Dr. Warthog or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Study Flight Sim

[jomni]

Falcon AF keys mapping is petty much straight forward and practically zero config in my case.  Now I wonder how I'll replicate that in BMS (since ive been flying AF for years).   I'm thinking a lot of people have those full-blown HOTAS that is similar to the real thing. Must be a necessity for full enjoyment.  But I have a simple HOTAS. Same story in DCS. :(

[Toonces]

Ahhhh....I see.  I have the full CH HOTAS set up.  I didn't even notice a change in keys because I have a key file that I load that overrides the stock BMS keyfile.

I don't know how you play these games without a HOTAS.  I wouldn't even bother.  I'd stick to IL-2 or RoF, or other games that have a lot less button pushing.

[jomni]

I fly with the thrustmaster hotas x

[Huw the Poo]

I don't know how you play these games without a HOTAS.

All I've ever had is my trusty Saitek Cyborg Evo:



I don't know why it even exists.  It's unsuitable for arcade games but nowhere near good enough for flight sims.  I've made do with it though.  The worst thing about it is having the throttle at the base, which means my left hand has to move from the mouse or keyboard to the throttle every time I need to change it.  Also, during intense flying actions the base frequently tips up off the table while I'm thrashing the stick around.  It's a miracle I'm ever able to fly at all!

[jomni]

I used that one before.  Good enough for old school titles.

[Huw the Poo]

Actually, to be fair it's perfect for space sims which are generally halfway between frenetic arcade games and the much more sedate modern flight sim.

[Tuna]

Sounds great. I already have air display used with FSX.  Runs great with dockable windows. Let me tinker with touch buddy.

Let me know how it is, I've been tempted but haven't taken the plunge..

What do you do with FSX, open a panel and move it to your tablet?

[Toonces]

Huw, there's no way something like that would work for Falcon, or DCS:A-10.  Sure you can probably get away with it, but there is so much sensor management that you need to do, properly at your fingertips, that a stick like that just doesn't cut it.

IMO of course.  KA-50 and maybe FC2 have a little less HOTAS demand.

[Huw the Poo]

Huw, there's no way something like that would work for Falcon, or DCS:A-10.

Oh, I can play Falcon with it.  It's undoubtedly a lot more difficult than it would otherwise be, but it's possible.  I maximise the use of keyboard shortcuts!

[jomni]

Sounds great. I already have air display used with FSX.  Runs great with dockable windows. Let me tinker with touch buddy.

Let me know how it is, I've been tempted but haven't taken the plunge..

What do you do with FSX, open a panel and move it to your tablet?

Yeah.  That's exactly what you do.  Open an FSX panel.  Undock the window.  Then drag to your tablet.  Update:  I can't seem to connect successfully anymore after the update. :(




And you can see my sucky HOTAS in the background.  I'll probably stick with Falcon AF until I get a real F-16 HOTAS then move on to BMS.

[republic]

Is Falcon Allied Force easier to learn than BMS?  I'm having a heck of a time...  DCS: A-10 has actually been pretty straightforward.

[jomni]

AF is a bit easier.  Automated SOI switiching and radio tuning.  But graphics is very dated.
The A-10 is still a pretty simple aircraft as it does not have radar.

[jomni]

Well, guess what?  I dug around and found the original Falcon 4 key config in the BMS install.  It's all a matter of just loading it.

[republic]

Well my A-10 journey is going well.  I can do pretty much everything I need to do.  Things that were once Greek are becoming routine.  I'm hoping to try the Blackshark next.  Tonight I watched a skilled pilot in a Blackshark take out an armored column that stopped me in my tracks several times.

The oddest thing has been my experience with the study sim community.  Not always the friendliest and most welcoming of folks...

[jomni]

Yes there are die hard fanatics, armchair "experts", realism freaks...  Not really different with wargamers.