Pros and Cons of going Joystick control

[heliodorus04]

Hello, and thank you in advance for your input. I'm brand new, and X4:F is my first PC space game in a long time. My recent space games was No Man's Sky on a console with that style controller. I must begin by saying that my goal is to get very immersed in this game. I bought a new PC capable of high performance (today at least!) and I want to do some space truckin and listen to music.

I've only played the first tutorial (but several times), and I found it difficult to manage my space suit walk and my docking in the hangar bay. I find the keyboard alien, and I'm concerned that transition from No Man's Sky to this will require actual effort, but I've barely started manipulating the game. I have no experience with PC joysticks for 20 years. I'm not a simulation player typically. But would a modest expenditure on a joystick (say $150 or less, possibly with that throttle thing) be a no-brainer for improving my interface with the controls? That's my first question - is it a no-brainer to switch?

If it's not a no-brainer, what are the pros and cons, and for this specific game, what kind of features would I want to have?

Last, if I may, is sticking with the mouse and keyboard arrangement the way to go? I'm curious what percentage of players feel a need for a more advanced controller than keyboard and mouse.

[SirProsik]

I think you can use a controller as well. However with that being said lots of people play with mouse and keyboard only. I personally like using a stick for immersion and just general flight mechanics. I used to use the stick prior to NMS Beyond as it was much easier to setup
then.

Here in X4 there are so many key commands and so few buttons on devices that its going to be difficult to not use the keyboard.

I personally use a VKB Gladiator NXT. You can get a really nice one for 180.00 or wait for a sale. Its probably the best bang for the bucks. Having owned lots of Joysticks over the years its my best purchase in a joystick. They have two models 150 for standard and 180 for deluxe that has more buttons on the stick itself. Those buttons come in handy :)

Oh I still use keyboard and mouse for non-flying, map and UI parts of the game.

[xDDD]

^ I also use a VKB Gladiator and I would absolutely recommend. Including shipping it's a bit pricier than what you were saying, but it is such a fantastic joystick with IMMENSE amounts of customization and a ton of buttons. It is solidly built as well, and it seems like they are pretty open with providing replacement parts and warranty support. I haven't had it long enough to attest to this, but it feels like a joystick that could be held onto for decades and decades.
Whatever you get, one thing I'd recommend is get something with a lot of buttons because you'll need as many as you can get. Also you'll definitely want one with some kind of throttle lever/slider/stick/etc


Joysticks aren't required at all. In fact, I think the game is significantly easier using mouse+keyboard, you can be a lot more accurate with the mouse and all of the menu/ordering/logistic stuff is way easier with a mouse as well.
THAT BEING SAID, I think the game is a lot more fun with a joystick. It feels a lot more fun to fly with a joystick and you can generally pull off some cooler maneuvers and have much better speed control with an actual throttle.

[Old School Internet Warlord]

Pro: Flying feels better and is more fun.
Con: It`s not necessary and can get expensive.

[Fel]

Flight sticks with games like this make flying a joy, especially the highly maneuverable S and M combat ships.
Being able to do small adjustments to all axes at the same time requires a bit of practice but the experience is completely different.

My biggest gripe is that menus are a pain without a mouse (and keyboard), and there is quite a bit of it in X games.
I go back and forth with the idea of playing with my flight stick because of the need for the mouse.

And while it can be expensive, most people even considering this kind of stuff already own one (or several).
It's kind of like how people that like to play games that handle cars (especially racing games) often have at least a wheel and often the full kit with pedals as well.
It just feels so different that it might as well be different games with and without those specialised hardware additions.

[Talby]

agree the controller for combat, docking and undocking is king - everything else K+M works well.
Using an 8bitdo pro2 wired, a bit of a pain since it needs both hands - am considering getting a usb/game port adapter so I can dust off my old flghtsticks that still work - Saitek Cyborg aged quickly, sticky plastic, brittle / broken inside while my Sidewinder and CH flightstick seem to be intact and might be easier to keep on the left side of the keyboard.

[SirProsik]

A Sidewinder precision pro starting acting up so I tried to dust off my Sidewinder 3d pro and found the USB connection is not compatible anymore :(

This guy made a chip but have not gotten around to buying trying:
https://github.com/Kreeblah/SidewinderToUSBV2

I bought a couple of TM T16000 and they were broken out of the box for the Z twist.
Compared to all of the above the Gladiator NXT is close to using a real military fire control console.

[Schuetze_Klaus]

will a Flightstick automaticly get reconized by the Game?! I still have that old Thrustmaster T Flight Stick X Cheapo Thingy... i think while i did some research on the Game i came across a thing that the Stick just emulates a Mouse or something... Is it worth the effort of searching my basement for the Stick?! :D

[Fel]

Some are recognized automatically, most are not but the game (and/or steam itself) should recognize the various buttons and axes so you can bind them properly in the settings.

[Schuetze_Klaus]

Alright i just try it today. 👌

[Turkish Hair Graft]

Big fan of joystick and throttle, really gives me a boost in fun. I use the keyboard for a lot of hotkeys, obviously, but it feels better for fine control to me. I've got a thrustmaster t-flight hotas x.

[heliodorus04]

So the VKB Gladiator is a stick-ONLY, is that correct? I'm looking online and it appears that a throttle is a separate purchase. Had not expected that.

[SirProsik]

I use a 'throttle' in the base of the stick. Its a wheel with a handle.
There are two other wheels which I use for module selection on L ships during combat.

[xDDD]

Originally posted by heliodorus04:

So the VKB Gladiator is a stick-ONLY, is that correct? I'm looking online and it appears that a throttle is a separate purchase. Had not expected that.

There is a small throttle lever on the base, it's a little slider thing. I use that as my throttle.
Isn't as stylish as a full separate throttle lever BUT it still works quite well.

When I was researching this topic in the past a lot of people seemed to suggest the Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle. Although tbh at that price I think it'd might better to just get one from VKB (if you are going that route).

There are cheaper sticks and stick/throttles out there for sure, like the T-FLight HOTAS x, but keep in mind that generally you get what you pay for.

[Fel]

This thread made me dig up my still-boxed stuff from when I moved in this house.
I found my joystick easily (it's not exactly a small thing after all) but sadly it's a wireless thing and I made the mistake of not attaching the receiver part to it.

Thankfully images on the internet allowed me to see what I need to search for but I have no less than 4 rather large cardboard boxes full of cables and other similar stuff.
And logitech no longer sells it, whole or just the connector either.

I am so not digging into all of these right now, but the massive dogfight I had to deal with earlier would have been a lot less frustrating with it, that's for sure.
Having to boost away lightly, turn off flight assist, turn around and pepper incoming S and M xenon ships over and over while dragging them towards allied defense a good hundred kilometers away was not exactly a rewarding experience and most drops vanished before I could get them too.
Not that S and M xenon ships drop amazing stuff of course, by the time you are in the mid game you will have more than enough of those, but not even getting these means fighting for nothing.