Newcomer / Intro Controller question before I plunk down my $$

Darkkhelmet · Apr 6, 2015

I have been gaming since before most of you were born

and have some older equipment floating around. Specifically I have a Thrustmaster joystick controller (RS232 serial) and was wondering (assuming I can find drivers and a serial to USB adapter) if I could use that with the game.

Trader38 · Apr 6, 2015

If you can get Windows to see it, and in control panel you can select and calibrate it then it will work.

ps i'm 55 y/o you ?

Darkkhelmet · Apr 6, 2015

Trader38 said:
If you can get Windows to see it, and in control panel you can select and calibrate it then it will work.

ps i'm 55 y/o you ?

Just a kid...I'm 68. I just went looking for the joystick and found an old Logitech Sidewinder and MS force feed back one as well. I could have sworn I had the Thrusmaster but perhaps not. From the look of the ones I did find it's probably not worth the effort and a new more modern one would be best. Thanks for the info.

Trader38 · Apr 6, 2015

Darkkhelmet said:
Just a kid...

hehe i used to hate that when my father-in-law used to say it

Anyway looking forward to seeing you in-game, look me up

Darkkhelmet · Apr 6, 2015

Trader38 said:
Anyway looking forward to seeing you in-game, look me up

Heh, thanks, I will. I'm an avid WoW player for about 9 years. I've tried several other MMO's and FPS's but always come back to WoW. I think it's finally time for some alternative play.

Dagoreth · Apr 6, 2015

Darkkhelmet said:
Heh, thanks, I will. I'm an avid WoW player for about 9 years. I've tried several other MMO's and FPS's but always come back to WoW. I think it's finally time for some alternative play.

Same reason I have been looking into this game as well; getting burnt out on WoW and none of my old gaming friends play anymore. And I'm older as well but not as experienced as you are (41)

I like your avatar name also, great movie!

Toumal · Apr 6, 2015

Darkkhelmet said:
I have been gaming since before most of you were born and have some older equipment floating around. Specifically I have a Thrustmaster joystick controller (RS232 serial) and was wondering (assuming I can find drivers and a serial to USB adapter) if I could use that with the game.

I would strongly recommend a joystick with an optical or magnetic (Hall-sensor) pickup. Also consider that getting a recent Hotas gives you lots of very useful bindable buttons. That said, if your joystick is recognized by windows somehow, it should work in ED but you will need to set up everything yourself.

Darkkhelmet · Apr 6, 2015

Dagoreth: I like you're description "experienced"

If I decide to get the game I will be sure to look you up. Perhaps we can do some of whatever you do in the game if I can stay awake

Toumal: thanks for the advice. I have been looking at some flight control joysticks and there are so many it's hard to decide which is best. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.

SmackInTheBox · Apr 6, 2015

I use a Thrustmaster T.16000. It's relatively cheap on Amazon @ ~$60.

http://www.amazon.com/ThrustMaster-...e=UTF8&qid=1428358779&sr=8-1&keywords=t+16000

It supports yaw on the stick and I have been really happy playing Elite: Dangerous with it.

Darkkhelmet · Apr 7, 2015

Thanks Smack. I like the price but there are so many to choose from I just can't decide. I'd like to get some more feedback and also see if there are any that will work with my xbox one and xim4. I got the xbox so I could finally play Halo but the controller makes the game play miserable for me.

p.opus · Apr 7, 2015

I have a basic Logitech Extreme Pro 3D and it works great. It has some potentiometer jitter, but it's doable. I like it because it is a twist stick so I can map Yaw to the stick itself and don't have to use buttons or get a rudder configuration.

It would be interesting to see how elite would play with my CH Flight Yoke Pro though.....

SGTHACK · Apr 7, 2015

Darkkhelmet said:
I have been gaming since before most of you were born and have some older equipment floating around. Specifically I have a Thrustmaster joystick controller (RS232 serial) and was wondering (assuming I can find drivers and a serial to USB adapter) if I could use that with the game.

Sorry, not me Dad!!

GJ51 · Apr 7, 2015

Darkkhelmet said:
Just a kid...I'm 68. I just went looking for the joystick and found an old Logitech Sidewinder and MS force feed back one as well. I could have sworn I had the Thrusmaster but perhaps not. From the look of the ones I did find it's probably not worth the effort and a new more modern one would be best. Thanks for the info.

LOL - I'm 63 - take it from another old codger - part with one of those SSI checks and get a Thrusmater Warthog.

It's the only way to fly!

And a good set of rudder pedals. CH are ok unless you want to loose another SSI check on a Slaw Device...

The new stuff uses Hall Effect electronics for control instead of the old potentiometers that were so flaky.

Once you try a Warthog you won't want anything else.

AirBear · Apr 7, 2015

Well it's good to know that at age 58 I won't be the oldest player around! I've also been gaming for a long time, I played the original Elite back in the 80's. I even played "Pong" in the 70's

I installed ED but have never got past the training runs since I can't get a controller config that works well for me. I've been away from the game for a few months now. The Thrustmaster T16000 just arrived from Amazon so I'm going to try it out but have to relearn where to get the config files and how to install them.

AirBear

GJ51 · Apr 7, 2015

AirBear said:
Well it's good to know that at age 58 I won't be the oldest player around! I've also been gaming for a long time, I played the original Elite back in the 80's. I even played "Pong" in the 70's I installed ED but have never got past the training runs since I can't get a controller config that works well for me. I've been away from the game for a few months now. The Thrustmaster T16000 just arrived from Amazon so I'm going to try it out but have to relearn where to get the config files and how to install them.

AirBear

Just be patient and do all your setup testing in the training modules. I think I actually took a couple weeks of testing before I felt like I was dialing in on a workable setup that let me react automatically when I needed a particular function. If you rush things, that first interdiction will be a real panic session.

Darkkhelmet · Apr 7, 2015

Thanks for all the great suggestions. I'll check the stuff out and look for you in game. Except Sgthack, he seems way too young.

Painkiller · Apr 7, 2015

Lord Darkkhelmet , when you setup, meet me at Mos Eisley , we'll have a can of "Air" from Druidia

Mad Jock · Apr 7, 2015

MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2

Darkkhelmet said:
I just went looking for the joystick and found an old Logitech Sidewinder and MS force feed back one as well. I could have sworn I had the Thrusmaster but perhaps not. From the look of the ones I did find it's probably not worth the effort and a new more modern one would be best.

Hi all, as yet another older than most, younger than some, I also dug out my MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2. After a quick dusting off I plugged it in to my Windows 7 PC and found it seemed to work ok. With it only having a few buttons I do need to keep my keyboard and mouse close by and I probably should remap some of the buttons to more sensible ones. Not sure if I should get any vibration or rumbling when I get shot at but I'll worry about that later on.
Lovin the new Elite Dangerous and looking forward to exploring once I've got out of my Sidewinder. Still only on day 2 for me.

Fly safe........Mad Jock

jpaulwilson1982 · Apr 7, 2015

Ha, I thought I was an old geezer around here at 33. 68 and still gaming it up? Much respect, especially if you can keep up with younger A.D.D. folks

markkuk · Apr 7, 2015

AirBear said:
The Thrustmaster T16000 just arrived from Amazon so I'm going to try it out but have to relearn where to get the config files and how to install them.

You don't need any config files. Just plug the stick in an USB port, start the game and go to Options->Controls to set up the controls.