I am just trying to see what the numbers might be out of curiosity. I play ED in VR pretty much exclusively. I'm using a Roccat Vulcan 100 keyboard and a Logitech G600 gaming mouse for control. I never felt like I needed a hotas setup. I touch type so that is not an issue. The saving grace has been the Logitech G600, 16 buttons with 12 of them on the thumb. I have all of my exploration and combat hotkeys programmed to those 12 thumb buttons and I have zero issues. I'm OG pc master race from pre-wolfenstien 3D days so the idea of switching to hotas is just meh to me. The control I get with KB and mouse is too fine to switch.
How many KB and Mouse users are there in VR?
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Reminds me of my WoW days when I used a Razer Naga (that gave up long ago now) that also had 12 thumb buttons. My interface had three panels with 12 buttons each corresponding to whether or not the button was pressed with modifier or not. I basically played with mouse only apart from modifiers.
But to the question: I agree with the previous poster. The HOTAS does a lot for immersion. I still have the keyboard positioned for typing in between the throttle and stick and I control the FSS using the mouse.
I'd use my keyboard to wipe my before I'd every use it as a flight controller.
I play exclusively with HOTAS. I mostly started because the in-game character uses a hotas and it was really messing with me, so I set mine up so my hands would be roughly where his were.
At this point, my HOTAS has become second nature to me. Since I also just fly 1 ship, I've gotten used to how it feels using the hotas to the point where I can fly FA off with no curves and still maintain solid control.
Honestly, I've heard KB+M is the best control scheme for this game, but I can't imagine it in VR. Have 2 friends who tried, and both failed miserably; just too hard for them to get used to the hotkeys with the mask on their face. For me, playing with HOTAS just felt more natural and I figured I'd rely on raw skill to make up any shortcoming the control scheme had over kb+m. So far it's been working alright for me.
Well, my saitek's throttle did not last even a month, chinese rubbish, all buttons on top are gone, even hat which was used for thrusters. So i tried to play with KB+stick, and mouse for some menus and DSS. I can say that while this is a definately not so great as hotas setup, u can still enjoy it, as long as u have enough hats and buttons on a stick for crucial commands. So i can encourage you to try out such layout, even cheap stick will do, as long as it has twist axis and 2-3 hats
Well, I don't say it's not possible to do well with mouse and keyboard, but whomever said it is the best needs to swing by my place, where I have it setup with two Virpil Joysticks, a virpil throttle and crosswind pedals..
There is simply no way I could possibly go into a rolling, yawiing sideways slide like I often do in combat with a Keyboard and mouse.
In short, I have it set up so I could easily move in any axis with ease at once.
Although I must admit that setup is a bit insane, and costing nearly $1400....
I can only have my midlife crisis once right ?
Oh, thank you for supporting our local brand) I recently got constellation alpha grip, and t50cm2 throttle is on the way
Been eyeing that Alpha grip, currently using the original constellation and t50cm.
But it's not like I need the upgrade or anything
But it's not like I need the upgrade or anything
TS sorry for offtop. Alpha is probably not so much better over delta. Second trigger? Okay, but its cant be used properly in ed. Handbrake? You could probably bind it as thrusters forward-backward, as i will try as acquire throttle, but thats not a big deal if you, as mentioned previously, have 2 sticks setup. Besides awesome precise mechanic action, and 4 hats, the main benefit over my saitek stick is xbox-like joystick, which delta already have.Been eyeing that Alpha grip, currently using the original constellation and t50cm.
But it's not like I need the upgrade or anything
edit: ah, delta have two triggers too, so the main difference is a materials used and thumb hat, not a big deal if delta fits your hand size
I have looked at the Virpil hardware and if I go HOTAS that would be where I landed because of build quality. Problem is they seem to be sold out most of the time, which is a comment on the hardware in my mind.
There is actually not much choosing when it comes to "premium" sim sticks. Warthog, KB sim (VKB) or Virpil (VPC). For elite the best grip is probably gonna be constellation series of virpil. And actually vkb have a perfect deal - Gladiator stick. It have magnet sensors and mechanical action for only like $80, but lacks buttons on stick itself, despite having some on a base.
With virpil stock there is some gimmick - its a relatively small shop, so theyre actually manufacturing their products only on demand.
They are utterly overkill, you don't really need anything as precise as these for a basic arcade game like Elite.
And like most upper tier stuff, these aren't something you plump down on a desk and start wiggling around.
They demand proper mounting, at minimum you will need the mounts, but the best you can get is what you can DIY, custom fit to be exactly how you need it.
That includes the WarBRD gimbal.
Elite honestly doesn't have the gravitas of gameplay to warrant such an investment.
A t16000 HOTAS from Thrustmaster is much more reasonable or an x56 logitech, and that would see you sorted for a good HOTAS for less than what a Virpil stick and grip.
Heck you could probably get the t16000 HOTAS and a second t16000 stick for a maxed out "voltron" like setup.
For less than one Virpil\vkb.
That said I have had my setup for a while now and every time I sit down for a session my brain still goes "Ohh, yea"
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After playing with the T16000 HOTAS for almost a year now, the one thing I am missing is having a few more buttons on the stick itself. While it does have a total of 16 buttons and a hat, only the hat and four of the buttons are on the actual stick. For the remaining 12 buttons you actually have to let go of the stick, which makes those buttons less than optimal for using for anything other than time-non-critical tasks such as landing gear and cargo scoop. On the plus side, all of the throttle buttons are easily accessible without letting go of the throttle and the mini-stick and rudder on the back is what I use for directional thrusters in FA off. Flying without those would be a real negative in my book. I might eventually just get another stick, but keep the throttle ...
I would recommend x52, if that crap aint broke down cuz of laughably bad wiring. x56 probably will be the best decision, if you would be lucky enough to get example with proper quality. I wanted x56, but freaked out and opt for virpil setup, despite its like twice more money. Unfortunately, saitek, or should i say logitech has a terrible rep for quality.
As for t16000 - its probably handles the same, and have no well known quality issues but have less buttons and axes.
And yes, i must admit that vpc's mechanical action is sooo much more satisfying then conventional action of cheaper sticks. But oh boy they are pricey, definately an overkill for elite
As for t16000 - its probably handles the same, and have no well known quality issues but have less buttons and axes.
And yes, i must admit that vpc's mechanical action is sooo much more satisfying then conventional action of cheaper sticks. But oh boy they are pricey, definately an overkill for elite
It does have a fairly common problem with jitter in the twist axis due to problems with the potentiometer. It is rather easy to correct by regreasing the potentiometer - but to do that you need to be comfortable with opening up the stick and void the warranty. I have had to perform this operation 3 times in one year of use.
Well it comes to cost, I can get the t16000k hotas for under £250, shipping tax included, getting similar solution out of virpil would be easily a grand, not counting shipping and tax, which for me is 25%.
Don't get me wrong I haven't regretted it for a minute, and I love my higher end kit every time I use it in elite, and even more so when flying in DCS.
But I can't recommend to anyone spend $1300+ on something most people would try for a month and then leave in cupboard.
It is a pretty big barrier if to switch from M+kb style of play to having to move your hands and feet in odd ways when making the switch.
Just adding pedals the first time took me a week and half for it to settle in, but after that I can't fathom not having them.
Can people be just as good without them, yes sure no issues.
It's just my personal preference now.
Don't get me wrong I haven't regretted it for a minute, and I love my higher end kit every time I use it in elite, and even more so when flying in DCS.
But I can't recommend to anyone spend $1300+ on something most people would try for a month and then leave in cupboard.
It is a pretty big barrier if to switch from M+kb style of play to having to move your hands and feet in odd ways when making the switch.
Just adding pedals the first time took me a week and half for it to settle in, but after that I can't fathom not having them.
Can people be just as good without them, yes sure no issues.
It's just my personal preference now.
Something like a Razer Tartarus and a mouse might work in VR - it would be a lot easier to memorize and find the button presses. I've got a Tartarus as a fallback in case my right hand deteriorates to the point where I can no longer work the hat switches on my joystick, but I've not yet been reduced to the point where I've had to try it.
