Joysticks: better or not?

[BeerStein]

I use a logitech forcefeedback joystick for flying both. I have the heli pretty much aced right now - and now I am working on planes a little at a time. They are so much faster than bf1942 - trying to get used to that.

As for the throttle question - I have found that unlike the old BF games - when in the heli and you roll the throttle off completely you do not plummet to the ground - you can actually make a very easily controlled landing and hover with the roll throttle.

My problem is, I get in the plane and have the roll throttle - I roll it back a little to slow down, and forget about it and my plane drops to the ground or I lose control because my dumbass forgot to keep some juice running through it.

One nice thing with BF2 I can use the 4way toggle on the joystick top to toggle my different views - no longer having to go back and forth with the keyboard and joystick - both hands are either or. Now the only thing I need to do is somehow map the get in/jump out stuff mapped onto the joystick. My POV toggles may have to go in order for that to happen.

[big_sammy_b]

Thats easily done i was worried about that because there are no options in the heli or aircraft control screens for exiting/entering veihicles.

What you need to do is go to the controls for when your on foot. Select the section for entering/exiting vehicles and map the joystick button you want as a secondary button.

Then you'll find when your piloting the jet etc that button will work for you when you want to bail out :)

[Cotizi]

heli = keyboard/mouse
plane = joystick.

ditto.

[Tranquility]

At the moment I use keyboard and mouse but decided to plug in my joystick the other day and found it hard as hell to use! Can anyone give me some tips, I've got a Sidewinder forcefeedback 2 but it seems very loose in game and so very harder to over turn etc and makes aiming etc extremely difficult. Really would like some help on the subject as everyone seems to rave about a joystick but mine is just doing my head in.

Suggestions for this anyone!?

[PhantomStalker]

firstly do a calibration in windows control panel. Secondly make sure you have each axis of movement on the right joystick control. I had to fiddle with this until I found the setup that works more like real flying.


the tip is to be nice and gentle on the controls, if your overcompensate it will make the vehicle go nuts. I find this especially true on choppers, where all of a sudden im flying sideways with my head parallel to the horizon thinking... wtf just happend rofl.


I still have a lot of work to do with chopers, but the jets I do well with.

[DropUrBombsTweenMinarets]

I bought a logitech joystick "extreme 3d Pro Twist Handle"

-Seems good I can do barrel rolls very easy... heli is kinda diff to control.

Do you all like mouse better or joysticks?
Does anyone have this same joystick, and if so how's it perform?

You cant loop with a mouse.

So imo Joysticks are better.

[Alka-Hall]

im thinking of buying this joystick, but one question about it. when the `lever/throttle` is completly down is it in netural or does it make the chopper go down? and i agree at the moment, joysticks are much easier in planes, but wen in a chopper i find keyboard and mouse easyest (though my current joystick is rubbish)

i dont know wether to get this one or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00030GSJE/qid=1123407098/sr=1-2/ref=sr_1_2_2/202-8310650-8251828

i think it means `In My Opinion` and IMHO means `In my honest opinion` though im not sure im just guessing

I can't speak for the heli, but with throttle down all the way in jet and if your in a hanger you'll go backwards and hit the freaking wall. Bought Saigon (I believe) stick and played single player and still suck at flying. If you see me on the BF I should be on the ground our vehicle.. stay outta the air alki....

Made a world of difference in the jet though. I mean I was in the air longer.. ;-)

[Dr. Bullet]

Saitek Cyborg Evo (wired). It's the best for both jets and helis, period. It's totally adjustable, has a ton of well placed buttons, and the throttle and joystick have just the right amount of resistance.

To me, if you're serious about flying either the jets or choppers, a good joystick (not just a cheap bargain bin thing) is a must. For instance, I was in a Cobra on Kubra Dam and came around a corner to see a Linebacker waiting for me. He shot and I did a barrel roll, then another, all his missiles missed, then swooped down to pound him with missiles. At best, I'm a mediocre attack chopper pilot, but maneuvers like that are simple.

My best advice to anyone that wants to fly, drop the change for a Saitek Cyborg Evo. I had a hard time parting with the $40, but was soon very pleased with it. You just can't get this kind of quality with a cheapo joystick.

[Alka-Hall]

Saitek Cyborg Evo (wired). It's the best for both jets and helis, period. It's totally adjustable, has a ton of well placed buttons, and the throttle and joystick have just the right amount of resistance.

To me, if you're serious about flying either the jets or choppers, a good joystick (not just a cheap bargain bin thing) is a must. For instance, I was in a Cobra on Kubra Dam and came around a corner to see a Linebacker waiting for me. He shot and I did a barrel roll, then another, all his missiles missed, then swooped down to pound him with missiles. At best, I'm a mediocre attack chopper pilot, but maneuvers like that are simple.

My best advice to anyone that wants to fly, drop the change for a Saitek Cyborg Evo. I had a hard time parting with the $40, but was soon very pleased with it. You just can't get this kind of quality with a cheapo joystick.

Ahhhh yeah Saitek (saigon i musta been thinking war crap) yeah this is the one I got but until I get back to single player it's just collecting dust.....

[22CW Cainius]

keyboard and mouse... i tried a stick for jets and its jsut too cumbersome... and helo's it's very difficult... one of the best bf1942:dc players i know uses only the keyboard for helo flying... and he's very very good...

[holybadger]

I use the Saitek Cyborg EVO holy, except I have the wired variety. The head of that joystick is adjustable, as is the handrest. It's a good stick. I'd be a little nervous about getting a wireless, as I've heard you can get some lag issues and such from that. Plus it'd be a drag having a fully loaded BH when your batteries decided to give up the goat.

Someone asked about the throttle on a Logitech. I know that in BF, a portion of the throttle is reserved for reverse thrust. So if you hop in a plane on the runway with what you think may be 0 throttle, you'll find yourself starting to roll backwards (or beginning to hover). You can still use the keyboard controls for thrust instead, of course. As a chopper pilot, I have both ways enabled and usually use the keyboard for my throttle and the joystick's throttle as sort of a hover trim mechanism. So that if I let go of my keyboard throttle controls, I sit in a dead level hover.

Hats off to use guys that use a keyboard for heli flight, I sure don't think I could do it. I still don't think I could do all I can do now in a heli with just the keyboard though.

thanx alot mate, thats a great help, do u know anything ago the evo force, does that have lag isues?

[gungho]

thanx alot mate, thats a great help, do u know anything ago the evo force, does that have lag isues?

I have the force feedback model. There is no lag, but then BF2 does not support force feedback !!!

[22CW Cainius]

nah, no real point to have force feedback on a joy stick, sure it would make it more realistic but it makes it harder on you not easier....

[gungho]

mmmmm kinda. The Saitek drivers let you use the force feedback to adjust the strength of the centering spring.

[Jaxx]

You cant loop with a mouse.

So imo Joysticks are better.

Yes you can but i can only do one loop compared to like a ton with joystick..

thanks for all the imput guys :)

**Also again to the logitech joystick... Has anyone gotten that lever with the "+ and _" to work in front. I thought it was for throttle but it won't work.