Joysticks - do they make it a lot easier to fly?

Joined: Apr 25, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Hampshire, UK

Hi all,

I was wondering if all those 'top gun' pilots (choppers and jets) are that good because they are using a joystick or are their brains wired that way?

Or, to put it another way, if I bought a joystick would it make me a better flyer?

Question

Community Founder Joined: Jun 30, 2005 Posts: 2630

my personal view is that if you want to become really good then a joystick is a must Wink

I personally dont like flying that much but I have tried a joystick and its far far better / easier on flying maneuvers Wink

Cheers

Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 560 Location: wick

I'm not a good pilot Sad

although I'm getting better and thats down to me now using a joystick, I find it a lot easyer to control the jet n chop's.
I do use the keys still for my rudder though

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 2:37 pm

I've tried a joystick both with a jet and heli and personally didn't like it.
fair enough if you like having precise control over your speed and like moving round corners like a slow moffo then joystick is good.

Personally I can't handle going slow as I tend to get shot down by stingers, plus theres the fact that you can no-way fly low 4-5m off the ground with a joystick and if you need to flip your nose 180degrees you'l be waiting all day with a joystick.

Joined: Oct 04, 2005 Posts: 179 Location: Wigan

i use a mouse as joysticks dont work on my pc
i like the method cus as java said flippin the plane on it nose is quite easy(useful when you got a coupple stingers up your tail)
but i find it very hard to lose a chasing fighter as you dont seem to be able to make a consistent tight turn
i think i can tell when a joystick pilot is behind me as i usually burn wheras i can get away from pilots thea use a mouse(of course im just assumin they have a mouse they could just be crap)
my problem is bombing i just cant seem to get accurate unless im using the bomber i find the guns are a good way of taking out armour(a good long run against armour and accurate shootin seems to take them out)and i have tried the llookin behind when i release my bombs but this usually cuases me to hit a tree,chimney, buildin ,mountain ect Rolling Eyes

Joined: Mar 30, 2006 Posts: 560 Location: wick

Yeah i have a habit of hitting those things too Sad

think i need to adjust my own collision detection Very Happy

Joined: Apr 25, 2006 Posts: 65 Location: Hampshire, UK

Ah, I was hoping for a unanimous opinion - shoulda known better. Wink

Java, you mentioned that you can turn the aircraft a lot quicker with a mouse than a joystick: does this mean that BF2 doesn't have a proper physics engine? Or, is it just down to joystick sensitivity? Confused

Anyway, thanx for the input guys. Smile

Joined: Jul 02, 2005 Posts: 1453

Joysticks for planes is a must... i use my mouse for choppers tho Smile

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 8:36 am

umm.. I dont use mouse.. I use cursor keys

Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 525 Location: Manchester UK

rofl? cursor keys...

I use joystick for planes, mouse for chopper.

mouse in plane = constantly sliding the bloody mouse again and again and again across the mat whenever you have to turn, and I get shot down by enemy planes too quickly.

joystick in chopper = cant do quick reactional movements, so you die.

Then again, I suck at plane, so dont listen to me. Truth be told, I learned a few years ago that it doesnt matter how l33t my computer/RAM/video card/mouse/mousemat is, I still suck! You cant buy natural ability!!! whaahahaha!

Joined: Apr 27, 2006 Posts: 7

I agree with w00p, mouse and keyboard for the chopper and joystick for the planes. I am still learning to fly the planes, but am pretty good with the choppers. Mouse and keyboard with the choppers allow some neat tricks like barrel rolls and loops, along with some precision combat flying. But I think like everything its just a matter of preference, you can get good with either method given enough practice.

Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 12:42 pm

keyboard all the way as far as I am concerned
I've shot down more choppers than I care to recall and you can't beat the feeling of whooshing under a bridge at full whack then pulling up and flipping round to slam a missile or two into your opponent

Joined: Jul 01, 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Watching You

I used my mouse for a long time and got quite good i did get a joystick but couldnt adapt. as far as i can tell if you want to reach the best possible then you need a joystick as dualing flight manouvers and speed control can make winning a jet on jet fight go in your favor but for easy control and general use i think just using the mouse for all things is easyer rather then switching alll the time

Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 525 Location: Manchester UK

Quote:

whooshing

whoosh whoosh whoooooosh! blablablaaaam!! (etc)

Sounds good, I'll try that... You cursor keyed freak! Razz