VKB-SIM

I got a joystick from my brother and I'm not sure which version it is or which firmware to use. How do I determine that? It just says VK/B Sim Gladiator on the bottom.

The buttons are all strange, like the fire button is button 14 instead of button 1, so it causes a lot of confusion when trying to map it for games. Is there some way to re-number the buttons as well?

Most probably a Gladiator MKII, but post a picture of it to be sure.

Here you go. I was just told it was a "Gladiator" so I wasn't sure if it was a I or II or Pro or K or whatever.

Images.

Yep, that's the original Gladiator (MKI or MKII - mostly the same). Follow this guide to flash and calibrate, but flash a different file than the one mentioned in the video: this one _Gladiator_KG12_v2_00_7.vkb. Also, while calibrating, move the grip along the pitch and roll axes, then push the mini-throttle on the side too up and down and twist the grip left and right.

Thanks! I'll do that. Also, does you have info on how to use the vkb config to change the joystick buttons so that, for example, Button 14 looks like Button 01, and so forth? I've been reading the PDF instructions but I don't know how Logical vs Physical buttons work (and are seen by games).

I would suggest not to worry about it. Just bind your controls in game and forget about button numbers.

The one problem is some older games can only take up to 8 buttons, and even the main trigger starts at button 14. So I need a way to re-wire them.

In this case I suggest to create a new profile for older games, so this way you'll have 2 profiles: 1 for older games and 1 for modern games. More about profiles, how to create, modify and save here.
To remap buttons do this:
- be flashed and calibrated
- open VKBDevCfg and click on your device in the device list;
- go to Profile/Buttons/Physical buttons (1);
- click on the Poll option (2);
- click on the joystick button you want to be 1 (trigger?) - a red light will flash on the chart, mouse click on that cell;
- in the new window click on the physical assignment (4), uncheck the AutoMapping option and set it as 1 (5);
- do the same for button 2, then button 3 and so on;
- at the end press the Set button to save the changes to your profile.