Joysticks: Guide to Setting Up

Cholly's guide to Setting up Joystick Configurations in Oolite 1.90

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)

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Some definitions

1. stick, 2. base, 3. trigger, 4. extra buttons, 5. switch (2-way), 6. thumbwheel, 7. hat switch (4-way), 8. suction cup

Hat switch in green at top, Thumbwheel in yellow at bottom

• 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

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Examples

note right fore-finger on trigger & left thumb on throttle

Joystick Map

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.

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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)

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Thrustmaster TM4

note that joystick and throttle units have not been seperated

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.

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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)

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Links

• Dizzy's guide to Setting up Joystick Axis Profiles
• Joysticks and Gamepads