machine with the full version of
Acclaim's WWF Wrestlemania. You can also pick up the GrIP Game System
without bundled game software ($79.95) or an extra pair of GrIP-Pads
($29.95) direct from the Gravis Mail Order System.
To order yours, call 1-800-257-0061.
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NO PROBLEM!
Today's Topic: 4 Common PC GamePad Questions
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1. What's the GravUtil program for?
Your GamePad does not require DOS drivers or any other software. The
Gravis Utilities (GravUtil) software on CD (or Disk) is for testing
only. If your GamePad works, you don't need GravUtil.
2. Why do only two buttons work?
The game port you are using probably supports only two joystick buttons.
This is a common limitation with the game ports on multi I/O cards. What
do you do?
If you have a sound card in your computer:
- Try disabling the game port on the multi I/O card (see the hardware
manual for instructions - there's usually a jumper for this).
- Next, enable the sound card game port (see the sound card manual for
instructions - there is often a software switch to enable/disable the
game port).
- Then plug your GamePad into the sound card's game port. These usually
support four buttons and four axes.
If you don't have a sound card, you can purchase a dedicated game card
like the Gravis Eliminator that supports four buttons and four axes.
3. Why won't Windows 95 recognize my GamePad?
If you have a Joystick icon in your Win 95 Control Panel, all you have
to do is select it and choose "Gravis PC GamePad" from the list.
If there's no Joystick icon in the Control Panel, you have to install
Microsoft's Gameport driver first:
- Choose Add New Hardware, and select NO at the "search for new
hardware" prompt.
- Select Sound, Video, and Game Controllers.
- Select "Microsoft" as the Manufacturer and "Gameport Joystick" as the
Model.
- Click the Finish button. A Joystick icon should now be present in your
Control Panel.
4. Why do I get the message "Joystick is not connected properly" when I
try to calibrate my GamePad in the Win 95 Control Panel?
- Check the game port connection.
- Make sure you've selected Gravis PC GamePad in the Joystick setup.
- Use GravTest to check that the game port is active.
- Use Device Manager to make sure the input range of the Microsoft
gameport joystick driver is 0201-0201. If not, remove and reinstall the
driver.
NEED MORE HELP?
If you have the new GravUtil on your system (the version with pictures
of the GamePad and joysticks on the main screen), run it, and look in
its Help file for the info you need.
If you have the older GravUtil (the one with 3 text options on the main
screen), download the file pcgphelp.txt (in the \FILES\PC\JOYSTICK\JOY-MISC
directory on the FTP site. Or download the new GravUtil (grvutl4.zip, in the same
directory).
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NEWSLINE
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Gravis GrIP ultimate Team Sports Set - Released January '96.
The ultimate Sports Team Set unlocks the door to multi-player PC game
action! More buttons, More Players with the Gravis GrIP Game System.
Includes the GrIP MultiPort 4-player digital game control system and 2
GrIP-Pad 8-button controllers. Experience multi-player GrIP power with a
special GrIP edition of EA SPORTS NHL Hockey 96!
Gravis GrIP ultimate Fighting Machine_ Released January '96.
The ultimate Fighting Machine brings full-speed arcade wrestling action
to the PC! More buttons for MAYHEM MOVES. More Buttons, More FUN with
the Gravis GrIP Game System. Includes the GrIP MultiPort 4-player
digital game control system and 2 GrIP-Pad 8-button controllers. In-
your-face action with GrIP and the full edition of WWF WrestleMania by
Acclaim!
Gravis Thunderbird Joystick_Released November '95.
Master flight and action games with the Gravis Thunderbird Flight & Game
Controller for IBM PC. Dominate the battle with a fast-shooting trigger
and 3 fire buttons. Take charge of the cockpit with Thunderbird's T-grip
throttle, trim control, and contoured stick with hand support, custom
tension control, and 4-way directional hat.
Gravis Firebird Programmable Flight & Game Controller-Macintosh Version_
Released December '95.
Take control! The Gravis Firebird Programmable Flight & Game Controller
for Macintosh has 13 buttons and an 8-way hat switch to handle all
your game commands. Drag-and-drop programming. Built-in throttle and
trim controls for precision flying (PC rudder pedals also supported).
Includes settings for most popular games.
Gravis UltraSound Plug & Play_Released December '95.
The wavetable sound card for the Internet! Full-duplex for Internet
phone applications! Includes Internet Starter Kit. A value-priced 16-bit
card with Windows 95 Plug & Play setup. Ships with ROM only; upgradeable
to 8 MB of RAM for custom sounds and stunning effects processing. DAT-
quality playback, 32 digital channels, and IDE CD-ROM interface.
Gravis UltraSound Plug & Play Pro_Released December '95.
The Gravis UltraSound Plug & Play Pro Version is ideal for gamers or
musicians! 16-bit, 32-voice wavetable, automatic Windows 95 Plug & Play
setup. Built-in 512K, upgradeable to 8 MB of RAM for custom sounds and
stunning effects processing. DAT-quality playback, 32 digital channels,
and IDE CD-ROM interface. Full-duplex for Internet phone applications!
Includes Internet Starter Kit.
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MYSTERIES OF MIDI
- Curtis Patzer
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The UltraSound Plug and Play (PnP) is Gravis' great new sound card. It
does everything other UltraSound cards do*, and more: it supports multi-
layered patches with up to 16 envelopes and onboard effects; and it
supports up to 8MB of external SIMM RAM which can be used to store
custom patches (the small sound and instrument samples used to produce
wavetable sound).