It seems like we’re finally seeing the rebirth of space simulation. With titles like Elite Dangerous and Star Citizen just around the corner, one of the best gaming genres ever is poised to make a strong comeback – and I can’t help but wonder where it went in the first place.
Many of today’s gamers who will be enjoying these new titles probably weren’t even around for the games that started the genre. These gamers have never played Wing Commander or Star Wars: X-Wing and don’t realize it took a lot of effort to break the ice and carve a path for other space simulators. Sadly, this is because the genre has long since drifted away.
Where It All Began
Ah…memories.
When I first started playing space simulators back in the 90’s, my friends and I would take turns piloting our X-Wing around the universe. Sure, identifying cargo containers seems like an easy mission – and it was – until we were suddenly attacked. When those long dogfights began we would hide behind those same cargo containers while we waited for R2D2 to repair our ship and get us back into battle.
It felt like this was the only game in existence – and it was…for us.
Games like this were few and far between and we really had to make our dollars stretch back then. We spent hours taking turns. While one of us flew, the other would manage the energy for shields, engines and weapons. It didn’t take long for us to figure out the best ways to optimize our power usage: put the shields forward, attack, then aft to cover our escape.
When I first set up Wing Commander on my PC, I didn’t even have a sound card. Onboard sound wasn’t even invented yet. However, I did manage to hotwire my PC speaker to a guitar amplifier for the loudest and most annoying sound I could produce.
This idea helped make my parents quickly realize the need for a sound card – and some headphones.
We didn’t have fancy controllers back then either. We were lucky to have our two-button flight sticks. This also started the first hardware arms race between friends. Throttle controls, rudders and even force feedback joysticks were a must-own accessory if you considered yourself to be a real pilot. We were so serious about it some people were even building enclosable wooden pods just for gaming emersion.
These were the glory days of gaming for me.
Return to Glory
Star Citizen could bring back the good ol’ days.
After a while, it seemed all the games were straying from simulation. And, as time went on, these huge worlds shrank down to simple multiplayer dogfight simulators where missions consisted of quick fights with missiles and less of a focus on the story or universe of that particular game. Eventually, everyone forgot about outer space.
Fast forward to today and there’s renewed excitement for space simulators mostly because of Star Citizen – and it’s well-earned. This game is the most successful Kickstarter ever and probably the most-funded simulation ever made. This game also promises to have something for everyone. Especially if you were around in the 90’s like me.
Hopefully this is the game to get me back in the cockpit after so many years of playing FPS and RTS games. I’m anxious to go back to my roots and play games with years in mind.
It won’t be easy.
Can My PC Even Handle These Games?
Today I spend more time managing my budget than my ship’s energy levels. I realize it’s important to get the most out of my system – especially if I want to get back into space simulators. And, while my system is considered to be a mid-range gamer with its Radeon 7850 and i7 chip, it could be improved by swapping in a R9 290X with a sprinkle of SSD. I know these aren’t the best specs in the world, but for a basic system running 1080p, it would be quite an upgrade from where I am today.
With great games comes great responsibility, and that includes getting the right hardware to match the software. While the rig you built might be ready to launch, there are other devices you can add to improve your game. Just like a gamepad is practically a requirement for fighting games, flight sticks are nearly a must-have for flight simulators. Would you rather pull back on your flight stick or be tapping corrective keys to hold a flight course?
I thought so.
Much better than a keypad.
Here are some other joysticks that will get my system running fast while keeping my costs down:
The first thing I look for in a joystick controller is the throttle system. It’s also a good idea to get a controller with plenty of programmable buttons for all the functions in the game. Pushing the throttle forward is way better than hitting + and – buttons for incremental adjustments and it also makes it easier to slam on the brakes to let that bogey fly right on by.
Two joysticks that meet these criteria are the THRUSTMASTER T.Flight Hotas X and the Mad Catz X52.
These aren’t the classic controllers of my youth – these are much better. Long gone is the game port as well, which has been replaced (thankfully) by the ever-so-friendly USB. Some of these sticks also include multi-system capability so feel free to move about the cabin from PC to console.
Once I feel too advanced for the entry level and want something more amazing, I’ll probably upgrade to the THRUSTMASTER Hotas Warthog.
Not only does the Warthog make your setup look awesome, but it’s pretty close to the actual controls you would see in a modern jet. They’re also built to last.
Joysticks are just scratching the surface — many upcoming titles will have support for the Oculus Rift and other VR systems. The sky is no longer the limit for how far you want to go with your flight simulator. That limit is now space.
I hope to see you there.
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