Steel Battalion Controller

[zer010]

I was just wondering if anyone has sucessfuly used the HUGE Steel Battalion controller to play FA. It's a little difficult for me to remember all of the controls for this game and I was thinking that such a controller might be useful.
I'm definitely thinking I should get a good joystick.
Anyone have any good suggestions on memorable, logical, key bindings? If I can devise a good key map, I'm thinking of color coding an extra keyboard I have laying around.

[Makida]

Obligatory Wiki link for page with a sample control scheme. Sorry if you were already aware of that page...

[Spinoza]

The "problem" with Alleg is that you have to have the keyboard accessible for communication, so huge stuff like the (admittedly cool) steel battalion thing is hard to fit in on a normal desk.
I think Joystick+keyboard is best, though I sometimes wish my keyboard had had 20 function keys instead of 12...

Re: stick, I recommend a force feedback stick, being able to adjust centering force gives a definite edge when it comes to fine control. I use the Logitech force 3D pro.
The force feedback effects are detrimental...

Re: key mapping, just make sure you can easily target different types of objects, both friendly and enemy.
I combine alt/ctrl with B/M/C for friendly/enemy bomber/miner/con.

[Adept]

If I had a Steel Battalion controller I'd want to give it a go... No idea if it would be workable.

Spin definitely has a point about the keyboard, but I'd still try it if I had one

I fly with Logitech Force 3D Pro as well.

[Spinoza]

QUOTE (Adept @ Aug 3 2010, 02:01 PM) If I had a Steel Battalion controller I'd want to give it a go... No idea if it would be workable.

I'd definitely try anything once, not just once but several times.
If you can separate the thing into bits, the central console and the paddles look brilliant.

From visual inspection, the right stick has only three button, assuming a trigger on the other side. Probably no twist either.
The hat is on the other stick, so you'd need excellent left hand coordination and you'll still have to stop using one of the sticks to access the buttons.

I can easily count more than six functions u need while dogfighting, at the very least:
XY axesRollForward thrust/throttleTriggerMissilesChaffDispenserReloadSide thrustersReverse thrustTarget hostileBoost
IMHO all off these have to be accessible to you simultanousy, so they must be under one hand or the other.
I got half of these covered with my right hand, 6 of them under my thumb... and I wish I could fit some more. (I do, with a shift button type thing.)

I'm not saying it's impossible, only that it's a challenge... have fun!

[zer010]

Thanks everyone! Very insightful. I too thought the SB controller might not be quite up to the task of full 3D manuvering. I think my best bet would be a modified keyboard and joystick combo. Although a couple foot pedals might come in handy.

[Adept]

QUOTE (zer010 @ Aug 4 2010, 04:40 AM) Although a couple foot pedals might come in handy.

A friend of mine who I'm trying to lure back in the game used foot pedals to roll his ship back in 2000. Worked pretty well for him.

[raingriffin]

it'd work for me as well, had i pedals for rolling it'd make a totally different experience i'm sure

[Spinoza]

QUOTE (Adept @ Aug 4 2010, 09:14 AM) A friend of mine who I'm trying to lure back in the game used foot pedals to roll his ship back in 2000. Worked pretty well for him.

One of these days I'm going to buy order a cheap dance mat and map all sorts of stuff onto it.
Eight buttons: (center is not a button)
Rolling works great with the stick twist but there is plenty of other stuff to map:
Booster, forward/reverse thrust and ripcord seem natural... putting push to talk down there seems odd but might be quite convenient after you get used to it.

I've also been thinking of buying a cheap arcade controller opening it up and making a complete conversion into something not unlike the Steel Battalion central console...

[SouthPaw]

G13 gamepad (all fully re-mappable), plus mouse, plus keyboard.

G13 is worth every penny.