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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: cnbcad on October 23, 2005, 02:22:56 pm

Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: cnbcad on October 23, 2005, 02:22:56 pm
I just installed the retail version of fs and the 1.2 patch...  Am currently going thru the initial training sequences...  The problems I'm having is with steering...  I should mintion that I'm relatively new to gaming of any kind...  I have a Saitek gamers pad...  The more I practice trying to bring enemy ships into my sights the worse I get...  It all seems so counter intuitive; everything moves the wrong way....  Is there a trick or any advice you can give?
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: StratComm on October 23, 2005, 02:35:33 pm
Well, lets see.  If you're not used to flight controls (down on your pad will pull your fighter up and point at the space above you, up moves your nose down) that could be giving you trouble.  If you're getting inverted motion horizontally, I don't know what you're doing.  However, to fix either of these things to your preference, press F2 (mainhall or in-mission), go to control configuration, and then ship controls.  Select Yaw and press invert to switch the direction you turn in; select Pitch and press invert to swap up for down.  Though once you learn it the standard method is actually easier across all control devices, I can see where it may be difficult to grasp if you're approaching this with a gameing pad instead of the mouse standby or a full joystick.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuclear1 on October 23, 2005, 03:32:46 pm
I use keyboard. :nervous:

But I agree with you cnb--the control can be daunting or unusual at first. The flight aspect tends to handle like real flight does. Pull back on the joystick, and the fighter climbs. Push forward, the fighter dives. You'll figure it out after a while. It took me a while, too, but it grows on you.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: CP5670 on October 23, 2005, 03:37:18 pm
I use a keyboard too. I actually can't stand those inverted pitch controls and have always played with the keys switched around, ever since the original Descent. I have to deal with it in FRED unfortunately. I would probably be fine with this scheme on a joystick, but it feels really weird on a keyboard.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuclear1 on October 23, 2005, 03:49:28 pm
It's not exactly bad using the keyboard. The flight controls work fine for me, but I've learned that excessive FS playing is bad for the keyboard. There's a little section of liquid on the side of the keyboard that used to be my Tab button.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: watsisname on October 23, 2005, 04:39:42 pm
Quote
There's a little section of liquid on the side of the keyboard that used to be my Tab button.
  Hahahah, wtf. :lol:

I use a keyboard as well, since Descent.  Pretty good at it too. :D
I've tried using a joystick (Logitech Wingman Attack) and it worked great at first, but then the steering got fuzzy and now I can't even calibrate it. :hopping: I think the little connections inside are messed up.  

Anyway, if you're having trouble playing with a stick, then either calibrate it again, or maybe you just need to get more practice.  It's always odd at first, but you get better.  Hell, I used to suck at Descent, but now... I'm damn good. :cool:
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: NeoBasilisk on October 23, 2005, 06:14:29 pm
I've used the standard keyboard + mouse approach ever since Descent. ;7
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Evo-Lightning on October 24, 2005, 08:29:18 am
keyboard all the way....and still no puddle :D
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Mongoose on October 24, 2005, 08:43:33 am
I'll always swear by my joystick-only config.  I can't imagine a keyboard feeling anything close to natural for playing Descent/Freespace.  Using a stick has always added to the immersive experience of those games for me; it allows you to become involved with what's going on in the game on a tactile level.  Plus, a stick gives you a range of different movement rates that an on-off keyboard just can't simulate. I don't dobut that most veteran keyboarders out there could easily smoke my ass, but I know that I'd never be able to play either of these games without a good joystick in my hand. :)
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Evo-Lightning on October 24, 2005, 09:27:51 am
you made that one just too easy Mongoose...

"a stick gives you a range of different movement rates"

"I know that I'd never be able to play either of these games without a good joystick in my hand."

:lol:
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Cobra on October 24, 2005, 02:10:21 pm
keyboard + joystick combo.

there's a small dent in my tab button from when i played "The Lion's Den" the first couple of times. :nervous: (and i'm being serious)
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Getter Robo G on October 24, 2005, 03:32:46 pm
They can have my joystick when they pry it from my cold dead hands...

(Before someone gets immature, I mean a Logitech 3d extreme) :D
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Mongoose on October 24, 2005, 04:29:25 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Evo-Lightning
you made that one just too easy Mongoose...

"a stick gives you a range of different movement rates"

"I know that I'd never be able to play either of these games without a good joystick in my hand."

:lol:

Get your mind out of the gutter, pilot! :p
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuke on October 24, 2005, 08:01:23 pm
saitech x52 here, the best on the market as far as i know. remember the phrase is pull up. associate the stick movement with the axial movement of the ship. you will notice that the ship rotates in the same direction the stick does. ive been pulling up sence the original starfox. ive gone as far as setting the invert mouse option in fps games.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: WMCoolmon on October 24, 2005, 08:01:34 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Getter Robo G
They can have my joystick when they pry it from my cold dead hands...

(Before someone gets immature, I mean a Logitech 3d extreme) :D


It's actually a pretty nice stick. I wouldn't mind trying to play with it.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuke on October 24, 2005, 08:03:25 pm
mines bigger :D
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: WMCoolmon on October 24, 2005, 08:16:02 pm
It's not the size that counts, it's the way it feels in your hands. :p

You want one that's strong enough to last a long time, but easy enough to handle that it'll be fun.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: StratComm on October 24, 2005, 08:31:08 pm
The latter half of this thread makes me feel... dirty...

:shaking:
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuclear1 on October 24, 2005, 08:51:36 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Nuke
mines bigger :D


I don't have one. :nervous:
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Evo-Lightning on October 25, 2005, 06:57:23 am
Oh my, what have i started :eek2:

(i have a joystick, but im not the one who uses it :nervous: )
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: achtung on October 25, 2005, 11:09:37 pm
I use my Logitech Extreme 3d Pro, but the damn axis is off ever so slightly that if i make a small twich to the right from the dead postion the damn thing throws me to the left violently.  So in turn I have to set my sensitivity low and keep my arm constantly on edge.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Unknown Target on October 26, 2005, 07:18:14 am
You guys have to learn that the tighter you grip your joystick, the more control you'll have - and control is essential; you don't want to flinch and lose your control, flying around in the x axis - you'll die almost immediately, and you just won't pleasure anyone, much less yourself, killing your joy before you get used to your stick.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: SuperCoolAl on October 26, 2005, 10:57:26 am
I'm just about to go ingame and try to bind these controls to my Gamecube pad, think Rogue Leader style :D
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Mongoose on October 26, 2005, 03:38:04 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Swantz
I use my Logitech Extreme 3d Pro, but the damn axis is off ever so slightly that if i make a small twich to the right from the dead postion the damn thing throws me to the left violently.  So in turn I have to set my sensitivity low and keep my arm constantly on edge.

I had a Logitech Wingman Force 3D, and the exact same thing happened to me when I tried to use the twist axis.  I think there may be some sort of mechanical problem in that line of sticks; the newer Logitech sticks seem to have gotten good reviews, though.  I gave up on the Force 3D after it started jerking around crazily whenever I plugged it in. :p My Saitek Cyborg Evo's been a much better stick, for me at least.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: SuperCoolAl on October 26, 2005, 03:39:39 pm
Quote
Originally posted by SuperCoolAl
I'm just about to go ingame and try to bind these controls to my Gamecube pad, think Rogue Leader style :D


Don't tell me this game doesn't support analogue acceleration...
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Getter Robo G on October 26, 2005, 03:41:52 pm
Mine was a simple flimsy plastic rod.   It broke in the first month... Simply go to ship control config and erase bank I think... Clears the problem right up. If I want to bank I use numberpad 7 & 9 as I have for the last 5/6 years...
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: FireCrack on October 26, 2005, 04:21:51 pm
Logitech force-feedback pro. Ancient, but relaible. Only cost me $15 too!
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Cobra on October 26, 2005, 06:12:06 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Swantz
I use my Logitech Extreme 3d Pro, but the damn axis is off ever so slightly that if i make a small twich to the right from the dead postion the damn thing throws me to the left violently.  So in turn I have to set my sensitivity low and keep my arm constantly on edge.


i've got it too. it's a pain in the ass when you're playing Mechwarrior 4.

the first Logitech Extreme 3D Pro i bought was all funky, whenever i played 5 minutes into a game the axis would be thrown off so bad the right side would barely respond. i bought another one and now i have to deal with that crap. my Sidewinder Pro was better than this. not as many buttons though.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Mongoose on October 26, 2005, 06:41:59 pm
I'll always stand by my belief that the MS Sidewinder 3D Pro was the greatest stick ever created, for Descent at least.  It has a short throw, very precise motions, and perfect button placement.  Unfortunately, I don't have a gameport on my current machine, but a member of the Descent community has developed a 3DPro-to-USB converter that should solve that problem.  It'll be great to use the old thing again. :)
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: StratComm on October 26, 2005, 06:59:16 pm
Quote
Originally posted by SuperCoolAl


Don't tell me this game doesn't support analogue acceleration...


It does, just not in the way you're probably wanting to map it.  Throttle Axis is analogue.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Cobra on October 26, 2005, 07:00:39 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Mongoose
I'll always stand by my belief that the MS Sidewinder 3D Pro was the greatest stick ever created, for Descent at least.  It has a short throw, very precise motions, and perfect button placement.  Unfortunately, I don't have a gameport on my current machine, but a member of the Descent community has developed a 3DPro-to-USB converter that should solve that problem.  It'll be great to use the old thing again. :)


i'd get it, but my mom had my sidewinder shipped off to the goddamned Salvation Army. :(
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: ShadowWolf_IH on October 26, 2005, 11:18:08 pm
Logitech force feedback 3d.....i turn the sens down and the dead up a bit...seems ot handle the lateral problem.  Of course i can't find a condom for it so safe cyber sex is out.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Flipside on October 26, 2005, 11:29:48 pm
About the only reason I keep a joystick these days is to play FS2, the only other thing you can play it on is flight Sims, and for some reason, they very very rarely appeal to me.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Nuke on October 27, 2005, 02:50:51 am
the saitek x52 is the smoothest stick ive used to date. its spring id increadibly light to the touch. i had to get used to not having so much resistance in the way it moves. the only way they culd make it better would be to make it wireless.
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: Evo-Lightning on October 27, 2005, 09:14:35 am
jeez, this place has more bad puns than comedy central on saturday night :lol:
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: [DW]-Hunter on October 27, 2005, 01:33:08 pm
Quote
Originally posted by Nuke
saitech x52 here, the best on the market as far as i know. remember the phrase is pull up. associate the stick movement with the axial movement of the ship. you will notice that the ship rotates in the same direction the stick does. ive been pulling up sence the original starfox. ive gone as far as setting the invert mouse option in fps games.


I have the same stick, ive only used it a few times, it feels really awkward, im use to the keyboard, im trying to learn the stick again lately, its really difficult lol, im so use to kickin ass on the keyboard, getting 60-100 on multi player missions and 30 kills in a 12 minute dog fight with other skilled pilots, (which is actually REALLY good, average is about 15-20) on the stick ill be lucky if i get 5 AI kills LOL

Im use to inverted as well, i play inverted in FPS' on controlers, i simply cant stand non inverted, it just makes more sence to me to use inverted in flight simulators because, well, in actual flight, things ARE inverted. some other flight simulators you simply cannot change it from inverted to regular up and down. which must drive u non-inverters nuts :P
Title: newbie having problems w/ control
Post by: SuperCoolAl on October 27, 2005, 02:09:16 pm
I go inverted, my brother likes 'up to be up,' so it ain't a family thing :rolleyes: