Jump To Lightspeed Archive
Thread: So I bought a joystick...
Page 1 of 7
TarsisDenai
Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:55 am
#1
After playing in space for a couple days with my mouse, I decided to buy a joystick. I bought the Logitech Extreme3D Pro... 12 buttons, twist handle, throttle control. Its probably the best cheap joystick there is @ around $30 - and the one a lot of people use that I've read about here on the boards.
The first few nights with my mouse I could fire and land shots with insaneprecision, but I would often lose sight of the ship I was targeting because of the awkward way the keyboard and mouse work together to fly and roll and such...
Last night with my joystick I was able to flylike a pro, always keeping on the tail of the ship I was after, rolling and turning like crazy - it was awesome, but dang do I suck bad at aiming with a joystick.. It took me literally 5 minutes to kill a tier 1 hah.
This is the first time I've used a joystick to fly or do anything really. I enjoy the joystick a lot, the throttle and smooth flight are very nice.
How long does it take to masterjoystick usage? And are there any tips from those who have been using a joystick for awhile that will help me out?
Alarien
Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:04 am
#2
It just takes time. Everyone is a bit different. On top of that, it takes time to master the quirks of each joystick, especially if you are used to one. I'm not looking forward to my 6 or 7 year old Sidewinder dying.
Don't worry though, your Logitech probably won't last long enough for you to get that used to it. My girlfriends lasted about 2 nights. Now she has an X52. Lots of problems with calibration on the Logi hunk of junk. Check amazon for discussions, hehe.
HewerofWood
Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:06 pm
#3
You are already doing so much better than I was 
It took me, umm, many hours of flying around the neutral space stations before I could even begin to fly after targets. As for the Targeting.. I'm still working on it! though 
Not to scare you off, I don't do that bad at all. I believe you will find that targetting is a matter of piloting -- where you put your ship in relation to your opponents. I also use the Logitek Extreme, and, damn, it's nice to control Climbing, Turning, rolling all with One hand. Firing is a snap as well, done with the same hand.
Not to scare you off, I don't do that bad at all. I believe you will find that targetting is a matter of piloting -- where you put your ship in relation to your opponents. I also use the Logitek Extreme, and, damn, it's nice to control Climbing, Turning, rolling all with One hand. Firing is a snap as well, done with the same hand.I remind myself, each time I go out, slow and steady. Nothing Jerky. I practice snapping off my shots, placing them, instead of spamming them, on non critical targets, just to get into good habits. I found that spamming Fire made me sloppy, I was never really sure where the best shot for a given situation was. Playing games that Forced me to Hit what I was shooting at helped a great deal. I think this would be true regardless of whether you useda Mouse or a Joystick.
JeebusCrisp
Fri Jul 22, 2005 3:57 pm
#4
Use your joystick configuration software!!!
Make your joystick work the way YOU want it to by configuring it's buttons so they feel the most intuitive for your flying style.
Took several days and countless hours of testing with my X52 but now I can't imagine going with anything else.
(I also highly recommend rudder pedals, they add an even higher level of immersion and control.)
Make your joystick work the way YOU want it to by configuring it's buttons so they feel the most intuitive for your flying style.
Took several days and countless hours of testing with my X52 but now I can't imagine going with anything else.
(I also highly recommend rudder pedals, they add an even higher level of immersion and control.)
dragon90
Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:11 pm
#5
i bought a joystick about a week before JtL's release,nice saitek cybord evo,i cant imagine flying without it,gives so much control,especially for an interceptor type ship pilot like me
Slysix
Fri Jul 22, 2005 11:42 pm
#6
Tweaking the ingame joystick options help alot. (deadzone, and sensitivity)....
HewerofWood
Sun Jul 24, 2005 8:11 am
#7
Rubber pedals sound intriguing. what do the pedals control for you, roll? Acceleration? How does that compare to a twist joystick?
JeebusCrisp
Sun Jul 24, 2005 10:50 am
#8
Basically takes the place of the 'twist' and you can set 'em up in a couple of different ways.
You can get a NICE set for around $100USD or so, you'll never go back to flying without 'em!
You can get a NICE set for around $100USD or so, you'll never go back to flying without 'em!
DarkLordFett
Sun Jul 24, 2005 12:52 pm
#9
I picked up the same stick when I started in JTL beta. I really like it. Inexpensive, solid and smooth. Lot's of button's to map. My only gripe is when I plug in a PS2 Dual Shock pad for playing a couple of titles and MAME. That screws up the drivers or something. Annoying, as often times I end up haveing to re-install the 3D Pro's drivers. I'd love to go up to the Saitek X-52, but I don't have that kind of cash right now 
As far as how long it takes to "master", time. Just like anything else. I constantly find myself gripping the stick a bit more that I really need to, but that's the heat of battle for you. The Logitech Profiler can help out with some issues, especially if the twist is a little too sensitive to one direction, like mine. Setting up the in-game setting is critical. Take it easy and for the most part, it only takes fairly small movements to compensate. Learning to "lead" a target is one of the hardest things to do. I had a lot of practice in the X-Wing and Wing Commander series.
Just keep at it and you'll be a master sooner that you think
As far as how long it takes to "master", time. Just like anything else. I constantly find myself gripping the stick a bit more that I really need to, but that's the heat of battle for you. The Logitech Profiler can help out with some issues, especially if the twist is a little too sensitive to one direction, like mine. Setting up the in-game setting is critical. Take it easy and for the most part, it only takes fairly small movements to compensate. Learning to "lead" a target is one of the hardest things to do. I had a lot of practice in the X-Wing and Wing Commander series.
Just keep at it and you'll be a master sooner that you think
TarsisDenai
Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:54 am
#10
Well, I'm happy to say that I'm well on the way to piloting greatness. After the last few nights in space, I've improved quite a bit. Feeling realy comfortable with my joystick now.
Ryuen
Wed Jul 27, 2005 1:07 pm
#12
Many people like the logitechs but I'd say try a Saitek cyborg evo... love the precision mine has
Thunderheart
Wed Jul 27, 2005 2:52 pm
#13
Ryuen wrote:
Many people like the logitechs but I'd say try a Saitek cyborg evo... love the precision mine has
I just made the switch to the Saitek Cyborg and I'm loving it 
Kurt "Thunderheart" Stangl
Community Relations Manager
Page 1 of 7