Better with a flight stick/joystick?

Syrinx · Post by **Syrinx** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:48 am

Hello all. I'm a new player and really enjoying the game but am wondering if it would be a good investment to go in for a joystick to play this game possibly 'easier'.

I currently have a razor naga mouse with i think it's 17 or 18 buttons but thinking if swapping over to a joystick for better motion control in the true 3D environment.

How have you all found playing with a joystick (those that do) and those that don't, would you swap to a joystick for better/precise control or stick with your current form of controls?

Finally, what kind of joystick would you all recommend? I'm currently looking at some Logitech ones but as I've not bought a joystick/flight stick since the early 90's I'm at a loss as to what to look for.

Cheers in advance.

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:13 pm

get a joystick with lots of buttons (12 or more)
I dont know how people manage to fly with a mouse

[Edited on 7-29-2012 by capt_cronic]

Syrinx · Post by **Syrinx** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 1:20 pm

I can tell you how: With great difficulty!

Letoras · Post by **Letoras** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:11 pm

(Old cowboy on a field that vanishes in the horizon mode ON)
Son, i'm tellin' ya this...if ya wanna survive this vast universe with your finger on the trigger drifting through reddies you gotta have something more than a mouse and a keyboard.
(Old cowboy on a field that vanishes in the horizon mode OFF)

p.s. a a ps3 (or ps2 i think) is a solution, it is not ideal as a nuke mushroom shaped joystick BUT it's cheap choice if you have one allready. There is a problem on the software that you use but that it's on you to decide.

Major Grubert · Post by **Major Grubert** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 2:28 pm

I do fly well.. not so bad.. with my mouse and keyboard together...

question of training/settings i guess

and i know my ship

EN4CER · Post by **EN4CER** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 3:52 pm

I bought this game and then 1 week later bought a joystick. My options were limited due to being left handed but I ended up getting the ST290PRO which is not a high end stick. I will never go back to using the mouse in this game again. Keep in mind that your key bindings should be changed drastically once you adopt a joystick. For instance I remapped all of my heavily used buttons to numpad and navigation keys because I'm left handed. Try to get enough buttons to get at least targeting and weapons all on the joystick. This will mean that your other hand is free for defense and navigation

Post by **Marvin** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:16 pm

Old heads use joysticks for anything that flies. At a minimum, you'll need a 3-axiis stick for pitch, roll and yaw.

sundalo · Post by **sundalo** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 10:33 pm

If you want a solid budget stick I recommend the Thrustmaster T-16000M with Hall effect sensors for precision control and it can be configured for southpaws as well. If money isn't a problem and you want the best HOTAS experience, I recommend the CH products Combatstick or Fighterstick, and the Pro Throttle and Pro Pedals. I use the Combatstick and has more than enough buttons but the Fighterstick is a great choice as well if you need extra control. I also use the throttle and pedals and they take a good amount of abuse especially the pedals when I PVP lol. The CH Manager control software included gives you unprecedented control over from simple keybinds to complex programming scripts. Want a HOTAS with the best durability, precision and quality that will last you for many years, look no further, CH Products has you covered.

Flash · Post by **Flash** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 11:15 pm

I'm with Sundalo. CH Products makes the best sticks in the world IMHO. They even make the industrial sticks for all sorts of heavy duty machinery. Oh and if in the very unlikely chance you brake a part... everything is repairable and replacable. Surely the last stick you ever need to buy.

Syrinx · Post by **Syrinx** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:33 am

Mmm..I got a cheap logitech joystick today and that's it...I'm sold! It's not got heaps of buttons (well it has 18 but 6 are in a very bad location...and I can't get the throttle bit to work with EM, but who cares..I fly better now!).

I'm looking now at eventually getting the CH Products stuff, but yeah...bit expensive for now, maybe next month haha.

Thanks for teh helpful replies

Post by **Marvin** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 3:46 am

One of my joysticks is a Logitech and the throttle works just fine. Check the game's options to see if you've made the proper assignments.

Syrinx · Post by **Syrinx** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 4:07 am

Yeah I didn't config it right, it works now but it's still in a bad spot, no matter though.

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:54 am

logitech served me very well for many years.

EN4CER · Post by **EN4CER** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:10 pm

From post: 142036, Topic: tid=9648, author=Marvin wrote: One of my joysticks is a Logitech and the throttle works just fine. Check the game's options to see if you've made the proper assignments.

You didn't tell us which stick.

Post by **Marvin** » Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:50 pm

I only use it on Sundays. If this topic is still alive by next Sunday, I'll check and then post. Or ask Cindy ... IIRC, she wanted to buy a joystick to replace her mouse and I suggested the same one ... which she evidently bought and has, since, made good use (of).

Gaz · Post by **Gaz** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 4:12 pm

I use a Saitek X52. Everything works good. Gonna get used to using a flight stick though.

Slayer · Post by **Slayer** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 2:25 pm

I currently use a Razer DeathAdder. It's what I learned to play the game on (as I was a pretty big Freelancer fan), so it's what I'm used to and comfortable with. THAT being said, I'm really tempted to buy a X-52, but am nervous about a few things; mainly mapping the roll, yaw and sideways thrusters.

Star King · Post by **Star King** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:16 pm

Logitech 3D Extreme is a $30.00 stick that Rubber Chicken and I both use. It has a rudder and a lot of keys.

NakaNaide · Post by **NakaNaide** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 6:25 pm

no joy stick is as accurate as a mouse, however most offer better axis controls so the reality is would you prefer to have more movement control from your flight hand or more accurate movements. Atleast that's my perspective tried joystick was fun reminded me of when flying on some other game but my mouse is just too accurate and quick with it's precision to want to alternate.

sapperhedge · Post by **sapperhedge** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:07 am

I would suggest a joystick. I got the Saitek X52 you can find them on amazon used some times for around 40 bucks. Its a great stick for the game. (to me the silver and blue just matches the games and Max's hud perfectly)

The Creator Vice I have heard uses a X52 Pro him self.

Munshine · Post by **Munshine** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 11:40 am

Flying with the mouse is not a big deal and it was pretty good when I tried the demo. But using a joystick helps a lot to immerse you in the evochron universe. As said Sundalo the Thrustmaster T16000M is very precise , in fact amazingly accurate for its price. Only minor weaknesses are its short throttle and that you can't use some buttons on the right if you are right handed ( or on the left if you are left handed).

Spencer · Post by **Spencer** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 3:37 pm

I fly with mouse and keyboard, I do not understand why people think it is difficult.

Capt_Caveman · Post by **Capt_Caveman** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 4:42 pm

From post: 144147, Topic: tid=9648, author=Spencer wrote:I fly with mouse and keyboard, I do not understand why people think it is difficult.

try pvp with mouse and you will see

Post by **Marvin** » Fri Aug 31, 2012 9:20 pm

From post: 144147, Topic: tid=9648, author=Spencer wrote:I fly with mouse and keyboard, I do not understand why people think it is difficult.

See Munshine's comment above. It isn't always about difficulty. It's similar to why some of us don't fly in 3rd person: immersion.

Slayer · Post by **Slayer** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 2:49 pm

From post: 144157, Topic: tid=9648, author=Marvin wrote:
From post: 144147, Topic: tid=9648, author=Spencer wrote:I fly with mouse and keyboard, I do not understand why people think it is difficult.
See Munshine's comment above. It isn't always about difficulty. It's similar to why some of us don't fly in 3rd person: immersion.

Which is exactly why I would like to get a joystick; the immersion factor.

How do you X-52 owners map the sideways thrusters? Does using the Z axis hurt the wrist?