[Raz]

Quote from the TTH interview:

With Hermann flying through the depths of space, it became evident that the game could be easily controlled with a mouse and keyboard combo, a huge step up from the joystick-only version of the original Jumpgate. Although players can still use a joystick, the mouse / keyboard combo makes the game accessible for thousands of potential users who don’t have their old joystick hanging around anymore.

Original Jumpgate had mouse, it just was a cursor designed to emulate a stick, so that mice didn't run roughshod over stick users.

So with that in mind, what is going to be done to ensure that, while mice may be easier to use than before, that its instant response ability and better fine-tune aiming than a stick isn't going to take the 'flight' out of Jumpgate by proxy?

An idea popped into my head about 'smoothing' mouse movements so that small, jerky, fine-tuning movements won't be possible. Jumpgate felt like flight with mouse or a stick, because the ship was 'sluggish' and it was prey to its own limitations. One limitation the ships will have to have is a limit on is the speed that a ship can change its turning direction.

For example, if say you jerk the mouse left to turn the ship 60o to generally aim at a ship. you go too far so you immediately jerk it a tiny bit right to center on them.

If it was 'smoothed out', when you jerk it back right, instead of the ship's aim quickly changing direction, the input would have to slow the leftward momentum before going back right.

[Jump]

Just because they are changing the interface with D.A.N.C.E.R. doesn't mean one user will have advantage over another. The fact is, Joystick users have always had a slight advantage over mouse users, there is nothing wrong with evening up the score. While the TTH thing might be a nice read, I wouldn't read too much into it. I found the JPR interview with the same person, Draker, to be much more informing.

[Raz]

I can't find the JPR interview. Linky?

[Jump]

You would have to ask the folks at Jumpgate Pirate Radio about that. I believe they are still replaying it. Either way, there is nothing wrong with enhancing the mouse to D.A.N.C.E.R. interface IMO. Even as it is now, it's not that bad with a good gaming mouse. I played with a mouse for about 6 months before I got a Joystick. It wasn't too bad but I like a JS.

[Chemdog]

Originally Posted by Jump

The fact is, Joystick users have always had a slight advantage over mouse users,

Tell that to Miskugun.

[daslog]

I wouldn't count on Joystick users continuing to have an advantage. When you consider the potential players and their rigs, I believe you will find most do not own a joystick of any kind. Enableing this folks to compete increases the amount of potential players.

[Ambrosius]

Yup, yup. That's why they're doing it. But according to Istvan in the DsD Interview -- ". . . Several members of the team vastly prefer joystick mode, so there should be no fear that joysticks will be neglected." (For whatever that's worth.)

[Raz]

As long as Joysticks don't become obsolete, I'm fine. Mouse as a method of flying is cool, it's just I start getting nightmares about things like dumbing down the need to roll for better angles, etc.

But then again, maybe things like that will be part of what gives JS its own unique advantages.

[Injustice]

As a general rule:

Mouse=finer control of pitch and yaw to achieve better accuracy for aiming your guns. Complete lack of reliable roll control.

Joystick=More freedom of movement for flight controls yielding faster response times and greater maneuverability, including the ability to roll your ship at will.

Like I've mentioned before, in my estimation, the ships are going to be bigger, meaning fatter targets, meaning precision aiming won't be as much of a requirement, meaning the advantage of using a joystick will be increased in relation to how you control your ship, but it won't be as obvious.

[LupinOne]

FYI, JPR is running the interview every 3 hours from 9am to 6pm Eastern Time this week.

[Tritian]

i dunno, i'm a mouse user and I play Jumpgate just fine. i dont feel joystick users have any advantage over me, other then that they have more control of roll rate. Big deal. I have grown quite used to rolling my ship with the keyboard controls, and it's even possible to roll a little or a lot depending on how long you have the key pressed down for.

[Injustice]

Originally Posted by Tritian

i dunno, i'm a mouse user and I play Jumpgate just fine. i dont feel joystick users have any advantage over me, other then that they have more control of roll rate. Big deal. I have grown quite used to rolling my ship with the keyboard controls, and it's even possible to roll a little or a lot depending on how long you have the key pressed down for.

Yeah, the problem I have with the keyboard/mouse isn't starting the roll, it's stopping it. They could semi-fix that by making the roll controls for keyboard users off & on rather than analog, or ship every game with an analog USB throttle lever like the one for the X52.

[Scorch]

The answer to the Million Dollar Question is yes, you can send me a million dollars. Thanks! :P

We are working hard to make sure that both the mouse controls and the joystick controls are both great and trying to minimize any advantage users of ei