I am currently using the KB and Mouse for control of the game. Since I have been playing Freelancer since it went multiplay online, I will have trouble converting to a different control approach. After reading the replies to this post, I think that the MS Xbox Gaming Controller might be the best direction for me. I have read a lot of replies about the Xbox 360 but nothing about the Xbox One. Is the Xbox One as compatible as the Xbox 360? I like the design of the Xbox One, but not having used either controller, compatibility and design are most important to me at this point...
Hardware & Technical What controller
- Thread starter Maduggo
- Start date
Xbox One controllers currently have no way of connecting to a PC. The 360 wireless adapters don't work, and MS haven't yet released one for the XB1 controller.
I've heard that PS4 controllers can be plugged in and used, but I can't test that myself. GF keeps off my PC, I keep off her PS4
Xbox One controllers currently have no way of connecting to a PC. The 360 wireless adapters don't work, and MS haven't yet released one for the XB1 controller.
I've heard that PS4 controllers can be plugged in and used, but I can't test that myself. GF keeps off my PC, I keep off her PS4
Thanks for this response. Will pick up the MS Xbox 360 Gaming Controller tomorrow and work on mission 4...
I think this will be quite enjoyable. I am using it on skyrim nowadays and it adds to gameplay a lot for making everything more intuitive. Hopefully it is the same for ED.
Having used many different control systems in the Alpha - I'd give the Xbox 360 controller a 6 out of 10. It's way better than mouse and keyboard, and better than mouse and keypad with thumbpad.
It's nowhere near as good as a joystick and throttle. Night and day difference.
The only semi-good alternative I found was a rollerball - that did kind of work nicely if you changed a lot of the mappings and spent more time in unassisted flight. Of course, it didn't have many buttons so combat became very awkward.
I'm still trying to think of the perfect setup though, and I really can't come up with one, so I'll make do with joystick and throttle.
Thanks a lot for your post !! My new PC is coming tomorrow, and i still don't know if i have to buy an XBox Controller or a Joystick with Throttle to play the Alpha
I've got a question about using Joystick and Throttle : will i have to keep the keyboard next to me (to navigate in the menus for exemple) or is it useless ?
Apparently, using a XBox controller, you can navigate in the menus (of the ship) without keyboard... as we can see in this nice video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYBC-1ZgaGg
Last edited:
I just had by Thrustmaster Warthog delivered this morning. A truly incredible bit of kit. I was a little concerned that such a heavy stick was going to affect my ability to aim precisely but not that I have noticed. Such a difference over playing with mouse and keyboard it couldn't be overstated.
I have noticed a few oddities that eventually went away. At first I could not get the throttle to bind. The stick ended up being the throttle when rolling left and right, which was very strange! Then that went away but then the throttle had a very large dead zone, and would go from -118 to +118 with no way of stopping. Quitting the game and restarting seemed to clear this.
Then I had problems binding primary and secondary fire! At this point I was getting annoyed but then my bindings started to take and everything started working as intended.
I don't have all the controls I need bound yet but I have the primary flight controls in there. I did have a quick go with flight assist off and this seemed a lot more stable than with mouse. I just need to bind a convenient control for forward and reverse thrust.
I have noticed a few oddities that eventually went away. At first I could not get the throttle to bind. The stick ended up being the throttle when rolling left and right, which was very strange! Then that went away but then the throttle had a very large dead zone, and would go from -118 to +118 with no way of stopping. Quitting the game and restarting seemed to clear this.
Then I had problems binding primary and secondary fire! At this point I was getting annoyed but then my bindings started to take and everything started working as intended.
I don't have all the controls I need bound yet but I have the primary flight controls in there. I did have a quick go with flight assist off and this seemed a lot more stable than with mouse. I just need to bind a convenient control for forward and reverse thrust.
I have a T.Flight Stick X, but keyboard + mouse is my preferred option.
I just using Xbox 360 pad
Just like this
Just like this
How does the switches work? I've been eyeing the Warthog and X-55 but I'm worried about wether or not the switches on the throttle work / are mappable. I'd like to use then for turning sub-systems on/off if possible.
I just had the Alpha, and have the same problem.
The Warthog seems to have some problem with the game.. Maybe they will fix this (i have no access right now to the alpha forum)
Right now, the game sees both units as a single controller. Button 1 on the joystick is seen the same as button one on the throttle.
Using the Target software, you can actually get them to work, but with a maximum of 32 buttons. (limitations on windows OS.) With it, you can map keystrokes to keys so you won't have to change any game mappings at all.
Once they get the program to see each HID device as a separate entity, then all these wonderful setups can actually be used. Roll can actually be keyed to the rudders like it should be and Yaw can go back to the joystick. Or the other way around, won't know until they correct it.
They have stated that they intend to fix multiple input devices in a future release. Note that this is a multiple DirectX input device issue, not a Warthog issue.
Upcoming - http://www.saitek.com/x55/#prettyPhoto
Looks interesting, but unsure how relevant this would be within the Elite control let.
Loving the look of this one, especially if its not the usual £250-300 asking price for a HOTAS
Dont suppose anyone had an idea when it's due out?
I'm rocking a Saitek X65f myself. Force responsive input is phenomenal in Elite, since it uses a fly-by-wire system anyway. I find it much more responsive than my X52 Pro.
Joysticks are widely argued to be the preferred device by many. That said, I'd just pick and choose your poison, Thrustmaster, CH, Saitek, Logitech all make solid ranges of sticks. TM dont seem to have twist on any of their sticks (at least not their premier ones). That only matters if you care though.
The new Saitek X55 looks like its going to be killer. Built just like the X65f, its basically a traditional version of it with an enhanced throttle base.
Joysticks are widely argued to be the preferred device by many. That said, I'd just pick and choose your poison, Thrustmaster, CH, Saitek, Logitech all make solid ranges of sticks. TM dont seem to have twist on any of their sticks (at least not their premier ones). That only matters if you care though.
The new Saitek X55 looks like its going to be killer. Built just like the X65f, its basically a traditional version of it with an enhanced throttle base.
Last edited:
They do in their premier _leftie_-friendly joystick, t.16000M.
For the time being, this seems the best leftie-joystick I've ever tried - and I've tried quite a few in my time.
I had an amazon gift certificate for xmas and i decided to put it to good use
I bought this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedlink-SL-6640-SBK-Black-Widow-Flightstick/dp/B0001ZN4WU
"Black widow flight stick"
I think it will suit me very well, i especially like the rudder buttons on the throttle. i appreciate i will have to use the keyboard in conjunction with it and that's a compromise compared to the saitek or the thrustmaster but i've seen some very positive reviews about it and for the price you cant go wrong IMO
I bought this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Speedlink-SL-6640-SBK-Black-Widow-Flightstick/dp/B0001ZN4WU
"Black widow flight stick"
I think it will suit me very well, i especially like the rudder buttons on the throttle. i appreciate i will have to use the keyboard in conjunction with it and that's a compromise compared to the saitek or the thrustmaster but i've seen some very positive reviews about it and for the price you cant go wrong IMO