INPUT

The Input Options window allows the operator to select and adjust the mechanism for controlling the game.

The upper box simply lists the Input devices that the application has found, whereas the lower box provides the configuration options for controlling the game.

The following Six control methods are supported:
MOUSE PITCH+ROLL

The Ship is controlled by positioning the mouse pointer relative to the centre of the screen. Moving the pointer above or below the sights will cause the ship to ‘pitch’, whereas moving it to the left or right of them will cause the ship to ‘roll’ clockwise or anti-clockwise. Placing the pointer in the centre of the sights will cause the ship to fly straight. The ‘Q’ + ‘E’ or ‘LEFT ARROW’ + ‘RIGHT ARROW’ keys can be used to control the ‘yaw’.
MOUSE PITCH+YAW

Similar to ‘Mouse Pitch+Roll’ except that the mouse controls ‘yaw’ and the keyboard controls the ‘roll'.
MOUSE FLY TO POINTER The Ship flies towards the position that the mouse pointer hovers over. If this option is selected then it is recommended that the mouse is de-sensitised and a value of 20 is a recommended starting point. In addition to the mouse the ‘Q’ + ‘E’ or ‘LEFT ARROW’ + ‘RIGHT ARROW’ keys can be used to control the ‘roll'.
MOUSE SCROLLING

Spacecraft is controlled by moving the mouse in the desired direction. If this option is selected then it is recommended that the mouse sensitivity is decreased and the ‘Control via Right Click’ selected. In addition to the mouse the ‘Q’ + ‘E’ or ‘LEFT ARROW’ + ‘RIGHT ARROW’ keys can be used to control the ‘roll’.
JOYSTICK PITCH+ROLL Moving the Joystick left or right ‘rolls’ the ship, whereas moving it up or down controls the ‘pitch’. On more advanced joysticks the device can also be twisted to control ‘yaw’. . In addition to the joystick the ‘Q’ + ‘E’ or ‘LEFT ARROW’ + ‘RIGHT ARROW’ keys can be used to control the ‘yaw'.
JOYSTICK PITCH+YAW Similar to ‘Joystick Pitch+Roll’ except that the joystick controls ‘yaw’ and the keyboard controls the ‘roll'.
JOYSTICK PITCH+ROLL+YAW Moving the Joystick left or right ‘rolls’ the ship, whereas moving it up or down controls the ‘pitch’. The Ship will ‘yaw’ based on the degree of ‘roll’ and ‘pitch'.
 
The Diagram below illustrates how the terms ‘roll’, ‘yaw’ and ‘pitch’ relate to your spacecrafts attitude. The joystick also shown in the diagram describes how its controls can be used to effect these changes.
Attitude
 

The following tables describe the secondary control options.

GENERAL CONTROL SETTINGS

INVERT PITCH

Inverts pitch so that the mouse or joystick control is reversed.

INVERT YAW

Inverts yaw so that the keyboard, mouse or joystick control is reversed.

INVERT ROLL

Inverts roll so that the keyboard, mouse or joystick control is reversed.

VELOCITY vs. TURN RATE

Slider used so that the rate of turn increases as the velocity increases. A value of ‘1’ effectively disables this setting so that the velocity has no bearing on the rate of turn.

ATMOSPHERIC
AUTO-RIGHT

Causes the spacecraft to fly level to the ground when within the atmosphere of a planet. This setting may be useful when ‘roll’ is not directly controlled by the mouse or joystick.
 

MOUSE CONTROL SETTINGS

MOUSE DEAD ZONE

Number of pixels in the centre of the screen which will cause the Ship to fly straight.

MOUSE SENSITIVITY

Controls how sensitive of the mouse is. Low values are more sensitive than high values.
The ‘Fly to Pointer’ typically requires a less sensitive setting and a value of 20 represents a good default.

MOUSE SENSITIVITY

Controls how sensitive of the mouse wheel is. High values are more sensitive than low values and a value of ‘0’ will effectively disable the mouse wheel.

DOUBLE CLICK SPEED

Determines the sensitivity of the mouse double click feature.

CONTROL VIA RIGHT CLICK

If this option is selected then the right mouse button must be pressed in order to control the spacecraft.

INVERT MOUSE WHEEL

Inverts the mouse wheel rotation so that its control option is reversed.

WHEEL POV

Mouse wheel controls the sideways point of view. The right mouse button will re-centre the POV.

WHEEL THROTTLE

Mouse wheel controls the throttle

WHEEL ROLL/ YAW

Mouse wheel controls the yaw or pitch
 

JOYSTICK CONTROL SETTINGS

JOYSTICK DEAD ZONE

This represents a measure in degrees of the neutral area in the centre of the Joystick. The default value of 10 degrees means that the stick must be moved by this amount before it produces any input data.

JOYSTICK SENSITIVITY

Adjusts the sensitivity of the Joystick

TWIST DEAD ZONE

If the joystick can be ‘twisted’ then this controls the neutral area before the twist will take effect.

TWIST SENSITIVITY

Adjusts the sensitivity of the Joystick twist, if ‘twist’ is supported.

POV SENSITIVITY

Controls the ‘Point of View’ Sensitivity for the POV hat on the joystick. A value of zero will disable the POV.

JOYSTICK THROTTLE

If the joystick possesses a throttle control then this can be used to control the velocity.

THROTTLE SENSITIVITY

Controls the ‘throttle’ Sensitivity if the joystick possesses a throttle lever.
 

FORCE FEEDBACK

OVERALL FORCE

Overall strength of the Force produced by the device.

SPRING STRENGTH

Controls the force with which the device will attempt to re-centre itself.

FRICTION CONTROL

Controls how resistant the Joystick feels.
Note that this setting can cause interference if the Spring Strength is greater than zero.

REFRESH CONDITIONS

Reapplies the configuration to the device.

EFFECTS

Ticking a particular effect will cause it to become activated. The following
are supported :

GUN FIRE EFFECT

Effect when forward facing cannons are fired.

EXPLOSION EFFECT

Effect from nearby explosion

HIT EFFECT

Effect when spacecraft hit by gunfire.

COLLISION EFFECT

Effect when the ship collides with another object.