Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: maddog on August 04, 2012, 01:58:30 PM
-
I have been in AH since its beginning and I think I can retire with full benefits in another couple of years....
During this time I have continually upgraded components here and there and as such I have come to some conclusions on equipment.
I always see posts about this and that and decided to evaluate which have been most helpful to my limited aerial skills.
1) There is no substitute for size, that includes monitors.... currently running a 27inch at 120.... 119 frame rates
which dip down to 80 something in the midst of chaos. The bigger thing are the easier they are to kill... would love to
have a 30' Dell put social security won't spring for $1100 or so.
2) Controls varied over the years from Saitek to CH to now Hotas Warthog. Saitek where nice but got jumpy fast... CH, Which are my fallback,
Are solid as a rock and last forever... By the way there have been a number of Logitech in there and they never lasted with me to long as they got spikey,
as the Saitek's did. The warthog is excellent and if you've been playing since the bronze age as I have you can really
appreciate it.
3) Win 7 64 on SSD... never did have any problems with HDs thou...
4)TIR I think the latest is verSion 5? works great and now is indispensible.... A perfect setup takes months of tweeting.
5) Have 2 pos 32key keyboards programmed to different planes and things like move, squelch, modes, gas level, planes, different auto pilot modes,
bomb load out, salvo etc etc. I find this much easier to cope with then dot commands....(try to spell squelch when your irrated and in a hurry.
ManAWar has his own button..... Oh and if you have a small choice of wingman you can program dot commands onto a key to make one button press
wingman selection.
6) Asus 7.1 sound with Razor Tiamat 7.1 headsets..... easier to hear someone on your six.. directional positioning is the best.... thou bombs will scare
the life out of you
7) Rudder pedals are as most of you know, are mandatory.... could land without them... Using Saitek and am happy.... Had the German ones for a while
and they where great but that was back in the rs232 days..... They are expensive and are not easy to come by in the US.
8) Chess timer 15min blitz mode.... keeps track of VH down time....
I guess once you pass the frame rate pinnacle, monitor size and speed I find the most critical..... Then you get behind an easy kill and you can't get
a gun solution because of spiky controls or rudders.... CH or Warthog... POS keyboards are great and make "playing" this "game" so much easier....
That's it until the new system and video card..... next time the wife goes to California to visit the grand kids.... coordinating UPS deliveries when she's away is so much less stressful.
By the way HT what kind of benefits do we get for twenty years of faithful service to the Knights?
-
Well played sir!
:salute :cheers:
-
:)
7.1 headphones are great when bombs are dropped a town :)
I wish I could have a big monitor
-
Monitors verses TVs? What are the differences? What to look for when selecting? I am technologically challenged and run around like a dog chasing a laser pointer with these decisions... :noid Like others, it is getting more and more difficult for me to see the smaller things onscreen so I am going to need a seeing eye wonder dog to get around the skies... or a bigger better monitor.
-
Monitors verses TVs? What are the differences? What to look for when selecting? I am technologically challenged and run around like a dog chasing a laser pointer with these decisions... :noid Like others, it is getting more and more difficult for me to see the smaller things onscreen so I am going to need a seeing eye wonder dog to get around the skies... or a bigger better monitor.
Basically a TV is a monitor. Today both are sold mainly according the FullHD specs, with a resolution of 1920*1080. The bigger the screen the bigger a single pixel is. Some of them work better than others as computer gaming monitors. There's been a lot of discussion about using a TV in AH on this very forum also during this year, so the information is intact. AFAIK the main aspect in using a TV as a monitor is how computer usage bypasses the built-in motion enhance processing some TV's use.
Of course there are many other monitor types on the market than the FullHD ones. There are also large monitors with much more pixels than the aforementioned 1920*1020. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the monitors with more pixels (Retina, as Apple has named it) don't display the banana fly looking dot any sharper or bigger, they only show more what's around it. So, for better finding a dot in the blue, bigger pixels are the way to go, so far.
-
Basically a TV is a monitor. Today both are sold mainly according the FullHD specs, with a resolution of 1920*1080. The bigger the screen the bigger a single pixel is. Some of them work better than others as computer gaming monitors. There's been a lot of discussion about using a TV in AH on this very forum also during this year, so the information is intact. AFAIK the main aspect in using a TV as a monitor is how computer usage bypasses the built-in motion enhance processing some TV's use.
Of course there are many other monitor types on the market than the FullHD ones. There are also large monitors with much more pixels than the aforementioned 1920*1020. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the monitors with more pixels (Retina, as Apple has named it) don't display the banana fly looking dot any sharper or bigger, they only show more what's around it. So, for better finding a dot in the blue, bigger pixels are the way to go, so far.
The 'retina' displays use a pixel dot size so small that in marketing terms a human eye cannot see any individual pixels in the image anymore. In reality the resolution needs still to be a bit higher than what retina displays currently offer. In any case the retina displays are a horrible choice for gaming because the small dot size does make 'dot distance' contacts hard to follow while high res also ramps up GPU requirements considerably, especially considering the display size.
For gaming it's much better to get a triple view or 60" monster display with non-retina pixel sizes.
-
I couldn't agree more with the OP but to one difference.. it looks great with triple 24 inch screens if you can afford them. One thing that you should also think of using is HDMI cables if your video cards allow it to get a better picture. Just my two cents.
Lawndart
-
A thirty foot Dell must be an awfully big monitor. And only $1100.
-
A thirty foot Dell must be an awfully big monitor. And only $1100.
I'd buy that for 1100. Although I would probably need to build a taller room just to fit it in our house :)
-
30 feet reminds me of the monitor project I introduced here quite some time ago, size of a couple of football fields...
Back to the OP's list, the 30" Dell is labeled "Ultra Sharp" and uses a resolution of 2560 x 1600. Compared to his current 27 incher the Dell's pixels might be even smaller, making it even more difficult to find a dot from the virtual sky. For viewing landscapes it would be breathtaking, though...
-
A thirty foot Dell must be an awfully big monitor. And only $1100.
I have been using a 40'' Dynex HD 60MHz 1080p TV from best buys that i use for my TV. It looks great and now i can not fly unless i use it. It is only 299.99 look it up.
I just plug it in when i fly and anything else on the PC its just to big and that's why i am not buying another one and just plug this on in when i fly. But dam for that kind of money you cant go wrong in my opinion. Or 3 of these wow.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+40%22+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+60Hz+-+HDTV/2620821.p?id=1218340598798&skuId=2620821 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Dynex%26%23153%3B+-+40%22+Class+-+LCD+-+1080p+-+60Hz+-+HDTV/2620821.p?id=1218340598798&skuId=2620821)
-
A 27"+ monitor, a PC that can run it with max vis range/resolution, a twisty joystick.
Cheap, easy, works. :) I believe that once you start spending $500+ on gaming "aids", then you're just "buying" skill. Just my opinion. I fly with that simple set up and kill guys with much more fancier stuff so I know it's true. ;)
-
A 27"+ monitor, a PC that can run it with max vis range/resolution, a twisty joystick.
Cheap, easy, works. :) I believe that once you start spending $500+ on gaming "aids", then you're just "buying" skill. Just my opinion. I fly with that simple set up and kill guys with much more fancier stuff so I know it's true. ;)
you're post contradicts itself.....if they are "Buying" skill...they would kill you easy with a fancy set up.....if you have a basic twist stick....
it does not matter how much "stuff" you have..... if you cant fight.....all the accessories in the world isn't gonna make you fight better.
-
you're post contradicts itself.....if they are "Buying" skill...they would kill you easy with a fancy set up.....if you have a basic twist stick....
it does not matter how much "stuff" you have..... if you cant fight.....all the accessories in the world isn't gonna make you fight better.
No, it just means even with "bought" skill, they can't kill me. And I know I'm not the only one. Member of the squad, RedBull plays the game with lowest setting/resolution with 10-20fps and still kicks my butt 5/10 times. Not tooting my own horn, just showing my opinion on people spending a ton of money for little to no gain.
-
its not bought "skill" then......
not trying to start an argument.....but if I had the cash I would have a full motion sim that ran AH :aok
-
I get that some do it to be immersed in the game (hell, I want a 109 or a P38 cockpit in my living room too), but some do it because they want to get the most advantages possible from buying stuff. I'm not gonna hate anyone for doing it, it's your money, if you worked for it, buy what you want. I just see it as money wasted.
And yes, maybe "bought skill" isn't the exact term I'm looking for, but you get what I'm trying to say, yea?
-
I get that some do it to be immersed in the game (hell, I want a 109 or a P38 cockpit in my living room too), but some do it because they want to get the most advantages possible from buying stuff. I'm not gonna hate anyone for doing it, it's your money, if you worked for it, buy what you want. I just see it as money wasted.
And yes, maybe "bought skill" isn't the exact term I'm looking for, but you get what I'm trying to say, yea?
ya I think so...but they are just foolin themselves.....the ones buying all the fancy stuff hoping it will make them better....I have a feeling, more are buying it for immersion or just the fun/cool factor.
rudder peddles are a big help over a twisty :old:
that does not mean the guy with the rudder peddles is gonna win against everyone with a twisty...thats absurd thinking.
imagine a full motion F4U or Flying tiger simpit.....that would be awesomely fun.... :rock
-
HAL sensor stick, throttle, pedals.
triple screen is a nice plus for SA, but also a lot of fun.
having 59 FPS at all times is important also.
IMO TrackIR doesn't help anything.
-
And yes, maybe "bought skill" isn't the exact term I'm looking for, but you get what I'm trying to say, yea?
A "textile athlete" is what that kind of people are called here. Dependless whether they do sport or other activities. :salute
@Noir: So you're using pedals with your T.16000m, if I understood you right? Have you found a way to eliminate the twisty function from the stick? Although it doesn't do anything in game, but sometimes it feels quite puzzling when the handle turns. My former sticks, two Logitechs and a T-flight Hotas had a screw to stop the handle from turning, this one doesn't have one.
-
A "textile athlete" is what that kind of people are called here. Dependless whether they do sport or other activities. :salute
@Noir: So you're using pedals with your T.16000m, if I understood you right? Have you found a way to eliminate the twisty function from the stick? Although it doesn't do anything in game, but sometimes it feels quite puzzling when the handle turns. My former sticks, two Logitechs and a T-flight Hotas had a screw to stop the handle from turning, this one doesn't have one.
no I didn't find a way, but I didn't look for it :)
-
in world of tanks they call them wallet warrior. While those who play for free are called welfare warriors.
spending more money buying equipment may actually improve your game. Having 3 screens does give you more viewing area identifying possible threats better than those with only one. trakir is very useful in tracking targets much better than hat.
having a good stick is better than a cheap one due to no spiking, easier to hold, etc. Otherwise if it didn't make a difference you wouldn't have guys posting ten page threads arguing ch v saitek.
semp
-
having a good stick is better than a cheap one due to no spiking, easier to hold, etc.
Cheap sticks can also be good, as I and Noir among others can tell. The Thrustmaster T.16000m has HAL sensors instead of pots which AFAIK means they would never spike. It fits my hand nicely and naturally, just as Logitechs do. It can be modified for a leftie, parts included. Even the base has symmetrical buttons on both sides. And it is cheap, about €45 incl VAT. I've tried both Saitek and CH sticks at cons, but somehow my hand - broad palm, size #10, relatively short fingers - just doesn't like them as much as these el-cheapos. I know I'm not the only one physically incompatible with CH, since there's been a bunch of pictures of raiser pads on the palm rest.
-
My Saitek V.1 Cyborg was $23 total, brand new, been working for the past 2 years, just like new, and I fly almost everyday. ;) Some guys go out and buy these $200 sticks that just baffles me. Having 3 screens may help you identify threats, maybe....0.5 seconds faster than one with a single screen? It's called good SA. Sometimes when I fly, especially in multi-con engagements, I don't even need to track the other guy, because I saw where he flew past on my screen, I can picture it in the back of my head. Justify your money spending however you want, I'll gladly duel anyone with my $120 monitor 27" and my $23 joystick.
in world of tanks they call them wallet warrior. While those who play for free are called welfare warriors.
spending more money buying equipment may actually improve your game. Having 3 screens does give you more viewing area identifying possible threats better than those with only one. trakir is very useful in tracking targets much better than hat.
having a good stick is better than a cheap one due to no spiking, easier to hold, etc. Otherwise if it didn't make a difference you wouldn't have guys posting ten page threads arguing ch v saitek.
semp
-
My Saitek V.1 Cyborg was $23 total, brand new, been working for the past 2 years, just like new, and I fly almost everyday. ;) Some guys go out and buy these $200 sticks that just baffles me. Having 3 screens may help you identify threats, maybe....0.5 seconds faster than one with a single screen? It's called good SA. Sometimes when I fly, especially in multi-con engagements, I don't even need to track the other guy, because I saw where he flew past on my screen, I can picture it in the back of my head. Justify your money spending however you want, I'll gladly duel anyone with my $120 monitor 27" and my $23 joystick.
more screen surface is not about seeing planes earlier, its about to see planes you wouldn't have seen otherwise, Handling heavy furballs, seeing stuff without touching your hat. That said 27' is a very respectable size already.
A very precise stick won't change your duelling ability, but will help your aiming % for sure. Saitek sticks spike a lot.
-
more screen surface is not about seeing planes earlier, its about to see planes you wouldn't have seen otherwise, Handling heavy furballs, seeing stuff without touching your hat. That said 27' is a very respectable size already.
Once I start getting into a furball with lots of cons around, I start looking around 360 degrees every 5 seconds. It takes maybe...1-1.5 second total to snap view around the whole cockpit. I'm not saying 3 monitors won't help, but I'm saying the amount of help they offer is pretty much almost nothing. With 3 screens, all you have to do is glance left and right. With 1 screen, you use your snap views to look left and right, which takes an extra .5 seconds, maybe 1 second. It's not hard to spot a sudden red icon in a blue/green environment, even if it is for a split second.
A very precise stick won't change your duelling ability, but will help your aiming % for sure. Saitek sticks spike a lot.
Never had a problem with mine.
-
I had no problems with cheap saiteks either, until I had a better one then I realized the gap between the two.
Same with the 3 screens, I never really had a need for it, as SA was maybe my only strong point...but I stumbled across 2 free screens, and even if my desk is too small and the setup dodgy at best I wouldn't unplug them :rock
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Byqp3rK9K68/UBwkThCM_KI/AAAAAAAAFVo/Y_qjz1SHmF4/s800/IMG_20120803_210954.jpg)
-
you can look around but planes have blind spots and you can track them a lot easier with trakir than with just a hat switch. anybody with trakir will tell you the difference it makes.
Some cheap sticks are very good but they also lack the zillion buttons that the more expensive sticks have. Those buttons can be mapped so you don't have to touch the keyboard. it does make a difference in a furball if you don't have to remove your hands from stick and throttle.
you can play the game with just the basic components and be very good, but you can improve just by getting a couple of things.
main thing is buy what you can afford. it took me over 3 years to get what I have, it has improved both my game and gaming experience. you may be happy with yours I'm extremely happy with mine.
semp
-
I bought a trackIR, waste of money really. I turns you into a 2 weeker instantly for no real benefit.
One problem is to move from your 4oc to your 8oc, you have to go through the 12oc like if you had a real neck. Nice realism but on the gaming view point its a clear disadvantage.
Also the aiming is problematic, you can't have any parasite movements with your head while adjusting for the shot and I just HAVE to bank my head when pressing the trigger.
If someone in Europe has interest I can Sell it for 100€.
-
Some cheap sticks are very good but they also lack the zillion buttons that the more expensive sticks have. Those buttons can be mapped so you don't have to touch the keyboard. it does make a difference in a furball if you don't have to remove your hands from stick and throttle.
I partially agree, but: How many buttons do you really need or use in a furball? My bare necessities consist of a trigger, a throttle and an 8-view hat. "View up front" is nice when following an enemy plane although a general "View up" would work to all directions together with the hat. Tangents for Range and Channel added with a "Check6" button add politeness towards fellow countrymen. That counts five buttons, a hat and a slider. My first stick over ten years ago was a cheap Logitech Wingman and it had more than that.
But yes, it is nice to do things without moving your hands off the stick and throttle. OTOH, the real WW2 pilots didn't have too many buttons on their stick and throttle. Instead there were levers and knobs and buttons all over the cockpit. And of course they didn't need TrackIr or an 8-view hat to look around...
-
well you also got flaps, wep, comms both range and channel, check six, toggle zoom, zoom in/out, auto pilot (for pw), fire primary only , fire secondary only, fire all, select secondary, clipboard up/down. man, you name it, it can be mapped.
semp
-
I have 5 buttons on the top of my stick. Two for flaps up/down, one for secondary fire, one for WEP, one for switch secondary (I practically never use it). The 8 view hat switches I use half of the time, the other half I spend using my numpad. Trigger fires the primary guns, and a button on the base of the stick is my zoom toggle. Throttle at the base at the stick as well. Right hand flies the plane and shoots the trigger, left hand works the view and the throttle and other things, (gears, hooks, chat).
-
I actually agree with semp a bit :O(thats a first :D)
seriously though I used a cheap saitek stick for years...having all the buttons on the HOTAS is much nicer and allows less reaching for the keyboard, while fighting....
but if you cant fight before all the goodies..... IE a HOTAS.... peddles...whatever...you are not magically gonna be able to fight when you get them....
-
+1 what Ink said about fighting skills.
Semp, I my bare necessities list was based on you saying it does make a difference in a furball if you don't have to remove your hands from stick and throttle.
. I doubt there would be any need for auto pilot in a middle of a furball. Also, why would you need one trigger for primary, another for secondary and yet one for both? The two former can be pressed simultaneously for the effect of the third. Sure, everything can be mapped, but would that improve AH play is another matter. From experience I can tell that after changing a stick it will take some time to find the optimal button for each function, not to mention how long it takes to learn their mapping. And yes, I forgot the zoom toggle.
-
in a furball if you have a pilot wound and you are passing out you can maneuver till almost end then quickly press auto pilot.
I am a believer that you should only touch the keyboard to type. I even have another control box made by 68valu for things like tail hook, landing gear, jump airplane in bombers., calibrate sight, etc.
The only thing I actually don't have mapped is gunner positions.
semp
-
in a furball if you have a pilot wound and you are passing out you can maneuver till almost end then quickly press auto pilot.
I am a believer that you should only touch the keyboard to type. I even have another control box made by 68valu for things like tail hook, landing gear, jump airplane in bombers., calibrate sight, etc.
The only thing I actually don't have mapped is gunner positions.
semp
Unless you're missing one arm..there really is no difference. My left hand works the keyboard and my right hand flies the plane and controls the most important buttons. Hell, I type and fly at the same time regularly pretty much everyday, even in dogfights where I don't need to have my left hand on the numpad (using my right thumb to keep an eye on the enemy with the hat switch).
-
I doubt that you and me play the same way. I can type 80 wpm in my sleep, but in middle of fight I constantly adjust throttle, If I move it to toggle zoom then there's always the chance I may overshoot or let the con get away.
There's times I know I won a fight or made a shot because I didn't have to touch the keyboard. you play the way you feel comfortable but know that there's always something that can improve your game
semp
-
Unless you're missing one arm..there really is no difference. My left hand works the keyboard and my right hand flies the plane and controls the most important buttons. Hell, I type and fly at the same time regularly pretty much everyday, even in dogfights where I don't need to have my left hand on the numpad (using my right thumb to keep an eye on the enemy with the hat switch).
just admit it !!! Your jealous that you can't have the "fancy" equipment and must make do. :neener:
otoh, having all the bells and whistles doesn't mean your a better cartoon pilot. Time PRACTICING will determine who is the better cartoon pilot. The more practice, the better you'll be. Now if Titanic3 with his cheap stuff could fight against Titanic3 with all the bells and whistles, Id have to give the edge to Titanic3........ with the bells and whistles.
-
just admit it !!! Your jealous that you can't have the "fancy" equipment and must make do. :neener:
otoh, having all the bells and whistles doesn't mean your a better cartoon pilot. Time PRACTICING will determine who is the better cartoon pilot. The more practice, the better you'll be. Now if Titanic3 with his cheap stuff could fight against Titanic3 with all the bells and whistles, Id have to give the edge to Titanic3........ with the bells and whistles.
:lol I'll DA one of you "bells and whistles" guys, set up a time. :aok
-
:lol I'll DA one of you "bells and whistles" guys, set up a time. :aok
well the only "bells and whistles" I have is a CH fighter stick, Saitek Throttle&peddles.....
the way you talk it seems like you think you are pretty good......I will test you out. :aok
-
in a furball if you have a pilot wound and you are passing out you can maneuver till almost end then quickly press auto pilot.
I am a believer that you should only touch the keyboard to type. I even have another control box made by 68valu for things like tail hook, landing gear, jump airplane in bombers., calibrate sight, etc.
The only thing I actually don't have mapped is gunner positions.
semp
here is a box with gunner positions I use for myself! I'm not the greatest cartoon pilot, but I do have cool toys I've built for myself and a few of our fellow AH'ers as well.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww293/68valu/simulator%20stuff/26buttonlabeled.jpg)
68valu
-
:lol I'll DA one of you "bells and whistles" guys, set up a time. :aok
...and if you duel one of those "bells and whistles" guys that have been "practicing" this game as long as you have you will be very hard pressed to win.
Again <read slowly so you might understand> it's NOT the equipment, but the skill attained from countless hours of practice.
-
here is a box with gunner positions I use for myself! I'm not the greatest cartoon pilot, but I do have cool toys I've built for myself and a few of our fellow AH'ers as well.
(http://i729.photobucket.com/albums/ww293/68valu/simulator%20stuff/26buttonlabeled.jpg)
68valu
very cool :aok
-
well the only "bells and whistles" I have is a CH fighter stick, Saitek Throttle&peddles.....
the way you talk it seems like you think you are pretty good......I will test you out. :aok
:lol I asked to DA you before in the MA, you said you were busy, next time. Haven't heard anything since. Titan is my IGN (well, was).
...and if you duel one of those "bells and whistles" guys that have been "practicing" this game as long as you have you will be very hard pressed to win.
Again <read slowly so you might understand> it's NOT the equipment, but the skill attained from countless hours of practice.
:huh That's been the whole point of my posts. I'm just saying that those guys wasted their money if they were looking for even more help.
-
:lol I asked to DA you before in the MA, you said you were busy, next time. Haven't heard anything since. Titan is my IGN (well, was).
:huh That's been the whole point of my posts. I'm just saying that those guys wasted their money if they were looking for even more help.
But to them they are NOT wasting their money. To them the immersion is worth the price. To guys with poor eye site a bigger screen does give them an advantage, while it's not an advantage OVER another player they are truly hindered if they don't have it, so, it does become an advantage.
You may not think some of these things are an advantage, but to some they are. Telling people not to waste their money is foolish unless you also point out that it is only your opinion and let it go at that.
-
But to them they are NOT wasting their money. To them the immersion is worth the price. To guys with poor eye site a bigger screen does give them an advantage, while it's not an advantage OVER another player they are truly hindered if they don't have it, so, it does become an advantage.
You may not think some of these things are an advantage, but to some they are. Telling people not to waste their money is foolish unless you also point out that it is only your opinion and let it go at that.
And to the guys who ARE buying them, thinking they'll get some huge advantage, are wasting their money. I already set a difference between the two in my previous posts. There are those that buy it for immersion (who doesn't want a cockpit sim of their favorite plane?), and there are those that buy it to gain as many advantages as they can get, yet they don't realize the "advantage" is almost nothing. At least read the whole thread before calling another person's opinions "foolish". :aok
-
And to the guys who ARE buying them, thinking they'll get some huge advantage, are wasting their money. I already set a difference between the two in my previous posts. There are those that buy it for immersion (who doesn't want a cockpit sim of their favorite plane?), and there are those that buy it to gain as many advantages as they can get, yet they don't realize the "advantage" is almost nothing. At least read the whole thread before calling another person's opinions "foolish". :aok
but you do get a huge advantage. it's called fun factor. plus some of the toys do give you an edge over somebody else. some of the sticks are better than others. some guys will swear to the almighty that their accuracy increased when they spent 300 bucks on ch hardware. some others can tell you that trakir does give you an advantage over hat throttle as you cannot even map all the views using a hat, since it only has 8.
and some others just bought it because it looked cool on their desk and they decided since they work hard for it that it was their gift to themselves.
unless you have used some of the hardware and compare it to what you used before you will never know if it does give you and edge or not. to me it gives me an edge in both, skill and fun factor. there isnt a thing I have on my desk that I have bought that I can say, i wasted my money. as before I bought it I thought about it for a while and researched it to see if it was worth what I paid for to me.
semp
-
but you do get a huge advantage. it's called fun factor. plus some of the toys do give you an edge over somebody else. some of the sticks are better than others. some guys will swear to the almighty that their accuracy increased when they spent 300 bucks on ch hardware. some others can tell you that trakir does give you an advantage over hat throttle as you cannot even map all the views using a hat, since it only has 8.
and some others just bought it because it looked cool on their desk and they decided since they work hard for it that it was their gift to themselves.
unless you have used some of the hardware and compare it to what you used before you will never know if it does give you and edge or not. to me it gives me an edge in both, skill and fun factor. there isnt a thing I have on my desk that I have bought that I can say, i wasted my money. as before I bought it I thought about it for a while and researched it to see if it was worth what I paid for to me.
semp
And there are guys who has bought TrackIR and found them to be a hinder (case in point, SirNuke). YOU might buy these things for the "fun factor", but SOME, wait wait wait...gotta repeat that SOME , buy it because they want the maximum advantage, even though the advantage is minuscule. You surely cannot think a .5 second difference in spotting an enemy plane 6.0K away is a big "advantage".
-
Having a HOTAS or TrackIR or anything else isn't "buying" skill or will give someone an advantage. If you suck, you suck no matter what controllers you use.
ack-ack
-
Having a HOTAS or TrackIR or anything else isn't "buying" skill or will give someone an advantage. If you suck, you suck no matter what controllers you use.
ack-ack
:bhead That's what I've been saying.
-
And there are guys who has bought TrackIR and found them to be a hinder (case in point, SirNuke). YOU might buy these things for the "fun factor", but SOME, wait wait wait...gotta repeat that SOME , buy it because they want the maximum advantage, even though the advantage is minuscule. You surely cannot think a .5 second difference in spotting an enemy plane 6.0K away is a big "advantage".
no, but using trakir to track an enemy while turning and in the middle of blackouts is a lot easier than if you use a hat to look around. here watch this short film. dont tell me you can keep trak of somebody like that using a hat switch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTv4y63JheY&feature=plcp
now please tell me that I could have made that shot without trakir.
semp
-
Sure as hell can. Next time I go on a sortie, I'll film it for you. And note, even if you lose sight in a blackout for a second, their plane is not going to magically warp to your 6. Or you know what? Look at some of my films I already posted here.
My 1v1 with MK84 that lasted 5 minutes. http://www.mediafire.com/?edg055mu5o1sofd
My 6 v 1 over a vBase. http://www.mediafire.com/file/tvfyib2a77p707o/8
Tomorrow I'll upload one for you. Or we could DA.
Oh, and there's a Page Up/Page Down too, not just a numpad. ;)
EDIT: I'll admit, field ack saved me from one of the passes made by the cons in the 6 v 1 vid, but besides that, everything was done by me.
-
upload to youtube or something. are those full ah files? are you using fraps or something like that to record? because otherwise you arent really showing us what you are doing at the time. I got over 4k films from before i got trakir and I can show you plenty from when i never lost sight of one. of course you cant tell unless you are recording with fraps or something similar, otherwise it doesnt show your views and black outs, red outs, etc. that's where trakir is the most helpful.
semp
-
so Titan was that you tonight who tried to jump me?
a "Titan" tried to jump me while in a F4U4 I was lo and slow.... :t
that made the second kill on him tonight.
-
For 16 years I've used nothing but my num pad for views. It's exceptional in tracking cons. I NEVER lose sight of a con except if it's on purpose. I use my thumb to control up and down views and adjust my head postition in the middle of a fight. I highly doubt track IR can do anything I can't.
I use a $45 Saitek AV8R joystick and a 22" monitor. My hit % is normally in the 10-12% range. It could be higher with a little discipline but I tend to try for a fair number of long shots (800-1000 yards) and low probability (blind) leading shots in hard turns (which actually aren't that low probability with practice).
I can't even find good uses for all the buttons on my AV8R. I have fire all mapped to the trigger, fire secondary to the rear handle button, flaps up and down mapped to the left and right handle buttons, fire primary to hat forward, zoom toggle to hat back and WEP to both hat left and right and also to my mouse wheel click. I don't use the other four hat positions. On the base buttons I have elevator trim up and down, combat trim toggle and combat trim set mapped to one side and toggle icon view, tail hook and something else I don't use mapped leaving one spot open. That leaves all my buttons open again using the A/B switch for additional functions. I also don't use my duel throttles because that's mapped to my mouse scroll wheel. And then there's my mouse who's extra buttons I can't find a use for.
To think fancy equipment is going to make you a better player is decieving yourself. I can guarantee that I have no disadvantage of meaningful proportions in any situation in the game except as defined by my own skill relative to that of my opponent.
That said if fancy equipment and lots of buttons make you happy go for it.
-
BTW semp do you use Bezel compensation ?
-
upload to youtube or something. are those full ah files? are you using fraps or something like that to record? because otherwise you arent really showing us what you are doing at the time. I got over 4k films from before i got trakir and I can show you plenty from when i never lost sight of one. of course you cant tell unless you are recording with fraps or something similar, otherwise it doesnt show your views and black outs, red outs, etc. that's where trakir is the most helpful.
semp
Those are full AH films, I figured you could use the recorded views to see how I fly. Very well, I'll record with fraps today, although I only have the free version of it.
And no INK, I go by the name of BackHand now (haha, check 6 wars to Nuke and Bruv :D), and I don't fly F4Us. K4s, Ki84, and P38s are my main rides. ;)
-
Thx for the shade update :)
-
Thx for the shade update :)
Not a shade if I'm not paying for it. ;) Courtesy of a friend, otherwise, I wouldn't be playing AH this month. Although I'm pretty sure you guys figured it out by now, you're pretty bright, no? Or not, oh wells, at least now you know. Pretty sure the constant K4 and P38 flying gave it away eh?
-
I just saw the top gun tag and thought "It just one of them, who cares, they switch name every new moon"
Most of you guys fly K4's anyway :D
-
BTW semp do you use Bezel compensation ?
no noir, I dont. I got 3 23 in monitors that I bought at different times. they're not even the same manufacturer as I couldnt afford 600+ all at one time, so I got them when I could afford them. I have magazines under 2 of them to make them all the same height.
Those are full AH films, I figured you could use the recorded views to see how I fly. Very well, I'll record with fraps today, although I only have the free version of it.
see that's when you see the big advantage of trakir is in full turn black out/red out turns. You can push your plane a little more and yet you can still keep track of where your enemy is. those dont get recorded by ah. obviously we dont agree so arguing will get nowhere. you will never admit that some things do give you an advantage, but you still have to be able to use that advantage. if you cant fly the plane for crap then toys wont matter. if you have never flown with trakir, 3 screens and a nice joystick set up then you have nothing to compare to, so it's fair to say you dont really know if it gives you an advantage or not. :salute
semp
-
I just saw the top gun tag and thought "It just one of them, who cares, they switch name every new moon"
Most of you guys fly K4's anyway :D
:) Oh, how rude, I forgot.
Thx for the shade update :)
You're welcome. :)
-
no noir, I dont. I got 3 23 in monitors that I bought at different times. they're not even the same manufacturer as I couldnt afford 600+ all at one time, so I got them when I could afford them. I have magazines under 2 of them to make them all the same height.
see that's when you see the big advantage of trakir is in full turn black out/red out turns. You can push your plane a little more and yet you can still keep track of where your enemy is. those dont get recorded by ah. obviously we dont agree so arguing will get nowhere. you will never admit that some things do give you an advantage, but you still have to be able to use that advantage. if you cant fly the plane for crap then toys wont matter. if you have never flown with trakir, 3 screens and a nice joystick set up then you have nothing to compare to, so it's fair to say you dont really know if it gives you an advantage or not. :salute
semp
And if I have? :rofl
Where do you think Im getting the basis for my argument?
-
no noir, I dont. I got 3 23 in monitors that I bought at different times. they're not even the same manufacturer as I couldnt afford 600+ all at one time, so I got them when I could afford them. I have magazines under 2 of them to make them all the same height.
no matter whet your screens are you can use bezel compensation
-
....
And no INK, I go by the name of BackHand now (haha, check 6 wars to Nuke and Bruv :D), and I don't fly F4Us. K4s, Ki84, and P38s are my main rides. ;)
ok cool......cuz that guy was NOT very good at all :rofl
-
And if I have? :rofl
Where do you think Im getting the basis for my argument?
So you bought all the stuff then got rid of it? Now that's waste of money.
semp
-
So you bought all the stuff then got rid of it? Now that's waste of money.
semp
:rofl I tried it at a friends house.
-
:rofl I tried it at a friends house.
so the answer is no, you havent. you just never got used to your friend's set up so decided that he wasted his money and then made a blanket statement that those that have a set up better than yours are wasting their money.
semp
-
so the answer is no, you havent. you just never got used to your friend's set up so decided that he wasted his money and then made a blanket statement that those that have a set up better than yours are wasting their money.
semp
:rofl There really is no getting through that thick skull of yours. Set up a time, we'll DA and we'll see if you can beat me with all your fancy gear and gadgets. :) I'll fly with a mouse too and see how that goes.
-
:rofl There really is no getting through that thick skull of yours. Set up a time, we'll DA and we'll see if you can beat me with all your fancy gear and gadgets. :) I'll fly with a mouse too and see how that goes.
oh i see you are topgun guy. you are right and everybody is wrong, i apologize :rofl :rofl :rofl.
semp
-
oh i see you are topgun guy. you are right and everybody is wrong, i apologize :rofl :rofl :rofl.
semp
Talking...talking...but no walking :(.
-
Talking...talking...but no walking :(.
you still dont understand, it wont prove anything about what is being talked here. If I win then you will come up with another excuse if you kill me then you will think that is validation of what you said. but the truth is the only way to actually prove to yourself is if you actually get the stuff yourself then compare it to how you played before. playing at a friends house for 10 minutes doesnt prove that you actually have used the equipment, it only proves that you couldnt play with your friends equipment as you arent used to it.
if equipment really didnt matter then you wouldnt have players here trying to upgrade their computers and equipment. after all what is the point if nothing is going to improve their game? the fact that people come here time after time asking about this stick or that stick or this video card or which monitor is better is proof in itself that it will improve somebody's game. after all if you have a better monitor and a better stick your aiming will increase as you can see better and identify targets. if you can go from a computer than plays with no eye candy than to one that plays with all the eye candy and full frames, dont you think that it will help you see that gv that you couldnt see before? if you have 3 screens and see from wingtip to wingtip dont you think that is an advantage over somebody who has a 19 inch monitor?
you are arguing for the sake of arguing. I have many times shaken a con from behind my by simply diving into the ground and turning around the trees. reason for that is the other guys computer cant process fps as fast as he wants so he loses sight of me for one split second where i can turn and be gone and back on his six.
have you read how how many threads has been 10 or 15 pages long about how ch hardware is so much better than saitek's even though it costs about 3 times as much as an x52? you think if those people didnt think it would improve their game that they would spend those 300 bucks just for the hell of it? or get a video card that costs 300 bucks over another that costs 100 if they didnt think the eye candy would help identify targets better?
the fact that you cant afford it or wont buy it doesnt really prove that you can play the game with just the bare essentials and buying extra equipment is a waste of money. use fraps to record a fight that you can keep trak of a con just like I did in my film while only using your stick and a keyboard would help more to validate your point than anything else. but I seriously doubt that you can record a film like that.
also record your views just looking around an airplane up down, left, right, up, down, behind and basically 360 around a p51. then upload to youtube. then I'll do the same using trakir. if you can look around as well and just as fast as well as I can see with trakir then you will prove the point that trakir is useless. you dont have to be in combat just up in the air and look around every single inch outside of that cockpit. let me know when you are ready.
so do either of the two choices i have give and we will compare to see if I really am wasting my money or you can perhaps improve your game a little.
semp
-
I set bezel compensation up on my setup yesterday and even with different screen sizes it helps the brain figuring whats happening on the secondary screens
-
you still dont understand, it wont prove anything about what is being talked here. If I win then you will come up with another excuse if you kill me then you will think that is validation of what you said. but the truth is the only way to actually prove to yourself is if you actually get the stuff yourself then compare it to how you played before. playing at a friends house for 10 minutes doesnt prove that you actually have used the equipment, it only proves that you couldnt play with your friends equipment as you arent used to it.
if equipment really didnt matter then you wouldnt have players here trying to upgrade their computers and equipment. after all what is the point if nothing is going to improve their game? the fact that people come here time after time asking about this stick or that stick or this video card or which monitor is better is proof in itself that it will improve somebody's game. after all if you have a better monitor and a better stick your aiming will increase as you can see better and identify targets. if you can go from a computer than plays with no eye candy than to one that plays with all the eye candy and full frames, dont you think that it will help you see that gv that you couldnt see before? if you have 3 screens and see from wingtip to wingtip dont you think that is an advantage over somebody who has a 19 inch monitor?
you are arguing for the sake of arguing. I have many times shaken a con from behind my by simply diving into the ground and turning around the trees. reason for that is the other guys computer cant process fps as fast as he wants so he loses sight of me for one split second where i can turn and be gone and back on his six.
have you read how how many threads has been 10 or 15 pages long about how ch hardware is so much better than saitek's even though it costs about 3 times as much as an x52? you think if those people didnt think it would improve their game that they would spend those 300 bucks just for the hell of it? or get a video card that costs 300 bucks over another that costs 100 if they didnt think the eye candy would help identify targets better?
the fact that you cant afford it or wont buy it doesnt really prove that you can play the game with just the bare essentials and buying extra equipment is a waste of money. use fraps to record a fight that you can keep trak of a con just like I did in my film while only using your stick and a keyboard would help more to validate your point than anything else. but I seriously doubt that you can record a film like that.
also record your views just looking around an airplane up down, left, right, up, down, behind and basically 360 around a p51. then upload to youtube. then I'll do the same using trakir. if you can look around as well and just as fast as well as I can see with trakir then you will prove the point that trakir is useless. you dont have to be in combat just up in the air and look around every single inch outside of that cockpit. let me know when you are ready.
so do either of the two choices i have give and we will compare to see if I really am wasting my money or you can perhaps improve your game a little.
semp
Watch the vids I posted then. :aok Preferably the second one.
-
I give up. ah films don't show all the info needed to compare. I can follow a guy using only a mouse AND keyboard but that doesn't prove that using a joystick is a waste of money.
semp
-
I give up. ah films don't show all the info needed to compare. I can follow a guy using only a mouse AND keyboard but that doesn't prove that using a joystick is a waste of money.
semp
Good bye, I'll go back to killing noobs like you with my 20 dollars Saitek then. :)
-
Good bye, I'll go back to killing noobs like you with my 20 dollars Saitek then. :)
typical Topgun member. Can't prove his point so you resort to personal attacks. that won't give you more skill either.
semp
-
noobs like you
:O
typical Topgun member.
:lol saved my breath on this one
-
typical Topgun member. Can't prove his point so you resort to personal attacks. that won't give you more skill either.
semp
there is NO way to "prove" his point......he cant do it, his "point" is wrong but right at the same time as is yours....anybody with half a brain is gonna know a better stick will help in certain situations....IE I flew with an X52 for a long time my hit% was in the 4-5 range after getting the CH fighter stick over night I jumped to 7-9% I didn't magically become a better shot...the more stable stick allowed my aiming to be more precise.... having rudder peddles is a huge improvement over a twisty....still does not mean the gu with the twisty cant win against a guy with rudder peddles.
I love the HAT switch views...I have zero problems tracking an nme....would the TRkr help? most likely..do I need it? nope
would I use it.... most likely....
it still comes down to "practice" I have no doubt that some great sticks fly with cheap equipment and some of the worst "fighters" have all the bells and whistles....and vice versa.
-
it still comes down to "practice" I have no doubt that some great sticks fly with cheap equipment and some of the worst "fighters" have all the bells and whistles....and vice versa.
Wasn't it Shane who flew with a mouse? If not there are a small handfull of very very good fighter sticks that play with a mouse instead of a JS.
-
Wasn't it Shane who flew with a mouse? If not there are a small handfull of very very good fighter sticks that play with a mouse instead of a JS.
not sure if Shane did, but I think Lazer did :headscratch:
I tried with a mouse and just kept crashing it :rofl
-
Lazer did claim he was flying with a mouse.
-
If you need to dig a hole, a shovel will do fine, but a Backhoe will get the job done better, faster and easier.
Sure you can play this game with a mouse or the most basic stick. You can be a great player using basic equipment, but think about the possibilities of how much better you can be if you were using quality equipment.
A few minutes on a friends stick means nothing. You have to adapt, and set the stick up to your preference and then you can fairly judge whether it is worth it or not.
If you don't want to spend the money to find out, then so be it, but one should not criticize another because they choose to do so, as well one should not criticize one for not wanting to go to the extra expense to try out new equipment.
My Opinion.
Fred
-
right said Fred :aok.
:salute titanic3, only we can decide what is best for us.
semp
-
:rofl There really is no getting through that thick skull of yours. Set up a time, we'll DA and we'll see if you can beat me with all your fancy gear and gadgets. :) I'll fly with a mouse too and see how that goes.
Practice makes you better and good equipment helps. A good stick will even be better with better equipment. I have all the bells and whistles (Why because i can and i want it that simple) and if i could build or buy a real cockpit that spun around i would (why just because i felt like it and no other reason). OK all this talk and it is just a game. You want to duel I will duel you here http://aircombat.com (http://aircombat.com) any time. BTW I have done it (have it all on cd if you want to see it) and this is as close as you get to the real thing without real guns. I love all these brave behind the PC virtual world tough want to be's. Just get out and do it there is the link.Trust me its nothing like what your doing in aces High but I still play with all my toys and still have lots of fun. Oh and yes did every move for real that we all do in AH except all the flippy floppy flapy BS that you might think is really done and is not and never was because it is a video GAME.
-
Sure you can play this game with a mouse or the most basic stick. You can be a great player using basic equipment, but think about the possibilities of how much better you can be if you were using quality equipment.
I play with a basic twisty stick and I've never yet met a player online who I couldn't lose to. :x
-
Dang it.....I have no argument horse in this race.
-
Trackir is good for SA until you get into a fight, then it’s better turned off. I just can’t align my head with the pipper when I need to. But for keeping SA up, there’s nothing that beats it. You can visually sweep all areas in about 5 seconds. But for mine, as far as getting a good shot off, it doesn’t cut it.
Nicklaus said you can’t “buy a game”, and to some extent that’s true, but I find CH are as tough as old boots. I think you have to “equipment up” if you want to be competitive, but those that don’t – it’s their call.
And as far as end result. The more I practice, the luckier I get. Anyway, I think it’s all about attitude. If you beat your chest and want to DA everyone, it’s your call. I think the best way and the people I respect the most, pick their fights, wade in, go for the throat and squeeze very hard. They don’t concern themselves with what they fly, what the other guy flies, their number on the roster, the other guys number on the roster, who Hoed, who didn’t or any other minor details.
See, evaluate, engage, fight, win (or lose), learn, practice, enjoy and repeat - Simple
-
3up if you are interested I can send you my profile. I forgot how I did it but there's a bit of dampening in it so when you aim you are allowed some small movement without trakir interfering with your gun sight.
semp
-
there is NO way to "prove" his point......he cant do it, his "point" is wrong but right at the same time as is yours....anybody with half a brain is gonna know a better stick will help in certain situations....IE I flew with an X52 for a long time my hit% was in the 4-5 range after getting the CH fighter stick over night I jumped to 7-9% I didn't magically become a better shot...the more stable stick allowed my aiming to be more precise.... having rudder peddles is a huge improvement over a twisty....still does not mean the gu with the twisty cant win against a guy with rudder peddles.
I love the HAT switch views...I have zero problems tracking an nme....would the TRkr help? most likely..do I need it? nope
would I use it.... most likely....
it still comes down to "practice" I have no doubt that some great sticks fly with cheap equipment and some of the worst "fighters" have all the bells and whistles....and vice versa.
Why wouldn't be able to prove my point?
A race between who can look around their cockpit the fastest, TrackIR or numpad?
I already know the answer, TrackIR, but by what? .5 seconds?
As for a more expensive stick, there are cheap and GOOD sticks out there too. ;) They say you get what you pay for, but every now and then, you get one that is more than what you payed for.
-
Practice makes you better and good equipment helps. A good stick will even be better with better equipment. I have all the bells and whistles (Why because i can and i want it that simple) and if i could build or buy a real cockpit that spun around i would (why just because i felt like it and no other reason). OK all this talk and it is just a game. You want to duel I will duel you here http://aircombat.com (http://aircombat.com) any time. BTW I have done it (have it all on cd if you want to see it) and this is as close as you get to the real thing without real guns. I love all these brave behind the PC virtual world tough want to be's. Just get out and do it there is the link.Trust me its nothing like what your doing in aces High but I still play with all my toys and still have lots of fun. Oh and yes did every move for real that we all do in AH except all the flippy floppy flapy BS that you might think is really done and is not and never was because it is a video GAME.
When I win the lottery I will. :lol
-
3up if you are interested I can send you my profile. I forgot how I did it but there's a bit of dampening in it so when you aim you are allowed some small movement without trakir interfering with your gun sight.
semp
Thanks Semp, that would be greatly appreciated - I imagine it can be attached to an e-mail to my hotmail address in profile.
Many thanks - 3Up
-
Semp, I would like a copy as well if you don't mind. I stopped using my trackIR due to light issues in my computer room. Now that i have them fixed of like to give it a go again.
-
I guess I may have to give Track IR another shot. I tried it about four years ago, and didn't really care for it so I sold it, but with the new generation I may have to give it another shot.
Fred
-
will upload it to mediafire tonight and post the link.
semp
-
Lazer did claim he was flying with a mouse.
To be fair the mouse was sedated and sat in his lap. His stick (hehe) was in his right hand and his throttle in his left.
-
here's a link to my trakir profile. this isnt mine I copied it from somebody else, but I forgot who.
http://www.mediafire.com/view/?kwndou3zc19bdqz
anyway i find it easier to play with speed at 1 and smooth at 10. camera brightness is 255, light filter threshold is 240, ir brightness is 0, video processing mode is prescision and precision mode smoothing is 100.00
hope it helps.
semp
-
Thanks, I'll grab that when I get home.
-
8) Chess timer 15min blitz mode.... keeps track of VH down time....
Been at this since 2002 and AW prior. Used a Baby Ben, but it broke. Have been using cell phone of late. But, ty ty; can use my chess clock. A way cool Insa.
-
not sure if Shane did, but I think Lazer did :headscratch:
I tried with a mouse and just kept crashing it :rofl
Never used a mouse. Kudos to those who can.
-
Never used a mouse. Kudos to those who can.
ya no doubt...I tried, kept crashing :rofl
Glad to see ya back, hope things are good for you and yours :salute
-
Could you tell us a little more about this. I am very interested. I am in the same boat, never going to remember or have time to type dot commands for a lot of functions while in the MA. (There's 2 high P51s, a co-alt Spit and I'm going to type a squelch command?) Keyboards are cheap so I can afford to get another one. But I want to make sure I understand. I thought it would not matter what keyboard you had plugged in. All keys mapped the same, unlike the joysticks. Am I wrong, does the game recognize different keyboards?
Thanks!
5) Have 2 pos 32key keyboards programmed to different planes and things like move, squelch, modes, gas level, planes, different auto pilot modes,
bomb load out, salvo etc etc. I find this much easier to cope with then dot commands....(try to spell squelch when your irrated and in a hurry.
ManAWar has his own button..... Oh and if you have a small choice of wingman you can program dot commands onto a key to make one button press
wingman selection.
-
this is what he's talking about see that white box in front of my center screen. that was made by 68valu using an old 3d pro joystick. I use it to map things that dont fit on my other controllers and are not normally used for fighting, such as jumping from plane to plane, opening bomb doors, calibrating bombs, gear and tail hook up or down, etc.
(http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr285/semperac/2011-11-07_19-13-59_185.jpg)
semp
-
Actually, when he wrote "pos keyboard", I think he is talking about "Point Of Sale" programmable keyboards as discussed here:
http://www.techvideoreview.com/FlightSimMovies/General/ControlsAndCockpits/JoysticksControlsAndFlightSimCockpitsFullPage.htm
...Take a look at the last video clip link on that page, where it says "Special Programmable Keyboard". These things make an AWESOME enhancement to Aces High. I have 3 of them and wish I had more.
Texasfighter wrote "I thought it would not matter what keyboard you had plugged in. All keys mapped the same, unlike the joysticks. Am I wrong, does the game recognize different keyboards?"
The game doesn't need to recognize different keyboards, because these "POS" keyboards are reprogrammable in hardware, so you can make any key (or any group of keys) generate any keystroke or series of keystrokes that you find convenient!
:salute