A method and implementing computer system are provided in which an interface device is designed to provide an interface between a remote controller (RC) device for controlling the operation of a vehicle, and a computer system such as a personal computer. The interface device is enabled to receive RC signals from the RC device and convert those RC signals to input signals which are input to a computer system. The interface device builds a translation table for converting the RC or joystick signals to appropriate input signals for the type of vehicle in a particular application. A user is thereby enabled to manipulate an RC device such as a joystick and observe how the user's input joystick movement affects the movement of a simulated controlled vehicle which is displayed on a display screen of the computer system.