The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[Dejay]

I'm thinking about getting the Thrustmaster T.16000M Joystick for the beta because he is supposed to have very precise magnetic hall sensors for a cheap price.
The T.Flight Hotas Stick X is also nice because of the throttle. But possibly a throttle without a 4way pov leaves you a bit lacking for lateral movement.

 

[Kipper]

I have the Thrustmaster T Flight HOTAS - bought from ebay for War Thunder and I'm really pleased with it. It has a hat switch on the stick, and more buttons than I can remember the mappings for.

Just need a set of pedals and an oculus rift and I'm set

 

[Serpentstar]

I have the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS. Between the two of them there are enough buttons to make both Dexter and Mandark green with envy. Very well designed and solidly built. Of course, they will cost you an arm, a leg, and a kidney, but hey, you asked about good ones, right?

 

[Gelbrock]

I have a Thrustmaster 2000, but.... er.... *cough*, it has nothing to do with gaming....





....I bought it from an add at the back of last years 'Kinky latex donkey bumper annual'


If you not a subscriber.... shame on you, but just ask your local vicar for a copy, they always seem to have one.....

 

[EidLeWeise]

I've got the Hotas X and am really happy with it. Sure there are others with more buttons and more hats, but they're also more money. I WILL say that I would appreciate 3 hats (1 for thrusting, 1 for looking and 1 for menu navigation) in Dangerous and the Hotas only has 1, but other than that I am very happy with it...

Eid

 

[Andy Kappa]

I'm thinking about getting the Thrustmaster T.16000M Joystick for the beta because he is supposed to have very precise magnetic hall sensors for a cheap price.
The T.Flight Hotas Stick X is also nice because of the throttle. But possibly a throttle without a 4way pov leaves you a bit lacking for lateral movement.

I have a T.16000M. In my case it's because I'm left-handed and it's the only one I know of that's as easy to use that way round. As it happens it's also a good, well-weighted stick that makes 'flying' the ship feel very natural. The throttle is a slider with a short throw and no centre detent, and the buttons on the base have very little to distinguish them from each other (which means I occasionally press the wrong one when I'm in a hurry), but that apart I'd say it's a very good stick, and excellent value for money.

 

[Robert Maynard]

I have a T.16000M. In my case it's because I'm left-handed and it's the only one I know of that's as easy to use that way round. As it happens it's also a good, well-weighted stick that makes 'flying' the ship feel very natural. The throttle is a slider with a short throw and no centre detent, and the buttons on the base have very little to distinguish them from each other (which means I occasionally press the wrong one when I'm in a hurry), but that apart I'd say it's a very good stick, and excellent value for money.

I concur with AK's post - I really like the T.16000M.

 

[Dejay]

I have a T.16000M. In my case it's because I'm left-handed and it's the only one I know of that's as easy to use that way round. As it happens it's also a good, well-weighted stick that makes 'flying' the ship feel very natural. The throttle is a slider with a short throw and no centre detent, and the buttons on the base have very little to distinguish them from each other (which means I occasionally press the wrong one when I'm in a hurry), but that apart I'd say it's a very good stick, and excellent value for money.

I think I'll have to order one then I think I'll use the keyboard though for more and better buttons to strafe / control speed.
Ultimately I hope to play with the stem controllers but I want something to compare it with and they probably won't be released before the beta.

 

[Yaffle]

I think I'll have to order one then I think I'll use the keyboard though for more and better buttons to strafe / control speed.
Ultimately I hope to play with the stem controllers but I want something to compare it with and they probably won't be released before the beta.

It seems an odd decision to ignore about 10% of a user base by not having a mirror joystick available (maybe a mail in the right-handed one and swap for a left? Have limited stock, but on request left could be supplied?) Are us righties just trying to handicap them? http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2006/1794923.htm

What happens in the Air Forces of the world? Are there left-handed aircraft, or are left-handers supposed to just "deal with it" as they are in much of life?

Left handers are, of course, the real pen pushers and the only ones in their right mind.

 

[Andy Kappa]

It seems an odd decision to ignore about 10% of a user base by not having a mirror joystick available http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2006/1794923.htm

Left handers are, of course, the real pen pushers and the only ones in their right mind.

As with so many things Lefties should be provided with but aren't, commercial pressures dictate what happens. TBH, I'm just glad that at least *somebody* has given us a second thought! I won't be holding my breath for a Lefty Saitek stick...

Neither does the quoted research result surprise me - Lefties *have* to be adaptable in a right-handed world - you must either adapt the technology or adapt yourself. I used to play and teach guitar and bass professionally, and the number of naturally lefthanded players that have learned how to either play back-to-front or play with the strings upside down just so they can get their hands on a decent instrument is staggering.

Just as a BTW, did you know that DB himself is a Lefty? Apparently the layout of the controls in the original BBC game was organised around his needs...

 

[Yaffle]

used to play and teach guitar and bass professionally, and the number of naturally lefthanded players that have learned how to either play back-to-front or play with the strings upside down just so they can get their hands on a decent instrument is staggering.

Just as a BTW, did you know that DB himself is a Lefty? Apparently the layout of the controls in the original BBC game was organised around his needs...

Isn't that the reason Paul McCartney chose the Hoffner bass? As it was symmetrical playing it "upside down" didn't restrict him and it didn't look odd. IIRC the "V" look between him and Lennon (they could stand with their instruments' necks pointing out) at the mike was a distinctive look.

I think Phil Collins is a left-hander; at least he seems to use a drum kit the mirror of the norm. With drums it's probably easier to reverse than a more fixed shape of guitar/bass.

I had no idea about DB, interesting factiod I will store away...

 

[lysander]

I have a hotas X (joystick and throttle combo)

it's excellently supported by default in the game.

also, for those of you that want to strafe, it has a left/right sideways movement switch on the front of the throttle hand control.

up/down isn't available, but you could always bind buttons to it

 

[Dejay]

It seems an odd decision to ignore about 10% of a user base by not having a mirror joystick available

Just FYI, the T.16000 can be switched for left hand use.

Maybe the left hander advantage thing is because left handers are forced to be more ambidextrous?

also, for those of you that want to strafe, it has a left/right sideways movement switch on the front of the throttle hand control

Yeah, but I don't think I really need analog control for speed, digital will do fine. I have never used a hotas but I somehow fear that a throttle will make breaking etc somewhat harder. So overall I think I don't need a thrust and a keyboard has about 30 key combinations that I have more than enough muscle memory of from playing too much WoW

 

[Jumpin' Jack Flash]

I have a T.16000M. In my case it's because I'm left-handed and it's the only one I know of that's as easy to use that way round. As it happens it's also a good, well-weighted stick that makes 'flying' the ship feel very natural. The throttle is a slider with a short throw and no centre detent, and the buttons on the base have very little to distinguish them from each other (which means I occasionally press the wrong one when I'm in a hurry), but that apart I'd say it's a very good stick, and excellent value for money.

I also have/use the Thrustmaster T.16000M, a nice solid and well designed ergonomic joystick.
Agree with you on the base buttons though Andy Kappa, especially in low light conditions. Okay, it also has an area around the stick base that lights up if you move the stick, even a 'touch' of the stick activates the base illumination, but it's still hard to see the buttons in low light.
Gave this some thought a while ago....what would have been a really good feature on this joystick would be to have had those base buttons 'back lit', similar in effect to a back lit button keyboard effect.
I'm going to try and source some small 'glow in the dark' numbers, or even perhaps some small circular stick on luminous roundels, just to see if that idea might be a cheap & practical way to solve this small problem.

edit...all Thrustmaster T.16000M / Elite Dangerous users should band together and send in a petition to Thrustmaster to get this feature added! (plus a backlit 'Elite Dangerous' logo on the joystick base as well! )

Jack

 

[Jason S]

If you happen to have a ps3 controller lying about those work with joyinmotion download.

I have the thrust master flight hotas x which is nice and seems like a decent controls, although not had chance to use it on ED as waiting for beta.

 

[huwthomas]

I'm very happy with my t16000.m. It's the cheapest Hall effect stick out there, I believe. Despite its short throw the throttle feels really crisp and doesn't suffer from drift when left alone ... the reading stays rock steady.

The only negative is that the button quality could be better, and six (out of 12) base buttons are effectively out of reach in the heat of battle, because of the ambidextrous design.

 

[Memnoch]

I have the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS. Between the two of them there are enough buttons to make both Dexter and Mandark green with envy.

True, but right now you can use about half of them until they sort out the multiple controller issue.

 

[huwthomas]

To address the OP, the lack of base buttons on the TM USB would bother me, since I prefer to use the stick throttle and that means a lot of back-and-foreward movement between kb and throttle. Also there seems to be no twist rudder control, which I think is nice to have ... some hate it though, so that might not be a negative for you.

In any case it's very cheap, and you can control the throttle quite well from the keyboard, as long as your mind and fingers are agile enough to remember and find the keystrokes ... it's just that mine aren't, any more

 

[Jumpin' Jack Flash]

I'm very happy with my t16000.m. It's the cheapest Hall effect stick out there, I believe. Despite its short throw the throttle feels really crisp and doesn't suffer from drift when left alone ... the reading stays rock steady.

The only negative is that the button quality could be better, and six (out of 12) base buttons are effectively out of reach in the heat of battle, because of the ambidextrous design.

The twist action (and axis movement) on the stick itself I've found to be very precise, and for me at any rate it also has just the right tension. I've had numerous joysticks in the past where after prolonged use the twist action becomes 'flakey' and totally unusable, so I'm quite satisfied with the main quality of the joystick itself. I also have a Logitec G19 keyboard that I use in conjunction with the joystick, which is quite handy...generally...the only problem is I forget sometimes which buttons I've programmed to do what! ....

Jack

 

[adam]

Joystick - I'm not convinced yet

Hi,

I just bought a joystick, and I'm not yet convinced that it is the best control mechanism.

I bought the t-16000M, the stick itself seems great for the price.

A bunch of questions (not all related to the specific stick):

Does the target software work? Do you need to ensure the config is 'Running' in target in order for it to work in the game?

Can folks post their target axis graphs so I can compare, or even their entire target config files.

In the target software - j-curve vs s-curve ? what does zoom mean?

In the game - fine aiming seems very difficult - worse than using a mouse. eg. In the first mission the canisters are very small, I found it easy to over-correct trying to get the firing dot aimed
- are folks mapping their axis to help with this? Do you make initial physical stick movement == more or less movement in the graphs?

Should I be trying to get value out of the entire movement range of the stick, or do folks map their axis so they only need to move the stick a little?

Basically, what can you do to help with aiming accuracy?

Has anyone gotten the pov hat to work on the t-16000M?

Thanks, Adam