Is a HOTAS really worth it?

[Ving]

I wouldn't play without at least a decent Joystick, but the addition of either a Throttle or something like the Logitech G13 keypad also adds to the immersion and enjoyment.

My progression has been Logitech Extreme 3D Pro & keyboard >> Saitek X-55 HOTAS (went RMA after a month) & Saitek Pro Rudders >> CH Pro Throttle and Fighterstick (still using Saitek Rudders).

Now I wouldn't want to play without the CH Fighterstick. I occasionally have to use the old 3D Pro when I'm travelling and there is no comparison in terms of feel, accuracy, configurability etc...I can barely bring myself to do anything but trade if I have to use that stick. CH are not cheap, but they are very good quality and built to last.

Throttle wise I find keyboard, G13, or CH Pro Throttle in the left-hand to be pretty interchangeable. I prefer the Throttle for combat immersion and 'everything under your fingers', but if trading/travelling I normally just leave my hand on the G13 as it's more ergonomic for long gaming periods.

Regarding yaw, as the CH Fighterstick has no twist:
- the thumb hat works fine for yaw and this is what I use most of the time for general flying about, exploration, trading, docking
- yawing with the left hand (keyboard, keypad, or even on the Throttle) also works fine
- in combat I definitely prefer using rudder pedals

 

[ScottCheggs]

Good lord this got so many more replies than I expected last night...
Thank you all for your advice and help, I have in the end purchased a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X for myself, looking forward to using it!

 

[Heavenly-Hammer]

If you expect you'll give the game more than 100 hours lifetime, you absolutely must buy a HOTAS. it's like being a hardcore Forza/Gran Turismo/Project Cars fan and not owning a racing wheel. It makes the experience 1000x better.

If you don't think you like the game enough to get your monies worth out of the investment, skip it. But if you are enjoying ED and expect to enjoy it and games like Star Citizen going forward, get a HOTAS...and don't skimp unless you have to. I have a CH Products HOTAS setup with the pedals and you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.

 

[Space Fan]

Good lord this got so many more replies than I expected last night...
Thank you all for your advice and help, I have in the end purchased a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS X for myself, looking forward to using it!

Our pleasure - they say these forums are harsh - but not towards anyone wanting advice. Some of us have issues with the direction of the game and its progress, but not all. It's a good forum, IMHO.

(OK - fire away lady and gentlemen )

 

[Captain Wiz]

I stared out with a R.A.T 7. And a G13 keypad, thought that was good, and I thought "I used to play frontier with mouse, so I can do this" ended up getting a Cheap broken X55 off flea bay, bit of soldering to fix it. Took a little to get used to, but feel more connect to the game now, and dog fighting has more feel. I would recommend it

 

[ocflyer]

I've flown several space combat games in the past - X-Wing, Tie Fighter, X-Wing vs Tie Fighter, Balance of Power, X-Wing Alliance, Rogue Squadron, Dark Star One. Yes, a HOTAS definitely makes a difference, especially if you like the genre and want to play others like Star Citizen, No Man's Sky and future flight simulation games.

 

[Space Fan]

Just a final note - correct me if wrong - but I'm pretty sure the devs use a HOTAS to test etc., and I think, the X55 or similar. So the game is bound to work well with these.

 

[nosscar]

My logitech freedom 2.4 died a few weeks ago, (similar to the logitech 3d pro, but wireless)
I have been using the xbox pad since, and whilst it is ok, and lots of buttons, i find the flight controls lack that smooth, steady control i had before. Just does not feel right in a space sim.
So next week i will be buying the hotas flight x, at £36, it seems cheap enough and has a good reputation.
Yes more buttons would be nicer, but i do have a g13 keypad if i need more. (and i use voice attack)

 

[Space Fan]

My logitech freedom 2.4 died a few weeks ago, (similar to the logitech 3d pro, but wireless)
I have been using the xbox pad since, and whilst it is ok, and lots of buttons, i find the flight controls lack that smooth, steady control i had before. Just does not feel right in a space sim.
So next week i will be buying the hotas flight x, at £36, it seems cheap enough and has a good reputation.
Yes more buttons would be nicer, but i do have a g13 keypad if i need more. (and i use voice attack)

You already know this but you can use voiceattack quite heavily - you could use it for everything except the flight controls I guess. But sometimes you need the surety of some key presses.

 

[Chann3l]

Hotas + Edtracker = ED bliss to be honest.

This times infinity lol couldn't play without my x55 and edtracker (ok I could but wouldn't want to)

 

[Dubber]

Depends on how bad you want the curry

 

[Ceo]

As a X55 owner I'll say yes obviously.

But... the mouse and KB IS so so SO much more accurate. I don't know about you guys but my ability to give minute inputs in a high stress situation (pvp) using FAOFF with fixed weapons on a HOTAS is less admirable than it is with a mouse...

Also with a mouse + KB you can, with practice be guaranteed to escape any interdiction, ever. I don't find it possible with my HOTAS.

Maybe it's just me

 

[Uncle Bert]

i am thinking to get the warthog hotas wich is a bit more robust.

I have a Warthog.

While it is heavy and has lots of switches and buttons I can't describe it as robust.

Within a month one of the button on the throttle stopped working, or rather it got stuck on (not physically, just electricaly) so I had to unbind it.

And the stick does not centre, it has adopted a lean to the left. If I take my hand off the ship will barrel roll.

I haven't mustered the will to send it back yet as it has to go to France (from UK) so I wont see it for weeks.

Overall it's a great controller but with more faults than it should for the price.

 

[Jerakeen]

I use the combination of a Thrustmaster HOTAS X, Voiceattack and the Android head tracker and it does everything I need. I look a bit daft with an old mobile phone strapped to my headset but it works well.

I chose the HOTAS X not because of the price but because it did the job I wanted it to do better than the other choices. The Warthog is a lovely stick and I had planned to save up for one but I'm used to having a twist stick for the rudder and not having it meant that I would have had to save up even longer to buy some pedals and also had the hassle of getting them out every time I wanted to play so I decided against it.

I've had Saitek products before and I'll never buy one again. Cheaply made but not cheaply priced. I had one of their keyboards and it just felt nasty to use. It used to flex when it was picked up and this was BEFORE MadCatz reduced the quality even further.

That only left the HOTAS X and I'm very pleased it did. 12 buttons is more than enough for me in conjunction with VA, in fact I don't actually use all of them. It's solidly made, doesn't need to be stuck down with suckers and is very nice to use.

I had a Logitech 3D Pro before, and while that was an excellent stick the larger throttle on the HOTAS makes fine speed control much easier.

 

[Vasea Azure]

I use x-55 HOTAS and it improves the gameplay, controls and immersion tremendously. The difference in combat in massive.

 

[Cmdr. Numa]

I tried to play the game with a mouse....once. Found it totally impossible to control. Got a Logitech 3D Pro, which worked well, but soon I found it simply didn't have enough functionality. Finally too the plunge and got the CH set, fighterstick, pedals, throttle. Never looking back ever since. Thos ewho complain about lack of precision with a HOTAS must play with one of the horrible cheap ones.

 

[Cmdr. Shabooboo]

IDK what you were using before but...

I was using XBox controller on PC and my I feel my HOTAS Thrusmaster is nice but not really worth the £36 I spent on it for the one game I will use it on. I think it is better than the controller in all aspects except escaping interdiction but still not (IMHO) worth the additional cost.

That said; now I have it I will not go back to XBox controller and it deffo adds to sense of realism.

~Shabooboo