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General FreeSpace => FreeSpace Discussion => Topic started by: NFLed on August 24, 2008, 08:59:06 pm

Title: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: NFLed on August 24, 2008, 08:59:06 pm: Hello everyone. I have enjoyed a couple of space combat simulation games recently -- Darkstar One and Freelancer -- and am now trying Freespace 2. The graphics are good and thank you to those who have improved that.

I'm having difficulty using the mouse in combat. I have read comments (by searching this forum) that playing via mouse is next to impossible and joystick is the way to go but despite that I want to play via mouse. It worked in DSO and FL and I think it can work fine in Freespace 2 if only the sensitivity could be dialed up much higher (beyond the options already there in the controls).

Does anyone know a way to do this? I suspect that the answer is no but I would enjoy the game much more if there were a way to speed up mouse sensitivity in turning the ship. If not then I will see how far I can get in the game (easy mode) but I'm not sure I'd be able to enjoy it enough to keep playing.

Thank you in advance.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Droid803 on August 24, 2008, 09:03:15 pm: Perhaps you could increase your mouse's sensitivity in your control panel? I don't know if that helps though, I've always just used a joystick myself.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: NFLed on August 24, 2008, 09:27:07 pm: Thanks, I tried increasing the mouse sensitivity in control panel but that wasn't reflected in the game. I know that space combat sims have their roots in joystick play but with all of the great work I've seen on mods I am surprised not to see one to speed up mouse sensitivity, maybe it's a very difficult thing to mod but I can't imagine that there are only one or two who have had this issue.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Droid803 on August 24, 2008, 10:33:13 pm: You could try decreasing the FOV, I've heard (here: http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php/topic,55341.0.html) that it makes thigns more sensitive...
Not sure if it really makes your fighter turn faster though.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 24, 2008, 10:45:30 pm: /me sees NFLed.

EL EL EL EL EL EL EL EL

:welcomesilver:
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: DREDHAWK on August 25, 2008, 01:38:18 am: Sorry cant help you i have always used a joystick for flight space sim it makes since to me to use one. to me it kindy like play a strategy game with a joystick it doesnt work i now you cant do that but im sure you get the idea
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: MP-Ryan on August 25, 2008, 02:34:17 am: I use a mouse. Always have.

Up your mouse sensitivity in Windows - the sensitivity control in the game itself doesn't really work. And make sure when you crank it in Windows that you don't have mouse-specific software (like IntelliPoint, or Logitech's Setpoint that is overriding those settings... otherwise you need to set the sensitivity in your mouse program. As for up/down orientation, choose whichever you prefer. What also helps is frequent use of the roll-controls. You're going to find up/down much easier with the mouse than left/right. You can compensate for that by putting roll on the keyboard and using it in conjunction with pitch.

The only area you could run into trouble with the mouse is multiplayer. It's tough to go up against other players with joysticks, but I usually can hold my own.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: wistler on August 25, 2008, 05:58:01 am: I've always use a mouse and i know what you mean about sensitivity, gets a little crazy when your sliding your mouse half way across your desk.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Stormkeeper on August 25, 2008, 06:29:48 am: Always have and always will use a mouse. And it can get crazy sliding your mouse across the desk. Luckily for me, I got a Razer Deathadder to compensate.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 25, 2008, 07:35:00 am: I don't like using the mouse. I prefer the keyboard in all games except for Raptor for Windows, Tyrian 2000, and any Arkanoid or Breakout clones like BlasterBall 2: Holidays.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: pecenipicek on August 25, 2008, 07:45:29 am: i was before always on the keyboard, but after pyro_mx handed me my ass in multi, i switched over to the mouse but didnt yet have the time to return the favor :p
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: GenericCorvette on August 25, 2008, 02:42:34 pm: I aim with the mouse and do large turns with the numpad. :D
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Mars on August 25, 2008, 07:20:49 pm: Quote from: GenericCorvette on August 25, 2008, 02:42:34 pm
I aim with the mouse and do large turns with the numpad. :D

Do you have three hands?
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: NFLed on August 25, 2008, 07:39:35 pm: Thank you for the many responses.

I tried increasing the mouse sensitivity in windows but it had no effect. I decreased the mouse sensitivity in windows to minimum (as a test) and that also had no effect. I even measured how much the pointer moves when I move the mouse a specific amount just to make sure. I don't have any mouse-specific software running. That increasing the sensitivity seemed to work for you is intriguing, maybe there is hope.

Quote from: MP-Ryan on August 25, 2008, 02:34:17 am
I use a mouse. Always have.

Up your mouse sensitivity in Windows - the sensitivity control in the game itself doesn't really work. And make sure when you crank it in Windows that you don't have mouse-specific software (like IntelliPoint, or Logitech's Setpoint that is overriding those settings... otherwise you need to set the sensitivity in your mouse program. As for up/down orientation, choose whichever you prefer. What also helps is frequent use of the roll-controls. You're going to find up/down much easier with the mouse than left/right. You can compensate for that by putting roll on the keyboard and using it in conjunction with pitch.

The only area you could run into trouble with the mouse is multiplayer. It's tough to go up against other players with joysticks, but I usually can hold my own.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Stormkeeper on August 25, 2008, 07:42:17 pm: If your mouse has any sort of utility software, use that to change your sensitivity.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: DREDHAWK on August 25, 2008, 08:20:36 pm: Im i the only one how use a joystick around were :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: FreeSpaceFreak on August 26, 2008, 01:10:12 am: Quote from: DREDHAWK on August 25, 2008, 08:20:36 pm
Im i the only one how use a joystick around were :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
If you meant to say
Quote
Am I the only one to use a joystick around here?
then no, the majority of HLPers uses joysticks.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Nuke on August 26, 2008, 07:55:18 pm: no, ive been using joyusticks since pong :D
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Excalibur on August 26, 2008, 11:00:08 pm: Quote from: Mars on August 25, 2008, 07:20:49 pm
Quote from: GenericCorvette on August 25, 2008, 02:42:34 pm
I aim with the mouse and do large turns with the numpad. :D

Do you have three hands?

No, but you don't usually need your afterburners when performing a tight turn, unless you want to make yourself turn a larger radius. I use his "trick" too, and it works well. Though only when chasing Dragons, usually. (Or Lokis in a mk II)
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 27, 2008, 08:40:04 am: My old keyboard arrangement for FreeSpace 2 and Descent 3 stretched out my fingers; numpad for sliding (D3) or ETS allocation (FS2), the six buttons above the arrow keys for pitch and bank (both), arrow keys to move the ship like a car (both), and the Z and X keys to fire weapons (both). I was quite good at using this control scheme.

After my switch to Mac, I changed my FS2 layout such that it resembles the Freelancer control scheme, because I have no numpad or above-arrow-keys. It works pretty well, in my opinion. I've yet to get a decent keyboard layout for Descent II.

While playing Tyrian 2000, I attach a mouse and use that for everything. :D
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: highwayman on August 28, 2008, 09:49:56 am: I tried using a mouse when I first reinstalled this game, but it just felt too unnatural, so I ordered a logitech joystick for $20. Even if I found the game playable using a mouse, I think I'd still prefer a joystick - there's just something about clutching your fingers around a rock hard, ergonomic rod and flicking its buttons while things explode all around you...
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on August 28, 2008, 10:15:18 am: I find using anything except the keyboard too unnatural for my taste...except when playing Freelancer, Tyrian 2000 and Raptor for Windows.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: DarthWang on August 28, 2008, 12:19:55 pm: I play with the keyboard
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Stormkeeper on August 31, 2008, 08:25:30 pm: I considered buying a joystick at Comex for 35 bucks, but didn't in the end.
Title: Re: Mouse sensitivity
Post by: Androgeos Exeunt on September 01, 2008, 06:00:07 am: I bought a Saitek gamepad once, but I found the controls too slippery and felt much better using the keyboard.

I've also tried mouselook in Descent 3 before, but I found it too jerky for my taste and went back to all-keyboard.