Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up
Cholly's guide to Setting up Joystick Configurations in Oolite 1.90
Contents
Introduction
This guide deals only with assigning in-game functions to the axes and buttons on a joystick/throttle.
For setting up an axis profile (to correct a drunken bias - or to achieve more precision in flight) - read Dizzy's guide to Setting up Joystick Axis Profiles
Important Points
*Be careful of what you assign to buttons/axes on the base of the joystick/throttle. You will need to let go of the joystick/throttle to get to the buttons on the base. If this is in the middle of a combat, you could find yourself well and truly stuffed, as you can no longer steer/change speed. So avoid assigning functions such as witchspace fuel injectors (i)
Some definitions
- Axis
- An analog-type input where the axis setting selects the amount of change (not available for purely keyboard inputs)
- There are at least 4 types of axis:
- The usual two axes of a joystick (forwards <–> backwards & left <-> right) - x & y above right
- Some joysticks have twist as well (clockwise ↔ anti-clockwise) - z above right
- A thumbwheel - 6 above left
- A mini-joystick - not shown above - can look identical to the hat switch, but with very different operation - will add two more x & y axes
- Button
- On/Off: Either (i) keep pressed for the effect (Fuel Injectors) or (ii) press for on and then press again for off
- There are at least 6 types of button:
- A button that looks like a button! - 4 above left
- A switch (operates like 2 buttons) - 7 above left
- A trigger (operates like a button) - 3 above left
- A hat switch (operates like 4 buttons) - 6 above left
- A button incorporated into a mini-joystick - not shown
- A rotary switch where one turns the knob to select one of a number of options - not shown
- Hat switch (used to be called a coolie hat switch) - see buttons
- POV switch (Point Of View switch – same as hat switch) - see buttons
Examples
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro
- The Logitech joystick has a 3-way axis for the stick (including the 3rd twist axis) and another throttle axis on the base.
- There are twelve buttons: 6 on the stick (including the trigger and button 2 on the left of the stick where the thumb rests) and 6 on the base.
- The hat switch on the stick is actually an 8-way switch which can function as a mini-joystick giving another 2 axes if desired.
- The software for the Logitech joystick allows the buttons to be programmed to operate macros if so desired.
Cody's settings: Cody uses this joystick with a keyboard. The precision toggle is not used because the axis profiles were set so as to no longer need it.
- Axis 1 - roll (left/right arrows)
- Axis 2 - pitch (up/down arrows)
- Axis 3 - not used (twist): Cody favours the Rollers in the Roll vs Yaw crusades
- Axis 4 - not used (throttle)
- Axis 5 - (hatswitch) used instead as buttons - for views - left & right (F3 & F4)
- Axis 6 - (hatswitch) used instead as buttons - for views - up & down (F1 & F2)
- Button 1 - (trigger) - fire laser (a)
- Button 2 - docking - request docking clearance (shift-l)
- Button 3 - missile - arm missile (t)
- Button 4 - missile - fire missile (m)
- Button 5 - take snapshot (*)
- Button 6 - missile - cycle missile (y)
- Button 7 - next ASC compass target
- Button 8 - not yet used
- Button 9 - docking - Blue Danube docking computer (c)
- Button 10 - docking - fast docking computer (shift-c)
- Button 11 - Activate .oxp equipment (n)
- Button 12 - Prime .oxp equipment (shift-n)
Thrustmaster TM4
There are some 3 very similar Thrustmaster entry-level HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) sets: T.Flight 3, 4 & X. They seem mostly designed for those using gaming consoles as the buttons on each are quite limited in number.
They are very nicely designed - nice curves, screw holes at the bottom for attaching to something heavy like a desk (if so desired), an Allen key (living in a base recess) to separate the two halves of the throttle and joystick, a simple knob to stiffen up the joystick etc. Another point is that since the joystick and throttle are wired together, they only occupy one USB slot on the dreaded computer.
- The TM4 joystick has a 3-way axis for the stick (including the 3rd twist axis - disable-able with a screwdriver), a throttle axis on the left, and a fifth axis (rudder) on the back of the throttle stick.
- There are 13 buttons: 4 on the stick (including the trigger) and 6 on the throttle and 3 on the base of the throttle.
- The hat switch on the stick is a regular 4-way switch.
- The software for the TM3/4/X hotas is needed. It allows the PS button on the base of the throttle to toggle between vanilla PlayStation mode (where the empower the twist joystick z-axis and the throttle's rudder axis are disabled) and Joystick mode where everything works.
Cholly's settings: Cholly uses this HOTAS with an Elgato Streamdeck, so the confusing missile controls are there where they can be clearly labelled.
- Axis 1 - roll (left/right arrows)
- Axis 2 - pitch (up/down arrows)
- Axis 3 - (throttle): speed (w and s)
- Axis 4 - not used (twist): Cholly finds 3 axes on the same stick too confusing for words
- Axis 5 - possibly unbought pedals?
- Axis 6 - (rudder): yaw - (, & .)
- Button 1 - (trigger) - fire laser (a)
- Button 2 - witchfuel injectors (i)
- Button 3 - roll/pitch Precision toggle (sort of ctrl but as a toggle)
- Button 4 - Toggle ID (r)
- Button 5 - ECM (e)
- Button 6 - Activate first fast equipment (defensive) (Tab)
- Button 7 - Activate second fast equipment (offensive) (0)
- Button 8 - toggle weapons (shift-hyphen: _)
- Button 9 - zoom scanner (z)
- Button 10 - reset scanner (shift-z)
- Button 11 - Share button - hyperspeed - Torus jump drive (j)
- Button 12 - Options button - hyperdrive - Witchspace drive (h)
- Button 13 - PS red/green LED button - not used (as disables rudder yawing)
- Hat Switch - used for 4 buttons - for the 4 views - (F1 - F4)
