Saitek X52 Pro
What type of controller will you be using for Elite Dangerous
- Thread starter fikuserectus
- Start date
Xbox 360 controller at present, although I'm seriously looking at a Saitek X52 Pro come the new year depending on the opinions of the Alpha testers 
Or a cheaper option in the Cyborg Fly 5 @ ~ £40
Just dunno at the moment and I think folks will be making changes and decisions once we see footage and read opinions
Or a cheaper option in the Cyborg Fly 5 @ ~ £40
Just dunno at the moment and I think folks will be making changes and decisions once we see footage and read opinions
Xbox 360 controller at present, although I'm seriously looking at a Saitek X52 Pro come the new year depending on the opinions of the Alpha testers
Or a cheaper option in the Cyborg Fly 5 @ ~ £40
Just dunno at the moment and I think folks will be making changes and decisions once we see footage and read opinions
One of the first things I noticed in the developers videos is they are using X52 Pros. Seems Like a solid choice atm, they are a little pricey but I've had mine for a while and it's a pretty solid unit.
I will be using my new Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X
From my thread at http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6869
It's now complete, with Saitek X52
and the PC is
Asus Gryphon Z87
Intel i7-4770
32G 1866 DDR3
Radeon R9-280x
I'm all set for the Alpha.
It's now complete, with Saitek X52
and the PC is
Asus Gryphon Z87
Intel i7-4770
32G 1866 DDR3
Radeon R9-280x
I'm all set for the Alpha.
3D Mouse ???
I've been trying to decide on a controller for a little while now. *IF* I choose a joystick, I think it is down to the Saitek X52 or the TM t-flight HOTAS x. The X52 has more functionality and a smaller dead zone, but having waded through about 100 user reviews of each, I doubt it will last a year before breaking. Especially since we'll be pulling unrealistic g-forces in Elite, flinging the stick about way more than most of the reviewers ever did in their slow and steady sims. The TM has much better reviews regarding longevity. Of course, that counts for nothing if I get whopped every time by someone with a better joystick for flying using the little hat joysticks to accomplish 6doF. LOL
However, I'm sorely tempted to go for a 3D mouse like the ones 3D Connexion sell. Intuitive 6doF out of the box, leaving my right hand completely free for the keyboard.
My friend is a diehard Wing Commander player of old, while I was that 13 year old kid who's mind was blown by the arrival of the original Elite.
Apparently there's a lot more chatter about 3D mice over at that other game's forum.
I just want us to not get left behind on this one and can see why fully utilising 6doF would make this game sing.
Any thoughts from players or FD?
I've been trying to decide on a controller for a little while now. *IF* I choose a joystick, I think it is down to the Saitek X52 or the TM t-flight HOTAS x. The X52 has more functionality and a smaller dead zone, but having waded through about 100 user reviews of each, I doubt it will last a year before breaking. Especially since we'll be pulling unrealistic g-forces in Elite, flinging the stick about way more than most of the reviewers ever did in their slow and steady sims. The TM has much better reviews regarding longevity. Of course, that counts for nothing if I get whopped every time by someone with a better joystick for flying using the little hat joysticks to accomplish 6doF. LOL
However, I'm sorely tempted to go for a 3D mouse like the ones 3D Connexion sell. Intuitive 6doF out of the box, leaving my right hand completely free for the keyboard.
My friend is a diehard Wing Commander player of old, while I was that 13 year old kid who's mind was blown by the arrival of the original Elite.
Apparently there's a lot more chatter about 3D mice over at that other game's forum.
I just want us to not get left behind on this one and can see why fully utilising 6doF would make this game sing.
Any thoughts from players or FD?
I've been trying to decide on a controller for a little while now. *IF* I choose a joystick, I think it is down to the Saitek X52 or the TM t-flight HOTAS x. The X52 has more functionality and a smaller dead zone, but having waded through about 100 user reviews of each, I doubt it will last a year before breaking. Especially since we'll be pulling unrealistic g-forces in Elite, flinging the stick about way more than most of the reviewers ever did in their slow and steady sims. The TM has much better reviews regarding longevity. Of course, that counts for nothing if I get whopped every time by someone with a better joystick for flying using the little hat joysticks to accomplish 6doF. LOL
However, I'm sorely tempted to go for a 3D mouse like the ones 3D Connexion sell. Intuitive 6doF out of the box, leaving my right hand completely free for the keyboard.
My friend is a diehard Wing Commander player of old, while I was that 13 year old kid who's mind was blown by the arrival of the original Elite.
Apparently there's a lot more chatter about 3D mice over at that other game's forum.
I just want us to not get left behind on this one and can see why fully utilising 6doF would make this game sing.
Any thoughts from players or FD?
Provided you don't throw the X52 around like a monkey, and instead treat it like what it is (a reasonably expensive bit of kit) it'll be fine. I've had mine for years (I think it's a 2005 model).
If, however you insist on snapping it side to side, etc, slamming up against the travel stops, then yeah you'll break it. So, don't do that.
The reviews I've read and watched tend to suggest that it doesn't take much. I'm thinking that if I did go the joystick route, I'd be calibrating so that max pitch, roll and yaw would not be anywhere near the full travel the joystick could go. When you watch these guys flying their planes, they are sedately using the stick and still they talk about the string of broken Saiteks they used to own prior to switching over to Thrustmaster.
I know from playing Elite on the Amiga with a joystick (yes digital micro switches back then) that the stick will be being moved rapidly and that was against AI you could learn to anticipate. When playing a reactions game like Elite against human opponents without any g-force constraints, we will be looking for max turning at every opportunity. There will be no sedate flying in our dogfights.
The reviews I've read and watched tend to suggest that it doesn't take much. I'm thinking that if I did go the joystick route, I'd be calibrating so that max pitch, roll and yaw would not be anywhere near the full travel the joystick could go. When you watch these guys flying their planes, they are sedately using the stick and still they talk about the string of broken Saiteks they used to own prior to switching over to Thrustmaster.
I know from playing Elite on the Amiga with a joystick (yes digital micro switches back then) that the stick will be being moved rapidly and that was against AI you could learn to anticipate. When playing a reactions game like Elite against human opponents without any g-force constraints, we will be looking for max turning at every opportunity. There will be no sedate flying in our dogfights.
CH Products and Thrustmaster are a step up in quality compared to the Saiteks and that is from experience of using all three. CH Products Fighterstick (F-16 stick copy) and the Thrustmaster Cougar Hotas (F-16 stick copy). After the switch to USB I moved to a MS Sidewinder Precision Pro. I don't really sim anymore and the cost! Thrustmaster and CH Products not the cheapest but the best.
My X52 Pro arrived yesterday
Two things of note, firstly the software and drivers included in the box were shockingly out of date. Had to get new ones from the web.
Secondly, the profile software interferes with the default settings on Teamspeak3 (reasonably simple fix*, once I found out what it was). Every time you launch TS3, the x52 pro would forget it's profile and be unable to load any.
Other than those two small niggles, awesome. Very happy with it.
I even managed to get the hang of the (supposedly) unintuitive profile editor.
Now for rudder/brake pedals...
*The fix is - in TS3 Settings>Options>Hotkeys, change the dropdown at the bottom to Direct Input from Default.
Two things of note, firstly the software and drivers included in the box were shockingly out of date. Had to get new ones from the web.
Secondly, the profile software interferes with the default settings on Teamspeak3 (reasonably simple fix*, once I found out what it was). Every time you launch TS3, the x52 pro would forget it's profile and be unable to load any.
Other than those two small niggles, awesome. Very happy with it.
I even managed to get the hang of the (supposedly) unintuitive profile editor.
Now for rudder/brake pedals...
*The fix is - in TS3 Settings>Options>Hotkeys, change the dropdown at the bottom to Direct Input from Default.
The cheap Black Widow stick actually has the smoothest and best resistance amongst the selection of sticks we have I think
after reading this snippet i googled the 'Black widow' and it looks perfect for me,
thanks mike
That is interesting. I have one of those and was just about to chop it in for something sparkly and expensive. Maybe the grass isn't always greener...
Hi Jack,
yea maybe it isnt.. i like the look of it and i think a bit of german engineering is always a good thing. i'm intrigued by the rudder on the throttle instead of the normal twist action on the joystick and at £24.00 on amazon i cant really miss.
what do you think? has it proved to be a good stick for you? i'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
Cheers
Paul..
yea maybe it isnt.. i like the look of it and i think a bit of german engineering is always a good thing. i'm intrigued by the rudder on the throttle instead of the normal twist action on the joystick and at £24.00 on amazon i cant really miss.
what do you think? has it proved to be a good stick for you? i'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it.
Cheers
Paul..
