Controllers / Joysticks

Thread in 'Hardware / Gaming Gear' started by Jaxx the Elder, Jan 3, 2015.

  1. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Folks

    I know this subject has been around before but I have to raise it again. I've been out of MWO for some time now, and a lot of other games, as following an injury I've can't use a standard keyboard / mouse system for games, at least for anything not turn based. This is driving me nuts and I've missed a lot of folk who I really enjoyed dropping with (shout out to Z6 / HHoD)

    I can however use an xbox (or whatever gamepad) type controller, as I have enough use of left hand / thumb to make this workable

    So here's the question before embark on spending cash, is MWO playable like this now? If so, is it plug in and play or do I have to get under the hood and fiddle?
     
  2. The Verge

    The Verge Moderator Staff Member

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    MWO has actually improved it's joystick capabilities. You can actually plug in your xbox controller, and then program the keys in game.

    I'm terribly sorry to hear about your injury, I've had some experience with this in 2014. I won't discuss it here, but you can always PM me if you wish to chat.
     
  3. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    You can certainly utilize joystick play. One of the PUG friends I've played with uses a HOTAS system for driving because he is missing a couple of fingers on his left hand from an accident. It isn't as pinpoint effective/zomg uber awesome as mouse/keyboard combo but it is certainly do-able and you can get quiet proficient with it; especially if you dial up the sensitivity on your stick.

    The only thing I can see that would be really difficult is arm mounted weaponry as your stick would essentially control legs and upper torso but for a lot of mechs I run with arm lock on to begin with and then shift as I need to shoot from the arms.
     
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  4. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Thanks guys, I shall have a few test runs :p. Michael I'm effectively in same position as your friend fingers wise, although my 2 are there they are kind of decoration only nowadays :p

    And I take your point about arm mounted weapons, but if that means I have to pick mechs / builds to avoid or minimise that issue I shall not lose sleep
     
  5. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    You don't really have to shy away from mechs with arm mounted weapons. You just have to learn to compensate and then plan your approach and egress to take that play style in to account. Analyze, Adapt, Overcome.
     
  6. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    You sound like one of the trainers on my infantry course years ago....

    It might take longer to test this than I thought - months away mean the patching required is rather large :p
     
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  7. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    I actually did 3 years specialized infantry for the Canadian Forces. :)

    Take your time, MWO isn't going anywhere (we hope).
     
  8. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Hmmm, Suffield, probably the flattest place I have ever been :p Good mess though.....
     
  9. Gasboy

    Gasboy Advanced Member

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    We have a whole province of flat, Saskatchewan. :) Where you can watch your dog run away for days.
     
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  10. PyckenZot

    PyckenZot Benefactor

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    Friggin hell,... Jaxx???
     
  11. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Yes, it is indeed Jaxx, I signed up here before I had appreciated the sense of using the same handle here as in game :p

    Guess I may as well report in on progress. I'm actually 'resting' out of game again as I had to, it seems controller use has its draw back in what I'm told is basically a form of RSi. Dreadful cramp in my duff left hand that goes on for hours. So its been back to Wasteland 2.

    The game is playable with a controller, just, anything resembling precision is out, as the controller seems to 'wander' a lot compared to a keyboard & mouse's precision but I was never a jump sniper type anyway so that doesn't much matter. Spent a lot of time on spreading LRMs :p

    I agree that controller (and therefore I presume joystick) is way better than I recall from 6 plus months back, but it is still not great. I'm considering some sort of fancy combat flight sim joystick as my next try. Fairly steep price on those though, so I'd rather use the controller if I can make that work without the nasty payback in pain. Friend of mine is flight sim fanatic, so he's driving over sometime to let me try out flight stick type systems

    Good hunting all
     
  12. Michael

    Michael Grand Poobah

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    You know that I can bend the fabric of the universe and shape it to my will, altering the laws of space and time.... or change your name. Whichever.
     
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  13. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Sooooo, with apologies for necro of old thread :p

    Back again, er again, after various issues that make you wish real life had a save / reload feature. Hand and arm much better after further surgery although now it seems like this is pretty much it in terms of functionality

    I recently tried a friend's Orbweaver http://www.razerzone.com/gb-en/gaming-keyboards-keypads/razer-orbweaver playing about with on Elite (it ain't no star citizen frankly) and found it really good, so I may be investing in one of these, otherwise for the moment its still the controller

    Glad to see you have all been busy
     
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  14. PyckenZot

    PyckenZot Benefactor

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    @Chrisoldwiz

    I have been using the Tartarus for nearly 6-months now and cannot ever turn back to a normal keyboard. I choose the Tartarus as there were less buttons. (I wanted a lean clean machine) Sometimes I wished I hadn't as I'm missing buttons, sometimes I'm glad I did as I have just the right number of perfectly ergonomic spaced commands at my fingerstips.

    I short, the peripheral is an awesome addition to any set-up. Just think good and deep about which type you'll get ;)
     
  15. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Hmmm, haven't tried a tarturus but I do like the 'less buttons' point, being a simple soul. Part of the reason for liking the Orb was the 'rest' that really helps with supporting my crappy excuse for a hand :) - and the keys / thumb joystick fitted my hand nicely. The Tart I see from the photos has what looks to be the same, and is a fair bit cheaper

    Does it have the same key type / action as its big brother?
     
  16. PyckenZot

    PyckenZot Benefactor

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    Not sure what you mean with
    You actually can map any button or series of buttons or macro to any key on the keypad. (For reference to newer readers, I do not use the latter 2 options personally, but do not frown (too much) on people who do)

    Best part for me, besides it being way more ergonomic than a normal keyboard, is the thumb location. 2 buttons AND a 4 (8?) way switch. Thumbs haven't been this useful since becoming opposable ;)
     
  17. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Erm, you used to have non opposable ones??????
     
  18. PyckenZot

    PyckenZot Benefactor

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    Did I say mine? :D
     
  19. Blagg Zear

    Blagg Zear Star Lord

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    So, what Joystick can we actually use for MWO with Win 10 ?!

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    Can i grab out my good old Sidewinder FF2 from the basement? :p

    Looks like it works with Elite Dangerous :D
     
  20. Jaxx the Elder

    Jaxx the Elder Star Lord

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    Hmmm, not on 10 yet so I can't answer precisely

    Was using xbox controller then found I could use a razer tartarus and mouse pretty well

    Sadly another dang (I'm being very polite) operationmeans I am out of it again atm, as I'm one winged until around xmas somewhere

    I would say that playing with the controller was pretty frustrating even when you got used to it - the controls are sort of 'floaty' - I wouldn't fancy say gauss sniping with it but then I sucked at that anyway

    I'll be returning to this subject with a vengeance in January !
     
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