Is FS9 hard with just keyboard controls?

[Martini]

If it is then I have to save up for all the gaer, too.

[beefhole]

Ya, it's much, much harder with just the keyboard, however you really only NEED to buy one thing-a joystick with a twist handle.  I have a saitek cyborg evo, and I love it.  It'll run you around $50 (I think).  I wouldn't recommend getting a Logitech though, I've always had problems with their joysticks in FS.

[Martini]

Thanks!

[GA_Pilot]

Personally I wouldn't give up my Saitek X-45 for anything  8)

[Moach]

when i was a toddler, i used to play FS4.0 on a laptop using just the keyboard... i crashed a LOT back then... in part because i was like 9... but i think it was mostly the keyboard

it amazes me nowadays how i sometimes was able to actually land using the arrow keys, i wouldn't even dare to try now (especially when  i know i can use the autopilot to land without touching the keys)

nonetheless it's good training.... when i first picked up a joystick to play FS i thought, hey, this is so much easier

you don't need a very good joystick to play FS though, even a $10 2axis/4 buttons stick will do the job (to an extent)

i use a MS force feedback pro 1.0... i like having 9 buttons and 4 axis, i also have a yoke type thing which i modified to add an external throttle quadrant i built... i don't use it much though, as the throttle doesn't hold itself together too well

The Moach

[microlight]

Yeh, I did FS3 and FS with the arrow keys too. Landed on the grass (or what I assumed was grass) most of the time! Now use a Logitech Wingman Extreme which works fine.

[ashaman]

I am another that with the long past FS4 began taking off Meigs and flying around with only the keyboard. Those were times when I crashed almost every flight and a successful landing (successful, not good or even passable, just a "I didn't crash" landing) was something to covet, treasure and celebrate.

Then one day I tried to fly with a joystick. One of the old ones, nothing at all like the joysticks you find around nowadays. The difference was earth-shattering. I rarely missed a good landing from then onward.

It's as Moach said, if you're hurting for money even the cheapest joystick you can find is better than the keyboard. Worlds better.

[beefhole]

when i was a toddler, i used to play FS4.0 on a laptop using just the keyboard... i crashed a LOT back then... in part because i was like 9... but i think it was mostly the keyboard

You were a toddler when you were 9?  What are you now, like 35 and a preteen?  :P

(just using a random age btw)

[TwoLow]

I grabbed a Logitech at Target for 40 or 50 bucks and works great.

[igorski]

You can always get the "mouse as yoke" gauge. I found it very useful when I took my laptop (minus joystick) on hols this year.

[salterb52]

i use the siatek cyborg evo as well it rules  ;D

[Hai Perso Coyone?]

I use the keyboard...without any problems and find it relatively easy with it...partly becuase I've been flying with it for over 3-4 years

[Ben_M_K]

It's RELALY hard to fly with the keyboard for one, and also it's REALLY unrealistic, so I wouldn't reccomend it...I use the Microsoft Force Feedback 2 for fighters, and the CH Yoke for everything else. I also use the CH Rudder Pedals. Very realistic and drasticly improves the flight sim experience...

[TacitBlue]

I used to play Chuck Yeagers flight sim thing when I was a kid. I tryed to use the key board a couple of times and couldn't do it, so I badgered my parents into getting a joystick. Now I have a CH flight yoke and woudn't trade it for the world. But if for some reason I couldn't use it, then any cheap-o joystick would work in a pinch. What I'm saying is that a joystick (any joystick) makes a world of difference. It doesn't have to have the twist handel, because frankly that isn't the least bit realistic, and you don't need rudder pedals (but they are nice).

[beefhole]

It doesn't have to have the twist handel, because frankly that isn't the least bit realistic, and you don't need rudder pedals (but they are nice).

It sure as hell beats using the keyboard to rudder if you're not gonna get pedals though