Gamepad?

Non Grata

Non Grata
When I was younger I played flightsims and have had all the CH/Thrustmaster stuff. Nowadays I'm not sure I want the hassle of turning my desk into a cockpit.

I briefly tried a console gamepad a few years ago, and it seemed like the joysticks on them were kind of usable, and looking at pictures they have a surprising amount of controls. I love the small size of them, and it looks like you could just rest it on your keyboard when docked etc.

Is there anybody with a background like my own that has successfully changed over to a gamepad for ED? Or are they not quite good enough if you're used to a proper HOTAS?

Thanks!
 

lefty1117

L
The HOTAS setup is the best, but gamepad is quite useable. I've made the same decision - don't want to invest in something I'm only going to use for one game. I'm using the Xbox ONE controller and it's quite handy. There are several threads around talking about it. You can be competitive with a gamepad and from what I've read quite a few of the FD developers use them.
 

MrBungle

Banned
M
I'm fairly happy with an XBox 360 wireless controller (don't own a console; picked up a 2nd hand controller & 'no-name' USB wireless receiver for cheap), the pad & a couple of 'bits & pieces' (25/50/75% speed, etc, etc) mapped to keys (as well as the obvious supercruise & hyperjump) works quite nicely.
 

Non Grata

Non Grata
Thank you both for your replies. I downloaded the beta today and also went out and got a gamepad. Amazing how well it works in conjunction with the flexibility of ED's built-in bindings. Maybe it's because I bought a cheap one to try out, but very hard to have fine control over the ship though. So I think I'll stick with my CH stuff, but imagine a gamepad would work great with a laptop on the move.
 

dan_b

D
Gamepad not recognised by Elite?

Can anyone help?
I've struggled with the mouse/keyboard controls and the old Saitek Joystick I resurrected from my cellar is clearly busted (only goes in one direction!), so I thought I'd try an X360 controller.

I installed the Microsoft drivers and the game pad is recognised by Windows, but when I start Elite Dangerous, I don't get an option to use the gamepad in the control settings. It's not there as an option in the drop-down list of control configurations. What am I missing?
 

KickahasTier

KickahasTier
taotoo said:
When I was younger I played flightsims and have had all the CH/Thrustmaster stuff. Nowadays I'm not sure I want the hassle of turning my desk into a cockpit.

I briefly tried a console gamepad a few years ago, and it seemed like the joysticks on them were kind of usable, and looking at pictures they have a surprising amount of controls. I love the small size of them, and it looks like you could just rest it on your keyboard when docked etc.

Is there anybody with a background like my own that has successfully changed over to a gamepad for ED? Or are they not quite good enough if you're used to a proper HOTAS?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I tried for ages to use a 360 controller. The joysticks were way too sensitive for aiming, but that was the worst thing I found.

T HOTAS X is much better, and has the twist grip for yaw.
 

KickahasTier

KickahasTier
dan_b said:
Can anyone help?
I've struggled with the mouse/keyboard controls and the old Saitek Joystick I resurrected from my cellar is clearly busted (only goes in one direction!), so I thought I'd try an X360 controller.

I installed the Microsoft drivers and the game pad is recognised by Windows, but when I start Elite Dangerous, I don't get an option to use the gamepad in the control settings. It's not there as an option in the drop-down list of control configurations. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

When you say you installed drivers ... the OS should do that automatically, it did with mine. (i.e uninstall any old drivers and reboot)

Ensure the controller is plugged in before you run the game.

It should default to the controller automatically when it's plugged in. Not much help but .. Good luck.
 

Vulpes Fire

Vulpes Fire
For the above poster having trouble with the Xbox 360 gamepad: If you are on windows 8 it is notorious for being 360 gamepad unfriendly (I'm on windows 8.1 and haven't gotten a 360 pad to work yet. Have not tried and Xbox One pad though)

For all others thinking of using gamepads: I currently am using a Logitech pad with a Xbox-like design to it. If you want to see my button layout on it, including some of the keyboard bindings that I use, you can run a search on my (very few) posts to look it up. I enjoy using a game pad thus far, as my computer is set up next to my bed and a joystick setup is out of the question without more space.
 

natte hond

natte hond
dan_b said:
Can anyone help?
I've struggled with the mouse/keyboard controls and the old Saitek Joystick I resurrected from my cellar is clearly busted (only goes in one direction!), so I thought I'd try an X360 controller.

I installed the Microsoft drivers and the game pad is recognised by Windows, but when I start Elite Dangerous, I don't get an option to use the gamepad in the control settings. It's not there as an option in the drop-down list of control configurations. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

there a hole tread on this , hang on I,ll find it for you.

this is it.
http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18520&page=3
there is more on it.
what happens is that the vendor id id not recognized by Elite.
you can insert that your selves and all will work fine than.
I too had to do this.
 
Last edited:

Pomerlaw

Pomerlaw
I think I will try my XBOX controller when I finally get the game. I will then decide if I need a joystick.

They are really practical, even more so when you want to play on the coach in front of a 130" screen. ;P
 

Neillm

N
I use a wired xbox 360 controller on Window 8.1 without any problems. Once it was detected by Windows, it showed up a 'Controller' or 'Controller with Yaw' in ED. I personally prefer the 'with yaw' option. It would be nice to have sideways thrusters as well, but I find yaw more useful for aiming. I can always fall back on the keyboard at a pinch by using the force. :)
 

INaeem

Elite Greeter
INaeem
I’ve been using a 360-pad accompanied with VoiceAttack since day one, I cannot foresee change. The step by step instructions in the thread link below will help you setup controller presets. The default presets for official microsoft xbox 360-pad are control pad and control pad with yaw. I prefer the yaw. Take care and Elite!

http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19362
 

Rickenbacker

Rickenbacker
taotoo said:
When I was younger I played flightsims and have had all the CH/Thrustmaster stuff. Nowadays I'm not sure I want the hassle of turning my desk into a cockpit.

I briefly tried a console gamepad a few years ago, and it seemed like the joysticks on them were kind of usable, and looking at pictures they have a surprising amount of controls. I love the small size of them, and it looks like you could just rest it on your keyboard when docked etc.

Is there anybody with a background like my own that has successfully changed over to a gamepad for ED? Or are they not quite good enough if you're used to a proper HOTAS?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've owned a lot of the HOTAS systems over the years, and at least tried most of the ones I haven't actually bought. And I play ED with my 360 pad quite a lot. It's not as precise, so I avoid dogfighting other players too often (NPCs are generally fine though, except Mr Railgun Pirate :)). It's easy to get out for a quick trading session, it's got enough buttons to map the most used functions to and I love the ergonomics.

I actually do have a Logitech G940 and a TrackIR, and will use them if I plan on any serious dogfighting, but for quick access and "good enough" precision, a gamepad is perfect for me.
 

Non Grata

Non Grata
Rickenbacker said:
I've owned a lot of the HOTAS systems over the years, and at least tried most of the ones I haven't actually bought. And I play ED with my 360 pad quite a lot. It's not as precise, so I avoid dogfighting other players too often (NPCs are generally fine though, except Mr Railgun Pirate :)). It's easy to get out for a quick trading session, it's got enough buttons to map the most used functions to and I love the ergonomics.

I actually do have a Logitech G940 and a TrackIR, and will use them if I plan on any serious dogfighting, but for quick access and "good enough" precision, a gamepad is perfect for me.
Click to expand...

Great answer - thanks - having now tried one I agree with absolutely everything you've said (not least the ergonomics - if only the thumbsticks were more usuable...)!
 

Non Grata

Non Grata
KickahasTier said:
I tried for ages to use a 360 controller. The joysticks were way too sensitive for aiming, but that was the worst thing I found.

T HOTAS X is much better, and has the twist grip for yaw.
Click to expand...

Yes - I imagine they're too short for fine control. Not helped by the huge deadzones either, at least on the cheap one I tried...
 

Non Grata

Non Grata
Pomerlaw said:
I think I will try my XBOX controller when I finally get the game. I will then decide if I need a joystick.

They are really practical, even more so when you want to play on the coach in front of a 130" screen. ;P
Click to expand...

Indeed - I wonder if anybody makes a high-end one that has zero-deadzone long throw thumbsticks?
 
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