The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[X2Eliah]

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?

Personally, I'm not using it at all. Windows seems to recognize the stick, and I checked out all the buttons & axes on windows' joystick calibration tool, and everything seemed to work. I don't really see any point in having something as wasteful as Target running.

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

Um, yeah, works perfectly well here (well, I'd like if it was an actual analog stick, not just a 4-button hat). Maybe target is screwing it up?

Re:Fine aiming: well, that is a problem, to be honest. I'm half-way debating moving back to using a mouse, because while flight is way harder, the fine pin-point aiming adjustment is, perversely, somewhat easier...

 

[Gwenydd]

I realise that pedals don't work for ED yet, but I was hoping somebody would have experience running either Saitek or CH pedals with a Thrustmaster stick (or HOTAS)

I am running a Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS with Saitek combat flight rudder pedals. I also occasionally have used it with CH pro pedals as well. Both work beautifully in any sim that allows for multiple device mapping but they cannot be combined using the TARGET software into one virtual device with the Warthog setup. Hope this helps.

I will be very happy to see rudder control sorted out in ED as it is definitely hosed for now.

Gwen

 

[Yaffle]

Does the target software work?

Yes, it should do. Load it and see what happens. It should show you a black screen with green writing, your joystick’s individual USB connected parts showing in the left pane. If not, something is up.

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

Yes. Run the config you have written, a new window will open, you’ll hear the USB connection binkety-bonk noise. Now run the game.

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

I don’t have alpha, but PM me if you want my Oolite one.

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

J-curve is the rate of “attack” on the throttle-type stick. Have it flat on the left if you want low-end fine control, flat on the right for high-end fine control. Straight line means same change of thrust for same movement of physical device throughout.

S-Curve is the same, but for the joystick bit, but you are now setting sensitivity near to the centre or near to the edges.

Zoom lets you limit or increase the sensitivity of the axis in a linear manner.

All of this may well become irrelevant, as I understand that FD is working on resolving the issues with multi-USB sticks.

 

[Memnoch]

At the moment, at least for this game, the only reason I can see for wanting to run TARGET, on a Warthog at least, is to be able to use some of the buttons on the throttle as well as the stick, or at least the first 19 anyway. This need will probably fall away once Alpha 3.0 is released and we have full multi-input device support. Controls can be mapped correctly without the software in all respects except this one.

If you wanted to something fancier with a button, like having it pulse a number of times on a single press for instance, then you would need to use TARGET, or some other third party software perhaps.

 

[Singularity]

Could someone please post (or send) me a TARGET config file for split throttle (no peddles)? I just upgraded to alpha as could not wait any longer and, being a Warthog newbie, I'm struggling a little with the TARGET options.

 

[huwthomas]

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?

I couldn't get it to send keypresses to ED (apart from menu selection) until I uninstalled the vjoy driver that came with FaceTrackNoIR.

Can folks post their target axis graphs so I can compare, or even their entire target config files.
...
Basically, what can you do to help with aiming accuracy?

Try calibrating in Windows first (Control Panel, Set Up USB Game Controllers). Initially I tweaked the curves in TARGET but I don't run it any more, and after Windows calibration it's fine (for me).

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

My Pov-Up didn't work in ED until I uninstalled the previously mentioned vjoy.

Since I expect to use vjoy eventually (for head tracking, once multiple devices are supported) I gave up on TARGET and used GlovePIE to do the same job (I wanted to overload buttons by having shift states). GlovePIE is MUCH more powerful than TARGET in terms of how it lets you configure your stick buttons ... see the link in my sig for more info.

 

[adam]

Nice write up on using GlovePie I'm going to have a play with it. Adding voice commands is going to be fun!

 

[baddog]

Are there any alpha players using the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick (the original one with optical sensors, not the later crappy version with carbon potentiometers)?

I've got one, wondered how it performed.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Are there any alpha players using the Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro joystick (the original one with optical sensors, not the later crappy version with carbon potentiometers)?

I've got one, wondered how it performed.

That is my stick too. . No ideas which version. Someone tools me when I asked this a bit ago it was OK..... tho I am guessing it will be an axis down...... my hope when I get to play is I can combine that stick with an Xbox pad for strafing axis

 

[baddog]

That is my stick too. . No ideas which version.

Glad I'm not the only one.

If it just says 'Sidewinder Precision Pro' underneath it's the original one with optical sensors which don't wear out. The later one, the Sidewinder Precision 2, uses potentiometers which do wear out after a bit. There's an article and pictures at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder#Precision_Pro

It has plenty of buttons and the stick twists left/right as well so I'm thinking it might be ok for Elite especially if I take hughthomas's advice and use GlovePIE to configure it (I'm assuming Elite won't bother doing configuration for obsolete sticks like this?).

I really like it, the stick fits my hand perfectly, it feels solid and doesn't move around.

tho I am guessing it will be an axis down...... my hope when I get to play is I can combine that stick with an Xbox pad for strafing axis

You mean it needs something else? To to move the guns around? If it's just left/right wouldn't twisting the stick do? (sorry to sound thick, until I get my hands on the game and try it I'm not too sure what is needed).

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

Glad I'm not the only one.

If it just says 'Sidewinder Precision Pro' underneath it's the original one with optical sensors which don't wear out. The later one, the Sidewinder Precision 2, uses potentiometers which do wear out after a bit. There's an article and pictures at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_SideWinder#Precision_Pro

It has plenty of buttons and the stick twists left/right as well so I'm thinking it might be ok for Elite especially if I take hughthomas's advice and use GlovePIE to configure it (I'm assuming Elite won't bother doing configuration for obsolete sticks like this?).

I really like it, the stick fits my hand perfectly, it feels solid and doesn't move around.You mean it needs something else? To to move the guns around? If it's just left/right wouldn't twisting the stick do? (sorry to sound thick, until I get my hands on the game and try it I'm not too sure what is needed).

I used to have the version 1 but it was a game port not USB so I swapped it like for like with a mate for the versioin 2. It seems to work OK tho. As for axis....

Bear in mind I have not played alpha yet but my understanding is.

You will have the twist for yaw
The stick for twist and roll

But as we have thrusters on the sides and top and bottom our stick will be lacking in the strafing left/right and up/down.

Am sure others can confirm, but my thinking is that is nothing some masking tape and an Xbox pad can't fix for a blue peter type solution

 

[baddog]

I used to have the version 1 but it was a game port not USB so I swapped it like for like with a mate for the versioin 2. It seems to work OK tho. As for axis....

Bear in mind I have not played alpha yet but my understanding is.

You will have the twist for yaw
The stick for twist and roll

But as we have thrusters on the sides and top and bottom our stick will be lacking in the strafing left/right and up/down.

Am sure others can confirm, but my thinking is that is nothing some masking tape and an Xbox pad can't fix for a blue peter type solution

(A game port/USB adapter came with my Precision Pro.)

So another stick or something is needed? To my shame, I've only ever used an Xbox once for about ten minutes and got totally confused by the controls.

I thought perhaps another Sidewinder Pro (you can pick 'em up on eBay) until I tried using the one I've got with my left hand - ouch! - so perhaps you are right, a cheap Xbox pad is the way to go. Any particular one? (Windows 7 here).

When beta finally does come out, tell us what you end up using.

 

[Dejay]

I just ordered the Thrustmaster T.16000M Should arrive tomorrow. Hmm with game should I use to try it out?

For strafing, you could also use WASD. Also leaves you plenty of keys and key combinations.

 

[Riekopo]

Anyone get a Saitek X55 Rhino?

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

I just ordered the Thrustmaster T.16000M Should arrive tomorrow. Hmm with game should I use to try it out?

For strafing, you could also use WASD. Also leaves you plenty of keys and key combinations.

Wasd could work for many but I HOPE to be using the rift personally so ideally I need a setup I can tactile my way around.. whilst I can roughly touch type without looking, I think gaming on rift using keyboard blind may be a bridge too far.

Also (bear with me I have not played yet) are the strafing boosters analogue or digital? I am guessing simply on or off so digital therefore the keyboard would be OK.

 

[Dejay]

Haven't played either, but I'm pretty sure they are analog. But for combat digital trust and strafe should be ok.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Also (bear with me I have not played yet) are the strafing boosters analogue or digital? I am guessing simply on or off so digital therefore the keyboard would be OK.

They're either. Analogue if you bind them to an axis, digital if they're bound to buttons or keys. Given that they are so relatively weak, and that the current alpha is combat oriented where you need to evade quickly, there is little difference between the two in practice. That might change in the wider game where very accurate manoeuvring might come into play in some scenarios.

And I'm not sure whether to be amused or dismayed that manoeuvring thrusters are being referred to as "strafing boosters"! This combat alpha really has a lot to answer for

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

They're either. Analogue if you bind them to an axis, digital if they're bound to buttons or keys. Given that they are so relatively weak, and that the current alpha is combat oriented where you need to evade quickly, there is little difference between the two in practice. That might change in the wider game where very accurate manoeuvring might come into play in some scenarios.

And I'm not sure whether to be amused or dismayed that manoeuvring thrusters are being referred to as "strafing boosters"! This combat alpha really has a lot to answer for

lol it seemed the easiest way to visualise the 6DOF and explain which of the degrees of motion would be missing on my sidewinder. (the joystick not my spaceship)

 

[Dejay]

Hey the term "strafing" comes from airplane combat. So can't be wrong!

 

[Razorwire]

...strafing boosters ...

lol it seemed the easiest way to visualise the 6DOF and explain which of the degrees of motion would be missing on my sidewinder. (the joystick not my spaceship)

That would be Sway?