Controls?

[Caspid]

Wondering what controls most/top Altitude players use, keyboard only or kb+mouse?

I'm currently using WS for throttle and the mouse for turning/shooting, but it seems like the keyboard controls allow for tighter turns and more precise maneuvers at the cost of the aiming line and smoothness of motion, and the videos I've seen all use the keyboard only. Also, using the mouse, you have to constantly be aware of the location of your cursor.

So even though turning with the mouse feels much more natural, I'm willing to try to learn to use the keyboard if it confers a significant advantage.

Thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of each?

[tgleaf]

Added a poll for you. I use keyboard only. Been playing for 1000+ hours.

[Tekn0]

I use only the keyboard... but after 380 hours of play I found out Strong Coffee and VipMattMan uses the mouse. Bummer.

[Evan20000]

Keyboard aiming/sniping is easy when you take the time to learn it. Also, you don't have to plug in your mouse and it generally is more laptop friendly.

[Echo Mirage]

8 months, 700 hours, keyboard only. Equal laptop/desktop playtime.

I've never even tried mouse in Alt; nothing about a uni/bidirectionally-firing 2D scroller seems to warrant it, not like, say, netrek.

[Greekjr14]

1 year and 1100+ hours keyboard

[CCN]

keyboard, but i firmly beleive keyboard + mouse is superior.

[MajorPayne257]

1 year, 700 hours, and i rep the keyboard. I've tried keyboard + mouse for a couple rounds, but I've never really given it a chance. Maybe one day...

[Kennedy]

For awhile I used keyboard exclusively, then keyboard + mouse, then I rebound all of my keyboard functions (throttle, items) to buttons on my mouse (I have a Deathadder) and now I use mouse exclusively and have had quite a bit of success with it.

[Premier Stalin]

I see keyboard and mouse as clearly giving an advantage, but I play on my laptop so its keyboard for me.

[lemonas]

Hello, I'm new here.

36hrs of playing. Was in the same position as OP, trying to figure which control method to choose. Began with kb only, then kb + mouse. Do not see any clear advantage of either methods because I suck equally using both.
But yeah, sharp corners in high speed is a bit less of a hassle if you are using keyboard in my opinion.

[bitabur]

You forgot the option for: Controller.

I use xbox 360 controller with wireless dongle, works great.

[j2k]

Keyboard only. I tried mouse but I kept flying into things even more often. I'd say I gave it a 1 hour test drive.

[yankinlk]

Originally Posted by bitabur

You forgot the option for: Controller.

I use xbox 360 controller with wireless dongle, works great.

Wired FTW (wireless on the way).

[Selfish Lover]

320 hours of play and its keyboard only for me. I tried the mouse controls and I tried my xbox 360 controller. Both felt kinda foreign to me...like a mysterious stranger was playing for me...

[darknietzsche]

738 hrs of keyboard usage for me. Tried mouse and keyboard but I always had problems with it. The keyboard feels natural and more comfortable for me in this game.

[Boko]

I use keyboard, so everyone should be using keyboard imo.

[Sunaku]

DualShock 2 here. The only advantage is that I don't have to endure those torture devices called keyboard and mouse.

PS: Where is the Kinect entry? That's how my sister Sunaka plays.

[sunshineduck]

1500 hours of keyboard only makes it impossible for me to play it any other way, but if I could instantly learn mouse control and be as familiar with it as I am with keyboard, i'd switch instantly ^_^

[Aero_Beast]

kb+mouse for the last 300 hours

[allinone]

Keyboard + Mouse! without one of these two, would be uncomfortable.

[Strong Coffee]

kb+mouse
s,d,f + brake(m1), accel(m2)

have fun

[Echo Mirage]

Played with mouse for a bit recently for awhile. Even without getting good at it, I can plainly see it's a substitution for good plane aim, and not worth the drawbacks. A detriment to the cause, I'MHO.

[ufo]

asd; up, down, left, right

[a frail old lady]

Keyboard for life.

Too set in my ways.

[sunshineduck]

Originally Posted by Echo Mirage

Played with mouse for a bit recently for awhile. Even without getting good at it, I can plainly see it's a substitution for good plane aim, and not worth the drawbacks. A detriment to the cause, I'MHO.

what drawbacks?

once you master the kb/mouse and it becomes second nature, the bar improves your aim at zero cost.

after nearly 2000 hours of kb i don't think i'd ever be able switch to kb+mouse, but if i could instantly become familiar with the controls then i absolutely would.

[leoman]

Originally Posted by sunshineduck

what drawbacks?

once you master the kb/mouse and it becomes second nature, the bar improves your aim at zero cost.

after nearly 2000 hours of kb i don't think i'd ever be able switch to kb+mouse, but if i could instantly become familiar with the controls then i absolutely would.

Well with kb+mouse method you don't get any bar, just the crosshair. Ant crosshair do not actually give you the ability to 'just point and shoot' because plane itself needs to adjust to where your mouse points. Anyway, it is really hard to say (now that the bar for kb+mouse is gone) which method is more advantageous because of individual skills that players bring to the table. Controls are only that good as is the player's ability to use them.

[[Y]]

No, you can still "point and shoot" with the mouse, you just don't know as much if your shot's going to hit a wall in-between your plane and the target.

[Aero_Beast]

Originally Posted by Strong Coffee

kb+mouse
s,d,f + brake(m1), accel(m2)

have fun

wow thats kind of a diff set up i use w,s for thusting e powerup and m1 m2 for primary and secondary