I dug out my old Logitech Freedom 2.0 Joystick. It simply makes the game more realistic and more fun. I am now thinking of the headset.
The Joystick/Controller discussion thread
I dug out my old Logitech Freedom 2.0 Joystick. It simply makes the game more realistic and more fun. I am now thinking of the headset.
Ah, I must watch out then... I will get a good stick even if it is more expensive.. thanks
I'm using the CH pro throttle and the T16000M combo - works wonderfully well. Lots and lots of bindings available on the throttle, just need to get a hang of the set up you make for yourself.
The T16000M is great for the price, but I do wish the stick itself had more buttons. A second tricker on the thumb rest, for a start. A button layout like the Logitech 3d Extreme pro would be awesome.
I currently don't need to touch the keyboard for anything, unless I am text chatting to another CMDR, or searching for a system on the galaxy map.
There are one or two bindings that are a tad awkward, though, and having them on the stick would be a little nicer.
I'd go for a CH stick, but lack of twist is a killer for me, as I don't really have the cash for pedals.
It seems the search for the "perfect" stick is never quite done!
Z...
The T16000M is great for the price, but I do wish the stick itself had more buttons. A second tricker on the thumb rest, for a start. A button layout like the Logitech 3d Extreme pro would be awesome.
I currently don't need to touch the keyboard for anything, unless I am text chatting to another CMDR, or searching for a system on the galaxy map.
There are one or two bindings that are a tad awkward, though, and having them on the stick would be a little nicer.
I'd go for a CH stick, but lack of twist is a killer for me, as I don't really have the cash for pedals.
It seems the search for the "perfect" stick is never quite done!
Z...
Make sure the stick you buy has a twist for the third axis. If not you will have no yaw, unless you use the keyboard, or buy a set of pedals. I have a cheapo non HOTAS stick for when I travel (Mad Catz 1), but it does have a twist. It is noticeably harder to fly with than my X52, though. Not as smooth or accurate. When I know I'm going to be on the road, I make sure I am exploring in the game, so I don't have to worry about docking - the Mad Catz 1 is fine, really, but I feel under much more control with the HOTAS.
I started with a twister and went for CH afterwards. Twist sticks make me add extra movement ALL THE TIME. I much prefer my pedals, though I use them for roll, and leave the yaw on the stick. So much of this is subjective though as to what people prefer, can afford, have space for, and are actually good with. I've seen plenty of non-standard setups and mix-matches; a bunch of people like to use two sticks, for example.
OP, I'd recommend that whatever you end up getting, that you try to get your actual hands on some actual controls somewhere, and get at least a taste of what's out there and what feels right before you shell, just to make sure you're really getting something that you'll enjoy fully.
In my opinion the HOTAS I bought, cheap Thrustmaster T Flight X, has made a world of difference and I was enjoing my controller set up before. It took a couple sessions and some time to map everything to my preferencies, but now I fly immensely better and enjoy it even more. There is even a topic in this forum where I ask others how long it took them to adjust to using it and everyone was encouraging me to just get used to it and enjoy.
Nope. I tried it with a joystick but prefer the Sony Dualshock 4 (playstation 4 controller). Sticking with a console controller prepares me for controlling my character on-planet. In the year 2025. I can't wait.
Yes, absolutely. I recommend the setup I use, which is a pair of Thrustmaster T-16000M flight sticks.
These sticks are designed so that they can be set up for left or right hand use. I use the left stick for yaw and pitch, and I use the right stick for roll and throttle. Hats are used for targeting and lateral thrust, also for freelook, power allocation, and cockpit menus.
One trick to note is that the game will support using buttons to modify other buttons. So for example I can use the hat switch to allocate power, but if I hold the left trigger then the hat selects targets. Now I only use the keyboard when typing system names for navigation or chatting.
Lateral thrust on the hat is particularly recommended for dogfighting.
These sticks are designed so that they can be set up for left or right hand use. I use the left stick for yaw and pitch, and I use the right stick for roll and throttle. Hats are used for targeting and lateral thrust, also for freelook, power allocation, and cockpit menus.
One trick to note is that the game will support using buttons to modify other buttons. So for example I can use the hat switch to allocate power, but if I hold the left trigger then the hat selects targets. Now I only use the keyboard when typing system names for navigation or chatting.
Lateral thrust on the hat is particularly recommended for dogfighting.
For a long time i couldn't face the period of being a terrible pilot while i adjusted, but adjust i did and now its so much more fun and immersive when i play. I feel like a pilot. Console style controllers always just make me feel like i'm sitting my room playing a game, which is exactly how i don't want to feel.
Joystick is defently more fun and get the feel of really flying a spaceship... with mouse I feel like I have no control at all and thus prefer joystick... the best way is to try out to see... my friend prefer joypad he says it is very good, I tried but was like playing with 10 thumbs for me. 
That's kind of like asking whether pepperoni makes pizza better.
"It depends."
"It depends."
Joystick only might be tricky with the lateral thrusters. HOTAS is more fun, immersive and feels natural. It's also the traditional way to fly most things and just feels right.
If you can stretch to head tracking. I'd put that right up there with a joystick. Being able to look around and track your target and have proper situational awareness is huge. It doesn't have to be expensive either. I'm a big fan of EDtracker but if you have a webcam or an old android cell phone like a galaxy S. You can use that as a USB webcam and get 45fps.
With both a HOTAS and head tracking the game is SO much better.
If you can stretch to head tracking. I'd put that right up there with a joystick. Being able to look around and track your target and have proper situational awareness is huge. It doesn't have to be expensive either. I'm a big fan of EDtracker but if you have a webcam or an old android cell phone like a galaxy S. You can use that as a USB webcam and get 45fps.
With both a HOTAS and head tracking the game is SO much better.
Sure is. You might lose a bit on long range sniping using fixed weapons, but your gain quite a bit on your ship control... Nothing says you cant use both joystick and mouse. I configure the game so I still can control my ship using mouse. So on trading/exploring/sniping/fighting trash interdictors I just use mouse. Come real combat I use joystick.
Just checking on something with my joystick
So I couldn't get a hold of the joystick/throttle I wanted; so I settled for a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick for the time being (man this game is 10 times better with a stick).
One thing I've noticed though, I'll be firing at someone when suddenly I will stop firing even though I'm holding down the trigger.
I can think of two reasons this happens: A) there's something wrong with the trigger, or B) my cannons can't lock because my nose is too high or low (they are gimballed and in the small hardpoints under my ship). When I've got my target in my cross-hairs, my Cobby happily empties its clips.
Could something be wrong with my joystick (A) or is it a learn to play issue (B)?
So I couldn't get a hold of the joystick/throttle I wanted; so I settled for a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick for the time being (man this game is 10 times better with a stick).
One thing I've noticed though, I'll be firing at someone when suddenly I will stop firing even though I'm holding down the trigger.
I can think of two reasons this happens: A) there's something wrong with the trigger, or B) my cannons can't lock because my nose is too high or low (they are gimballed and in the small hardpoints under my ship). When I've got my target in my cross-hairs, my Cobby happily empties its clips.
Could something be wrong with my joystick (A) or is it a learn to play issue (B)?
Gimballed weapons will indeed stop firing if the target is out of their firing arc, which can also be affected by the position of the hardpoint. I've seen some inconsistency with that behaviour, but I think the intention is that the weapon should stop firing.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you don't have a faulty stick. If you're unsure, just use fixed weapons for a while and see if they behave or not.
Of course, this doesn't mean that you don't have a faulty stick. If you're unsure, just use fixed weapons for a while and see if they behave or not.
Yes. Started with M+KB. Then a 3D extreme pro with Keyboard. Now I have an X55 Rhino. With a Hotas setup, just crank some Kenny Loggins, and you will have more fun flying around than M+KB imo. I am a hardcore M+KB user for ALL of my games (Including SWG:JTL) and I am enjoying ED more with hotas.
A joystick is a must. But then you'll need TrackIR if you don't already have Oculus Rift.
Multi-cannons will pause firing each time their clip limit (90) is reached. Beam weapons will eventually drain your available power depending on where you have your pips allocated.
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Apologies if I you have eliminated these causes, but it's always best to consider the obvious before moving onto other theories
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Apologies if I you have eliminated these causes, but it's always best to consider the obvious before moving onto other theories