More realism for Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen

As 2012 the Space Sims Star Citizen and Elite: Dangerous were announced, was for me a dream come true. I still remember the countless hours I've spent in my youth with Wing Commander, X-Wing and Tie Fighter and wished me ever since a revival of the genre. However, I was also quickly realized that these games would you do with a mouse and keyboard probably only half as much fun and a HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick, thus a combination of joystick and throttle) had on the desk.

The reason for choosing the T.Flight Hotas X course was the low price. I wanted first of all to gain experience at a HOTAS without equal investing a fortune and then possibly later on a real (read: expensive) upgrade HOTAS system. After over a year of extensive use of flight simulators in T.Flight Hotas X and, more recently, Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen I'm not sure if that will be necessary at all. Because to take it right away: I am excited about this product, for the low price obtained sim fans really maximum performance.

### PROCESSING ###

As might be expected in this fight price, made both joystick as well as throttle completely made of plastic. Who needs high-quality metal components or wants, is probably happy with a high-end device like the Thrustmaster Warthog, but care must also be ten times (!) Take so much money in the hand. However, I was surprised at how comfortable and high quality, the plastic feels in hand. Nothing is loose and the various buttons have clearly defined pressure points.

The joystick can be mated with the throttle and connected by yielding a very compact HOTAS system. More convenient and more realistic it controls in games, however, by placing the throttle to the left and right of the joystick midsection. For left-handers the T.Flight Hotas X system is likely to be (more on that later in the individual components) in any case not suitable due to its ergonomic design. The two components are connected via a cross cable and connected via USB to the PC. The connection cable between throttle and joystick are each attached to the bottom. However, Thrustmaster has created here fortunately a recess for a cable duct, whereby the components are flat on the table and do not wobble. Also there are rubber feet on the bottoms of which should ensure at all desks for a secure grip.

At the front of the joystick there is a switch, you can switch between the PS3 and PC. If this works, I can not judge, I have the T.Flight Hotas X previously only been used on a PC and here he was easily recognized by all applications so far.

### ### JOYSTICK

I have relatively large hands, but the ergonomic design of the joystick fits perfectly with my right hand. The thumb is left under the joystick head secure grip on the lower end of the lever there is a broad platform on which you can rest your hand. Even after several hours of continuous use come with me thus no fatigue in hand.

Compared to high-priced models has the T.Flight Hotas X over quite a few buttons on the joystick, however rich it loose in most applications from. On the back of the joystick head stand a pyramid-shaped Has switch and two buttons available, which are operated with your thumb. The right index finger is responsible for the operation of the trigger lever on the front of the joystick head, also located here on the right side of the head yet another button.

The axes of the joystick can be operated very smoothly. In the neutral position of the joystick has a little game that falls while playing but hardly negative. The effort, which is necessary for a release from the neutral position in the axes is rather low from, yet you realize this trigger point very accurately. Apart from the obligatory horizontal axes of the joystick also has an axis of rotation, which usually makes in simulators yaw. This additional pedals are not really necessary, but I can imagine that playing again more fun with pedals;)

### The throttle ###

Also, the throttle is ergonomically adapted to the (left here) hand. The lever engages in the center position, thereby the thrust axis can be divided for example in forward and reverse thrust. But one uses the entire axis as forward thrust, this engagement falls on rather disturbing because the movement halfway drags slightly.

Four buttons are found on the right side of the thrust regulator for the thumb. Their arrangement follows the natural thumb position, thereby patting the buttons found very easy and different. Only the bottom button can be reached somewhat uncomfortable. But that can be an advantage if one has this button with a feature that you never want to operate accidentally in combat, for example, the ejection seat)

Also on the back are mounted controls that can be operated with the index, middle and ring fingers. These are two more buttons and an analog rocker switch. This rocker switch is in my opinion the only element which one clearly notes the very low price of T.Flight Hotas X. It consists of a different plastic than the controls, which feels rather cheap and rattles when triggered. Also precise dosing when operating the tilt axis is not really possible. Three more buttons are located on the basis of the sliding unit.

### ### Practice use

I use the system as I said, especially for flight simulators and more recently for the beta version of Elite: Dangerous and the already released Alpha modules of Star Citizen. In flight simulators like FSX and X-Plane the T.Flight Hotas X system brings with enough features to at least be able to control smaller aircraft completely without often access the keyboard. For larger aircraft, particularly the jumbo jets of course one would immediately be the limits of the system and will have to use the keyboard more often, even here the realism in the normal Flugmaneuvern but increased significantly. The only game in which I hold the T.Flight Hotas X for almost unusable, the bomber simulation DCS A-10 C. This simulation is so detailed and complex that you have to constantly take in use your hands off the stick to commands execute the keyboard. However, these are also an extreme special case.

In Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen, the system does the job in any case with flying colors. All used in flight and combat functions can be mapped to the T.Flight Hotas X, the keyboard I just need for specific commands, such as the extension and retraction of the landing gear at Elite: Dangerous. Otherwise, the precision of the joystick falls mainly in space battles positive. Although it takes a while to get used to the controller via a HOTAS system, but then you would not want to miss it especially in hectic situations. The combination of thrust control with the left and alignment control with the right hand allows daring and yet controlled Flugmaneuver. The docking and leaving the space stations in Elite: Dangerous is thus a dream. In the fighting, especially the axis of rotation helps align the crosshair exactly on the opponent.

### CONCLUSIONS ###

Now, after almost a year of intensive use I am using the T.Flight Hotas X continues to be very satisfied. Apart from DCS A-10 C there has been no application where I would have liked, but rather to buy a more expensive system. Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen make the system a lot of fun, even most of the aircraft flight simulators can be controlled well, said Hotas system of course not a professional FluSi can replace Setup Yoke, pedals and various hardware instruments or wants.

The price-performance ratio of T.Flight Hotas X is certainly unbeatable. Anyone who the most of its space simulations as Elite: Dangerous and want to get Star Citizen without investing a fortune equal, I can warmly recommend this Hotas system highly enough.