Best control scheme for Elite Dangerous?

[desura]

Right now I'm tooling around with an Xbox controller...and it works pretty well especially the free look around the cockpit. It is kinda cool how where you look is not necessarily the direction you are going.

How about with flight Sticks? How can you get a comparable free look around the cockpit? Recommend any? I'm looking at the thrustmaster 16000m. Anyone use one? What did he new update bring?

 

[EXCellR8]

this game's scale terrifies me but I think I used mouse & kb when I tried it out. i think there was a button that toggled fixed and free cockpit views but I can't say for sure

 

[HitAnyKey]

If you like the game invest in a flight stick. I fly and dogfight like a drunken sailor with the Xbox controller. I have the Saitek X52 Pro for the PC and it controls much better than an Xbox controller in my opinion. Elite is more like a Flight Sim with guns is how I like to describe it.

Gave up playing the game because of RL and boredom but flight stick is definitely worth it if you enjoy the game because of all the various controls and actions in game. I found the Xbox controller felt limited or not as intuitive as a Flight stick in Elite. Plus you really can't add any granularity or precision to an Xbox controller but it is still better than Keyboard/Mouse setup.

I can't comment on that particular model of Thrustmaster flight stick your considering but I am sure somebody on here knows more about it. Youtube reviews might be helpful as well.

 

[desura]

If you like the game invest in a flight stick. I fly and dogfight like a drunken sailor with the Xbox controller. I have the Saitek X52 Pro for the PC and it controls much better than an Xbox controller in my opinion. Elite is more like a Flight Sim with guns is how I like to describe it.

Gave up playing the game because of RL and boredom but flight stick is definitely worth it if you enjoy the game because of all the various controls and actions in game. I found the Xbox controller felt limited or not as intuitive as a Flight stick in Elite. Plus you really can't add any granularity or precision to an Xbox controller but it is still better than Keyboard/Mouse setup.

I can't comment on that particular model of Thrustmaster flight stick your considering but I am sure somebody on here knows more about it. Youtube reviews might be helpful as well.

Yeah, the $100 thrust master 16000m combo looks like a winner...which I will buy maybe in fall for when cold weather hits and life becomes miserable. Also, the left-hand throttle stick has an analogue stick on it for POV. Though it is on the left hand which is usually used for movement...

Remember how flight sims used to dominate the PC game market? now there are hardly any flight sims. Microsoft flight sim used to be a really big release each year and now it seems to have disappeared.

 

[leela7226]

I also was thinking about buying a flight stick first. Borrowed it from my friend and it was good playing ED. But later I tried to replace M+K and stick with a single controller, and it was pretty tough. The default presets were not as good as I expected, then I found the Elite Dangerous Xbox 360 config that replaced everything except my Xbox 360 controller.
Yeah, tuning this thing takes time, but I was so happy playing the game on a huge screen and with a single controller. So, maybe this comes in hand for someone someday

 

[Red Storm]

I've played the game with keyboard and mouse, Xbox 360 controller, flight stick and keyboard, dual flight sticks, flight stick and throttle, and the only one that was not very fun to me was the xbox controller. The ultimate setup was flight stick and throttle (plus keyboard) in VR, so fun.

I haven't played the game in quite a while (a vast ocean that's 1" deep is the perfect description for ED), but the thrustmaster should work good.

 

[Isaac Bowman]

Try flight sticks and throttle or Elite Dangerous Joy stick: Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS Controller, will be awesome - save for its price. I started with the keyboard too and I am happy I invested in the T.16000M

 

[QuantumPion]

The X52 is garbage. I can't believe anyone still recommends it, unless they have never tried anything better. The t16000m is the best joystick around, amazing accuracy, centering, button feel, ergos, and no dead zone. The throttle on the other hand isn't that great. It is very awkward to use, there's no way to reach all the buttons, there is no natural rest position, and there is too much travel. If you want the best setup I'd recommend the t16000m joystick and the CH Pro throttle. It's ergonomics and buttons are just about perfect for elite. Get some sticky tac and put little pieces on the bottom of each, that way they will stay firmly on your surface while using, but can be easily stowed away when not in use.