Flying: What are the best tools out there?

Looopy · 2012-07-17, 08:18 PM

Not being a Vet and never truly taking flying seriously in other games I have found that after watching some of TB's recent videos I really want to play as a pilot in PS2. I want to take my time with it and become an excellent mosquito pilot/liberator pilot for bombing runs. Having trouble flying in BF3 with the traditional mouse and keyboard I'm beginning to wonder if certain hardware could help me out.

So are there any must-have flight sticks for PS2? How about a gamepad, would that be helpful? Can someone point me in the right direction for what to buy! (preferably $50-$100 but tell me if thats not a realistic price range for a decent flight stick)

Thanks in advance!

Aurmanite · 2012-07-17, 08:20 PM

Practice.

If you're having trouble with a keyboard and mouse you will have trouble with other peripherals.

Reizod · 2012-07-17, 08:36 PM

^^^ This

Though, using a flight stick for a dedicated pilot would probally be best in the long run. I would suggest checking out Amazon.com for PC flight sticks.

It really only comes down to your budget and preferance. As they all pretty much do the same thing.

Hope this helps.

maradine · 2012-07-17, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Looopy

So are there any must-have flight sticks for PS2? How about a gamepad, would that be helpful? Can someone point me in the right direction for what to buy! (preferably $50-$100 but tell me if thats not a realistic price range for a decent flight stick)

Thanks in advance!

-> This. <- At ~$30, this is one of the least expensive and most effective ways you can try out all that sticks have to offer without feeling bad if it's not for you.

If you want to be more cautious, you could wait for the joystick nerds (of which there are quite a few here) to give a report on whether the model is sophiticated enough to even warrant it. My guess is yes, but don't throw money down on my word quite yet.

If the model is proper, and you enjoy the experience, we can escort you down the well which has no bottom that is flight sim gear.

Zulthus · 2012-07-17, 09:12 PM

Here's your best option for a flying tool

Seriously though. A mouse is much, much better at accuracy and fine movement. They will have the advantage over flight sticks here.

maradine · 2012-07-17, 09:20 PM

Were you sniping from an aircraft, that would be absolutely true, for the same reason you don't use a joystick to control an FPS. For maneuvering in 3 dimensions with 3 controllable analog axes, there's no substitute for a stick.

Sly Tiger · 2012-07-17, 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by maradine

For maneuvering in 3 dimensions with 3 controllable analog axes, there's no substitute for a stick.

Too true.

Reizod · 2012-07-17, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by maradine

Were you sniping from an aircraft, that would be absolutely true, for the same reason you don't use a joystick to control an FPS. For maneuvering in 3 dimensions with 3 controllable analog axes, there's no substitute for a stick.

Thanks for your reply... you beat me to it. Totally agree... as a avid FPS AND flight sim gamer. Analog sticks will be much better suited for flying. Again, vets need to realize that PS2's flying is NOT like PS1.

SKYeXile · 2012-07-17, 09:36 PM

Its really too early to say, it depends on their control scheme and binding options. maradane is right though if you dont have an option to control a 3rd axis, be it through joystick or pedals or something, you will probably be at a disadvantage. controlling yaw through A and D is a rather retarded control scheme brought on since some idiot probably at dice decided that mouse X should be roll since thats what it is on a 3 dimensional joystick, as such leaving the more important yaw axis not on an axis but A and D.

saying that though, they're making an arcade game not a simulator, most people wont have joystick, they would be crazy to not give mouse proper support.

you play any space sim game though and pitch and yaw are on the mouse with roll on the keyboard, these controls are fine...but yea i too find the default Battlefield controls rather annoying.

maradine · 2012-07-17, 10:00 PM

I'd be shocked if mouse didn't have proper support. Everyone should have something that will cater to their individual needs and preferences. Hell, use the keyboard for all I care.

KINECT IS OP NERF BODIES

Luieburger · 2012-07-17, 11:45 PM

Originally Posted by maradine

For maneuvering in 3 dimensions with 3 controllable analog axes, there's no substitute for a stick.

Truth, but it still depends on how the devs set up the controls. For helicopters in BF3 and Arma 2 I still prefer mouse and keyboard. For Jets... flight stick all the way. Even the attack jet/helicopter thing in BF2142 was good with the keyboard and mouse.

Electrofreak · 2012-07-17, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Zulthus

Here's your best option for a flying tool

Seriously though. A mouse is much, much better at accuracy and fine movement. They will have the advantage over flight sticks here.

A trackball is even better, IMO. Say what you will but I owned the skies in PS1 with a Microsoft Trackball Optical Explorer, and it also made me a mean sniper.

Sam McBoom · 2012-07-17, 09:28 PM

Um, I have a question for the people who do use a mouse and keyboard to fly.

Which axises(axii?) do you have inverted, if any?

I picked up an fps with flying vehicles, and everything felt wrong all the time. So, I was wondering what setup most people use, or maybe what was the default in PS1?

maradine · 2012-07-17, 09:32 PM

Depends when you got into it - old timers tend to invert Y, and the kids tend to not, though that is hardly universal. Try popping the Y axis if it feels funny.

LegioX · 2012-07-17, 10:14 PM

From the newest videos, it seems you cannot freelook while maneuvering the airplane. You have to fly level. I hope this is not true. I don't understand why we cannot look around while turning/ climbing/diving/ whatever else.