I've been wanting to get a proper HOTAS setup to complement my VR for a while, but the $500-600 CDN pricetag on a Warthog is out of reach for the moment. I've been eyeing the $100 PS4 Thrustmaster HOTAS which is fully PC compatible as an option at least. How robust is this setup, does it have a decent weight, feel? Any forumites have an opinion on it or should I soldier on with my xbox controller and VA until I can get the scratch together for a proper stick? I've been trying to train myself on fixed weapons and I find I don't really have the fine control I need to be accurate consistently with the gamepad.
Opinions on PS4 HOTAS for Elite
- Thread starter Malbek
- Start date
Id would say if you stick with the controller the fine control will come.
Ive had 3 HOTAS X,non PS4 versions,one was great,the other two were really bad build quality wise and died inside a year. Seems to be luck of the draw with them. If your lucky and get a well put together one you could be ok.
I now use a T16000m on PC and use the controller on PS4. Happy with both even though the controller took longer to get any finesse with ive no problems with it now.
Ive had 3 HOTAS X,non PS4 versions,one was great,the other two were really bad build quality wise and died inside a year. Seems to be luck of the draw with them. If your lucky and get a well put together one you could be ok.
I now use a T16000m on PC and use the controller on PS4. Happy with both even though the controller took longer to get any finesse with ive no problems with it now.
The Thrustmaster 4 is fine. It does its job, and that's about it. For us PS4 gamers, it's the only HOTAS we get but if I had other reliable choices I'd probably go with them.
The HOTAS 4 will work just fine, as most people said. It is the entry level stick, but it's got some nice features for Elite, like a central detent on the throttle and twist in the joystick.
I'd recommend the T.16000M as another option. For the sightly increased cost, it's much better. The only problem with it is the cheap sensor used for joystick twist. It will fail, has on 2 of mine. The issue can be moderated, so check the threads in the hardware forum.
I'd recommend the T.16000M as another option. For the sightly increased cost, it's much better. The only problem with it is the cheap sensor used for joystick twist. It will fail, has on 2 of mine. The issue can be moderated, so check the threads in the hardware forum.
Deleted member 110222
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Got the Xbox version. Which is basically the same, just the Xbox guide button added. (Which can't be used for gameplay anyway)
It's brilliant. Highly recommended. Seeing as you only need it for PC, you can save a few quid and get the older model. It's near identical.
It's brilliant. Highly recommended. Seeing as you only need it for PC, you can save a few quid and get the older model. It's near identical.
One of the BEST things about Elite was the HOTAS possibilities. However, the PS4 Thrustmaster stick is poor really. Not having played with any other stick on PS4 its hard to know how it compares but it looks and sounds like its a pretty average starter really. It has some fairly obviously limiting button mapping, some of the labelled controls are in counter-intuitive places (R2 being on the left hand throttle for example, and L3 being on the right hand stick), it squeaks like hell, and the throttle detent is too hard (I had to file mine down to enable softer throttle controls).
The limitations, like keyboard and mouse use on the PS4, seem to be limited by the way the console accepts inputs, which seems like a hardware thing, so it doesn't look like we will get a better model any time soon.
In short - I love it for the immersion and the feel of flying, landing etc, but gosh I often feel limited in what I want to achieve using it, and wish it could just 'do more'. Still - it is all we have for now, and with less than 10 flight simulation games out there for PS4, it unlikely anyone will invest in a new design any time soon.
If you buy it, just be aware.
The limitations, like keyboard and mouse use on the PS4, seem to be limited by the way the console accepts inputs, which seems like a hardware thing, so it doesn't look like we will get a better model any time soon.
In short - I love it for the immersion and the feel of flying, landing etc, but gosh I often feel limited in what I want to achieve using it, and wish it could just 'do more'. Still - it is all we have for now, and with less than 10 flight simulation games out there for PS4, it unlikely anyone will invest in a new design any time soon.
If you buy it, just be aware.
That's another thing, the Thrustmaster 4 stick creaks like a pirate ship, and it will get annoying. I need to get around to figuring out how to oil it or something without damaging it.
Thanks for the replies folks. On further reflection I'm going to hold off on it and save up for a higher end model down the road. I have an old logitech flightstick but it's just awful with the throttle wedded right to the joystick chassis. I'll soldier on with the xbox controller for now.
Yeah, we've been talking about this on the PS4 forum since the start and we have some good advice on fixing it.
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php/403822-HOTAS-SQUEAK-and-sticky-request