The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[Wrongway]

I don't have exactly the same motherboard but I do have the Asus Z971 plus and although not using the Saitek anymore had have no problems with the X52 Pro when I was using it.

Keyboard and mouse is ok for some folk apparently. But for me it's a hotas setup. Depends if you want digital or analogue steering.

Hi I am planning on getting a stick was looking at the X52 pro, but looks like some people are having a heap of trouble with it on some Asus boards.

Does anyone know if my board is ok its an:-

Asus Maximums Hero VI
Z87 Chipset
1505 BIOS version
C1 southbridge

Thanks for help there and is there anyone out there that believes keyboard and mouse are the way to go. I have an N52TE gaming pad which I used well in X series of games.

Thanks in advance


J

 

[.Stu.]

not on X55

I have this working with a keyboard press, but the X55 software is pants, it won't do a simple key press,hold,release. It spams the pressed key forever,

frantic pressing of stick key and even killling the profiler does nothing, I have had to reboot the machine to make it stop spamming everything with my PTT/stop listening command key.

X55 hardware is great, but disappointed with the software, it looks crap and basic stuff does not seem to work. I say basic stuff, i mean stuff I can do easily with my G13/G15 keyboard.

If anyone has achieved this satisfactorily with a Saitek X55 please correct me!!

If you use push to talk on Teamspeak, you can get voiceattack to stop listening when you push the push to talk button. Not sure if VA will act on other audio inputs eg you friends comments on TS.

 

[technome]

X-55 programming tutorial on youtube

 

[.Stu.]

X55 gives BSOD too

The hardware is great, software not so much.

The stick somes with 4 diffeerent springs so you can make it lighter or heavier to move depending on your preference.

Other - Saitek X-45 HOTAS.

Given Windows 7 BSODs if I try and activate a profile though I'm tempted to eventually buy an X-55 if only to get drivers meant for the OS (these are technically Windows Vista drivers I think) and up to date software.

Fortunately I don't need the software to set the HOTAS up for E: D as its in-game customisation is good.

Now, will I ever get brave enough to take 1.5-2 turns off the centering spring ? Currently I have 4 cable ties compressing the middle part in order to lessen the tension, but they keep moving around....

 

[Crimson1973]

Standard Beta Joystick Support Combat Build

Just downloaded it. Is there a work around to let me play with an x52 pro? What do I need to do to get it to work correctly?

 

[merk]

good joystick with rift

I've seen a couple of threads on here about joysticks, and some about the rift, but I haven't found one that discusses both.

I'd like to know if there's a joystick that people have used with the rift.

I was looking at the saitek x52. Obviously the extra display on there would be useless while using the rift. Which brings me to my main concern.

I'd like to know if there's a good joystick that lets you easily find the buttons without having to look at them and avoids the need to having to switch your hand between the joystick and the keyboard. Obviously that would be a bit dicey trying to do that while wearing the the rift.

I don't mind too much if i have to switch between controls if I'm doing something non-combat related. But in combat i don't want to have to take my hand off of whatever control I'm using to switch to another control.

Any suggestions/feedback?

Thanks

 

[Obsidian Ant]

I just got a Saitek X55.

I play Elite on the Rift about 80% of the time, probably a bit more. I wanted a HOTAS that had enough buttons on it so that I don't have to touch the keyboard.

X55 is perfect. Now I can do everything and keep the Rift on, and never have to move my hands of the stick and throttle.

I believe the X55 has quite a few more buttons that the X52, and it certainly is very easy to feel your way around. I'd recommend it, if you can get hold of one.

 

[Blinde]

I don't yet have a rift, though I have an order in for the DK2 (I actually bought Elite for the Rift support, rather than the other way around, and am suitably charmed with the game).

I'm using a Saitek X52, and the only keys I still have to use are the 1,2,3 select a side-menu buttons, and the "select nearest general target". I don't use the MFD at all, possibly because a) I haven't figured out how, and b) I don't look at my joystick when flying. I also don't use the pinky trigger because although Windows can tell when I click it, the game doesn't seem to detect it. This is probably also a config/user issue.

Oh, and I use the C button to enter/come out of supercruise.

I have one button mapped to "allow hat to control viewpoint" and another button I'm not sure what it does any more. When the rift gets here I'm hoping to map the first button to supercruise, and the second button to "make the menu I'm looking at active, at which point I shouldn't need to use the keyboard at all.

At which point, FD will introduce keyboard chat, and I'll need to see if my touch-typing is up to snuff.

I may also change a bunch when I do get a rift, but I think it should have enough buttons.

edit: The X52 has three modes which can be configured so that buttons have a different appearance to the game depending on the mode switch. I might try configuring that, and switching between "combat" mode and "running away" mode to give me the variety of buttons I need. I haven't had to do that yet though.

 

[ZaphodBeeble]

I spent a few hours with my X52 Pro and a Rift DK1 at Lavecon. I found it to be comfortable and well capable of supporting all the functions. One function I should have mapped was F12 to re-center the Oculus head position. Gets a bit annoying. The Rift itself was AMAZING though. It's an incredible experience and one I can't wait to enjoy again!

 

[ZaphodBeeble]

I also don't use the pinky trigger because although Windows can tell when I click it, the game doesn't seem to detect it. This is probably also a config/user issue.

Install the profile editor and set it up to use the pinky trigger as a kind of 'shift' key so you can map extra functions to buttons. This essentially doubles the number of button assignments on the joystick. It takes a while to get used to it all but it's definitely worth it.

 

[Soda Popinski]

I've been agonizing over this decision too.

Brumster put together a video that makes a good case for the old school CH HOTAS. For me, the main point is the mini-joystick nub on the throttle which can be used for translation with proportional power. The X-52 / X-55 only seems to have a mouse for that, and since I plan to get a Rift, I don't need it for mouselook.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceOdOytgT64

 

[Ipecac]

I use the X52 Pro and Rift together. They work perfectly. Every control I need is mapped to the HOTAS and I never need the keyboard.

I have the pinky trigger mapped to reset Oculus orientation, so I can easily fix my view if I'm in combat.

X52 Pro is perfect

 

[Blinde]

Install the profile editor and set it up to use the pinky trigger as a kind of 'shift' key so you can map extra functions to buttons. This essentially doubles the number of button assignments on the joystick. It takes a while to get used to it all but it's definitely worth it.

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll give that a go.

 

[dobbo]

Like ZaphodBeeble I too got some time on the Rift as LaveCon. Kerrash was kind enough to put my X55s on his rig. I already have my X55s configured so that I never use the keyboard in game (except to pause and quit).

While I am use to looking when I reach for the few controls that are on the throttle base it really wasn't a problem with the Rift on. I knew where the toggle switches where and could find them in a few seconds.

I would say that any HOTAS system is compatible with the Rift so long as it has enough buttons and switches to map everything you want without you having to take your hands off the controls. I found when I put the Rift on and looked down those virtual hands where my hands, and I naturally reached with my real world hands for where the controls where depicted in the Rift. Without some visual clues in the Rift I can imagine using another input device.

 

[merk]

Thanks for the feedback so far.

Is there a difference in the number of buttons between the x52 and x52 pro? I didn't really see enough of a difference between the two to warrant paying the extra amount. I was thinking of going cheap and trying to pick one up used on ebay or craigslist

Or maybe http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001EYU1VO that one from amazon (mad cat FLY5)

And apparently I might have this laying around somewhere http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CXYMFS as amazon says i bought one 3 years ago. Not much clue where it might be or even if i still have it.

Hopefully i'll be testing ED on the dk2 tonight - but i'll be using mouse and keyboard.

 

[kaserei]

I use the rift in ED with a Warthog stick and throttle. Doesn't seem very popular due to price, weight and throttle size though.

I used to run it with an x52, which was fine, but the number of on stick controls is deficit in comparison to more expensive sets, so some keyboard/base button searching was needed.

The X52 stick died on me, so I then used the throttle together with an old Cyborg X (now called the F.L.Y. 5) once Alpha supported multiple controllers. Not enough buttons even using the base ones, and it was too light for it's spring force. Twist was fine though.

I have tried (and returned due to software quality issues) an X65-F. That was awesome. Similarly with the warthog, the hats and buttons on the stick and throttle are "individualised" with different tactile shapes (inverted/non-inverted cone, square, raised "I" bumps, on and off angle directional bumps.. etc). What was good about the X65-F was that you could swap the physical hat headers around on each device, so the ones that worked best could be put where they were best reached and remembered. Too bad the software/driver quality sucks, and it was essential to program out yaw bleeding from the stick twist sensor.

The warthog doesn't have this interchangeability, but all hats are unique, and are more easily reachable. I have no ED functions mapped to keyboard or mouse, and can now use ED without even facing my desk (after attaching the stick and throttle to a home made wheelie chair mount). The main minus for the throttle is its size, but with the Rift on, the buttons and switches are big enough to find if you really have to map them. I have silent running and open cargo on the big latches on the bottom right, as they are mechanical toggle switches, you know by feel if they are activated.

edit: can't stand my typos..

 

[merk]

The thrustmaster warthog is definitely way more than I'm willing to spend right now. And that's without the throttle. Even $120 for the x52 (new) is pushing it for me. Cheapest i found the warthog so far was on craigslist for $400 with a throttle.

How terrible do you think it would be to use just the mad cats FLY5 stick for now?

I'd be much happier if i could play the game a bit and then decide if i want to spend money on a more expensive joystick/throttle control. Knowing my luck I'll suck horribly at the game no matter what joystick i use - i'd be less miserable if I only spent $50 to suck horribly

 

[Antmax]

I use head tracking and a X52. I think the most important thing for someone with a Rift where joysticks are concerned is to have the two hats on the main stick like most HOTAS do. You don't have the luxury of looking down at your keyboard so you need to be able to access everything in your hands.

With HOTAS with the two hats on your stick you can navigate all the ship system computers without moving your hands. Just look at the screen area for them to pop up, use top hat to move through tabs, bottom hat to move through columns, fire to toggle setting. It's pretty much second nature.

 

[Togg]

even though I don't yet have a Oculus rift, I never touch the keyboard or mouse outside starting Elite up. I have a CH HOTAS + Pedals and voice attack, every key I need is either mapped to the HOTAS or to Voice Attack. so I foresee no problem putting a rift on.

 

[Keen]

Hi guys,

I got access to the standard beta combat practise yesterday.

I have
* Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X
* Voice Attack
* CH Prod Rudder pedals
* and I will use a Oculus Rift DK2 so I don't need functions to look around in the cockpit

During my first missions, I found that the 12 buttons of the HOTAS are not enough. Do you have good suggestions what functions I can move to the VoiceAttack and pedals (and how?).
Thanks for your suggestions.