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Steel Battalion Controller Reference

The original Steel Battalion game was reknowned (or perhaps even infamous) for its impressive controller. Steel Battalion: Line of Contact adds an additional level of complexity by requiring not only the SB controller but a standard XBox controller and XBox Live communicator headset module. Below I will describe the function of each control as well as additional notes which may be helpful.

Repacking Instructions NEW!

Foot Controller Repair Tutorial

05.11.2005 - It has been recently brought to my attention that the footer pedal block that shipped with many of the new "blue button" controllers has a very different design than that of the original controller bundles. I will be obtaining more detailed information and images soon and post them here.

Maintenance, repair and replacement information may be found at the bottom of this page.

Control Name	In-Game	Game Menu	Replay
GEAR LEVER	Changes the current gear setting, 1 - 5, Neutral and Reverse. Much like a manual transmission automobile, you must build up sufficient RPM/torque before changing gears upwards. In 5th gear a special "wheel mode" is enabled that allows a VT to travel rapidly, but only over even flat ground or downhill. Downshifting allows for a "back throttle" braking effect without the need to use the brake pedal and decrease RPM/torque.	no effect	In "Free Camera" mode, controls the "acceleration" of the free roaming camera. Reverse makes the camera go backwards, Nuetral stops the camera. Forward gears are increasing in velocity.
ROTATION LEVER (left-right)	Changes the direction of travel for the VT body. Note that the upper "torso" of a VT may be pointed/aimed elsewhere.	no effect	Changes replay menu item selection.
SIGHT CHANGE STICK (x-y axis)	Changes the camera view angle for the main monitor view.	no effect	Moves the camera angle for external views, changes internal angle in cockpit view.
SIGHT CHANGE BUTTON (click)	Recenters the main monitor view to the current direction of travel.	Depending on menu context, selects or deletes the current item.	Toggles the CRT effect on/off.
FILT CONTROL SYSTEM Toggle Switch	Toggle ON to initiate the startup sequence of the VT. If toggled OFF while VT is online, causes the battery recovery time to be slower. Toggling the switch off in combination with the other toggle switches enables Stealth/Shutdown mode.	no effect	no effect
OXYGEN SUPPLY SYSTEM Toggle Switch	Toggle ON to initiate the startup sequence of the VT. If toggled OFF while VT is online, causes the oxygen supply to shut off, after 30 seconds the screen will start to go white and a "gasping" sound can be heard. Pilot death will result if the oxygen is not restored. Toggling the switch off in combination with the other toggle switches enables Stealth/Shutdown mode.	no effect	no effect
FUEL FLOW RATE Toggle Switch	Toggle ON to initiate the startup sequence of the VT. If toggled OFF while VT is online, causes the VT to use fuel a 3x the normal rate. Toggling the switch off in combination with the other toggle switches enables Stealth/Shutdown mode.	no effect	no effect
BUFFER MATERIAL Toggle Switch	Toggle ON to initiate the startup sequence of the VT. If toggled OFF while VT is online, causes the view angle to dip down and extreme vibration and distortion in the camera view when movement is made. Toggling the switch off in combination with the other toggle switches enables Stealth/Shutdown mode.	no effect	no effect
VT-LOCATION MEASUREMENT Toggle Switch	Toggle ON to initiate the startup sequence of the VT. If toggled OFF while VT is online, causes the radar display on the multimonitor to go intermittently static, disabling its usefulness. Toggling the switch off in combination with the other toggle switches enables Stealth/Shutdown mode.	no effect	no effect
COMMUNICATION BUTTONS 1 - 5	Button 1 opens communication to selected teammate. Button 2 closes currently active communication. Button 3 switches to an incoming communication request. Button 4 pauses playback of the boombox playlist (if tracks were queued prior to the mission). Button 5 advances to the next track on the boombox playlist (if tracks were queued prior to the mission).	no effect	no effect
TUNER DIAL	Used to change communication channels between teammates. The dial starts at position 1, which is equivalent to "9 o'clock" or directly left. Full details on the use of the communication functions are available here.	no effect	no effect
FUNCTION SWITCH F1	For certain VTs, this serves a specific function. For the Prominence M2 this ejects the Optional Armour. For VTs with a sniper rifle equipped, the F1 button toggles sniper mode zoom.	no effect	Pauses playback.
FUNCTION SWITCH F2	Zooms the pilot view to the multi-monitor display, effectively "leaning in" for a closer view.	no effect	Changes selected pilot.
FUNCTION SWITCH F3	Zooms the pilot view to the sub-monitor display, effectively "leaning in" for a closer view.	no effect	Toggles overview map.
TANK DETACH	Drops additional fuel tanks if enabled on the current configuration. If two tanks are fitted, it will drop them individually, requiring two presses. Blinks when the current sub-tank is empty.		Increments playback speed from 1x - 10x
OVERRIDE	Disables the safety limiters on the hydrolic systems allowing for faster movement and quicker battery recovery time. Also consumes fuel at 10x the normal rate when enabled.		Toggles through playback effects.
NIGHT SCOPE	Enables the night vision camera. Reduces the effective visual range to less than 500m, but allows for navigation in near total darkness. Explosion flashes can overload the camera causing temporary white out blindness.	no effect	Toggles Sub-Monitor overlay view on/off.
F.S.S. Forecast Shooting System	Enables the F.S.S. systems on 2nd and 3rd generation VTs.	no effect	Changes the camera type.
MANIPULATOR	Deploys the manipulator arm. Useful for picking up cargo and triggering door controls. While deployed use of all sub-weapons is disabled.	no effect	Toggles cockpit view.
LINE COLOR CHANGE	Cycles through the possible HUD line colours. Useful against certain backgrounds.	no effect	Switches focus to Exit menu option.
WASHING	Removes debris from the main view camera. Multiple uses may be required for severe occlusion. Flashes when needed.	no effect	no effect
EXTINGUISHER	Sprays flame retardant chemicals into the hull and cockpit to prevent fire damage. Flashes when needed.	no effect	no effect
CHAFF	Deploys a combination of metalic particles and heat flares to confuse the guidance systems of self-guided missiles. Only effective for a single salvo. Blinks when required. Must be deployed with sufficient time before impact or missiles may not veer far enough from target and still hit.	no effect	no effect
MAIN weapon control	Cycles through the available Main Weapons current loaded.	no effect	no effect
SUB weapon control	Cycles through the available Sub Weapons currently loaded.	no effect	no effect
MAGAZINE CHANGE	Ejects the current Main Weapon magazine (with remaining ammunition in the clip) for multiple magazine weapons. Pressed repeatedly in combination with the Main Weapon trigger will perform a "clip dump".	no effect	Toggles Control Menu hide/display.
AIMING LEVER (x-y axis)	Moves the targetting reticule and thus aims the weapon systems of the VT.	no effect	In "Free Camera" mode, controls the direction of movement for the camera. Control is very similar to a flight-sim stick.
MAIN WEAPON	Fires the current Main Weapon.	Selects the current option (menu dependent).	Select current menu option.
LOCK ON	Locks the weapon systems on enemy VTs within targetting range when the targetting reticule is passed over them. Press again to release the lock. Locking onto an enemy displays the WARN indicator on their HUD.	Cancels the current selection (menu dependent). Can also be used to back out of menus. Context dependent.	Toggles cockpit view.
SUB WEAPON trigger	Fires the current Sub Weapon. Certain weapons may require this button be held to "charge" them.	Varies. Can display statistics information or player inventory sheets.	Toggles Control Menu hide/display.
EJECT-CMD	Ejects the pilot from the current VT. Works while shut down, on fire, underwater or lying down. The current VT is lost.	In certain contexts can cancel a selection.	Displays pilot and VT information, weapon loadout and optional parts, second toggle displays scrolling game credits.
COCKPIT HATCH	Closes the cockpit hatch of the VT. The first step in starting up. Does NOT reopen the hatch if pressed again.	no effect	no effect
IGNITION	Initialises the VT operating system.	no effect	no effect
START	After all toggle switches have been activated, joint actuators are brought online in a "sliding meter" display. Once all meters have passed the nominal line the START button is pressed to lock in the actuators, stand up the VT and bring the final systems online. If pressed with any of the meters below nominal a lock failure will result and the meters will re-initialise at their minimum level. After a VT has been started, the START button may be pressed in combination with the SUB-MONITOR MODE SELECT, MULTI-MONITOR MAP ZOOM IN/OUT or MULTI-MONITOR MODE SELECT buttons to reverse cycle the various display or informational views.	no effect	no effect
OPEN/CLOSE multimonitor	Opens and Closes the MULTI MONITOR display panel, allowing for a larger view area on the main screen, but without the additional information or map views. For second generation support VTs, the display is stowed to the side but still viewable at an angle.	no effect	no effect
MAP ZOOM IN/OUT multimonitor	Cycles through the three map magnifications available (approximately 500m, 2000m and whole map radii).	no effect	Sub Monitor view map magnifcation (three levels)
MODE SELECT multimonitor	Cycles through the available MULTI MONITOR map and informational displays.	no effect	Sub Monitor view function.
SUB MONITOR MODE SELECT	Cycles through the available SUB MONITOR views (live camera, lock-on, missile, front, rear, sky).	no effect	Sub monitor view function.
IN MAIN MONITOR ZOOM	Zooms the main monitor view in, centered on the VT centerline.	no effect	Camera zoom in.
OUT MAIN MONITOR ZOOM	Zooms the main monitor view out, centered on the VT centerline.	no effect	Camera zoom out.
ACCELERATOR PEDAL	Applies power to the leg transmission assembly, generating torque and allowing movement (direction dependent on current gear selected).	no effect	Performs lateral movement to the right when in Free Camera mode.
BRAKE PEDAL	Applies frictional damping to the leg transmission assembly, slowing VT movement.	no effect	no effect
SLIDESTEP PEDAL	Allows rapid movement at the expense of battery reserve power. Works in combination with the current gear shift setting (forward, neutral or reverse) and the rotation level (left or right) to determine direction of movement. The pedal is pressure sensitive, a small tap will result in a small movement with lesser use of battery power, a fully depressed slidestep will result in a large dodge but at the expense of nearly all battery reserve. Diagonal slidesteps may be performed by using the accelerator pedal in combination with the rotation lever and the gearshift setting.	no effect	Performs lateral movement to the left when in Free Camera mode.
Control Name	In-Game	Game Menu	Replay
	no effect	Selects the current option	Selects the current option
	no effect	Cancels current selection or action	Cancels current selection or action
	no effect	Context dependent, usually delete functionality	Deletes replays (from the main replay menu)
	no effect	Toggles information views	Toggles information views
	no effect	Zooms in on Map View	Zooms in on Map View
	no effect	Zooms out on Map View	Zooms out on Map View
D-PAD	no effect	Menu selection control	Menu selection control
START	Opens XBox Live Friends List Options	Opens XBox Live Friends List Options	Opens XBox Live Friends List Options. Note that a bug in the Replay Menu will not let a player join a game without first navigating out of Replay Mode.
BACK	no effect	no effect	no effect
LEFT THUMBSTICK (x-y axis)	no effect	menu item selection control	menu item selection control
LEFT THUMBSTICK (click button)	no effect	Hides/Shows information layers in menus	Toggles CRT effect
RIGHT THUMBSTICK (x-y axis)	no effect	Controls view center on map display	no effect
RIGHT THUMBSTICK (click button)	Recenters Map View (sortie room only)	Recenters Map View	Cycles through informational sub-screen views
LEFT TRIGGER	no effect	no effect	Strafe left in Free Camera mode.
RIGHT TRIGGER	Displays pilot information pages (ID Card Tabs) (sortie room only)	Displays pilot information pages (ID Card Tabs)	Strafe right in Free Camera mode.
Control Name	In-Game	Game Menu	Replay
MUTE	Mutes the microphone.	no effect	no effect
VOLUME	Controls the communicator headphone volume.	no effect	no effect

Care and Maintenance for the Steel Battalion Controller

Primary failures on the Steel Battalion controller from normal use are wear are broken footpedal springs, snapped toggle switches and malfunctioning view-hat thumbsticks.

While under the original 90-day warranty, Sammy USA will replace defective block components free of charge (user must pay shipping). After the warranty period, Sammy will sell individual block units for $40 USD, plus shipping.

Warranty Information - this information is also available on the Capcom USA Steel Battalion page. Unfortunately, the Sammy USA website contains no information specifically about the Steel Battalion controller. In order to obtain replacement blocks, you must call one of the following:

1-888-877-2669

This information applies to North America only, players in other world regions should contact the entity from which they purchased their bundle originally, or the Capcom division in their region.

If capable, a user may perform some repairs on their controller after the warranty period has passed should they so desire.

Please note that this advice and information is given without warranty. Any damage incurred is the responsibility of the controller owner and this website and its authors cannot be held accountable.

After having replaced accelerator springs twice now, I would suggest the following preventive maintenance for everyone.

Purchase a tube of white lithium thermal grease (the kind for hi-temp automobile applications) and liberally apply it to the springs inside the controller at least once every few months. The springs fail due to a combination of mechanical and thermal stress, applying additional grease will help disperse some of the heat and reduce self-friction between the spring coils. Just be sure not to get any grease into the poteniometer sensors. DO NOT use WD-40 or graphite powder as either one of these can lead to corrosion or circuit failures.

Broken toggle switches can usually be fixed with strong adhesives like SuperGlue. If the toggle has broken off at its base, a small pilot hole can be drilled into the base and the toggle body to allow for joining pin insertion (with glue). This IS a delicate procedure and should only be undertaken by someone with the proper tools (I suggest a Dremel tool for the job) and experience with precision drilling and assembly.

Broken view-hat controls are usually the result of the data wires inside the left control stick being pulled away from the X-Y axis data solder points. Repair requires that the entire left joystic be disassembled and the wires re-soldered using a low wattage iron. This is delicate work as the controller assembly is quite fragile and can be destroyed by too much heat. Suggested only for those with IC soldering experience.

Broken foot pedal springs are probably the most common failure in the Steel Battaltion controller. For a while, Sammy USA was supplying replacement springs free of charge, then they started charging $5 USD to cover shipping costs. There have been reports that they no longer sell spring assemblies individually to private consumers. If you can find comparable torsion type springs at a hardware store they may work. Many players have reported "cannibalising" one of the brake pedal springs to use on the accelerator pedal as they are all the same size. The brake is not used nearly as much as either the accelerator or slidestep pedal and will function properly with only one spring (ableit, with less resistance).

The Steel Battalion Foot Controller Repair Tutorial is now available here.