xbox controller layout preferences

[spaceCADETzoom]

I tend to use mouse/keyboard or joystick, but wanted to try using the xbox controller (or any cntroller with the analog triggers and two analog sticks). How do you all set yours up, button wise? In particular, thrust/throttle? I was looking into the xbox controller as something I can use without reaching for the keyboard. BUt I cant figure out how to do so effeciently (i.e. without losing strafing, fwd/backwd thrust)

[Ohsirus]

Right down my alley! I use a program called Xpadder to play EL with my Xbox 360 controller. I have a Saitek X-52 with the foot pedals to boot, but due to the quick twitch nature of EL I gave it up ( too much wrist action for me). I have it fully mapped to not need the keyboard, including strafes and mouse pointer control. U just need the keyboard to chat. If M$ ever decides to release the pc Chatpad driver, won't need the KB then. ANyways here's my profile I use for Xpadder (converted to text file). Oh yeah I have Rumble engaged for certain events like afterburners, missiles, guns, etc.

;----------------------
; Xpadder Profile File
;----------------------

Version=2010.06.03

[Profile Settings]

[Set Settings]
Set1StickDeadZones=103,64
Set1StickDiagonalSizes=33,45
Set2StickDeadZones=98,79
Set2StickDiagonalSizes=19,19
Set3StickDeadZones=104,64
Set3StickDiagonalSizes=33,45

[Assignments]
Set1Button1Name=Target
Set1Button1Slots=Y,U
Set1Button2Name=Nav
Set1Button2Slots=F1
Set1Button3Name=Trade
Set1Button3Slots=F4
Set1Button4Name=Jump
Set1Button4Slots=F2
Set1Button5Name=Missile
Set1Button5Slots=Left Shift
Set1Button5Rumble=1
Set1Button5RumbleStrengths=255,255
Set1Button6Name=Guns
Set1Button6Slots=Left Control
Set1Button6Rumble=1
Set1Button6RumbleStrengths=180,180
Set1Button7Name=Inv
Set1Button7Slots=F3
Set1Button8Name=Tractr
Set1Button8Slots=B
Set1Button8Toggle=1
Set1Button9Name=Inertial
Set1Button9Slots=Space
Set1Button10Name=Freelook
Set1Button10Slots=F10
Set1Button10Toggle=1
Set1Button10SetSelect=2
Set1DPadUpName=atk my tgt
Set1DPadUpSlots=F6
Set1DPadRightName=mds
Set1DPadRightSlots=L
Set1DPadDownName=imode
Set1DPadDownSlots=U
Set1DPadDownToggle=1
Set1DPadDownSetSelect=1
Set1DPadLeftName=pri cycle
Set1DPadLeftSlots=N
Set1DPadLeftSetSelect=4
Set1Stick1UpSlots=Arrow Down
Set1Stick1RightSlots=Arrow Right
Set1Stick1DownSlots=Arrow Up
Set1Stick1LeftSlots=Arrow Left
Set1Stick2UpName=shield up
Set1Stick2UpSlots=NumPad 8
Set1Stick2RightName=Roll
Set1Stick2RightSlots=Dot
Set1Stick2DownName=Countermeasuress
Set1Stick2DownSlots=HOLD ZONE 1.00s,C
Set1Stick2LeftName=Roll
Set1Stick2LeftSlots=Comma
Set1TriggerLeftName=decel
Set1TriggerLeftSlots=S,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Forward-Slash
Set1TriggerLeftRumble=1
Set1TriggerLeftRumbleStrengths=29,32
Set1TriggerRightName=Accel
Set1TriggerRightSlots=W,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Tab
Set1TriggerRightRumble=1
Set1TriggerRightRumbleStrengths=54,56
Set2Button1Slots=Y,U
Set2Button1RumbleStrengths=129,128
Set2Button2Slots=F1
Set2Button3Slots=F4
Set2Button4Slots=F2
Set2Button5Slots=Left Shift
Set2Button5Rumble=1
Set2Button6Slots=Left Control
Set2Button6Rumble=1
Set2Button6RumbleStrengths=57,57
Set2Button7Slots=Comma
Set2Button8Slots=Dot,HOLD ZONE 1.40s,Alt,B
Set2Button9Slots=Space
Set2Button9SetSelect=0
Set2Button10Slots=C
Set2DPadUpSlots=F6
Set2DPadRightSlots=L
Set2DPadDownSlots=U
Set2DPadDownToggle=1
Set2DPadDownSetSelect=0
Set2DPadLeftSlots=N
Set2DPadLeftSetSelect=3
Set2Stick1UpSlots=I
Set2Stick1RightSlots=D
Set2Stick1DownSlots=K
Set2Stick1LeftSlots=A
Set2Stick2UpSlots=I
Set2Stick2RightSlots=D
Set2Stick2DownSlots=K
Set2Stick2LeftSlots=A
Set2TriggerLeftSlots=X,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Forward-Slash,Backspace
Set2TriggerRightSlots=Z,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Tab
Set3Button1Slots=Y,U
Set3Button2Slots=F1
Set3Button3Slots=F4
Set3Button4Slots=F2
Set3Button5Slots=Left Shift
Set3Button5Rumble=1
Set3Button6Slots=Left Control
Set3Button6Rumble=1
Set3Button6RumbleStrengths=35,33
Set3Button7Slots=F3
Set3Button8Slots=B
Set3Button8Toggle=1
Set3Button9Slots=Space
Set3Button10Slots=F10
Set3Button10Toggle=1
Set3Button10SetSelect=0
Set3DPadUpSlots=F6
Set3DPadRightSlots=L
Set3DPadDownSlots=U
Set3DPadLeftSlots=N
Set3Stick1UpSlots=Arrow Down
Set3Stick1RightSlots=Arrow Right
Set3Stick1DownSlots=Arrow Up
Set3Stick1LeftSlots=Arrow Left
Set3Stick2UpSlots=Mouse Move Up
Set3Stick2UpMouseSpeed=32
Set3Stick2RightSlots=Mouse Move Right
Set3Stick2RightMouseSpeed=32
Set3Stick2DownSlots=Mouse Move Down
Set3Stick2DownMouseSpeed=32
Set3Stick2LeftSlots=Mouse Move Left
Set3Stick2LeftMouseSpeed=32
Set3TriggerLeftSlots=S,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Forward-Slash
Set3TriggerRightSlots=W,DISTANCE ZONE 100%,Tab
Set4Button2Slots=F1
Set4Button3Slots=F4
Set4Button5Slots=Mouse Wheel Down
Set4Button6Slots=Mouse Wheel Up
Set4Button7Slots=F3
Set4Button10Slots=Left Mouse Button (1)
Set4DPadLeftSetSelect=1
Set4Stick1UpSlots=Arrow Down
Set4Stick1RightSlots=Arrow Right
Set4Stick1DownSlots=Arrow Up
Set4Stick1LeftSlots=Arrow Left
Set4Stick2UpSlots=Mouse Move Up
Set4Stick2UpMouseSpeed=18
Set4Stick2UpMouseMode=Cursor
Set4Stick2RightSlots=Mouse Move Right
Set4Stick2RightMouseSpeed=18
Set4Stick2RightMouseMode=Cursor
Set4Stick2DownSlots=Mouse Move Down
Set4Stick2DownMouseSpeed=18
Set4Stick2DownMouseMode=Cursor
Set4Stick2LeftSlots=Mouse Move Left
Set4Stick2LeftMouseSpeed=18
Set4Stick2LeftMouseMode=Cursor
Set4TriggerLeftSlots=Alt,Q
Set4TriggerRightSlots=Right Mouse Button (2)
Set5Button2Slots=F1
Set5Button3Slots=F4
Set5Button5Slots=Mouse Wheel Down
Set5Button6Slots=Mouse Wheel Up
Set5Button7Slots=F3
Set5Button10Slots=Left Mouse Button (1)
Set5DPadLeftSetSelect=0
Set5Stick1UpSlots=Arrow Down
Set5Stick1RightSlots=Arrow Right
Set5Stick1DownSlots=Arrow Up
Set5Stick1LeftSlots=Arrow Left
Set5Stick2UpSlots=Mouse Move Up
Set5Stick2UpMouseSpeed=18
Set5Stick2UpMouseMode=Cursor
Set5Stick2RightSlots=Mouse Move Right
Set5Stick2RightMouseSpeed=18
Set5Stick2RightMouseMode=Cursor
Set5Stick2DownSlots=Mouse Move Down
Set5Stick2DownMouseSpeed=18
Set5Stick2DownMouseMode=Cursor
Set5Stick2LeftSlots=Mouse Move Left
Set5Stick2LeftMouseSpeed=18
Set5Stick2LeftMouseMode=Cursor
Set5TriggerLeftSlots=Alt,Q
Set5TriggerRightSlots=Right Mouse Button (2)

[Marvin]

Originally posted by Ohsirus

I have a Saitek X-52 with the foot pedals to boot, but due to the quick twitch nature of EL I gave it up ( too much wrist action for me).

I pity the next generation of fighter pilots if they all have this problem.

[MMaggio]

I HATE the twist! That's why they will have to pry my X45 from my cold dead hands!:D

[spaceCADETzoom]

Thanks Ohsirus! I'm gonna try it out.

Really, I never thought I'd ever play a space flight game without a trusty stick. But how many years after WC and Xwing, and here I am...

[spaceCADETzoom]

Ohsirus,
Uh, I'm not really sure if I did it right but Im running xpadder, and cant really understand how you have it set up in EL the game. I configured (copy/pasted) xpadder your way, but I can't seem to fire weapons, and my pitch is inverted (when i push forward the ship pitches up). I tried running it kb, both mouse settings, and joystick under options in EL, but im still scratching my head. If set to joystick, it looks like the axes are fighting each other (I push fwd and it ...slowly...pitches up). So whats your setup here? thanks

[Ohsirus]

You still need to setup your axis in EL. I only setup the left stick with pitch and yaw. My setup is sort of confusing, but you can use it for a guide. I use the paid version of xpadder, which might be a few more options than the free one. For example my Trigger mapping is mapped by distance right trigger 90% pull accelerate/100% pull afterburner... Left Trigger pull 90% decel/100% reverse not sure if the free one does that.

All my settings are the default for EL. Suggest you print out the EL keyboard layout and make your own to fit your play style.

[Edited on 7-19-2010 by Ohsirus]

[Edited on 7-20-2010 by Ohsirus]

[Ohsirus]

If I didn't already own too many toys, I would order.

In a world first for a manufactured simulation controller, the X65F’s stick does not move; instead, like those found in real modern fighter jets, it responds to pressure that you exert on the handle, resulting in a fast, accurate and realistic response that will make you the ace in your squadron. With no moving parts and a shaft that is made from high grade steel, this provides incredible reliability and longevity.

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/x65f.htm

[ryuu]

Originally posted by Ohsirus

I have a Saitek X-52 with the foot pedals to boot, but due to the quick twitch nature of EL I gave it up ( too much wrist action for me).

i have a feeling it's mainly girls that have this problem

[Maarschalk]

I do not have a problem with the twist action of my X52. I like it and use it for turning the ship around its Y axis. Comes in handy incombat while sliding on inertia in a certain direction and taking out the enemies around you. The only problem I'm still having with my X52 is ocaisonal directional drifting.....LOL...ryuu about your feeling......:P:P:P:P

[ryuu]

my old joystick worked like a dream, shame i lost it