Forums » MacOS X
I use the triggers (thumb and main) for Accel/Decel and map the most appropriate axis for strafe (X for left/right, Y for Up down)
Two reasons:
My left joystick doesn't have a twist control
Strafing has to be instinctive. Two different styles of movements for different strafes wouldn't work for me I think.
Two reasons:
My left joystick doesn't have a twist control
Strafing has to be instinctive. Two different styles of movements for different strafes wouldn't work for me I think.
I used several joysticks and combinations and after months of trying I went back to mouse and keyboard. :-P
So.. do all the functions of the Saitek X52 work for a mac on VO and are there any major problems with it? im thinking about getting a reconditioned one and don't want to waste my money or have to return it if it doesn't work.
Edari, council member of [PA]
Edari, council member of [PA]
As far as I know, everything but the LED stuff works for Mac (The screen on the throttle and what not). And the bindable patterns, or whatever it's called. As a joystick, it will work, no frills.
Just to add a bit more about the Saitek X52 and Mac VO:
For me, at least, it does not work 100% "straight out of the box". It's very functional, but there are some tricky things about it.
1) There's a 3-position Mode switch on top of the joystick. It continually sends button information for whatever position it's in, so it's tricky to use the control setup in VO to choose what buttons do what, seeing that as soon as you double click something to set it, VO believes you're choosing that Mode button state. So you have to hold down the buttons you want to assign and THEN double click what you want to assign them to.
2) The throttle doesn't work properly. Somehow it doesn't send data in a normal throttle format, so when sliding it to throttle up, VO behaves as though you are repeatedly pulling on the throttle and then dropping it back to zero. So, you don't get anywhere at all very fast using it as a throttle. I have it set to accelerate, which is also tricky - if I want to move at only half speed, say, I have to pull it just a bit and then slide it back to the dead zone (going to full speed won't have this issue). Still better than as a throttle, though.
3) The POV Hatswitch (the one directly center on the joystick) is not recognized at all by VO.
4) The "mouse" feature (it's like a little ThinkPad Trackpoint on the side of the throttle) is not recognized by Mac OS X at all, in VO or out.
That said, all these shortcomings (with the exception of the mouse; not sure about the throttle) can be overcome with the use of GamePad Companion. I've just not gone through the trouble of setting it up. I have fiddled with it enough to know, though, that GamePad Companion recognizes ALL of the buttons and axes on the X52 except the "mouse".
ControllerMate is another app that would be quite useful for the X52, as it allows you to, in a sense, program it (set up certain buttons/button combinations to do certain things). With it the Mode switch could behave as a real mode switch, and the three toggles on the base of the joystick may have a usefulness.
Ashur
[ETA] - The throttle works. I must have had another slider or dial set for the throttle at the same time, because it's working flawlessly now. Also feel the need to add that the small button in the middle of the small dial on the throttle (marked "i") is function-specific to the MFD, and thus does not work with Mac OS X.
For me, at least, it does not work 100% "straight out of the box". It's very functional, but there are some tricky things about it.
1) There's a 3-position Mode switch on top of the joystick. It continually sends button information for whatever position it's in, so it's tricky to use the control setup in VO to choose what buttons do what, seeing that as soon as you double click something to set it, VO believes you're choosing that Mode button state. So you have to hold down the buttons you want to assign and THEN double click what you want to assign them to.
2) The throttle doesn't work properly. Somehow it doesn't send data in a normal throttle format, so when sliding it to throttle up, VO behaves as though you are repeatedly pulling on the throttle and then dropping it back to zero. So, you don't get anywhere at all very fast using it as a throttle. I have it set to accelerate, which is also tricky - if I want to move at only half speed, say, I have to pull it just a bit and then slide it back to the dead zone (going to full speed won't have this issue). Still better than as a throttle, though.
3) The POV Hatswitch (the one directly center on the joystick) is not recognized at all by VO.
4) The "mouse" feature (it's like a little ThinkPad Trackpoint on the side of the throttle) is not recognized by Mac OS X at all, in VO or out.
That said, all these shortcomings (with the exception of the mouse; not sure about the throttle) can be overcome with the use of GamePad Companion. I've just not gone through the trouble of setting it up. I have fiddled with it enough to know, though, that GamePad Companion recognizes ALL of the buttons and axes on the X52 except the "mouse".
ControllerMate is another app that would be quite useful for the X52, as it allows you to, in a sense, program it (set up certain buttons/button combinations to do certain things). With it the Mode switch could behave as a real mode switch, and the three toggles on the base of the joystick may have a usefulness.
Ashur
[ETA] - The throttle works. I must have had another slider or dial set for the throttle at the same time, because it's working flawlessly now. Also feel the need to add that the small button in the middle of the small dial on the throttle (marked "i") is function-specific to the MFD, and thus does not work with Mac OS X.