14 years after the last entry, Microsoft Flight Simulator is finally back, and its return sees a whole wave of new or inactive players take to the skies.
And if it’s your first time there in a long time, it can all be a little disconcerting: even before you sit at the controls of a Cessna or a more complex beast like a Boeing 747, there are all sorts of options and extras to consider. . Like, for example, what controls you might consider using.
This page provides an overview of the many Flight Simulator hardware configurations you can consider, depending on your budget, from using an Xbox controller to instrument panels and pedals.
Note: This page is specifically for the PC edition of the game. Some of the following may also work on Xbox, but we can’t confirm this without testing. Know that there are console-compatible controllers, such as Turtle Beach’s VelocityOne Flight.
In this page:
We recreate 10 flights from famous movies in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020: With Air, Top Gun and more!
Can you use an Xbox controller in Microsoft Flight Simulator?
Microsoft Flight Simulator is a flexible thing that caters to casual gamers who just want to travel the world from the comfort of their own couch, to aspiring pilots who want to play the entire 6 hours of a transatlantic flight.
For starters, an Xbox One controller is a great option and a testament to how sensitive the controller’s buttons and triggers can be.
As such, it offers all kinds of control options, from mouse and keyboard to a fully modular cockpit with multiple screens and button boxes.
You can play Microsoft Flight Simulator with an Xbox controller and have a perfectly satisfying experience, although you may need a keyboard nearby for some specific commands, such as changing simulation speed and autopilot shortcuts.
If you’re looking to invest in one of these, remember that there will be an update later this year with the arrival of the Xbox Series X controller, if you can wait a couple of months.
However, if you’re looking for a little more immersion, there’s more than one option when it comes to flight-specific hardware.
The Cheap Microsoft Flight Simulator Joystick and Hardware Setup
If you want to look beyond a gamepad, a cheap HOTAS, which is an acronym for hands on the throttle and stick, but we’ll stick with HOTAS because it’s easier to type and sounds more fun, can be yours for relatively little.
The basic Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS should set you back well under £50 (although limited stock and some opportunistic sellers mean it currently costs a little more than that).
The Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One.
It’s simple and looks pretty cheap, but it’s more than up to the task and is a big step up from the gamepad experience, with a set of buttons available to map the many controls of an airplane and with a z-axis. on the joystick for rudder control.
For a little more (expect to pay just over £100), Thrustmaster combines the T.Flight HOTAS with its entry-level T.Flight rudder pedals, offering perhaps the best budget-friendly way to enjoy the full flight experience.
The mid-level Microsoft Flight Simulator hardware and joystick setup
So you’ve been bitten by the flying bug and want to invest in a little more professional equipment? Your first port of call will be to upgrade to a yoke controller, which gives you more precision and, most importantly, feels even more like the real thing.
For an entry-level option, you can’t go wrong with the Logitech Pro Flight Yoke system, which will set you back around £140 and, as a bonus, comes with a throttle quadrant. The control setups are completely modular, so it’s perfectly possible to use a Logitech Pro Flight Yoke with Thrustmaster’s T.Flight rudder pedals for a nearly complete cockpit.
The Logitech G 945-000004 Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System.
If you’re looking for a slightly fancier stick option, then the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition is the solution, faithfully modeled on the A320 stick.
You can use it alone quite easily and it’s perfect for discreetly placing on your desk if you want to get on and off flights. An accompanying throttle quadrant will be released later this year, which will also be included with the TCA Sidestick as part of the Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus Edition.
For those researching their Flight Simulator options, we have a list of aircraft and a list of airports for each release edition, a list of Flight Simulator achievements. Then, when you start playing, we’ve got explanations about weather and layouts, multiplayer, using autopilot and simulation speed, and how to use the game’s equivalent of Hot Pause photo mode.
The high-end Microsoft Flight Simulator hardware and joystick setup
And if you’re really serious about this flight simulation game, get ready to spend a lot of money.
When it comes to rudder pedals, the Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder is a pretty powerful piece of kit, but keep in mind that it takes up quite a bit of space, so you’ll have to clean out under your desk.
Thrustmaster also offers a high-end HOTAS with the Thrustmaster Warthog, which might be intended for more militaristic purposes than what Microsoft Flight Simulator offers but nonetheless offers a premium feel.
What the Honeycomb Alpha flight controls and setup look like on a Thrustmaster TFP pedal. (And a Thrustmaster device is included, just because.)
For a premium yoke, Honeycomb’s Alpha flight controls are perhaps your best bet – they’re beautifully designed, complete with a variety of switches for various cockpit controls, and feel great in the hand.
they haven’t done it also Expensive either, costing around £230, although be prepared to spend that amount again if you want to buy Honeycomb’s next throttle quadrant, which looks just as luxurious.
And if you’re really serious, there’s no stopping there – you might want to look for some of the more sophisticated options from boutique companies like VKB Controllers in the bustling third-party marketplace.
Tinkering with hardware configurations and controllers is one of the joys (and pains) of playing Sims, and with Microsoft Flight Simulator the sky really is the limit.
Categories: Guides
Source: ptivs2.edu.vn