Best joystick for VR?

[TorTorden_VR]

Must admit I would rather decent fibre reinforced plastic handles (it works for Glock/FN amongst others) and metal mechanicals than the other way round. The Warthog unfortunately uses a plastic gimbal iirc, which is maybe marginally better than the Cougar which had pot metal - both are not what I'd call "engineering grade".

Oh I was thinking of the Virpil when I said "over-engineered" The warthog looks great an all, but Thrustmaster in the end of the day still imo make "higher end toys" rather than anything more.

As for twin stick, I want to believe, but I honestly can't see any benefits to my current setup.
I have CH all around, so I use pedals for yaw, and the ministick for up\down and left\right thrust already, granted the resolution on the ch isn't anything to brag about.
It's been good enoug for ED.

With twin sticks it would just seem as I would loose the main throttle axis.

Now an idea would be to take the left stick and mount it to a sliding axis...
Hmm might take it even closer to a "voltron" like setup...

 

[Zeeman]

Oh I was thinking of the Virpil when I said "over-engineered" The warthog looks great an all, but Thrustmaster in the end of the day still imo make "higher end toys" rather than anything more.

As for twin stick, I want to believe, but I honestly can't see any benefits to my current setup.
I have CH all around, so I use pedals for yaw, and the ministick for up\down and left\right thrust already, granted the resolution on the ch isn't anything to brag about.
It's been good enoug for ED.

With twin sticks it would just seem as I would loose the main throttle axis.

Now an idea would be to take the left stick and mount it to a sliding axis...
Hmm might take it even closer to a "voltron" like setup...

The Virpil is *very* nice. I really like the buttons. Muscle memory is screwing me over though, very different button layout to the Warthog. The buttons are also easy to press, and are very tactile - the warthog buttons are very stiff, and sometimes don't respond when you think you have pressed it hard enough.

As I said above though, I can swap the Warthog grip on the Virpil - same connector, it just works (by design).

Z...

 

[Zeeman]

On a side note, I will be doing a bit of a write up on the Virpil, comparing it to my Warthog, and also thoughts based on all the other sticks I've used.

Z...

 

[Moonax IRL]

I'm very new to the game, but can already tell that I'll need a joystick to play it properly. I'm currently on an Xbox controller.

Is there a joystick setup that is both reasonably priced and that works well with Rift?

Basically, I cannot have keyboard assignments because I can't see the keyboard with Rift on, so all controls should be on the stick and thrust.

Anything tried and true?

Thrustmaster T Flight x, 40 odd euro and does the job fine, you can combine buttons to add more input options. mine is 3 yrs old and still going strong.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmast...sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=thrustmaster+t+flight

I use a wireless xbox 360 controller for the SRV and the gal/sys map, it works a treat. Typing in a system name is the only issue with VR, FD should have had a on screen keyboard from day dot.

 

[Alec Turner]

On a side note, I will be doing a bit of a write up on the Virpil, comparing it to my Warthog, and also thoughts based on all the other sticks I've used.

Z...

Hey Z, can you let me know when that writeup's done 'cos I might add it to the "Controller accessories" section of my "Best of forum" thread, which is currently biased towards the T-Flight since that's the only HOTAS I've had any experience of.

 

[Zeeman]

Hey Z, can you let me know when that writeup's done 'cos I might add it to the "Controller accessories" section of my "Best of forum" thread, which is currently biased towards the T-Flight since that's the only HOTAS I've had any experience of.

The T-Flight is about the only HOTAS I have had 0 experience with! I could outfit a fleet of fighter jets with my stick collection...

I'll let you know though, I just need to properly mount it so it stays firm on the chair arm rest, hope to figure it out over the weekend.

Z...

 

[Zeeman]

Thrustmaster T Flight x, 40 odd euro and does the job fine, you can combine buttons to add more input options. mine is 3 yrs old and still going strong.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thrustmast...sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=thrustmaster+t+flight

I use a wireless xbox 360 controller for the SRV and the gal/sys map, it works a treat. Typing in a system name is the only issue with VR, FD should have had a on screen keyboard from day dot.

Without wanting to belittle the T-flight, because, geez, for the $80 odd it goes for in stores, it's a pretty good deal it really is lacking in buttons. Shift keys are all good and well, but it starts to become a bit of a nightmare once you start having to give each button 3 or 4 functions, and making sure you set it up so you don't stop some functions working during others...

I do need to give one a try though, just to see how it feels.

Z...

 

[Moonax IRL]

Without wanting to belittle the T-flight, because, geez, for the $80 odd it goes for in stores, it's a pretty good deal it really is lacking in buttons. Shift keys are all good and well, but it starts to become a bit of a nightmare once you start having to give each button 3 or 4 functions, and making sure you set it up so you don't stop some functions working during others...

I do need to give one a try though, just to see how it feels.


Z...

Its a lot cheaper than 80 dollars. Its 35 sterling or under 40 euro, see link, maybe its the newer model you`re looking at. As for using multiple buttons, I just have a few extra cmds mapped and its not an issue. Well worth the money.

 

[Alec Turner]

Without wanting to belittle the T-flight, because, geez, for the $80 odd it goes for in stores, it's a pretty good deal it really is lacking in buttons. Shift keys are all good and well, but it starts to become a bit of a nightmare once you start having to give each button 3 or 4 functions, and making sure you set it up so you don't stop some functions working during others...

I do need to give one a try though, just to see how it feels.

Z...

I actually really like my use of 4 shift buttons - there's a kind of logic to how I've done it (although the people at Lavecon who had to wrestle with my setup for the Buckyball race might disagree!). For example, with the hatstick ...

Unshifted = vertical/lateral thrusters

Shift 1 (which does power kind of modifcations) = pips

Shift 2 (which does targetting kind of modifications) = target next/prev ship, next/prev subsystem

Shift 3 (which does UI/HUD stuff) = open side panels, comms, role switch

Shift 3 (miscellaneous) = lights, galaxy map, silent running, FA off

Having a relatively small number of actual buttons means my finger placement doesn't have to be too precise and is actually great for VR where you can't see your hands or the stick (although I guess you get used to the feel of loads of buttons right next to each other in the end).

You're dead right about clashing functions tho (e.g. I can't change targets while using my lateral thrusters).

 

[Zeeman]

I actually really like my use of 4 shift buttons - there's a kind of logic to how I've done it (although the people at Lavecon who had to wrestle with my setup for the Buckyball race might disagree!). For example, with the hatstick ...

Unshifted = vertical/lateral thrusters

Shift 1 (which does power kind of modifcations) = pips

Shift 2 (which does targetting kind of modifications) = target next/prev ship, next/prev subsystem

STOP RIGHT THERE!!! LOL, OK, I'm kinda taking the micky with the caps, but in all seriousness, if you make my lateral thrusters and turn them into pips management, and then also throw target select on top of that, you've literally just killed my combat. I absolutely rely on being able to do all those things at once! Thrusters and pips in particular, I could probably deal with target select...

Shift 3 (which does UI/HUD stuff) = open side panels, comms, role switch

Shift 3 (miscellaneous) = lights, galaxy map, silent running, FA off

Having a relatively small number of actual buttons means my finger placement doesn't have to be too precise and is actually great for VR where you can't see your hands or the stick (although I guess you get used to the feel of loads of buttons right next to each other in the end).

You're dead right about clashing functions tho (e.g. I can't change targets while using my lateral thrusters).

I think it really is a case of just getting used to it though, I find it takes about 3 days of solid play for my brain/muscle memory to kick in during high pressure/combat. I'm currently using a CH PRo throttle, VKB T-rudder pedals, and the Warthog/Virpil stick. Button layout is fantastic on both of them, but I give the overall layout to the Warthog (just) because of the 4 way + push button on the thumbrest, but the Virpil is so much nicer for actually pressing he buttons. They are *really* nice switches. Kinda like going from a mushy regular keyboard, and then typing on a mechanical keyboard with some nice Cherry switches. They are just really nice to press.

My CH throttle probably feels similar in that sense, as far as the switches go, you can feel positive feedback, very tactile, not really loud, but very positive. Just feels "nice".

This is my current layout

Keep in mind that I'm messing with a few things, so a couple of hats are empty. I also choose to shift some functions not so much because I have to, but more to stop me pressing them by accident.


Z...

 

[Alec Turner]

STOP RIGHT THERE!!! LOL, OK, I'm kinda taking the micky with the caps, but in all seriousness, if you make my lateral thrusters and turn them into pips management, and then also throw target select on top of that, you've literally just killed my combat. I absolutely rely on being able to do all those things at once!

OK, maybe that's why Archon Fury called me a pervert! (at least I think it was Archon, I was pretty drunk at Lavecon most of the time). I'm a pretty casual combat pilot so I manage.

 

[TorTorden_VR]

Well, if anyone wants to wrap their brains around keybindings.
Here's mine (sans external camera view): http://www.mcdee.net/elite/binds/isftvm
Having full CH gear, I have two 8-way POV, 6 4-way hats.
I use the three normal buttons on the top throttle as modifiers, but the right most one only really inverts the throttle axis.

But just having two modifier buttons means I have three distinct 'modes' on each HAT and POV.
Giving me 120 keybinds, all at the tips of my fingers.
I don't use the keyboard much...
And really the two 8 way POV's are fairly superflous, so they do double functions like radar zoom, lights and digital thruster control, althoug I primarily use the ministick.

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS here. Love the feel, the weight and the build quality. It doesn't go anywhere, its too heavy.

However, having it on the desk is not good all the time. While playing Robo Recall I whacked my hand into it waving my guns about, hard. Quite a few expletives were issued.
I have ended up with a nice little scar to remember not to do that again...

 

[Zeeman]

Well, if anyone wants to wrap their brains around keybindings.
Here's mine (sans external camera view): https://www.mcdee.net/elite/scripts/bindings.py
Having full CH gear, I have two 8-way POV, 6 4-way hats.
I use the three normal buttons on the top throttle as modifiers, but the right most one only really inverts the throttle axis.

But just having two modifier buttons means I have three distinct 'modes' on each HAT and POV.
Giving me 120 keybinds, all at the tips of my fingers.
I don't use the keyboard much...
And really the two 8 way POV's are fairly superflous, so they do double functions like radar zoom, lights and digital thruster control, althoug I primarily use the ministick.

You shared the wrong link. There is a link at the bottom of the page that lets you share your setup.

Z...

Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS here. Love the feel, the weight and the build quality. It doesn't go anywhere, its too heavy.

However, having it on the desk is not good all the time. While playing Robo Recall I whacked my hand into it waving my guns about, hard. Quite a few expletives were issued.
I have ended up with a nice little scar to remember not to do that again...

I unscrew the stick from the base when not in use these days.

Z...

 

[TorTorden_VR]

You shared the wrong link. There is a link at the bottom of the page that lets you share your setup.

My bad.
Here we go again

http://www.mcdee.net/elite/binds/isftvm

 

[Zeeman]

My bad.
Here we go again

http://www.mcdee.net/elite/binds/isftvm

Interesting, always fascinating to see other people's set ups. Especially as the CH fighterstick and Warthog have a near identical button layout.

Z...