I can't afford all of this

[MajorPayne]

So I can budget for a Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X, the beta and xpansion. I can't afford the TrackIr 5.

Can I still pan without the TrackIr 5 or will I be stuck looking straight ahead?

 

[Cosmos]

So I can budget for a Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X, the beta and xpansion. I can't afford the TrackIr 5.

Can I still pan without the TrackIr 5 or will I be stuck looking straight ahead?

You don't need any fancy stuff to play the game. I use a cheap £7 controller and it works fine.

If you want headtracking you can make your own for £10 or get the EDheadtracker guys to build you one for a little more. Its pretty much rock solid now and an incredible bit of tech.
http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=21570

 

[1500]

you can pan with out it. There are also many other options, most of them in the $10 range to get head tracking.

 

[MajorPayne]

Thx for the replies and I don't want this to become my catch-all thread, but I already have an XBOX 360 controller hooked up to my WIN7 computer - does this work well enough for E-D?

Seems it's got enough buttons and triggers right?

 

[Cosmos]

Thx for the replies and I don't want this to become my catch-all thread, but I already have an XBOX 360 controller hooked up to my WIN7 computer - does this work well enough for E-D?

Seems it's got enough buttons and triggers right?

Yep.. infact most of the devs play it with one as far as I am aware. I'm sure a HOTAS is a pretty cool way to play but its not worth breaking the bank to get one. I find a controller offers a more comfortable playstyle - lounging back on a seat for example.

If you buy voiceattack you can use that to free up buttons for your controller. Works great for me.

 

[Gwydion]

People do use the xbox controller and while I'm not sure it has enough buttons for all functions I believe it has enough to be able to fly adequately.

 

[Antmax]

ED tracker is the best $55 (shipped to USA) I have spent in a while. It's considerably cheaper if you build yourself.

Joystick it's up to you. I much prefer HOTAS like the X52. But that can be found fairly easily in local classified ads. A LOT op people buy them and then lose interest in what ever game they played and sell them cheap.

 

[Yaffle]

As for the 'head panning' there are controls to allow it without the need for any head-tracker. One of the hats will be "Headlook" which allows you to move your avatar's point of view about without making the ship's thrusters fire.

 

[MajorPayne]

Thanks! Just saved myself $50.

 

[MajorPayne]

Okay just read a thread from several months ago, looks like if I pay for product today I don't get anything until Monday meaning the activation codes? Because these folks don't work on weekends there is no one to verify purchases until they get back in the office.

Is this still the way it's done?

 

[ipaxton]

So I can budget for a Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X, the beta and xpansion. I can't afford the TrackIr 5.

Can I still pan without the TrackIr 5 or will I be stuck looking straight ahead?

Just get a xbox 360 controller that's what I been using and it's been just fine.

 

[SeraphymC]

Okay just read a thread from several months ago, looks like if I pay for product today I don't get anything until Monday meaning the activation codes? Because these folks don't work on weekends there is no one to verify purchases until they get back in the office.

Is this still the way it's done?

I think it's all automated at this point. When I bought my Premium Pass it was on a saturday, and I was downloading in minutes.

 

[IEatPelicans]

Mate all that hotas stuff is a gimmic. You don't need it. I have been playing since the PB launch with decent gaming mouse and a razer keypad and I honesty reckon it's a superior setup to anything else, particularly joysticks. Joysticks IMHO are seriously overrated and don't allow you aim with same precision that a mouse does.

I have all the important controls bound to the keypad and the mouse which means I never waste valuable split seconds having to reach for controls.

I recently got a mate of mine into the game and he started off using a joystick but I've since managed to convince him to try mouse and keyboard and he hasn't looked back.

That being said, I'm seriously contemplating buying a track ir as I've got an eyefinity setup and i reckon it would help with target tracking in dogfights.

 

[Amos]

t-flight hotas x £30
ed tracker £15-£20

t flight hotas x is really good, I tried keyboard and mouse and a joypad, trust me they don't come anywhere near to this joystick, of course no where enar as good as the x52 etc but they are silly money.

edtracker really good later software really helps out with drift and what not, and to use it you do not need to close the curtain if your near a light source or window.

if you cant afford the edtracker then try facetracknoiR or build a 3p cap they work with ED but while facetracking does work, it is not that great and can be very frustrating at times.

 

[MrReynolds]

For flight sims a "Track-ir" is invaluable. I wouldn't be without it.

With the Uber effective radar in ED however I don't see head tracking as important. Yes it's nice, but I find I can use the radar so well I just don't need it. I can visualise exactly where my target is.
COMBINED with the ship view of your target in the bottom left of your pit, ED really DOES give you great Situational Awareness.

 

[Commander Dave]

Mate all that hotas stuff is a gimmic.

It's not a gimmick.
But...

You don't need it.

This is true as well.
You don't need it.
Is it nice to have? Yes.
Is it necessary to play the game and have a great time playing? No.
As long as you have a control system that works for you then you're good to go.
It is definitely worth spending the time to get used to a setup before chucking it away for something else. There have been plenty of threads where people have started with KB+M and then got a stick and then spent hundreds on a HOTAS setup of varying degrees of complexity and at the end of it all they haven't got used to any of them and are still complaining that they can't control their ship properly.
They've spent loads of cash and still can't get anywhere. Not very sensible in my view.
It's far more valuable to use what you have now and get used to it.
Then when you're used to it after a couple of weeks at least then you may be able to see where you might need additional controls in different places.
If you don't find you need anything specific, stick with what you have. It works and it cost you zero.

 

[Completely Harmless]

I got TrackIR, but my spouse does not, so we're getting a EDTracker too (pre-built since we have not the tools; £25 + p&p).

May not be as advanced as TrackIR (yet!), but it certainly will make a big difference. Merely being able to look around without using keys or buttons is fantastic, in addition to freeing up controls for other things. Boosts situational awareness (in and out of combat).

But otherwise you can set up the hat on your HOTAS, for instance, and use that to look around.

We both got the T-flight HOTAS, by the way. Love 'em.

 

[IEatPelicans]

It's not a gimmick.
There have been plenty of threads where people have started with KB+M and then got a stick and then spent hundreds on a HOTAS setup of varying degrees of complexity and at the end of it all they haven't got used to any of them and are still complaining that they can't control their ship properly.
They've spent loads of cash and still can't get anywhere. Not very sensible in my view.

Spot on.

 

[psykokow]

Mate all that hotas stuff is a gimmic. You don't need it. I have been playing since the PB launch with decent gaming mouse and a razer keypad and I honesty reckon it's a superior setup to anything else, particularly joysticks. Joysticks IMHO are seriously overrated and don't allow you aim with same precision that a mouse does.

Mouse can be quite an underated control device... however..

A well setup HOTAS System with YAW twist (not used) or Peddle (not got)
can give a REAL Sense of control, a mind tricking feeling to give you a strong sense of being in control that a mouse and keyboard don't always give.

Couple it with a good oculus Consumer Unit (when out) or a TrackIR or EDTracker and the game becomes even more fun to play..
Not easier... not better necessarily... but a new degree of fun.

So do you need these to have fun? No.. but they really can alter your experience positively and potentially in some cases negatively.

The advantage of these devices over others is negligible and comes down to player skills... A good player on mouse and keyboard can certainly take out a hotas, oculus combo lesser skilled player.

This debate will answer itself IN GAME and I hope I am on the winning side!!

If anyone wants a shot of my hotas... I do like to take it to public events like Fantasticon, Lavecon.. if you're in attendance.. just ask any of the volunteers to have a feel of psykokow's hotas.

 

[natte hond]

have an XBOX 360 controller hooked up to my WIN7 computer - does this work well enough for E-D?

Seems it's got enough buttons and triggers right?

I have an Xbox controller and a X52-pro.
I'm still unsure if the 52 has a advantage.
certainly not when using gimbaled weapons , the 52 has a very good horizontal jaw.
this makes non gimbaled hardpoints more easy to use.
the big difference its a bid more immersive , but when you play along time its more tiresome.
having two joystick is very nice when in an asteroid field or in close combat.
so both have their advantages.
when cash is an issue just stick to the Xbox controller.
and forget about head tracking.
voice attack might be something you should consider.
its only 8dolllar and gives you lots of options to divert the lack of buttons.