Postby Caillin » Thu Sep 15, 2016 2:18
I agree Sokol, but in this regard unfortunately everybody will be pushing their agenda based on their own preference, and usually this comes down to their preferred flight sim or aircraft.
This is more noticeable for those that prefer WW2 flight sims, like IL2. In those cases, the control systems of those aircraft were very simple compared to modern aircraft. Users who play these sims are more chasing "authentic" or "immersive" controls that as closely as possible, mimic their real life counterparts. This is in no way a bad thing, but tends to make controllers aimed at that market specific and niche in nature themselves.
The explosion in interest in space combat sims over the last couple of years has also thrown a spanner in the works for traditional controller manufacturers like VKB, as the requirements are escalated again in terms of additional analgue axii required, more hats/buttons on HOTAS for additional ship functions and the change in rudder/twist axis input now being preferable for controlling roll instead of yaw like in a traditional atmospheric aircraft.
VR is another factor that is complicating things currently. When you have your headset on, then any additional keys that are not on your HOTAS are pretty much inaccessible. This requires a lot more functions to be at your fingertips, and configured in such a way that muscle memory and tactile differences can be picked up between buttons.
I think VKB are in a good position with having an excellent, modular gimbal system, that has the potential to take a variety of different grips to satisfy everyone given enough time and money. They would also have a much better idea of the size of the market when coming up with plans and ideas, because at the end of the day, they do actually want these products to be successful, mainly to be able to generate the capital needed to expand their product portfolio.
I think the modern jet peripheral market is saturated already in both stick and throttle options.
I think that if the market is there for WW2, then it makes sense for VKB to concentrate on a period specific "authentic" throttle for the WW2 sim crowd, so coupled with the Gladiator and T-Rudder, they have the perfect WW2 HOTAS.
Once this is completed, they'd be crazy not to then work on (and they may have already done this at a design phase) a) a "space" centric grip for the Pro gimbal, and a totally different type of throttle that isn't based on a particular airframe, but instead focuses on a good ergonomic option that gives an additional axis or axii and plenty of button options. Something like the Logitech Extreme 3d Pro is a good example of a very ergonomic stick that has a good number of useful buttons available to the right hand, without actually mimicing any existing aircraft joystick. Something along these lines, but with an additional hat would be close to perfect for a space-centric grip.
I think when Star Citizen launches, it's going to absolutely huge, and I really don't want VKB to miss out on that moment, as it's a really good opportunity for them as the only manufacturer in the world creating decent, good working, reliable and precise hardware. Having said that, they should focus on the WW2 crowd first, as they are the ones that have mostly supported them to this point.