You need a stick and throttle, they said...

[siraccord]

Hey guys, this is my first DCS video, I play using only keyboard and mouse. According to some in the community, this is not possible. But DCS is one of the best implemented games when it comes to the controls, with enough patience you can save your money and have fun with just keyboard and mouse :)

This is in single player but I have played MP just fine as well.

filmed with Fraps free version.

 

[blackbelter]

Not that you cannot have fun with just keyboard and mouse. You might even be able to fight like an ace with just that. But when it comes to realism, I have my doubts on your setup...

Edited January 27, 2015 by blackbelter

[siraccord]

But when it comes to realism, I have my doubts on your setup...

Not really sure what you mean

 

 

.... in Game mode... lol...

 

This video had In game avionic and in game flight mode, which helps a lot.

I play Multiplayer as well with just keyboard and mouse, same setup as the video and have landed 3 times. No kills though.

I have completed all the quick start missions including 2v2 bvr with the same setup

not saying i am tom cruise in top gun, just saying the game is playabable with keyboard and mouse.

[zaelu]

Next level is using just Keyboard... and mapping all controls with combos not simple key touches... this will unlock the final boss in DCS World... which is something about everything changing as inherent reality of any universe... virtual or "real". But I didn't go that far... I'm not that awesome...

[blackbelter]

Not really sure what you mean

 

I mean literally what I said. Realism. This is a flight simulator. It is suppose to simulate every aspect of real world aircrafts -- including how they are handled by real world pilots. That is the element of realism.

 

Real world pilots handle a military aircraft with hotas system, not with keyboard and mouse.

 

But if you just want some fun and don't care about realism, or if you are limited budget-wise, then there is no harm doing what you do.

Edited January 27, 2015 by blackbelter

[Cali]

It's possible, but not many people do it. I wouldn't fly like that because it wouldn't be fun and just seem silly to me.

[siraccord]

Next level is using just Keyboard... and mapping all controls with combos not simple key touches... this will unlock the final boss in DCS World... which is something about everything changing as inherent reality of any universe... virtual or "real". But I didn't go that far... I'm not that awesome...

Some of the weapons controls are combos, but why remap everything as a combo to another key?

 

I mean literally what I said. Realism. This is a flight simulator. It is suppose to simulate every aspect of real world aircrafts -- including how they are handled by real world pilots. That is the element of realism.

 

Real world pilots handle a military aircraft with hotas system, not with keyboard and mouse.

 

But if you just want some fun and don't care about realism, or if you are limited budget-wise, then there is no harm doing what you do.

Its about as realistic as any other game where you use your mouse to look (ie: FPS games). Granted I could add another monitor or buy TrackIR & HOTAS to make it more realistic but my only point is to show starters that you do need to spend more money just to get into the game. I plan on buying a stick eventually, but having followed the advice given by the community I didn't play this game for months thinking it was impossible with a keyboard and mouse until I gave it a try :)

 

It's possible, but not many people do it. I wouldn't fly like that because it wouldn't be fun and just seem silly to me.

 

I find it quite fun :) I am sure a stick and throttle would be way more fun and realistic though!

Edited January 27, 2015 by siraccord

[FoReIgNeR]

Give this guy some credit! I have great respect that he can fly and fight with keyboard and mouse only! It's like seeing a crippled person running a marathon, like playing a first person shooter with a game controller, or like driving a stick shift with only one arm and one leg.

 

I'm sure you could become very good with mouse and keyboard only, but it's not really a question whether it's better, or even just as good as a joystick + throttle + rudder pedal setup. For one, you can't dose the control inputs with keyboard, it's either 1 (full deflection) or 0 (nothing). I would love to see a video of you flying a helicopter or WWII bird (sim mode) with keyboard, but don't think it's possible without mimicking an epileptic attack in bashing the keys.

 

But seriously though, it's all about enjoying the game itself. I'm sure you can have just as much fun (albeit limited to FC3 aircraft) playing DCS with a keyboard as with a joystick. That's what it's all about

[siraccord]

Here is my pilot log book, all stats with keyboard and mouse http://gyazo.com/3d7cbbbb8f3486bce05fe332ae12aa91

 

Give this guy some credit! I have great respect that he can fly and fight with keyboard and mouse only! It's like seeing a crippled person running a marathon, like playing a first person shooter with a game controller, or like driving a stick shift with only one arm and one leg.

 

I'm sure you could become very good with mouse and keyboard only, but it's not really a question whether it's better, or even just as good as a joystick + throttle + rudder pedal setup. For one, you can't dose the control inputs with keyboard, it's either 1 (full deflection) or 0 (nothing). I would love to see a video of you flying a helicopter or WWII bird (sim mode) with keyboard, but don't think it's possible without mimicking an epileptic attack in bashing the keys.

 

But seriously though, it's all about enjoying the game itself. I'm sure you can have just as much fun (albeit limited to FC3 aircraft) playing DCS with a keyboard as with a joystick. That's what it's all about

Hahahaha funny guy :megalol:

Never tried a helicopter. Control inputs still work good with SU25, you can control how many bombs you want to release, ect. No idea about helicopters though.

[Aginor]

Definitely an interesting feat you demonstrated there, but.... well, let's say it is like watching someone eat M&Ms with chopsticks. I can see it works, I can even see someone who practiced it a lot can eat M&Ms as fast as I normally do, and I guess I am impressed that it actually works that well, but I still don't see any reason to do it. Even a cheap joystick is better IMO.

 

+1 reputation for being exceptional! :)

[panzerd18]

Perfect landing!

[Ktulu2]

Wait 'till you get a wing clipped, survive a missile or even worse : GET INTO A BIG STALL. There, you'll se why people use joystick, because those things can be challenging even with analog inputs. I once got into a stall after dodging a missile (+/-20K') and I almost crashed. I wouldn't have been able to survive with anything other than a joystick. Get a cheap joystick if you want, get a cheap used one if you really are out of money, but get one.

You get credit for taking on a hard challenge, but the solution is so accessible that seems kind of point less.

[siraccord]

Here is a 1v1 BVR mission against a MiG25 i just did in complete simulation mode, later I will truly test my skills in multiplayer.

 

 

Turned on control indicator (ctrl+enter) with the suggestion of some guys :)

 

 

 

Perfect landing!

 

Thanks :)

 

 

 

Wait 'till you get a wing clipped, survive a missile or even worse : GET INTO A BIG STALL. There, you'll se why people use joystick, because those things can be challenging even with analog inputs. I once got into a stall after dodging a missile (+/-20K') and I almost crashed. I wouldn't have been able to survive with anything other than a joystick. Get a cheap joystick if you want, get a cheap used one if you really are out of money, but get one.

You get credit for taking on a hard challenge, but the solution is so accessible that seems kind of point less.

Indeed stalling sucks, I can never recover from it. I have learned to be more gentle to avoid it.

[algerad3]

reminds me of the days when Microsoft flight simulator first came out.... No joysticks..all keyboards.

 

It's cool that you can fly without hotas system.. for me , no can do. I am to used to flying with throttle and joystick. Hell, the first Microsft flight sim was a pain enough without joystick.

Good job.

[Abburo]

Never recovering from stall... you already start to understand why a stick is needed :P ... more to come ... :)).

 

Next DCS plane you have to try... SU-27 :)))))

[Hadwell]

It's not a question of if it can be done or not, its a question of... if you have a guy that's used to having a full hotas and trackIR and all the benefits that come with it, and put him up against a guy stuck with a keyboard and mouse, who's gonna win the fight more often? and who would be more successful at ground attack(gets more done in less time)?

 

in the sense that it's possible to do anything with a mouse you can with a stick (probably), yeah you can use a mouse...

 

in the sense that it's really practical in any sense of the word.... not so much... especially if you're always against people (as in humans, not AI) that have proper controls.

Edited January 28, 2015 by Hadwell

[Yurgon]

Coming from Amiga 500 level flight sims, HOTAS and TrackIR are a dream come true. But hats off to anyone who's able to control DCS with just keyboard and mouse, and totally cool that it's even doable. :thumbup:

[SilentGun]

i commend you for your flying! i remember when i started to get into DCS, i used the keyboard and mouse only to fly, and i became very good with it. it is great fun and it gives an extreme challenge to fly in Simulator mode. i remember going from landing like a pro in LOFC2, to getting mad at the A-10C for its "flimsy gear" compared to the fc2 aircraft.

 

So great job on the flying! but i want to see you step up your game and post a vid of a close formation flight. :)

[Witchking]

I must say..for your keyboard flying...the approach on landing looks spot on. very nice. Perfect angles all the way to the end. But yeah.. try getting even a cheap joystick..your experience will be elevated to many times more than what you have now.

[lmp]

Granted I could add another monitor or buy TrackIR & HOTAS to make it more realistic but my only point is to show starters that you do need to spend more money just to get into the game.

 

I'm glad you're having fun and I agree with you. I don't like that so many people on this forum are trying to convince newcomers that you need gear worth a few hundred bucks in order to enjoy the game "properly". I'm sure most of us here got into flight sims with just a cheap, plastic joystick (or none at all - like you). Getting to the point where you're ready to shell out a small fortune for a Warthog or TrackIR is a process. I guess some people forget they went through it. You don't start a new hobby by buying the best possible gear.

[Hadwell]

yeah, i agree...

 

I was just giving the two extremes, there's everywhere in between too... I definitely don't recommend spending hundreds of dollars on sticks and head trackers etc. if you're casual enough that a mouse and keyboard are good enough...

 

Flight simming is a hobby for me, been since I first played the original red baron on a 100MHz pentium, so it's only natural for me to get better (though I can't afford the best) gear.

[siraccord]

Update: Got destroyed playing online lol...went to 51st server to verse a MiG 29 and got shot down by an Su-25 instead.

I had him in front of me, but the F15 is so quick I pass the Sukhoi and couldn't turn fast enought, my guess is he had a stick :megalol:

[Ktulu2]

lol

[Cali]

Update: Got destroyed playing online lol...went to 51st server to verse a MiG 29 and got shot down by an Su-25 instead.

I had him in front of me, but the F15 is so quick I pass the Sukhoi and couldn't turn fast enought, my guess is he had a stick :megalol:

 

Flying online is so much different then fighting the dumb AI. Don't worry, you have plenty more sessions online getting your butt handed to you. I can say that 99.9% of people that fly online have a stick. :joystick:

[xaoslaad]

Demonstrate mig-21bis landing with keyboard only please