[Cobaltred]

Hi folks,

I stumbled across FSO a few weeks ago and was overjoyed.  I loved space sims as a kid and have lamented the death of the genre for a long time.  I'm very VERY excited to try Freespace 1/2/Open.  The efforts of this community kick total ass.  I'm amazed at what you guys and gals have done, I have to say.  I've downloaded 3.6.10 and set it up according to the Noob guide above.  I also bought a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick.  It seems like a great stick but it's WAY more complicated than what I used back in my X-Wing WC days (that one had a trigger and 2 other buttons).

I booted up FSport and did the first training mission (you basically blow up some cargo boxes).  I was really fighting with the stick.  The dead zone feels real large and the sensitivity seems too high (although with a smaller dead zone it could be alright).  I know there is an adjustment period when using joysticks, but I don't think the default settings on this one are going to work for me.  Also the throttle switch doesn't work in game.  The packaged Logitech software is either crappy or I don't understand how to use it.  Probably both.

So my requests for help are as follows:

1.  Can someone explain to me (or point me towards a guide) on how to calibrate my joystick as I want it for FSO?  Can I even set the dead zone?  I know pretty much nothing about joysticks, last time I owned one Clinton was governor of Arkansas.

2.  Can someone suggest a key assignment setup for the game?  I'm not sure if I will play with just the stick and associated buttons or stick+keyboard yet.  The keys for my stick are shown below. It's a twist-handle.



3.  My stick clicks slightly when moved straight forward and straight back past maybe the halfway point.  Is this normal?  It's brand new.

Thanks again.  This community is righteous.

Edit: Added Question 3

[QuantumDelta]

For skilled pilots anything other than zero deadzone is entirely unforgiving in this game, however most people don't need to go that far, you may want to do your best to reduce the deadzone via drivers and ingame.
There are enough buttons on that Joy to get by in this game but I would consider binding some keys to the keyboard too and learning to flick between.
.....Throttle switch?

Keybinding stuff you will find ingame under the little ship shaped icon in the F2 pilot options menu, you will also find joystick sensitivity and stuff on that screen, there are also some calibration options on the launcher.

[MatthTheGeek]

Try the mouse.

[Madcat]

I own that joystick too and use it for FSO without problems.
So to your questions (I hope I translate all everything right, got a german Windows XP and FS2 copy):

1. Calibration on XP: Windows system control panel -> Gamecontroller -> Select the Logitech stick -> Properties . There you can calibrate the stick, including the throttle.
You can set the deadzone and sensitivity in the game itself under Options.
Under keybinding, make sure the z-axis is bound to absolute throttle control.

2. My button assignment:

1: Fire primaries
2: Fire secondaries
3: Target under reticle
4: Target next attacker
5: Target next enemy
6: Cycle secondaries
7: Switch secondaries (single/double fire)
8: Cycle primaries
9: Glide when pressed
10: Use chaff
11: Balance shields
12: Afterburner

Takes some time to get used to obviously, but the main stuff you need to reach quickly is on the stick.
For everything else (like special targeting) I believe I use pretty much the default keys on the keyboard.

3. Now that you mention it... yes, mine does it too. Barely audible though, would have never occured to me. And the stick still works after four years and several playthroughs of FS1/2 and basically every main fan campaign. So it took a beating already, I'd say yours should be fine too.

Enjoy the game, you're in for a treat!

[Scourge of Ages]

I had that joystick, and now use another Logitech.

The problem I've had, is that the stick is usually a little too loose. So I usually need to increase the deadzone in FS2 options up a notch (though you stated it's too high so knock it down instead) and I dial down the sensitivity a wee bit also.

Keybindings: Do what Madcat said about the throttle. Since it's likely to be inconvenient to reach over to hit buttons 7-12, I wouldn't worry about them and just use the keyboard for the stuff they would do.

Button 1: Primaries
2: Secondaries
3: Next Attacker
4: Next Nearest Enemy
5: Countermeasure
6: Target Under Reticle

I keep my left hand on the Q, A, Z, Tab area most of the time for easy shield, afterburner, throttle management, and my left is then in position to easily do everything else like special targeting, weapons and energy stuff.

[Cobaltred]

Thanks a lot guys your advice has been great.  I'm gonna try a few of your suggestions, see what sticks.

[Thaeris]

Good, economical stick. 

The Logitech game controller is superbly useful - between that and FS's mapping options, you shouldn't have too many problems getting things right.

Unfortunately, as QD was saying, getting the deadzone minimal is a real pain, and you probably won't quite do it... 

However, you can get the stick to respond better by balancing the shortcomings of FS's input handling while tuning the responsiveness of the '3D Pro - here's what I've got:

Y-axis>> Sensitivity: 80% Dead Zone: 0% Range: 100%
X-axis>> Sensitivity: 80% Dead Zone: 0% Range: 100%
Twist>> Sensitivity: 50% Dead Zone: 0% Range: 100%
Throttle>> Sensitivity: 50% Dead Zone: 0% Range: 100%

...I've never tried playing with range values, but that might make a difference, especially for when you'll need to stick with FS sensitivity at the "2nd bar" - the ship will drift constantly otherwise... 

I retain the hat switch as a viewing control, though the inability to look at 45deg angles is very bothersome. As for the top quad of buttons, I use those to cycle through primary and secondary weapons. On the base buttons, I'll keep one for the fore/aft thrusters, the countermeasures, afterburner, and some useful targeting functions as well. (I think one was boresight targeting, one was nearest hostile... I've not played in a long time...).

If you ever need the hat for thrusters, you can get diagnonal movement out, but you'll need to program keystrokes into the Profiler - FS, as said, does not support diagonal hat stick movement...