Dead Men Walking

Forum Archive 2023 => dMw Gaming => Gaming Archive => Elite: Dangerous => Topic started by: Tutonic on November 17, 2014, 03:51:18 PM

Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Tutonic on November 17, 2014, 03:51:18 PM
Hi Folks - I'm quite tempted to pick up Elite now it seems to be gathering pace, but I don't have enough room to cram a joystick alongside my keyboard & mouse.

So, is this game playable with K&M/joypad or will I be wasting my time?
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: BrotherTobious on November 17, 2014, 04:27:52 PM
You can play with both I am lead to believe but I have not played it but have preordered it an age ago.

Also you could do a Albert and strap them to your chair!!!!!
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 17, 2014, 05:18:09 PM
Suggestions:

https://www.google.com/search?q=kempston+joystick&newwindow=1&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3ixqVKvkHMjCOc69gYAI&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=2027&bih=988&dpr=0.9

Seriously, the keyboard part is perfectly fine and you could probably adapt your style of play to keyboard for movement. Try it with a mouse and it's not easy. They have this analogue simulation thing going on where the further your mouse pointer is from centre the faster you move in that direction. I took an hour to get the hang of it and dock safely, could I dogfight with a mouse, probably but not easily or with much enjoyment. It's simply not point and move like War Thunder.

Mouse is good in menus etc. In game as a movement engine it's not good.

Suggest a smaller joystick or a gamepad, that could sit along side your mouse. Just having one hand on the stick and another on the keyboard would be good enough.

Or this is quite slim:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Saitek+Aviator+Flightstick+for+PC
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Twyst on November 17, 2014, 06:34:25 PM
Quote from: Tutonic;391057So, is this game playable with K&M/joypad or will I be wasting my time?

It is playable with K&M. I don't have a joypad.

But after moving to a HOTAS (Joystick + throttle with many buttons) it's hard to ever go back.
Think of doing the timed laps at the dMw LAN with the racing chair .... it adds a lot to the experience to make it more fun and immersive.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 18, 2014, 06:23:43 AM
These guys may make a miniature joystick. Certainly worth looking into at least having the xy(z maybe but not likely to be practical on a small device) axes and a couple of buttons for boost and flight assist would be perfect to lie next to your mouse.

http://www.megatron.de/en/products/desktop-joysticks/desktop-joystick-series-rs-desktop.html

http://www.apem.co.uk/RS-Desktop-v10-d-949.html

http://www.ultra-msi.com/miniature-joysticks.html
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 18, 2014, 09:07:06 AM
Ok so these more industrial goods are a tad expensive: 292 pouds excl. VAT. Better buy a normal one.

http://www.digikey.co.uk/product-search/en/computers-office-components-accessories/desktop-joysticks-simulation-products/3671277
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Gortex on November 18, 2014, 11:09:46 AM
has anyone tried an xbox controller in the game yet? and is it anygood?

Tut's question is one that I was thinking about what with the want to buy the game but reluctant to spend lots on a new joystick.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Tutonic on November 18, 2014, 12:23:38 PM
I'm not convinced.

I don't have room for a joystick of any size, so I think I will have to give this game a miss.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 18, 2014, 12:48:57 PM
An XBox controller works perfectly well, for sure. I used it several times and the analogue stick is good as a way of manoeuvring.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: vobler on November 18, 2014, 12:55:08 PM
Quote from: Tutonic;391094I don't have room for a joystick of any size, so I think I will have to give this game a miss.

I think you will do fine with a game controller or if that is difficult for you, a joystick on your lap (on some kind of laptop board if needed)
In any case, desktop space is not a problem.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Twyst on November 18, 2014, 05:21:17 PM
Quote from: David Braben
Quote from: TommyttkWhen you played Elite on the train did you use a HOTAS and if you haven't done so can you do it and take a picture? Can i have a signed copy of it?
No. I used an Xbox controller...

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=60284&page=16&p=1024623#post1024623
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 18, 2014, 05:46:53 PM
I take it that wasn't on the train on the Offline )) version of Elite@ Dangerous!
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Twyst on November 18, 2014, 05:48:44 PM
No, single player online version!

http://www.deadmen.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?40377-The-theoretical-S-has-hit-the-fan&p=391116#post391116
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Sn00ks on November 19, 2014, 02:57:59 PM
Quote from: Tutonic;391094I'm not convinced.

I don't have room for a joystick of any size, so I think I will have to give this game a miss.

Defeatist!

Why not hold the joystick in your lap while using it and then put it to one side when you need the mouse and keyboard? If you get one with throttle and stuff on the base you can operate them with one hand and play with the joy part with the other.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: BrotherTobious on November 24, 2014, 09:28:50 PM
I have just played this evening with my 360 pad tut and gortex and it is very playable.  Even with stock set up!!!!
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Jamoe on November 26, 2014, 10:02:19 AM
Quote from: BrotherTobious;391542I have just played this evening with my 360 pad tut and gortex and it is very playable.  Even with stock set up!!!!

Snap ;)

I'm just missing strafing left/right but I'm not sure how important that is with the slow left-right turn speed. The number of Controller options scares me...

(I'll join the group next time I'm on)
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 26, 2014, 12:15:33 PM
There are several important movements you need to go on the controller but most actions can be done on a keyboard positioned nearby.

You need to Yaw, Roll and Pitch. Analogue stick right and LB/RB
Fire primary and secondary. RT/LT
Thrusters (strafing as you call it) left/right, up/down (left thump hat), back, forward (Y and X buttons), very important for added movement in battle, it makes all the different.
Flight Assist on/off A button
Boost B button
Divert Power, sys, wep, eng and balance left analogue

Everything else can be done on the keyboard (unless there is a shift button capability on xBox Controller) but this little lot are essential otherwise you lose some benefit that might not be immediately obvious at first glance but after 6 months of playing this I found them eventually.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Jamoe on November 26, 2014, 12:41:38 PM
Cheers albert, I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm on. I've got a n52 somewhere so that might be handy for the lesser used buttons.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: albert on November 26, 2014, 12:56:16 PM
Quote from: Jamoe;391613Cheers albert, I'll have to take a closer look next time I'm on. I've got a n52 somewhere so that might be handy for the lesser used buttons.


The n52 would be perfect for the other actions that happen a lot in game.

Targeting of various types.
Landing Gear
Frame Shift Drive
UI control

I used a keyboard and mouse for a bit and it's pretty easy to get used to punching the right keys, so an n52 will be even better.
Title: Joystick - do I really need one?
Post by: Sneakytiger on November 26, 2014, 07:17:28 PM
[video=youtube;QrRkqalbzeY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrRkqalbzeY[/video]

for any 1 with a xbox controller