Is this game fun playing with mouse and keyboard?

[Stinky Binky]

Or should I get a hotas first?

[Iafeth]

It's simplistic enough to play without HOTAS.

[Michael Weatherford]

It's fine without hotas, but better with if you like flying smaller ships.

[Gregorovitch]

There was actually a poll about this on the Egosoft forum. About 55% used HOTAS, twin sticks or single stick. The other 45% used m&kb exclusively. A lot of folks who use m&kb swear it's the best way to play. Needless to say those that use HOTAS swear by that too.

Personally I use a HOTAS which means I am naturally in the camp that thinks that's the only way to play

But I'd say the truth is:

a) m&kb works fine especially if you are more into the strategy/management side of the game over the flying and fighting part

b) HOTAS may well feel a lot more immersive, make flying small and medium ships feel better

c) I don't think anybody seriously suggests using a HOTAS is worse than m&kb so if money is no object why not go for it.......

d) .......but I wouldn't recommend re-mortgaging the house to get one.

[blizard]

hi you just need a logitech gamepad you can bind all commands as you wish and save cash

[Inkarnus]

yes it is fun to play with mouse and keyboard. You can use direct mouse input or a system where you point in any direction of the screen and it translates it into more or less yaw pitch etc.

I feel that X uses alot of movement that i wouldnt like with a joystick especially since i would somehow need to control the first person movement parts with it.

Maybe Voiceattack would help a bit but i never saw someone use it with X4.

[defiant]

Get a joystick last, and only then if you play other games where a joystick is more of a must.

[Pathogenic]

I wouldn't play X4 without a joystick. But I know a lot of people enjoy it just fine with just the mouse and keyboard.

[Spec_Ops_Ape]

I've found it to be fun using either. The HOTAS takes a quite a bit of room on the desk so sometimes I can't be bothered setting it up.
Try the game with K&M first, see how you like it. If you have other space sims that you can use the HOTAS with or plan to buy them in the future then definitely think about buying one.
I think playing Elite Dangerous with a HOTAS is a lot more enjoyable than K&M.

[Pontuzz]

With the menuing involved i prefer mouse & keyboard over HOTAS in games such as X4.
Id say you are fine to try the game as it is. I think that Elite Dangerous is more optimized for non menuing, but in X4 once your empire grows you'll find yourself moving to the keyboard to rename ships, mouse to build, look around the map, order your units around etc etc.

[EPIC VOID]

You will have no problems playing this with mouse and keyboard whatsoever.
I personally have a hard time understanding why anybody would want to use a hotas in the first place, given the simple "flight" model, the first person elements, and lots of menus to click ...

[MaGicBush]

Mouse and keyboard is fine, but a HOTAS will definitely make it more fun and immersive. I just use a T.Flight HOTAS 4. It was $80.

[Stinky Binky]

guys... I have tried playing with m&k , Nope lol I can't play it like this. Flying ship with m&k is abysmal ( at least for me) Guess I have to go get some hotas today

[glyphic]

I would argue it's better with a mouse and keyboard because it's more accurate. Although I would like a Linux headtracking solution...

[Bozz 💀]

It works very good with M&K for me a lot easier than elite dangerous ^^

[AccelToWinYT]

I always play this as a space management simulator game. When I do need to fly, I put it on autopilot or let the AI fly for me. It's just a pain. The only time I fly is to hunt for SETA. So Mouse and Keyboard is sufficient for me.