Question Can an Arduino used as a game controller receive inputs from simtools?

I have started planning a little side project for a sim peripheral and it will need to be seen as a game controller in windows. I’ll be using a teensey 2 board but could change that to a larger Arduino if need be. Once recognized as a game controller in windows can simtools (Game Dash specifically) still communicate with the board? I’m not much of a programmer so not sure if I need to run a second usb and board for the game output.

I think you mean once configured as a game controller in windows can it also still be a serial com device. I don't believe it can but I don't have hands on experience.

Ok that’ll make things trickier. Thanks for the reply. As an alternative i’ll look into using two arduinos connected to the same switch circuit. One to act as a usb game controller and the second for serial communication with Game Dash.

I’ve decided to use an Arduino Leonardo as the game controller board and an Uno as the game dash board. I’ll use i2c for communication between them. I think I have the protocol and syntax worked out. Thanks again.

Guys I've started coding the game controller (slave) board. It is essentially a button box with six buttons. Before getting into the i2c part of the code I am trying to test using an LED output.

The LED output needs to go high if any of the six buttons are pressed. Currently I am only getting the LED to light if the button on pin 10 is pressed. The other buttons just cause the LED to flicker once when the button state changes! All six buttons are working in windows game controller properties screen. Could someone take a look at my code and tell me if they can spot where I've gone wrong?

Code:

#include <Joystick.h>
//declare joystick
Joystick_ Joystick;
const int ledPin = 15;
const int pinToButtonMap = 5;
// Last state of the button
int lastButtonState[6] = {0,0,0,0,0,0};
void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
  pinMode(5, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(6, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(7, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(8, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(9, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(10, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  // Initialize Joystick Library
  Joystick.begin();
}

void loop()
{
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
for (int index = 0; index < 6; index++)
  {
    int currentButtonState = !digitalRead(index + pinToButtonMap);
       if (currentButtonState == HIGH){
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);}
    else{
      digitalWrite(ledPin,LOW);}
   if (currentButtonState != lastButtonState[index]){
      Joystick.setButton(index, currentButtonState);
      lastButtonState[index] = currentButtonState;}
  }
  delay(50);
}

disregard guys. I figured it out. Phase one complete. Now I need to look at i2c and start work on the master board which will communicate with game dash