597 replies to this topic

[light487]

FiveDigits, on 16 July 2012 - 03:49 PM, said:

This is partially true. 'Mechs with only torso-mounted weapons would control just like a tank. The torso twist would be the same as rotating a tank's turret.
Most 'mechs have another degree of freedom - moving the arms. The way it seems to be implemented right now, the difference is miniscule though. When using the mouse to aim the arms will perform their maximum deflection and then the torso starts twisting - a bit like a tank destroyer gun mount mounted on top of a tank turret.

Yer.. it's kind of like how the SPGs and TDs work in WoT... the arms move within a certain limited arc.. and then if you want to move further, you have to twist the torso. Some mechs can twist their torso further than others (some even allow a full 360 degree rotation)..

[Bongo TauKat]

FiveDigits, on 16 July 2012 - 03:49 PM, said:

This is partially true. 'Mechs with only torso-mounted weapons would control just like a tank. The torso twist would be the same as rotating a tank's turret.
Most 'mechs have another degree of freedom - moving the arms. The way it seems to be implemented right now, the difference is miniscule though. When using the mouse to aim the arms will perform their maximum deflection and then the torso starts twisting - a bit like a tank destroyer gun mount mounted on top of a tank turret.

Actually in MW4, all you had to do was look left or right and you could bring the associated arm weapons into play. It just seems a lot of people either did not know, or forgot in the heat of battle.

I always loved bringing those three CERLL into play on the Novacats arm while circling, just when they thought it was safe to reverse their turn. >

Edited by Bongo TauKat Talasko, 16 July 2012 - 04:00 PM.

[DeathsWelcome]

Haven't owned a joystick for years. Why would you unless it was a flying sim or something similar?

[Robert Hawker]

Joystick = MWO Hard Mode. All wimpy noobs can use their mouse. I am too good for the mouse and therefore to keep the game fair must be handicapped with a Joystick.

/nuff said.

[Garthak]

I want a joystick for the immersion factor. My absolute favorate joystick is the steel battalion controller, that thing was a beast, with 2 and a half joysticks, a throttle, and like 40 buttons. Still have it, and would literally kill to get that thing working on pc the way I want it to, theres finally a driver for 64 bit, but its a real ***** trying to set it up the way I want it to be. The 2 new mech joysticks coming out look good, but still not quite steel battalion grade good. The mechwarrior one need at least one more joystick, and the Hawken one needs a damn throttle. Im usually pro mouse, and would understand why someone would take that over a joystick, but the joystick really does add that extra little bit that gets you into the game.

[Bongo TauKat]

I found my old X45 settings software on the oldest of my HDDs. Good crap, everything was HOTAS. I could basically scratch my arse with one of the mouse thumb triggers on the throttle. Even Vent comms were on the pinkie trigger.

I wish they had a list of the key commands and axis designations to sate my need for assigning things again.

[Viper69]

WHy dont people just shut up and use whats best for them? Why do Keyboard and mouse guys and joystick guys feel the need to try to convert people into the fold like some religious zealots? If it works for you fine S.T.F.U and play, if I blow the crap out of you will you care what I am using to do it with?

Edited by Viper69, 16 July 2012 - 04:16 PM.

[Bongo TauKat]

Viper69, on 16 July 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

WHy dont people just shut up and use whats best for them? Why do Keyboard and mouse guys and joystick guys feel the need to try to convert people into the fold like some religious zealots? If it works for you fine S.T.F.U and play, if I blow the crap out of you will you care what I am using to do it with?

Because it's a forum. It is like a heated discussion at a gaming shop, but in text.

[Viper69]

Bongo TauKat Talasko, on 16 July 2012 - 04:17 PM, said:

Because it's a forum. It is like a heated discussion at a gaming shop, but in text.

Yes but its only the 40th thread about this topic. Every OP of these threads thinks they are a special snowflake and brings another viewpoint to the table. They arent and they dont. Every single argument in this thread has been rehashed ad-nausea in every single other damn thread about joysticks.

[CMDR Sunset Shimmer]

What I'll be using for Mechwarrior Online. And what I have used for Mechwarrior 3 and 4.

To all of you naysayers who feel that you can't get proper control out of a joystick... perhaps in the old days you would be right, but modern stuff, is just as precise as an optical mouse.

Where many of you mouse/keyboard users are comming into a problem is that you're not putting in the time to learn the finite control with your entire arm, it's a skill in itself, to learn to use a joystick properly, Many people when first presented with a joystick, yank that mother F all over the place thinking that's what it takes.

Gentleness is required guys, it's not about manhandling the sticks. and believe me you can get just as percise fire out of a joystick in a mechwarrior game as you can a mouse. [and for me, more control as many mice regester too many tiny movements that a joystick may be a bit more leanient on.]

With the VTC [Vertical Tank Controller] I have every button mapable, the right stick will be used for controlling where I aim [IE torso] The left stick would be legs, and the lttile analog stick on the left stick would be finite arm control. there are over 52 buttons available to me [including toggle switches]

If we're going to go more standard HOTAS setup, I'd use my x45 joystick



now what you don't see by looking at this, is that on the back side of the throttle is a 'rudder' control, I use that moving my mech's torso side to side... the primary function of the joystick itself is overall control of aiming up and down and stearing. For MWO there's a small 'mouse' hat switch on the throttle for the free reticle.

There's a 'pinkie' swtich on the main joystick which could function as a 'joystick shift' key, effectively doubling all functions on the stick... as well as 3 more Hat switches and various dials which could be used for a multitude of things.

Everything's within reach without having to take my hand off the throttle and joystick. or moving away from being able to control my throttle or firing solution [ie having to move your hand to press something on the keyboard.]

After a bit of training, I have a much faster response time compaired to a mouse/keyboard player.

[MechPorn]

During a MW2 Contest online I won this...still have it in my closet:

[Poopsock McGee]

This is why:


My 1st Mech game...no mech game has felt right without a joystick and random buttons to mash.

Edited by Poopsock McGee, 16 July 2012 - 04:29 PM.

[WarLiege]

For me it is the immersion.. im piloting a machine designed for military type warfare, and almost all military craft in real life tanks, jets, etc. are controlled by stick of some sort.... On other hand, if i want to hop,skip,jump and shoot really fast as in the days of Quake,Doom, or other first person shooters..mouse for me all the way.

Edited by WarLiege, 16 July 2012 - 04:36 PM.

[James Searcy]

Technically for maximum immersion you should use rudder pedals to walk and a seperate joystick for each arm.

But we don't have neurohelmets so moving the torso might be tough.

[Reported for Inappropriate Name]

seems to me like a trackball would be more appropriate for manual targeting in a mech than a joystick

[VooDoo Kobra]

MechaDraco, on 16 July 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

I pan to get the Artemis when it comes out, IF, i can afford it.

now that's a controller i can get behind, but seriously i think its been said one or 2 times

use whatever you feel comfortable using and dont worry about the other guy. if you are used to a joystick you will be accurate and blow up the enemy, it you are used to mouse keyboard go for it,

oh ant if you look to the left of the screen that kinda looks like it could be a thumb throttle

[H4CKM4N]

VooDoo Kobra, on 16 July 2012 - 04:37 PM, said:

now that's a controller i can get behind, but seriously i think its been said one or 2 times

use whatever you feel comfortable using and dont worry about the other guy. if you are used to a joystick you will be accurate and blow up the enemy, it you are used to mouse keyboard go for it,

oh ant if you look to the left of the screen that kinda looks like it could be a thumb throttle

Yeah! Can't wait for it myself. I've become a console gamer. A joystick is the only way I'll be able to play on the computer.

[Holywar]

I use an Xbox controller for most games I play on the computer that will let me. Working with a keyboard and mouse feels like work. Fine motor control is the real advantage of analog sticks. You play differently than with keyboard mouse, at least in traditional FPS, you use your strafe at different speeds to line up shots or match movements with targets. Also i would argue that Analog strafes are much more effective at avoiding damage because you have variable speed control.

Granted if your playing a one shot one kill style FPS, or a super twitch where speed is everything, then mouse helps on the aiming.

But mechwarrior is not about speed .. it is a different beast entirely. Hell its as slow as a shooter can get. Your piloting a walking tank and you have momentum and weight. Thats what really does it for me with joysticks. Immersion and the feeling of weight and power as you bring your mech to bear. Ultimately with turn speed limitations, i think mouse really won't play as well anyways, and the fact that each mech turns at diffrent speeds means that if you change your mechs at all its going to mess with your aim and you will have to relearn it. On a joystick that force feedback really helps.

[Romulus Stahl]

Hellya, on 16 July 2012 - 03:49 PM, said:

What in the blue blazes are you raging about?

That post has nothing to do with BT/MW universe. Not once did I mention either, I am not trying to role play. Logic says yes it works like this, sorry if reality makes you feel butt hurt.

You appear to be the one raging, the game is named "MechWarrior Online", it is based on the the BattleTech universe, and you are piloting a Mech. The controls that you are trying to rationalize in the future have already been established. If you don't like it get over it, or go play a game in your own imaginary universe, this one has substantial documentation on how things work.

[eZZip]

Viper69, on 16 July 2012 - 04:16 PM, said:

WHy dont people just shut up and use whats best for them? Why do Keyboard and mouse guys and joystick guys feel the need to try to convert people into the fold like some religious zealots?

Strange how you call out all keyboard/mouse players as 'religious zealots' despite more joystick players making a point about it in this thread. It's pretty irrelevant in MW, anyway, since it's doubtful that the advantages of either control device would be overpowering like they would definitely be in regular FPSs.

EDIT: I MISREAD THAT AND I WAS WRONG TO ATTACK YOU

sumdumfu, on 16 July 2012 - 11:49 AM, said:

look at all the elitist quake/counterstrike/cod snobs thinking they know what's best just cuz they can wrist flick like nobody's business. here's some bad news for you wannabe pwners: so can I, and wrist flicking is irrelevant in this game. you wouldn't fly a combat plane with a mouse would you? same reasons apply, just with one less maneuvering axis.

Yeah, look at those supposed snobs, like that guy that supposedly argued with the OP!
-nobody was a 'snob' before you posted
-flick shots are very difficult to actually land, not that that point is relevant since nobody actually mentioned it before your post
-it's generally acknowledged amongst all that joysticks have the obvious advantage in most, if not all flight games and in some vehicle games

Edited by eZZip, 16 July 2012 - 09:27 PM.