Hotas Thrustmaster - worth it?

[Nerix]

I am thinking about ordering a thrustmaster, so that I can start ED playing with that control type from day 1 ( https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B015ECTAK4/ )

Before I do that, I would like to hear some opinions regarding the control types joystick vs controller.

What is the difference for you, what's the better experience and why? Thanks!

 

[CMDR Lukas Vance]

I've not played yet obviously but the general consensus seems to be there's little gain to be had to actually flying, but it's great for immersion. I've bought one.

 

[StiTch]

I've not played yet obviously but the general consensus seems to be there's little gain to be had to actually flying, but it's great for immersion. I've bought one.

This counts for HOTAS vs. KBAM, because the precision of mouse is unparalleled, especially when FA Off and/or fixed weapons are involved.

As consoles go where it's between HOTAS and controller, I'd say realistically it can't hurt to have the HOTAS if money permits. The X-Boner crowd have raised enough complaints about how awkward controllers are to use.

 

[stormyuk]

This counts for HOTAS vs. KBAM, because the precision of mouse is unparalleled, especially when FA Off and/or fixed weapons are involved.

As consoles go where it's between HOTAS and controller, I'd say realistically it can't hurt to have the HOTAS if money permits. The X-Boner crowd have raised enough complaints about how awkward controllers are to use.

Really? Thats not the impression I've got. The consensus seems mixed at best. Sure many are crying out for HOTAS. Awkward to use? Not sure about that. That sounds like PC master race talk.

I hated controllers when I first converted from PC to console. Like any control device, it takes practice. I am generally totally happy with the DS4. Maybe when Elite finally arrives I'll change my mind but my limited DS4 use on the PC Combat Training 1.0 version. It seemed like nothing practice won't address. Same would apply to HOTAS.

To the Op the choice is yours if you are convinced you'll love it go for it, if not try DS4 first. If you hate it invest in one then.

 

[StiTch]

Really? Thats not the impression I've got. The consensus seems mixed at best. Sure many are crying out for HOTAS. Awkward to use? Not sure about that. That sounds like PC master race talk.

I hated controllers when I first converted from PC to console. Like any control device, it takes practice. I am generally totally happy with the DS4. Maybe when Elite finally arrives I'll change my mind but my limited DS4 use on the PC Combat Training 1.0 version. It seemed like nothing practice won't address.

I'm pretty fair and non-condescending about being a PC "master race" gamer, so drop the sassy comments at the door next time. I'll give a chain if you need to lock them up.

Comments I've been seeing typically relate to specific functions. OP might be quite laid back and not require total control at a moment's notice but I've noticed a lot of complaints that, for instance, FA Off can be difficult to co-ordinate correctly, or that switching from some buttons to other is....inelegant.

You may be right controllers are just fine. But I see few grounds they could be considered equal to a HOTAS, where KBAM has reasons, even if I've avoided KBAM myself in favour of a Warthog setup.

 

[stormyuk]

The thrustmaster may not solve all of those issues raised. It's still going to need context sensitive (shift) type setups as it's only got the same buttons as a DS4. Guarenteed better throttle control for sure. It may be able to be configured better than a DS4 in practice although of that I am not 100% convinced. It won't match a PC setup for sure.

Apologies if that's not how you meant to come across (PC master race wise)

 

[badems0503]

I've gone from pc hotas to xbone...its a little difficult to get your head around at first and with less instant commands but its easy enough to get used to.but ive not lost anything in the gameplay at all...personally I cant wait to get back to hotas with ps4 due to the before mentioned immersion , but that's just me.

 

[stormyuk]

I've gone from pc hotas to xbone...its a little difficult to get your head around at first and with less instant commands but its easy enough to get used to.but ive not lost anything in the gameplay at all...personally I cant wait to get back to hotas with ps4 due to the before mentioned immersion , but that's just me.

Agreed I have no doubt its 100 times more immersive.

 

[badems0503]

The thrustmaster may not solve all of those issues raised. It's still going to need context sensitive (shift) type setups as it's only got the same buttons as a DS4. Guarenteed better throttle control for sure. It may be able to be configured better than a DS4 in practice although of that I am not 100% convinced. It won't match a PC setup for sure.

Apologies if that's not how you meant to come across (PC master race wise)

your right here...the ds4 has the touchpad aswell so that's 1 up control wise.also I think the ds4 gimbal headlook will be great in combat situations.
hoping FDev will let me use my x55 again...but the thrustmaster is waiting

 

[Nerix]

Thanks for the thoughts. So using the Hotas seems to be more immersive (kind of logic) and have no drawbacks regarding the controls (or even slight advantages). I think I'll give it a try, as immersion is quite important in such a game for me.

E.g. I was thinking about pvp hotas vs controller. I don't want to have disadvantages when using a different control input (though I am not a pvp player anyway, but the situation will come in open mode one day).

 

[Old Duck]

I, for one, hope that Frontier enables voice commands in ED on PS4. There are other Playstation games that offer voice control, but I think ED would be one of the best platforms for this. I've seen PC players with voice controls, and it's amazing. It would solve all the problems of mapping multiple functions to the same button. Even HOTAS users can benefit from this.

 

[StiTch]

Apologies if that's not how you meant to come across (PC master race wise)

No problem. It's only because I'm one of the worst "master race" gamers going from an elitism perspective; I don't particularly like modding games, I believe the console community is stronger for matchmaking, and acknowledge that console gaming has overall greater reliability as a result of consistent hardware and the ability to develop games to that consistency.

I, for one, hope that Frontier enables voice commands in ED on PS4. There are other Playstation games that offer voice control, but I think ED would be one of the best platforms for this. I've seen PC players with voice controls, and it's amazing. It would solve all the problems of mapping multiple functions to the same button. Even HOTAS users can benefit from this.

This is quite often not a case of what FD will allow but what the console manafacturer will allow.

In any case, FD don't have anything to do with the current voice recognition software AFAIK. That's developed by other guys and it just takes the commands, then outputs a keypress/macro as if it were a controller. That'd mean FD branching into developing something entirely new that I suspect wouldn't work with their console restrictions; they might not even be allowed to provide more overall binds than the controller allows.

Not to be the king of negativity here ofc. I just think it's about the least likely thing to happen short of X-Boner and PS4 gamers admitting there's practically nothing left in the console war...

 

[Nerix]

That would be great indeed. Have we heard anything about that? Is that a feature in the xbox version?

Another question came to my mind: do you need a table or something similar where you put the hotas, or is it possible to put it on your lap or next to you on the couch and still be able to use it as supposed to?

 

[CMDR Lukas Vance]

Thanks for the thoughts. So using the Hotas seems to be more immersive (kind of logic) and have no drawbacks regarding the controls (or even slight advantages). I think I'll give it a try, as immersion is quite important in such a game for me.

E.g. I was thinking about pvp hotas vs controller. I don't want to have disadvantages when using a different control input (though I am not a pvp player anyway, but the situation will come in open mode one day).

This isn't really specific to ED, but one of the advantages of a controller is that when you are moving a thumbstick there is very little distance to travel from one end of the axis to the other; a joystick has a further physical travel distance. Now how much that affects your ability to dogfight is another thing. I think speed of thought, tactics and resource management are far more important in an ED dogfight. I think the more important issue here is choosing one and sticking with it; muscle memory and habit will undoubtedly trip you up in a pressure situation.

Another question came to my mind: do you need a table or something similar where you put the hotas, or is it possible to put it on your lap or next to you on the couch and still be able to use it as supposed to?

I wouldn't fancy just resting it on my lap. I think sofa players are looking at laptop 'tables'; i.e. ones that have a cushion against your legs and a flat surface. IKEA do them cheap.

 

[[VR] Frank_G]

The Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS is very precise, allows to play FAOn and FAOff with one single setting with ease, is very customizable and the haptics are second to none. Besides that, a mouse does not offer the feeling to be in a spaceship (i wont use the i* word here) when in VR, in case you are using an HMD.

I use the Warthog HOTAS together with the T.Flight rudder pedals and the MFD Cougar panels, which add another 40 buttons and 8 switches to the virtual cockpit, making a keyboard almost completely obsolete (needed only for typing). In my opinion, the Warthog is worth every cent.

And i second Old Duck. A native voice input for Elite would be awesome.

 

[Old Duck]

This isn't really specific to ED, but one of the advantages of a controller is that when you are moving a thumbstick there is very little distance to travel from one end of the axis to the other; a joystick has a further physical travel distance. Now how much that affects your ability to dogfight is another thing. I think speed of thought, tactics and resource management are far more important in an ED dogfight. I think the more important issue here is choosing one and sticking with it; muscle memory and habit will undoubtedly trip you up in a pressure situation.

Agreed. Another variable is how much PS4 gaming you do in general. I've become very proficient with the default controller because I use it in all my other games, including fast-pace FPSs that require precision aiming. I've been using a flightstick with the PC combat demo, and I'm finding my wrists lacking the precision I've gotten used to with my PS4 controller.

 

[Old Duck]

This [voice commands] is quite often not a case of what FD will allow but what the console manafacturer will allow.

In any case, FD don't have anything to do with the current voice recognition software AFAIK. That's developed by other guys and it just takes the commands, then outputs a keypress/macro as if it were a controller. That'd mean FD branching into developing something entirely new that I suspect wouldn't work with their console restrictions; they might not even be allowed to provide more overall binds than the controller allows.

Well Sony allows games to use voice commands, because there are PS4 (and PS3, for that matter) games that use voice commands The question I have is whether Sony's own voice recognition API is public or private. If public, then it would be trivial for Frontier to integrate their own commands into ED.

I also don't think ED will limit one platform because that feature is unavailable on another platform. If this were the case, nobody would have VR or HOTAS because Xbox doesn't have these.

 

[who?]

The Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS is very precise, allows to play FAOn and FAOff with one single setting with ease, is very customizable and the haptics are second to none. Besides that, a mouse does not offer the feeling to be in a spaceship (i wont use the i* word here) when in VR, in case you are using an HMD.

I use the Warthog HOTAS together with the T.Flight rudder pedals and the MFD Cougar panels, which add another 40 buttons and 8 switches to the virtual cockpit, making a keyboard almost completely obsolete (needed only for typing). In my opinion, the Warthog is worth every cent.

And i second Old Duck. A native voice input for Elite would be awesome.

One problem I have with the Warthog (throttle) is that it's very switch-heavy and button-light. It could do with lots more buttons, and better support for switches (in order to map a flip-switch in-game, it has to have a 'hold' option. And they don't work well if you switch to the camera or alt-tab out of the game and back).

I might give the MFD Cougar panels a go, do you use them around a screen? I'm working on a '2nd screen' web-app for tablet which I might use instead, if I ever get it finished.

 

[robjef]

I actually just ordered a HOTAS 4 yesterday. I plan to try it out with the combat demo on my laptop (I know the demo supports the previous verson not sure about HOTAS 4 though)
I'll let you know what I think afterwards.

Personally I bought it for immersion, my biggest concern is really *how* to use it, as in, should I just have one piece either side? or will they move (being on a soft surface -couch) or as I read elsewhere, should I mount it to something (plank of wood in the post I read lol) to keep it all stable? I suppose I'll just try different things when I get it.

 

[StiTch]

Well Sony allows games to use voice commands, because there are PS4 (and PS3, for that matter) games that use voice commands The question I have is whether Sony's own voice recognition API is public or private. If public, then it would be trivial for Frontier to integrate their own commands into ED.

I also don't think ED will limit one platform because that feature is unavailable on another platform. If this were the case, nobody would have VR or HOTAS because Xbox doesn't have these.

Well you're more clued up on the topic than I thought (sneaky devil!), but I had assumed the API would be private in any case. Of course either way it still leaves it to FD to develop something entire new.

Not all against it of course. In fact ED having its own integrated voice recognition...now that can make some moves. We're limited to keybinds at present, but I think ED would actively take a leap and then a bound if we saw it integrate more directly with the game. As a rough example, when comms are developed, the ability to make cargo demands as a pirate with the voice recognition (instead of keypresses) set to recognise one/more key phrases to initiate the piracy, and the number itself.

Crude idea but the potential for voice recognition integrated directly by FD is huge.

AAAAAND back on topic.