I set the thrusters on the hat switch, much easier to have all the controls in one hand. You can do crazy maneuvers on one hand and on the numpad I have the power management, I can divert the power between systems and hold the aim at the same time. The Logi 3d xtreme is pretty good for a budget stick. I agree on the throttle, it needs a bit focus. But if you set the deadzone a bit bigger you don't accidentially hit the flight control tower if you sneeze.
The Joystick/Controller discussion thread
I set the thrusters on the hat switch, much easier to have all the controls in one hand. You can do crazy maneuvers on one hand and on the numpad I have the power management, I can divert the power between systems and hold the aim at the same time. The Logi 3d xtreme is pretty good for a budget stick. I agree on the throttle, it needs a bit focus. But if you set the deadzone a bit bigger you don't accidentially hit the flight control tower if you sneeze.
I will give another thumbs up to the Logitech Extreme 3D. I was playing with mouse and keyboard... I wanted some kind of stick but I looked at the commonly talked about HOTAS units and some of the other popular controllers on here and I just couldn't justify that expense. I saw this in Best Buy for $35 and was very skeptical of how it would work since it was so cheap compared to the others I hear people discussing. It's been great.... I have no complaints about it. It has 12 buttons on it... the stick and a POV hat... I actually use the PoV hat for my thrusters (up/down, left/right) so I don't even need the keyboard for docking. I'm sure the expensive controllers are fantastic if you have that kind of cash to use on a game controller... but I know for me, budget is a major concern and I'm really happy with this for the money I spent.
ok I'm a little older than most and have been out of gaming for a while so forgive the newbie question...
What's the difference between a PS34 and a PS38 X52?
What's the difference between a PS34 and a PS38 X52?
Well, one reason would be that ED isn't the only game some of us play, and it's quicker to build and maintain combat skills when similar controls are used across similar games. There are many differences between ED and other aircraft-based games and sims I play, but I still retain the mapping for some switches like target acauisition, main and secondary fire, landing gear, afterburner, and a few other things.
Another reason might be build quality and "immersion." There is a world of difference between the build quality of a gamepad and the metal joystick in a Warthog set. It also feels more like flying a spaceship with a big honkin' joystick and throttle quadrant in my hands.
And pedals, don't forget rudder pedals. They're not as critical in ED as they are in air combat games, but they're still useful now and then. Rudder pedals get one extra control axis off the other controllers, and it means I can use a non-twist joystick like the Warthog (I hate twist joysticks).
P.S. If I couldn't afford the Warthog set, I'd recommend CH joystick and throttle, which I used for years before getting the Warthog. Very well made, will last for years.
P.P.S. For anyone who does get a Warthog, you might be interested in this mod for removing the main spring (YouTube link), which lets the stick "float" with very light centering action. I think that works better in ED than the stock setup, but your mileage may vary.
The Newcomers Joystick & Controller discussion thread.
Hi, me again!
So if I buy a joystick that has a throttle mounted, then buy a throttle afterward, won't the throttle from the stick interfere with the separate throttle unit?
And I am also trying to find an alternative to the CH pro throttle, its old, its ugly, I don't like it, and I would have to pay twice as much as I pay for the stick.
Hi, me again!
So if I buy a joystick that has a throttle mounted, then buy a throttle afterward, won't the throttle from the stick interfere with the separate throttle unit?
And I am also trying to find an alternative to the CH pro throttle, its old, its ugly, I don't like it, and I would have to pay twice as much as I pay for the stick.
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The stick is fine. An additional coolie hat or a pinky button would be great, but thanks to the ch pro throttle i can live without that.
As for the ugliness of the Ch Pro Throttle: i prefer function above looks. I don't look at the throttel whlie playing, so i don't need shiny or blinking led. I love the thumbstick on the throttle and the layout of the buttons and that i can map every single one of it ingame to be usefull. I like that i don't have to use a specific stick with the throttle so if there is a stick that i like better than the logitech in future i can just switch it.
As for the ugliness of the Ch Pro Throttle: i prefer function above looks. I don't look at the throttel whlie playing, so i don't need shiny or blinking led. I love the thumbstick on the throttle and the layout of the buttons and that i can map every single one of it ingame to be usefull. I like that i don't have to use a specific stick with the throttle so if there is a stick that i like better than the logitech in future i can just switch it.
i understand. i know some people like to have the solidness and immersion of a fight stick. but for people who don't want to get into the fight stick niche and want to have a nice controller that has a lot more control than a fight stick, i would recommend a 3dconnection controller. instead of 2 joysticks and pedals you have a 3dconnexion spaceball which has 6 degrees of freedom. you can just move the ball how you want the craft to move and be done with it. move it up down left right forward backward roll and yaw and it has 12 buttons. it also is designed for one hand so you can easily add more like a keypad controller or a throttle (if you want too- pushing the ball backwards or forwards does the job) and you can still use the pedals (or not). the control you have with a 3dconnextion is a whole lot better than what i felt from a stick. and it is way easier to use because you just move the ball the way you move the craft- its so natural. and the price is cheap on ebay. i got my spaceball for like 30 dollars usd. i tried it with war thunder and it works wonders. its amazing with Elite and can probably work with any game with joystick support as long as you use this:https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=16140&highlight=thrustmaster+hotas+bind+file anyways i use an oculus rift idonno how a stick would feel with it but the 3dconnection is perfect for it. the spaceball even has notches on the buttons so you know what button your pressing.
otherwise if you think having a stick will improve your immersion/make you more manly go ahead. it does that and does that well. ill just keep my ball.
otherwise if you think having a stick will improve your immersion/make you more manly go ahead. it does that and does that well. ill just keep my ball.
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The X55 mouse nub and switches do work, you just need to put the throttle into MODE 1 on the bottom left corner, if its in MODE 2 or 3 they won't work.
I just picked up a non-pro X52, and I'm loving it, besides the fact that I had to do some troubleshooting to get it working (I've heard that this is not an isolated incident). Prior to that I used a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. MY goodness the bang for that extremely low buck is fantastic. I actually didn't use the little flip throttle on the base for speed, I used the keyboard and had both lateral and forward/backward thrust right near my left hand. Buttons on the base were exclusively for anything that wasn't time critical like landing gear and retracting hardpoints. All in all a fantastic stick with a good amount of force behind it, in fact with the force required to pull it compared to the delicate butterfly that is the X52, I'm having to re-learn my aim.
I use a logiteck 3d pro as well, for my left hand I use a Fang game controller, although that is about to get replaced with an orb weaver from razor (I just have to install it) - along with that I have a custom made pedal throttle setup but this is not in use for ED, I have found it is surplus for my requirements here. I also use opentrack on a toggle. I do however have a primitive simpit that I play in so these are part of the natural order of things for me.
Mapping the thrusters to the thumb switch on teh Logitech is something I might try, thanks for the idea guys.
Currently I ahve the default mapping on it for the power distribution.
Great that I am not the only one using that stick in Elite.
I bought it some time ago for Mechwarrior and did not want to spend too much on it.
Have an expensive Microsoft Flightstick lying around which is unusable as it only has the old Joystick port and no USB.
Currently I ahve the default mapping on it for the power distribution.
Great that I am not the only one using that stick in Elite.
I bought it some time ago for Mechwarrior and did not want to spend too much on it.
Have an expensive Microsoft Flightstick lying around which is unusable as it only has the old Joystick port and no USB.
My X-55 just turned up.
Will be skipping off work as soon as the boss isn't looking this evening....
Will be skipping off work as soon as the boss isn't looking this evening....
But is it the only throttle? Is there anything else out there for less price? The problem is that the difference between prices, budget and enthusiast price range apart for up to 500% or more in some cases.
That's odd, cause I only ever had either of the 2 X-55's in Mode 1, and mapping them has never worked. When trying to bind a control or axis in ED the nub and SLD just don't register.
I'm not aware of other standalone throttles (most come with their joysticks) but I'm sure there are some.
Some people have been playing with two joysticks.
Some people have been playing with two joysticks.