Little brag here.
For a long time I was dreaming about HOTAS, since start I was using Logitech 3D Pro. But having rather strict demands my target options were heavily limited. In fact the only option I was aiming for was X-56 Rhino, sadly I had problems with availability. Been hunting for one, to no avail; so I finally decided to buy previous model. I was considering T.16000 HOTAS but seing it live in the store, touching it and dry trying... it didn't felt proper. I don't deny its performance, but it felt light, not many buttons limiting options and I didn't like the idea of sliding throttle. Beside those two there was Warthog, but beyond my willingness to pay that much. So the only candidate was X-56 but no stock + reported quality issues (I wanted revised one, black-grey) required a revision.
Finally I went after X-52 Pro.
Here is what my current setup looks like:
1. Night vision
2. Lights
From left to right:
- Logitech G13 gamepad
- X52 throttle
- Logitech G413 silver keyboard
- X52 stick
- Logitech G502 mouse + G440 hard mouse pad
- screens are Samsung 22" (left) and Iiyama 24" (main)
- sound system SoundBlaster Z paired with Logitech Z906 THX
Half of yesterday's evening I spent on configuring controls. Now I need to learn all the new layout (2 years of 3D Pro muscle memory to alter...) but I must say - it's the whole new experience. Whole installation process went smooth, ED detected HOTAS and tutorials were giving me exact buttons (with shapes, ha!) what to press. But the feel...
It's the same game, the same ship but it feels totally different. True - stick has different movement range and tension, compared to 3D Pro - it's softer and has more range. But total life changer was adding throttle. With a bit of tweaking it now truly feels like piloting a space ship, not just playing space game. I had my concern about the Rule of Se..ekhm..Six (tho I use 0:07). Until now I had 75% throttle bound to G13 (with a rest of throttle presets) so when timer hit 0:07 I just pressed one button and had my throttle set to 75%. Now I have to manually move throttle to 75% and I was fearing I might have problems. Luckily no problems at all, slowing down to approach speed is great and adds to realism.
It's a bit too early to pass a judgement, I'm excited with new toy, exploring new stuff, learning new binds. I start to observe limitations of this gear which probably wouldn't be an issue with X56, but X52 is what I have so I need to mold it to my needs. But I will repeat myself, I didn't expected that upgrading stick may have such a great impact on how I experience Elite.
Did you have similar or is it just me?