[Bouchacha]

Hi all! I finally gave this game a try after years of owning the actual Cd's since I finally bought a joystick. I'm enjoying the experience very well so far except the controls are really frustrating me. My joystick tends to "overshoot" way too often. For example, let's say my target is right above me. I pull the joystick down and my ship pitches up. Once I have the target in my sights, I stop pulling up but my reticule keeps pitching up for a bit. I try to compensate for this by pushing the joystick forward but then my reticule goes too far down. So when I'm chasing a particularly feisty enemy, my crosshairs are all over the place. I'm lucky if I can get 6% accuracy.

I tried changing the deadzone and sensitivity settings to no avail. But then I tried it with a mouse instead and the accuracy went through the roof! It's soooo much easier to precision aim with the mouse and I can stay on target pretty much the entire time. I went from 5% accuracy to 20% in just one try. The only drawback to using the mouse is lacking the ability to pitch very quickly. Could it be that I just need to get used to joysticks since I've only been using one for about a week or is this really the optimal way of playing?

[Turey]

That's what I play with.

[Mobius]

Welcome to the HLPBB!

I guess you're using a Logitech

I also use a mousestick. It's perfect for bombing missions and certain meneuvers are quite easy. Furthermore, you have good results if you wishfully combine the use of mousestick and numpad

[Bouchacha]

I guess you're using a Logitech

How did you know?!

[wdarkk]

I use a trackball. Only problem is when I lose out a bit on the full turning rate since I have to move my thumb back across to continue the turn.

[Oddgrim]

Mouse-man I I am.

[Mad Bomber]

Neither! Keyboard-only! Rarr!

[Bouchacha]

I feel so lame not using a joystick. I mean, what kind of pilot climbs into his cockpit with a mousepad in his hand?

[Dark Hunter]

A really... unique pilot?

[Thor]

I am a gamepad user.  my trusty Logitech Wingman and i have flown many battles.

[Excalibur]

That's what I play with.

Really, what are those silly red things for?


Mouse is way more accurate, joystick makes you last longer in insane. (But you can't kill the enemies as fast)

[achtung]

Joystick for life.

[jr2]

Mouse = more accurate, easier to track target if it doesn't move beyond field of view.  Joystick = easier to pull hard for extended periods, as you don't have to drag-lift-drag.

[Mongoose]

Using a joystick does take a bit of time to get used to, and I've seen plenty of first-timers experience the same problems that you did (hell, I probably experienced them myself, somewhere in the mists of the past).  While a mouse will usually guarantee that extra degree of precision over a joystick, it is entirely possible to aim very accurately using a stick.  The key to this is compensation.  You mentioned noticing that you tend to slightly overshoot your targets while turning towards them.  Try this next time: when your reticle is just about over your target, zero out your motion and give your stick a slight movement in the opposite direction; this will help you kill your turning motion and leave you aligned with your target.  With practice, you'll find that, during a dogfight, you'll be able to constantly be moving your wrist in all directions, always striving to center the reticle over your target.  Smooth, reserved motions are very important; the last thing you want to do is compensate by overcompensating in the opposite direction.

[lenard27]

Call me crazy but I use straight keyboard and I get about 42% accuracy with my primaries

[BloodEagle]

I use a keyboard as well, but it gets annoying when you're trying to hit a mara that's going 140+. I should buy a joystick....

[Kie99]

Keyboard for me.  Joysticks don't have enough buttons and I can't be arsed spending a load of money on one that has half enough.

[Vip]

Joystick here. With a bit of practice it is a wonderful tool. When I actually try I get an 80% accuracy (usually about 60%, because shooting like hell is just much better), even though I have the dreaded Logitech Machine of Doom. I have 11 buttons on my Logitech Attack 3 (about 30$), but I use only 8 of them - it's very easy to use both keyboard and joystick, almost as driving a car and changing gears without looking.

Mouse, despite being more accurate, kills like 80% of the fun factor and is a pain for fast fighters or eratic maneuvers.

[FSW]

For authenticity, I'd use a joystick... if I had one.

Instead, I switch between mouse and num pad, depending on what I'm doing.

[Retsof]

Joystick here. With a bit of practice it is a wonderful tool. When I actually try I get an 80% accuracy (usually about 60%, because shooting like hell is just much better), even though I have the dreaded Logitech Machine of Doom. I have 11 buttons on my Logitech Attack 3 (about 30$), but I use only 8 of them - it's very easy to use both keyboard and joystick, almost as driving a car and changing gears without looking.

     I also use a joystick/keyboard combination, If you have a throttle slider it makes controlling your speed much easier, and joysticks give you better maneuverability, while I use the keyboard to switch weapons, specify targets, etc.