Small Control Request...

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:37 pm

I am wondering if it would be difficult to add the ability to program our controllers with seperate fire buttons for Cannon/Lasers? It would make combat much better for me and my X52 would have no problem with splitting these two primary fire modes. I know you can toggle them...but it's just not as intuitive to me. Not sure if this is just me or if others would take advantage of this kind of option? Sound off if so cuz if I'm the only one it's not worth Vice's time

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:40 pm

Originally posted by tk7223
I am wondering if it would be difficult to add the ability to program our controllers with seperate fire buttons for Cannon/Lasers? It would make combat much better for me and my X52 would have no problem with splitting these two primary fire modes. I know you can toggle them...but it's just not as intuitive to me. Not sure if this is just me or if others would take advantage of this kind of option? Sound off if so cuz if I'm the only one it's not worth Vice's time

I'd use that, I find the toggle to be 'too tricky' to negotiate durin battle

Elvisman2001 · Post by **Elvisman2001** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:53 pm

Sounds like something i would use.

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 3:20 pm

Please can we have that? Or pretty please with space dust? Can we Can we Can we?

Post by **Vice** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:16 pm

Maybe

It would require splitting/unbinding the current dual function so one or the other would no longer fire, resulting in the toggle still being required to use such a split option. To retain current functionality, would you be willing to use the toggle option to set the mode to 'Particle' mode, then use the beam button to fire it when needed? I don't know, might be more confusing with the option, but it could be possible.

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:19 pm

Originally posted by Vice
Maybe It would require splitting/unbinding the current dual function so one or the other would no longer fire, resulting in the toggle still being required to use such a split option. To retain current functionality, would you be willing to use the toggle option to set the mode to 'Particle' mode, then use the beam button to fire it when needed? I don't know, might be more confusing with the option, but it could be possible.

I could go for that, as long as I'd be able to hit the 'beam button' without having to hit the particle button at the same time.

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 5:59 pm

Seeing I've no clue what Vice just tried to say, I think it might be more confusing, lol. I can see why someone would want the function, just, can't it be another button (in PART mode, the button shoots BEAM, in BEAM mode, it shoots PART, and in BOTH mode, it self-detonates the ship)?

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:36 pm

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:38 pm

Thanks for the response all..(and Especially Vice for your time). I too am a little confused by what Vice was trying to say. I'm thinking back to Mechwarrior style weapon groupings I guess. A programable fire Beam only, a seperate programable fire Cannon only, and then maybe a fire all guns seperate programable. In my thinking this would not be changing the current control options but adding a few additional programable ones. That way those who would choose to have those manual combat options could set them up and intuitively fire beams to take down your targets shields and then proceede to pound them to dust with cannons. It's something I've always wondered why more space sims don't have this type of config...since the ground pounders of Mechwarrior were able to do it heheheh

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:46 pm

Why not just use a "select weapon" button for guns, like we have for missiles? It coud daisy wheel with each push as "particle, beam, all"!

Post by **Vice** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:02 pm

Big fan of Mechwarrior myself and I appreciated the weapon control a lot. I'll try to explain my post a bit better. Currently, the system uses a global key/button function for primary weapons (that you toggle for the different sub-modes, All, Particle, and Beam). To employ that key/button function for only one weapon type to support an entirely separate key/button function for the secondary primary weapons, the main control needs to be unbound from its original function so that it no longer controls both primary weapons. In order to do that, I either have to change the functionality of the game that players have become familiar with or add a manual control option to bind/unbind weapons during gameplay. Since I'm running out of available keys to use, the most practical method to do this would be to keep the toggle system and add a secondary control button. The player would need to manually set the fire mode to 'Particle', then control beam weapons with the second key/button. But as you can probably tell, this could be a bit confusing and more complex than the current toggle system that just uses one key to select which primary weapons you want to fire.

Why not just use a "select weapon" button for guns, like we have for missiles? It coud daisy wheel with each push as "particle, beam, all"!

That's actually what the game offers now, the 'N' key by default.

[Edited on 2-7-2009 by Vice]

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:44 pm

Okies...I thought it was worth a shot..(no punn intended)...Maybe I'll be able to figure away to use programmable funtions in the Saitek software..I just hate it tho..the whole loading profiles thing annoys me.

Nontheless..THANKS VICE!! It's really nice to get your responses and that's one of the things that I really like about your forum and games!!!

Skiiwa · Post by **Skiiwa** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:19 am

SWG has what U are talking about..My Ion cannon was my secondary(used to disable a ship my primary was my hard hitting beam weapon and I had a 3rd weapon button for my missles...Worked Awsome for SWG.

BTW<<<<AWSOME New Game Vise!!! The navy does not seem to like me minning at Saffire as I wanted to see the new stuff to mine.. I take it its Illegal to mine outside of a City, or mine the oxygen sitting at the dock?:)P

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:55 am

Maybe you could program some sort of Macro?

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:35 pm

yea...I'm sure if I actually took some time to learn the saitek profile thing again I could make it work somehow...I just hate using that software. I abandoned it over a year ago cuz I got sick of setting up profiles for every game. The controllers are awesome. But the software sucks in my opinion. Considering this is a minor issue really, I'll prob. just leave it alone unless it really starts to annoy me. I thought it might be something easy for Vice to do and that others would use. Turns out it's not, and that's ok, he's got bigger fish to fry and so far the game's awesome anyway!

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:24 pm

Young man, if you would care to U2U me, I would be glad to help you with setting up profiles. It is easier than it looks!:)

tk7223 · Post by **tk7223** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:18 pm

Thanks for the offer MMaggio. I've done it before..I just find it annoying.

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 1:59 am

The more often you do it, the easier it gets. I have written over 75 profiles. 100 if you include the do-overs! LOL
But, yes, it can be a chore, but you can get so much more out of the controller especially if you start using the "mode" switch!
Good Luck just the same!

Venus · Post by **Venus** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:12 pm

I've got a Logitech Attack 3 js, and the 3rd axis is a throttle. However the game doesn't recognise it's a throttle, and tries to apply it to a flight control, which is impossible, as it has no centre. On top of that, if I set left right axis to roll, it won't stop rolling, even with +4 deadzone set. The joystick works fine in other games, so I'm thinking the control options could do with some tweaking? I'd also like the option suggested.

Hopsalot · Post by **Hopsalot** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:39 pm

I don't know about other joysticks, but the Cougar has a 2 stage trigger button. (I assume most do) If this is the case, then even if the controls were unbound, the second stage could be particle + laser and stage 1 could be set for either weapon. This would also keep the control changes transparant for non-interested parties and those whose joysticks do not support that option.