BF3 Pilots: Joystick recommendations?

**PL_OSTRY** · 10-07-2011, 01:53 PM

Hey i am thinking about getting a joystick for this release and i am curious what people in this community are currently using or planning to buy. Please share your piece of hardware here. Thanks.

**Anospa** · 10-07-2011, 02:02 PM

I've got one, its not hooked up yet. From the 3 minutes I was able to fly on Caspian (when it was first on the servers), I felt like I needed it badly. Upping the mouse speed for the aircraft may work, but I still feel like I'd prefer the joystick. It looks like there's joystick/gamepad support too, so that's encouraging. I did read someone's post saying that their joystick got mapped automatically, and since it wasn't centered, he would randomly start moving when on the ground. I hope there's something in the controls that'll only allow the joystick to be used for aircraft and not cause these issues in the full build (probably something as simple as going through and clearing out the preset mapping for keys/actions in the game settings).

As for helicopters, I haven't been able to test them yet. In 2142, I preferred the mouse for the gunships because of how twitchy their flight was; you could work it to your advantage and flip directions suddenly while still preserving most of your momentum. If the flight mechanics are realistic and based on rotor aircraft and less "twitchy/flippy," the joystick will be the way to go.

I'll definitely dig the joystick out of the basement for trying it out this weekend on Caspian.

**mat552** · 10-07-2011, 02:10 PM

I'm back to my battlefield standby. My trusted G15 keyboard handles all my flight needs. W and S handle throttle, A and D handle yaw/rudder. Up and Down arrows cover pitch/up down direcitons, and the Left and Right arrows cover roll motions. I did try to use my x52 pro, but without being able to rebind effectively (it automatically reads the central stick axis as being active, deadzone or no), it isn't really effective.

I stick with arcade control inputs for arcade games, and simulation inputs for simulation games.

**Buflak** · 10-07-2011, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Anospa

If the flight mechanics are realistic and based on rotor aircraft

They aren't. The choppers feel like a big hovering balloon that slowly glides through the air, i doubt a jostick could change that

Jets are a little bit better, hard to control with a mouse.

**Specterr** · 10-07-2011, 02:16 PM

I've tried a bit of flying with the mouse and did not enjoy it...I'll be hooking up my joystick for release for sure.

**ProjectNA** · 10-07-2011, 02:40 PM

I've had good luck with the Extreme Pro 3D in previous titles, haven't tried it on BF3 yet.

I'll tell you in a couple hours ; )

Edit: not sure it even works with beta, I can't seem to set my throttle keys, etc.

**DrBeat** · 10-07-2011, 09:57 PM

I use the wireless Logitech joystick but I haven't used it heavily since 2142. Only bad thing is the batteries running out.

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**KnyghtMare** · 10-08-2011, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by ProjectNA

I've had good luck with the Extreme Pro 3D in previous titles, haven't tried it on BF3 yet.

I'll tell you in a couple hours ; )

Edit: not sure it even works with beta, I can't seem to set my throttle keys, etc.

The Extreme Pro 3D doesn't appear to work very well atm. Maybe a profile will be released for it, idk.

**SuperDudeBT** · 10-08-2011, 04:11 AM

I was very pleased just now with using mouse and keyboard for the helo. I didn't get much jet time, so I can't comment on that. But I did notice that with helo, I needed the aircraft settings to be normal. But with jet, I needed it to be inverted (or maybe it was the other way around..?). The two settings are bundled into one currently. So hopefully they'll change that. But I'll probably be sticking with helos, anyway, and not flying jets much.

Does playing this game make anyone else want to break out the BF2142 or BF2 discs?

**DeF** · 10-08-2011, 02:15 PM

I've been flying the jets as much as I can and so far the mouse and keyboard work pretty good. I would like to use my joystick so I could do some precision turning and maneuvers however since infantry already has defaults binded for the joystick it takes over anytime I have it plugged in.

Hopefully they will have precise throttle control as well rather than just full on or full off with afterburners. I am also hoping jets will come with at least some bombs by default as the gun really doesn't do much damage to armor. Obviously missiles should be earned, but like in all previous battlefield games there was at least one plane with un-guided bombs.

**westyfield** · 10-08-2011, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by KnyghtMare

The Extreme Pro 3D doesn't appear to work very well atm. Maybe a profile will be released for it, idk.

Damn, I have an Extreme 3D Pro but haven't tried it with BF3 yet. I haven't flown a heli so I don't know how they feel with mouse and keyboard.
Not too worries about throttle issues with joysticks, I use WS for throttle and joystick for pitch/yaw/roll/weapons.

**machowner** · 10-08-2011, 11:49 PM

I tried some flying, wasn't too impressed with the mouse and keyboard. Always fell like I'm running out of mouse pad.

**HappyNoobing** · 10-09-2011, 01:20 AM

Originally Posted by KnyghtMare

The Extreme Pro 3D doesn't appear to work very well atm. Maybe a profile will be released for it, idk.

i haven't been flying, but i have a hard time mapping the keys for my extreme pro 3d... especially for the jet, there seems to be options missing, like throttle down (they only have throttle up i think), and the roll stuff is messed up too, the game also names the button awkwardly for some reason.

on a side note, i also couldn't map my extra mouse keys either. :/

**di1lweed1212** · 10-09-2011, 08:48 AM

welll ive got a microsoft sidewinder pro sooooo yeah trying that tonight! XD it eorked beautifully in bf2

**ANGELofDEATH** · 10-09-2011, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by westyfield

Damn, I have an Extreme 3D Pro but haven't tried it with BF3 yet.

Quoted for truth. I have had my joystick for years, and it has worked well with every game title so far, I hope it will continue to work with BF3.

Originally Posted by machowner

I tried some flying, wasn't too impressed with the mouse and keyboard. Always fell like I'm running out of mouse pad.

Which is why you need a large yoga mat.

Originally Posted by HappyNoobing

i haven't been flying, but i have a hard time mapping the keys for my extreme pro 3d... especially for the jet, there seems to be options missing, like throttle down (they only have throttle up i think), and the roll stuff is messed up too, the game also names the button awkwardly for some reason.

on a side note, i also couldn't map my extra mouse keys either. :/

Hopefully all the mapping problems will be solved in the full release... they better!! I want my knife back to the "back key" on my mouse, as I keep hitting "F" as I strafe right(which puts my weapon away even if I am firing it).