What type of controller will you be using for Elite Dangerous
- Thread starter fikuserectus
- Start date
You ever tried flying a plane in a flight sim with a mouse compared to a joystick? Remember this isn't the same thing as how an FPS is far superior with a mouse and keyboard set up compared to a game pad.
QFT. Try downloading War Thunder and flying a biplane with a mouse. Then plug in your joystick and have another go.
I currently fly Joystick/Keyboard in War Thunder, and Mouse/Joystick in Mechwarrior (where it's a lot more important to have FPS twitch).
I'll be getting at least a throttle block for E-D, and I'm thinking of going for either the X52pro or a CH Products throttle with CH FighterStick. The CH stuff is a) brilliant, b) bulletproof, c) has better software and d) has trim dials, but it's 50% more expensive than the X52pro and doesn't look as SciFi.
Dilemma.
I sort of hope you're right.. I think I'd prefer to see Elite play better with a joystick
I used to play MS Flightsim with a mouse back in the 90's, since keyboard control didn't self center.
It was doable but not ideal.
But imagine if there is simply a reticle on the screen which is mouse controlled. And where it points is your direction of turn and fire...? Then keys control speed & rotation etc.
The only way I can see a joystick proving its worth is if you fly more like a plane, with a fixed reticle in the middle of the screen.
Am I missing something?
There isn't a reticle on the screen for direction of turn and fire so there is no advantage to having a mouse as the ships do fly like a plane with a fixed reticle in the middle of the screen (unless you have gimballing weapons that provide some automated aim assistance and can fire off the centre line).
Joystick it is then
And how would you see thrust (in various directions, eg: sideways) and rotation being controlled?
Joystick it is then
And how would you see thrust (in various directions, eg: sideways) and rotation being controlled?
The joystick obviously controls the rotation (what else would it be doing?) but thrust would require a spare HAT switch or some keyboard buttons.
Makes sense... Going to be interesting to see how many directions of pitch and thrust are supported.
I have flown many flight sime swith mouse and keyboard but mainly space sims, I find it wastly superior to how I handle with a joystick. I just get the right feel with a mose for turning around(yaw and pitch) and just have 2 keys for roll.
Try Freespace for example. one of historys best space shooters. I reallly hope there is good mouse control in ED. :S
Try Freespace for example. one of historys best space shooters. I reallly hope there is good mouse control in ED. :S
Pitch is a rotation around a single axis and thus can only ever have two directions. I'm not entirely sure what you're getting at. Thrust as well can only ever be in 6 directions maximum.
I'm still debating whether to get a joystick, but at the moment there seems to be more cons than pros. A joystick would take up space on my desk, increase wire-count, stop me from leaning back like a slob, and cost me money.
So what I'm really waiting to find out is whether the experience is significantly enhanced using a joystick. If it's 95% as good playing with an Xbox controller, then I'll stick* with that.
*Pun noted, but not intended.
So what I'm really waiting to find out is whether the experience is significantly enhanced using a joystick. If it's 95% as good playing with an Xbox controller, then I'll stick* with that.
*Pun noted, but not intended.
As there's three axis, you could pitch around each of the them, and thrust along each of them.
3 axis x 2 = 6 pitch options (pitch yaw roll)
3 axis x 2 = 6 thrust options
Wonder if all of them will be supported? Some are obvious, others less so...
For example you couldn't yaw in Elite, and you could only thrust along the x axis.
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I haven't heard of anyone using the term pitch when referring to rotation around the other axes. You yourself use the words pitch, yaw and roll to explain what you mean. I thought you were referring to some weird rotation that doesn't lie along any particular axis.
All those options are supported. Why would we not support one or more of them, that'll just be weird like you can roll and yaw but we've decided to remove pitch?! Madness I say.
Minti2
Deadly, But very fluffy...
Hi all, I bagged myself an x52 (standard) for £87.60 yesterday, can't wait for it to arrive, however, it'll be useless for me until Elite Alpha test phase arrives - roll on December...
Gavthomas has a X52 pro and i believe he uses it for Oolite and says it works well, so yours should be fine to...give you some Elite practice while you wait
As for me ive twice hesitated pressing the confirm order for a X52 pro in the last couple of days, from reviews and guys on here it sounds great! but i keep thinking is it gonna be to many buttons, can i work it? or instead will the Xbox pad be enough? or shall i stick to the trusted keyboard that worked well for me in the org Elite?...Arghhhh!! to much choice! lol
I can afford the X52 but i seriously just dont know which preference i think i would prefer.....going to have to take the plunge soon.
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X translations are going to be throttle controlled, i guess. Not sure how I'd map that on a controller.
Which leaves Y & Z translations to a joystick hat or controller d-pad.
Z and X rotations are your main joystick axis or controller thumbstick, with Y rotations on the joystick twist axis, or controller shoulder buttons.
In shipping it's Roll (x), Pitch
and Yaw (z) for rotations and Surge (x), Sway and Heave (z) for translations.
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So in that case, we'd need everything available along the following lines?
Pitch up = Joy back
Pitch forwards = Joy forwards
Roll left = Joy left
Roll right = Joy right
Yaw left = Joy twist left
Yaw right = Joy twist right
Thrust X+ = thrust+
Thrust X- = thrust-
Thrust Y+ = hat right
Thrust Y- = hat left
Thrust Z+ = hat forwards
Thrust Z- = hat backwards
If you wanted that level of control yes. Technically you can also thrust forwards and backwards using the same thrusters you use for lateral and vertical translation rather than your main engines which are throttle controls so if you had some crazy 3D input controller you could use that but more typically you'd have to use another HAT to do the forwards and backwards part on their own.