Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

[Xes]

For choppers and jets, im considering getting a joystick.. but i'd like to get some opinions first.. did they improve your pilot skills?..

[UnrealAlex]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Yes, it did. Once you get it, its a lot like "Wtf I was doing so much better with mouse". After like 6 hours of playtime with it though, it really starts to shine. Speed control, tighter turning radius, easier bombing, aiming etc..

only for planes though. It could help for choppers but I do fine with choppers and mouse so i dont bother.

[imported_Zach]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

If interested in jets, a joystick is a must. Sure, there are keyboard/mouse pilots out there, but why go to all the trouble of mastering that when with a joystick it's easy as cake?

For choppers, I don't know. Now that I got a joystick, I can fly them very well and never lose control or stability unlike with mouse/keyboard; but I still have yet to master the fine art of slowing down and hovering to the spot I intend. Need more practice I guess.

[imported_Casey]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Most definitely.

I still use Mouse and Keyboard for Choppers, though. It gives me more control.

[Chris_Redfield]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Most definitely, and on both.

[glaucoma]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

For choppers and jets, im considering getting a joystick.. but i'd like to get some opinions first.. did they improve your pilot skills?..

No, not at all.
I flew with a joystick on planes for some time, then Sabo convinced me to go back to mouse + kb, and it works muuuch better than a joystick for me now
Joystick for choppers = utter useless. Either mouse + keyboard, or keyboard only.

[UnrealAlex]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

No, not at all.
I flew with a joystick on planes for some time, then Sabo convinced me to go back to mouse + kb, and it works muuuch better than a joystick for me now
Joystick for choppers = utter useless. Either mouse + keyboard, or keyboard only.

He's just trying to trick you so he has easier kills when flying with his joystick

[Aradiel]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

I think it's all a matter of getting used to one control system or the other.

Bear in mind that what follows is just my humble and non autoritative point of view. No need to write "bulls..t" or anything like that.

Some of you may already have seen some posts I made about the weird way I play: joystick in left hand and mouse in right and for Inf/Boat/Vehicule and Joystick alone in right hand for Helo & Plane.

So you may well consider I am an ultra pro Joystick guy. Nonetheless here are some comments :

Joystick :

Pros:

• you can set up many functions to the same controler minimizing finger wracking setup.
• you can control vehicule all axis of movement with the same hand (yaw/pitch/roll).
• in infantry mode, you can also set up your stick to handle all forward/backward & strafe moves as well as the other move "modifiers" (sprint/crouch/prone/jump) while the right hand takes care of aiming/shooting/using
• real throttle control anabling a very fine control of your thrust. This comes really handy when flying a helo for landing or following the ground while flying.

Cons:

• Unless you have a highend highbuck controler, you will have a hard time achieving a perfect pinpoint aim while flying a plane when compared to the precision of mouse aiming (such precise aiming is most welcome when trying to shoot down a helo and you are flying 700kts on a colision course). This is mainly because of the sensivity of the joystick and the 'deadzone' at the center position.
• if you happen to play on a friend rig or at a Lan party and you don't have access to a joystick you may well end up playing crap

[Reider]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

For planes it was a must (for me) because with kb/mouse i crashed most of the time... and when i didn't i sure wasn't making kills :laugh:

For helo's it wasn't a must... at first i didnt think i needed it because i was doing fine! but when i got used to joystick a world opened up for me :P I now have much more control over large and tiny movements.

[18Zulukiller]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Ive only had a flightstick (has the throttle controll at the base) for three weeks and i have to say i improved 10 fold within the first 30 minutes of getting used to it and im improving everytime i get into a jet. As for the helis ive never setup my flightstick for them as i am a good heli pilot already but i am considering it. If it improved me so much with a jet ill be unstopable in a heli if i can get the hang of it.

[glaucoma]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

real throttle control anabling a very fine control of your thrust. This comes really handy when flying a helo for landing or following the ground while flying.

Actually, if you use a joystick's throttle lock in a chopper, you might not get the desired result, because as opposed to your finger on the keyboard, it will not account for the nose angle changing, thereby generating too little climb if you dip the nose down more.
Also, if you have no pedals, the constant use of twist on your joystick necessitated by the chopper's flight dynamics will cause severe pain in your wrist.

[Flares]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Joystick all the way for me for jets and helos, although I don't really bother with choppers that much.
Flying using anything else would feel unnatural because a stick is what I'm used to. I can't really comment on whether my skills would be better or worse without a stick, but I do know I've been called a cheat several times, plus outflown and enraged good players, so the stick must be good.
Ultimately it probably doesn't matter too much what control system one uses. Tactics and understanding what the vehicle is capable of matter more.

[CS-Evolution]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Yes. Biggest advantage for me is the throttle slider.

[Daxmann]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

Most definitely. I use it only with jets i havent try it on helo I'm still to mouse and keyboards :) but it could work :)

[Unfocused]

Re: Did a joystick improve your skill as a pilot? -Poll-

I feel i've got much more control for both with my k+m.