[Cobra]

I use one of dem. I currently have an 80% primary accuracy with it.

[KappaWing]

Am I the only one here who thinks that using joystick is much more easier than using mouse and keyboard?

I actually found out about FreeSpace when the demo came with a new joystick. Ive tried keyboard and mouse but i place emphasis on the realism of the experience rather than how well i play with it... I play better with the joystick anyway, but then again thats what I'm experienced with.

And BTW, the title made me giggle.

[Cobra]

And BTW, the title made me giggle.

Get your head out of the gutter, you.

[Unknown Target]

See, this is exactly something the average player would say.

Though that's not all that bad, at least you're using those four. I've seen people use... less... -_-

I use full throttle, zero, and I use Z to decelerate to anything in between

[Mongoose]

I just use my joystick's built-in throttle and fly at whatever speed I damn well please.  The only place I used Match Speed was in the training mission that required it.

[Cobra]

I just use my joystick's built-in throttle and fly at whatever speed I damn well please.  The only place I used Match Speed was in the training mission that required it.

Hell yes.

I use my throttle constantly. Like if a Shivan fighter is going straight at me and turns up at the last second, I can quickly slow down and then slam the stick forward and hit my afterburners to get my original speed back. It saved my ass from a missile too.

[Polpolion]

I just use my joystick's built-in throttle and fly at whatever speed I damn well please.  The only place I used Match Speed was in the training mission that required it.

Hell yes.

I use my throttle constantly. Like if a Shivan fighter is going straight at me and turns up at the last second, I can quickly slow down and then slam the stick forward and hit my afterburners to get my original speed back. It saved my ass from a missile too.

same here

I hate match speed, because it never works properly for me. It always goes about 3 or 4 m/s slower than the other guy no matter what.

[IceFire]

After ~50 hours of Freespacin' with a mouse/keyboard combo, I finally picked up a halfways decent joystick.  I must be REALLY out of practice because I can aim for crap with this thing.  I need inspiring, uplifting anecdotes from people telling me how awesome the joystick is to control your ship once you get the hang of it. 

P.S. I know there's already a thread on this but I got an angry red message on top saying no one had posted to it for 30 days and maybe I should just make a new one 

Joysticks, unlike the mouse, take more time to learn and become accustomed to the movement of the stick in question.  I play flight sims and the switch from a Microsoft Precision Pro 2 to a Saitek X-52 was huge...and my flying abilities were completely destroyed.  Took a month to rebuild them. Thats between sticks. So give it time man.

[Bob-san]

Heh i only have the match-speed problem when matching with big ships.

I prefer the joystick. I have a Logitech WingMan Force 3D. Just enough buttons for all the stuff i wanna do.

It's a cool stick. Let's see... trigger is primary, left button is secondary, upper left is CM, right button is target attacker, upper right is target escorts, 4-way HAT is normal look-around, on the base, the throttle is set to absolute, the far button is equalize shields, the close button is afterburner (not sure about those two... I dont remember--i use both at the same time).

The point of a joystick is ease of use; most buttons you need are all close. The throttle makes a bit of a differance-flying at full speed, no speed, or anything in-between is easy. You map the buttons so you are comfortable; there are no "offical" setups... most people get a joystick and customize it and use the same config on all games they play.

Anyways... I got my joystick a few years back, Freespace Colossus with it (OEM version). The best I can say is get an uber-cheap joystick and have-at-it. If you get comfortable with the stick, you're set for all other games that are similar. It's particularly easy if you get a different game and play with the joystick.

There are some things to consider... will you use all the features? Do you want force-feedback? How much are you willing to spend?
I personally have the perfect thing with my stick... it has force-feedback and I got it for nothing from my Uncle a few summers past.

[jr2]

Just got this Saitek X-45 off eBay:


@BlackDove:  I see your point.  Dumb thing is too big.  And this is my first joystick, but I sensed that right off the bat.  It's not that it has too many controls, it just it not ergonomically shaped.  (With my hand comfortable, the buttons are not in reach.)  Darn. 

[castor]

I use full throttle, zero, and I use Z to decelerate to anything in between

Same here. 90% of the time you can get along spending just one key for throttle control, which is nice

[jr2]

I use full throttle, zero, and I use Z to decelerate to anything in between

Same here. 90% of the time you can get along spending just one key for throttle control, which is nice

eh, I use Match speed, and TAB or A to accelerate past that.  I don't often use Z, but sometimes I do if I'm trying to get a Shivver off of my tail...

[G0atmaster]

eh, I use Match speed, and TAB or A to accelerate past that.  I don't often use Z, but sometimes I do if I'm trying to get a Shivver off of my tail...

Thats what afterburners are for 


Anyway, I used to prefer the joystick over all else.  In fact, losing my old one is what's kept me from playing FS, up until I found out about this place.  Although that was before I knew you could USE a mouse...

I just wish you could use the mousewheel for throttle. 

[castor]

eh, I use Match speed, and TAB or A to accelerate past that.  I don't often use Z, but sometimes I do if I'm trying to get a Shivver off of my tail...

I'm sure that works too
Personally, I find it useful to try and keep the speed at max for better missile evasion, and only slow down if I really need to.

[Bob-san]

Actually using lowspeeds will help missile evasion when you're dead-out of CM's...

The idea is your speed range is great. The missile hones in on you, you setup to hit one blast of the afterburner for less then a second. The missile will fly right by if you're at a good angle. No CM's involved...

I was playing a mission I made lately and I had 8 ships on my tail... no CM's... no missiles... all about the primary banks... oh and it was a Myrmidon, too!
Still, you can survive. I used 16 support ships/decoys and waited for the planned support (which I foolishly set to be 90% of the enemy wings destroyed; about 12 fighters I would have to fight, of which 10 would have to be destroyed). I survived losing about 30% hull. Dual-fire mode with PromR on first bank and Subach on second bank. It took a long time to wear down the shields while dodging missiles and Mentu shots and whatnot. Eventually reinforcements came... after I took down so many ships I didn't play again until today.

[BlackDove]

Ehhh.....

It's possible to evade all missiles forever without using a single CM. Doesn't require "good angles" or "good chances" either.

[CaptJosh]

I like having a throttle. I hate "Match speed" and only use it in a training mission when it asks me to as a directive. I like a bigger throttle lever because I get more precision out of it. Also, I think I'd do just fine with a Saitek stick, but I have pretty good sized hands, too. I could be wrong. Can't really tell without one to test with.

[Bob-san]

If you don't mind looking weird... go to a compusa and look at the joystick/throttle combos. I want to get their thrustmaster combo...

[jr2]

Ehhh.....

It's possible to evade all missiles forever without using a single CM. Doesn't require "good angles" or "good chances" either.

Would that mean a requirement of having engines that can push your ship faster than the missiles?

[BlackDove]

Any ship.

Even the Osiris I think.