gameplay.cfg

The gameplay.cfg file is an optional aircraft file for defining certain gameplay and control elements relating to how an aircraft handles within the Microsoft Flight Simulator world. Below you can find information on the different sections used in the gameplay.cfg file as well as what parameters and values are expected within them.

 

 

[VERSION]

The [VERSION] section provides version information for the configuration file. In Microsoft Flight Simulator, major versions should always be at least equal to 1. Note that this section information is mandatory and should always be included.

 

Parameter Description Type Required
major Major CFG file version number, values must be greater than 0. Integer Yes
minor Minor CFG file version number, values must be greater than 0. Integer Yes

 

 

[KEYBOARD_RESPONSE]

Flight controls naturally become more sensitive as airspeed increases, and so it can become quite difficult to control the aircraft via the keyboard at high speeds. To address this problem, the amount a single key-press increments a flight control is decreased by a factor of 1/2 at the first airspeed (in Knots) listed on the line for the control, and to 1/8 at the second airspeed, and to a scale interpolated from these values for all airspeeds in between. The example below shows that an elevator will increment by one degree when the airspeed is zero, by ¾ of one degree at 50 knots, ½ of one degree at 100 knots, 5/16 of one degree at 140 knots, and 1/8 of one degree at 180 knots or greater speed.

Keyboard Response Curve

Available parameters are:

 

Parameter Description Type Required
elevator

The elevator response parameters. This takes two values:

  • v_half - speed at which 1/2 control response
  • v_eighth - speed at which 1/8 control response

Both values are in Knots.

1D table of 2 Floats

(see Data Types for more information)

 Yes
aileron

The aileron response parameters. This takes two values:

  • v_half - speed at which 1/2 control response
  • v_eighth - speed at which 1/8 control response

Both values are in Knots.
rudder

The rudder response parameters. This takes two values:

  • v_half - speed at which 1/2 control response
  • v_eighth - speed at which 1/8 control response

Both values are in Knots.

 

 

[FORCEFEEDBACK]

This section controls the force feedback effects for various aircraft features. The available parameters are:

 

Parameter Description Type Required
stick_shaker_magnitude

This parameter defines the simulated stick shaker magnitude for the stick or yoke when flying an aircraft equipped with a stick shaker, from 0 to 10000.

 Integer No
stick_shaker_direction This parameter defines the simulated stick shaker direction for the stick or yoke when flying an aircraft equipped with a stick shaker, from 0 to 35999 Integer
stick_shaker_period This parameter defines the simulated stick shaker period for the stick or yoke when flying an aircraft equipped with a stick shaker, in microseconds. Integer
gear_bump_nose_magnitude Magnitude of gear bump for the nose gear, from 0 to 10000. These parameters define the simulated forces transferred from the airframe and gear drag to the stick or yoke when the aircraft's nose and main landing gear is raised or lowered (cycled). In fixed-gear aircraft this effect won't be felt because, by definition, the landing gear doesn't move. Different aircraft have different gear geometries that result in each of the gear mechanisms starting and ending its cycle at a different time. The timing deltas are brief, typically less than a second between the time that each gear starts and ends its cycle. Integer
gear_bump_nose_direction Direction of gear bump for the nose gear, from 0 to 35999 Integer
gear_bump_nose_duration Duration of gear bump for the nose gear, in microseconds. Integer
gear_bump_left_magnitude Magnitude of gear bump for the left gear, from 0 to 10000. Integer
gear_bump_left_direction Direction of gear bump for the left gear, from 0 to 35999 Integer
gear_bump_left_duration Duration of gear bump for the left gear, in microseconds. Integer
gear_bump_right_magnitude Magnitude of of gear bump for the right gear, from 0 to 10000. Integer
gear_bump_right_direction Direction of of gear bump for the right gear, from 0 to 35999 Integer
gear_bump_right_duration Duration of gear bump for the right gear, in microseconds. Integer
ground_bumps_angle1 First direction value for bumps on the ground, from 0 to 35999.

These parameters collectively define a composite force that simulates the forces felt through an aircraft's ground steering controls as the aircraft travels over an uneven surface. The parameters are divided into two subgroups (numbered 1 and 2), and define the behavior of two distinct forces. The combination of the two forces define a composite force that is transferred to the stick or yoke. The two forces are both sinusoidal periodic forces, with frequencies determined by the following linear equation:

  • frequency = (ground_bumps_slope * aircraft_ground_speed) + ground_bumps_intercept

The ground_bumps_magnitude parameters set the magnitude of the force. The ground_bumps_angle parameters set the direction from which the force is felt.

 Integer
ground_bumps_magnitude1 First magnitude value for bumps on the ground, from 0 to 10000. Integer
ground_bumps_intercept1 Floating point number, from 0 to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Float
ground_bumps_slope1 Floating point number, from 0 to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Float
ground_bumps_magnitude2 Second magnitude value for bumps on the ground, from 0 to 10000. Integer
ground_bumps_angle2 Second direction value for bumps on the ground, from 0 to 35999 Integer
ground_bumps_intercept2 Floating point number, from 0 to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Float
ground_bumps_slope2 Floating point number, from 0 to 1,000,000 cycles per second. Float
crash_magnitude1 First crash magnitude value, between 0 and 10000. These parameters define the simulated forces felt in the stick or yoke when the aircraft crashes. The parameters are divided into two subgroups (numbered 1 and 2), and define the behavior of two distinct crash-induced forces. The first force is a constant force that lasts for 0.5 seconds. After 0.5 seconds, it stops and the second force starts. The second force is a periodic square wave force; its amplitude declines linearly to 0. Integer
crash_direction1 First crash magnitude direction, between 0 and 35999. Integer
crash_magnitude2 Second crash magnitude value, between 0 and 10000. Integer
crash_direction2 Second crash magnitude direction, between 0 and 35999. Integer
crash_period2 Second crash period, in microseconds. Integer
crash_duration2 Second crash duration, in microseconds Integer