131 replies to this topic

[Riordan Lionheart]

Gonna be honest, never really liked the idea of mech speed determined by a set throttle instead of a more, and I know I'll get flak for this, arcade motion dynamic. To me it always seemed counter intuitive to have a basically forced cruise control for bipedal humanoid vehicles. I understand how it fit well into the TT game but in MW it doesn't seem more practical than a pressure sensitive joystick since most of us likely will be using alternate controls anyway (i.e. joysticks, usb 360 controllers, etc). Personally, I don't relish the idea of having to stop start using set speeds all the time, especially considering the increased emphasis on urban combat the devs said this game would have.

thoughts?

[Mechteric]

It has to do with being like a simulation. If you were to actually pilot this thing as if it actually existed, a throttle is what you would have, not a gamepad.

Edited by CapperDeluxe, 19 March 2012 - 11:07 AM.

[Felicitatem Parco]

CapperDeluxe, on 19 March 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

It has to do with being like a simulation. If you were to actually pilot this thing as if it actually existed, a throttle is what you would have, not a gamepad.

I Disagree - the OP says using a static throttle is unrealistic; most automobiles use a dynamic throttle instead of a static throttle. If you take your foot off the gas, it doesn't automatically stay in cruise-control; it slows down. Our Mechs are set up with a static boat throttle that just cruises in one place instead of a more dynamic car throttle.

And if you were to "really" pilot this thing, then I bet you'd have the choice betwen setting a static throttle output mode and having a dynamic pressure-based throttle for highly active combat situations.

Edited by Prosperity Park, 19 March 2012 - 11:20 AM.

[Garth Erlam]

The reason it is still used is because you're utilizing torso twist and leg movement. Not using 'cruise control' means you're holding a button constantly, which helps because you're individually tracking a torso and leg movement. Also, 'Mechs really are tanks with legs, so it makes sense that way too.

[Caballo]

Prosperity Park, on 19 March 2012 - 11:13 AM, said:

I Disagree - the OP says using a static throttle is unrealistic, and most automobiles use a dynamic throttle. If you take your foot off the gas, it doesn't automatically stay in cruise-control; it slows down. Our Mechs are set up with a static boat throttle instead of a more dynamic car throttle.

And if you were to "really" pilot this thing, then I bet you'd have the choice betwen setting a static throttle output mode and having a dynamic pressure-based throttle for highly active combat situations.

I'm happy with the plane-like throttle, but, if you don't like the actual config, why don't you suggest something?

[Riordan Lionheart]

Prosperity Park, on 19 March 2012 - 11:13 AM, said:

I Disagree - the OP says using a static throttle is unrealistic; most automobiles use a dynamic throttle instead of a static throttle. If you take your foot off the gas, it doesn't automatically stay in cruise-control; it slows down. Our Mechs are set up with a static boat throttle that just cruises in one place instead of a more dynamic car throttle.

And if you were to "really" pilot this thing, then I bet you'd have the choice betwen setting a static throttle output mode and having a dynamic pressure-based throttle for highly active combat situations.

exactly the point I was trying to make, thank you. I just didn't know how to phrase it

[Tryg]

So, on top of running two combat targeting reticules, managing direction, torso-twist, keeping an eye on heat, speed, and watching for enemy contacts, you also want to have a finger dedicated to keeping in motion? I dunno about you, but with all the controls I'm already looking at mapping, I'm rather quickly running out of fingers. I dunno about most of you, but I only have the ten. Personally, I think there will be quite enough going on in combat then to worry about controlling weapons and vehicle directions (This is one of the reaon's most combat vehicles utilize crews...so the guy manning the weapons can focus on doing that, and the guy focused on driving can do that. Trying to drop it all onto one pilot...isn't very reasonable. And most one-man combat vehicles...use static throttles so the pilot can focus on fighting and not driving)

[Felicitatem Parco]

I think it'd be a little dificult to pilot a Mech with a gamepad, and so I don't oppose the current throttle system; It works well enough, and Mechs are so slow to accelerate/decelerate compared to a small 90kg animal.

A gamepad pressure-based throttle could be okay as long as you don't mind developing that move-forward-callus on your thumb where it's constantly pushing forward on the stick, and as long as you can repair the fallacy of analogue sticks where attempting to move 100% forward + 100% left translates to 84% forward and 84% left (sin(1) for each)

Edited by Prosperity Park, 19 March 2012 - 11:59 AM.

[Riordan Lionheart]

I just don't want to be running into walls in a city while I'm aiming because I had to reach over and set the throttle in back like a ride-on lawnmower. I just think that the controls of a 31st century, highly sophisticated war machine should be more practical than my '04 ford taurus

It also seems to make it much more difficult to stop, pivot, and change direction

[KhanRad]

Throttle speed as was found in MW4 for example is essential to keeping this game on the higher end of combat maneuvering. The tonnage of the mech, in combination of it is geared for speed, whether it has a tall or short profile, .......etc influence how quickly a mech can start/stop and change direction. Simple physics of a machine of war. When you are making use of a hill, or building for cover and must inch over/around the obstacle to engage a threat and then retreat to cover.......being able to use a slower throttle setting can mean life or death for you. You have to work around the physics of your mech, and being able to control your throttle as in an aircraft throttle is essential.

[Hartsblade]

Here's to keeping our fingers crossed for HOTAS/Throttle/Peddle support a'La Logitech G940

edit: oh, and TrackIR support too

Edited by Hartsblade, 19 March 2012 - 12:04 PM.

[mockingfox]

here is an idea, why dont we be able to map the controls however we want!

OH WAIT! PC GAMING IS AWWWWSOME!

[HaNN1BLe]

I bought a SideWinder control stick (which has a throttle switch) from Microsoft in like 2003 for Mechwarrior2 and it has worked fantastic, almost as if the game was designed to be used with it. I used the same stick on Mechwarrior 3 & 4 and still pretty happy with it. Pretty much only time I use it is when I break out Mechwarrior. I could see where you wouldn't like using a gamepad. Maybe pick up a Sidewinder or Sidewinder pro or something like it from Ebay and check it out. I'm sure you will be as please with it as I am. Here is a link for you http://www.ebay.com/...-All-Categories. I personally like the 1st version better.

Edited by HaNN1BLe, 19 March 2012 - 12:14 PM.

[Nemises]

Although I have a throttle (x52), I actually find myself agreeing with the OP...
Not in terms of a more arcade control, but in so much as a hand operated aircraft style throttle...I think it needs to be a bit more dynamic than that...
I think Car style pedals, or a twist-grip throttle (both spring loaded) would be much better.....
..of course also have a cruise-control setting would be needed.

Anyways, just thoughts...I guess if they allow us to map throttle as an Axis, there is nothing stop us setting up pedals or a twist-grip for the job...

[Stone Profit]

Does anyone know of a joystick with a thumb area mounted throttle? That would be ideal imo, two joysticks, with the throttle at the left hand thumb position.

[cinco]

mechwarriors use a neuro helmet, so it would in fact be like walking for a human.

having a throttle doesn't make it more sim-like, it just makes it more familiar and practical.

[Oppi]

Riordan Lionheart, on 19 March 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

I just don't want to be running into walls in a city while I'm aiming because I had to reach over and set the throttle in back like a ride-on lawnmower.

You won't run into walls because reaching over takes time, you'll run into walls because your mech takes time to slow down. A 100 ton war machine moving at 50 km/h can't just stop in an instant like a human could, because it'd just fall over due to inertia (and even we usually can't do it when running at full speed, we need some steps to slow down, and the distance that takes would be significantly longer for a mech).
And having a "shooter like" control, where you have to hold a button all the time to keep moving wouldn't change that, it'd just occupy a finger all the time and make piloting much more difficult. Remember, it's no shooter where we only have "forward, backward, left and right", we have torso twists, multiple aiming reticules, multiple weapon groups to manage and so on, so your hand will be flying over whatever control you use all the time anyway.
(btw. I find cruise control very comfortable when driving my car )

[Wolfbite]

I think if you tried to stop 90tonnes of mech straight away you'd have one broken assed mech plus it would probably fall over from the sudden stop or slide and tear up the ground..... A throttle makes sense to me...

[Shai tan]

I`d buy another Sidewinder FF stick if win 7 was supported. It had a great throttle thumbwheel on the base. I`ll most likely be getting the G90 Logitec or Saitek X52 Pro. Both of which have a seperate throttle. All I need it to do is speed up as I push throttle forward, and slow down as I pull it back. Done. Hopefully the build quality can stand up to alot of Mech piloting. ;p

[Fabe]

Aegis Kleais™, on 19 March 2012 - 02:15 PM, said:

Needless to say I'll be spending the majority of my time starting out in this game running through whatever obstacle course I can just to familiarize myself first and foremost with controlling the Mech. Once i get a handle of that, then comes the shooting.

Nothing's worse than trying to get your reticule on target and you're not efficient enough at controlling the Mech's movements to even get the enemy in your field of view.

I think I'll be doing the same thing,with any luck there will be a tutoriall/training option that we can run though as often as We want.