Elite: Dangerous. I broke down.

[Grim.Reaper]

devoid of any sim experience at all and therefore devoid of any simming equipment - would you guys recommend a stick first or track ir (i only googled track ir for the first time this afternoon after watching you guys refer to it over the years)

Stick.  Preferably a HOTAS. I am not currently using Track IR with elite and I am still enjoying it.  However, a HOTAS is a must, in my opinion. Too bad you missed my recent give-away of my X-52. It went to another lucky forum member.

thanks JH - at the time the stick would have been wasted on me

educate me - does HOTAS describe one of those with a manual thrust lever?

HOTAS stands for Hands on Throttle and Stick.  Essentially, just as you say, a joystick and throttle combo. 

I use a Saitek X-52 Pro with Track IR and it's very immersive. 

I do recommend the X-52 Pro stick or the X-55.  Both have a lot of buttons, a good feel and work very well in the game.  The downside is they're pricey, and if this is the only sim you play, it might not be worth it. 

The Thrustmaster T-Flight is an economical alternative at a $50 price point, but I don't personally like the layout and the button count.  Also, I'm leery of a "You get what you pay for" experience with that stick. 

You might also look at CH products Fighterstick line.  It's a well regarded manufacturer, and they'll let you buy the stick and throttle separately if you want to slowly level up (although not at a discount).

I have actually had good luck with the Thrustmaster T-Hotas and strangely enough, I enjoy it more than my X52 for some reason...just feels better too me.  And it seems it is the flight stick most discussed on Elite forums, but of course that doesn't make it the best stick out there.  I am just an average player and I find it the best for me personally.

[Grim.Reaper]

So I see the skins have been released for purchase...they appear to range in $3.50-$5.00 per skin....thought they would be a little cheaper or in a bundle.  Will have to ponder whether worth that for just a different look.  Seems like 24 currently available.

[Cougar_DK]

I have choosen CH as my HOTAS, after my Hotas Cougar was a bit to heavy for my wrist. I have the Fighterstick, Pro Throttle, Throttle Quadrant and Pro pedals so if you want info then fire away :)

And using TrackIR is damn impressive in this game. Love the 'dogfight' scenarios while still setting up controls and learning all the different systems.

[mikeck]

99 out of 100 threads I this sight me other elite sighs have to do with what stick someone is using. I'm using a Logitech from 2002 and it works Great
On to the be: VERY HAPPY TO SEE they are up to 56 systems and solo gameplay. I live exploring without having to worry about being grieved. This game is a gem

[Staggerwing]

99 out of 100 threads I this sight me other elite sighs have to do with what stick someone is using. I'm using a Logitech from 2002 and it works Great
On to the be: VERY HAPPY TO SEE they are up to 56 systems and solo gameplay. I live exploring without having to worry about being grieved. This game is a gem

What did you do to piss off your autocorrect that badly?

[Staggerwing]

When is the game supposed to release? Days? Weeks? The beta is $75 and the pre purchase for day-1 unlock is $50.

[Grim.Reaper]

When is the game supposed to release? Days? Weeks? The beta is $75 and the pre purchase for day-1 unlock is $50.

Last info shared was sometime by the end of 2014....nothing any more specific at this point.

[Jarhead0331]

Got my first kill. By the end of the night, I had 5! Awesome game. Totally loving it.

[Toonces]

Oh man...nice...

[RooksBailey]

Oh man...nice...

That was pretty cool.   

But I will not succumb!  Well, at least not before the gamma test.  The game should be much further along and more bug free by then (flimsy excuse, I know  :)  ).

Q: I remember that in one of the early dev diaries, Braben mentioned that larger ships are going to have their interior space mapped out so that if you blow a hole in, say, the hull of a cargo freighter, the player might actually see cargo spill out and stuff like that.  Is that implemented yet?

[undercovergeek]

it is downloaded, then went to bed and im out all night tonight - sob

im going to blast it at the weekend and see if i can fly with a mouse and keyboard, and then see if my first purchase is stick or track IR because i do like the looking around the cockpit and watching fighters pass you by on the port or starboard

[JudgeDredd]

I've tried TrackIR so many times and failed miserably everytime.

And welcome aboard  ;D

[Grim.Reaper]

it is downloaded, then went to bed and im out all night tonight - sob

im going to blast it at the weekend and see if i can fly with a mouse and keyboard, and then see if my first purchase is stick or track IR because i do like the looking around the cockpit and watching fighters pass you by on the port or starboard

It will be interesting to hear how a mouse and keyboard works out, it does seem like quite a few are playing that way too.  I am just much better with some kind of controller in most cases.  If you have a gamepad, many people seem to make that work too.

[Gusington]

Are a bunch of DLCs planned?

[Grim.Reaper]

Are a bunch of DLCs planned?

Only things known are two planned big expansions and a bunch of ship skins.  All depends on sales.