With mech sim type games, it is nearly inevitable that wierdos like me  will want to use strange personalized control layouts to deal with the complex task of, for example, operating a mech.  I think it might be productive to have a thread (maybe even pinned?  ) to deal with the issue of control customization--list your odd control schemes, mention shortfalls in configurability in other sim titles, etc.

In particular, my ideal mech control scheme from Mechwarrior 4 used 2 joysticks (Dual-fisted FTW  ) a-like so:

Function	Mapping
Throttle	Left Stick Y Axis
Turn Mech	Left Stick X Axis
Tilt Torso+Viewpoint	Right Stick Y Axis
Twist Torso+Viewpoint	Right Stick X Axis
Fire Weapons	Right Stick Trigger & Thumb Buttons
Jump Jets	Left Stick Trigger
Targeting	Right Stick Hat

  Will there even be 'Targeting' a-la the MW games?  I didn't even think of that...

In any case, this setup can create problems--many games do not support mapping multiple discrete joysticks.  I have a program that can combine my two joysticks (MS Sidewinder and Saitek Cyborg 3D) into a single 8-axis, 16-button beast (thank you PPJoyJoy), but I haven't tried running that in Vista and it still requires the ability to select WHICH one joystick you will use. (grr  Crimson Skies)  Better yet would be the ability to map any axis of any connected stick to any appropriate function like Descent3 did, but if it's not available or possible/easy to implement in CryEngine2, I understand.

Short version for the 'TLDR' people --I use a 2 joystick control setup, and I'd like to know if it's reasonable to expect to be able to use a similar setup for piloting in MW:LL.

Nevertheless, it should be very tricky, steering your human character around with two joysticks aswell ^^ Or maybe console-experienced players should be able to do that..

BTW: I hate console fps

Yeah.. of course that would be possible.. But I personally dont like permanently switching back and forth between mouse/keyboard and gamepad or joystick.. Thats why I try to stick to my mouse/keyboard steering.

Although.. I could plug in my MOMO Steering Wheel  That must be weird.

At the moment im using a wiimote configuration. Wii ir aim and nunchuck stick to turn, though i'd like to get the mech to turn by rotating the nunchuck. I'm currently minus one arm (broken collar bone), so i havn't been able to work on it much, but the config i'm moving to is joystick for speed, direction and sensors on my left arm and wiimote ir for torso and weapons on my right.  My one armed control scheme is one person doing direction on the jstick, one weapons/sensors ect on the keyboard and me telling them what to do whilst i aim with the wiimote.

Not that I know of.  However I am by no means an expert at Battletech.

Aurora Paradox

As if on cue...

The Battlemaster you are referring to is a variant.


As far as I know, this is the only instance of a dual cockpit 'mech design.  And the second cockpit did not contribute to the operation of any of the 'mechs combat systems or piloting.