What in the hell were they thinking..

[frederf 0]

the zoom and hold breath shouldn't conflict. Tap the key to zoom in and out. Hold it down to hold your breath. When you hold it down you won't change out of the zoom level you are in.

I'm pretty sure this is incorrect. In the default fresh-install game you have to HOLD and KEEP HOLDING zoom while ironsighted on a rifle otherwise the game will "spring" you back to normal view.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

[kronzky 5]

That's the only way they could make cockpits back then, it looks complicated but most of the controls are replicated, redundant and rarely used, modern cockpits are a whole different story and cockpits of the future will be childsplay, more like the bottom image than the top. The moral is not to build in complexity you don't need to and follow the K.I.S.S. principle. Arma's control setup seems to have been designed by someone who relishes unnecessary complexity.

Every complex system will always have a complex interface, no matter how much you try to optimize it.

Sure, in software you can hide complexity under layers and layers of sub-menus, but that doesn't work when you need INSTANT ACCESS.

The only way to deal with that situation is by having parallel and dedicated input devices (buttons, switches, shortcuts) - which you will have to memorize for instant (and instinctive) reactions.

I'm sure you could come up with a much better cockpit design than the engineers at Boing or Ferrari.

But, unfortunately, lacking your expertise, this is all they could come up with recently (doesn't quite look like "child's play" to me...):

[ck-claw 1]

the zoom and hold breath shouldn't conflict. Tap the key to zoom in and out. Hold it down to hold your breath. When you hold it down you won't change out of the zoom level you are in.

I'm pretty sure this is incorrect. In the default fresh-install game you have to HOLD and KEEP HOLDING zoom while ironsighted on a rifle otherwise the game will "spring" you back to normal view.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Nope - mine works exactly as DayGlow stated!

Edit:- sorry both right-ish!

right button-press/release = zoom in/out

Double tap = perm zoom in(then still hold to hold breathe)!

Damn hope that made sense!

[dayglow 2]

A good control management GUI should identify conflicts and most importantly, tell you the source of the conflict when it happens (not just red text), offer alternatives, allow bindings to be set in the one screen instead of splitting it into two (it's not like there isn't enough room, the second screen being a massive window box with little in it), allow you to bind ALL actions (including get-into-vehicle-right-now-because-I'm-being-shot-at-and-I-don't-want-to-die), auto analog axis detection that requires full deflection and not a micro movement... am I being anal enough for you or do you want me to continue?

I've seen and used plenty of control input GUIs that are cleaner, faster, easier and more powerful. But then I remember this is Bohemia Interactive forums, the home of the Church of ArmA, with the motto 'There is Only One ArmA, Only ArmA is Perfect.'

Just curious to which games have the better UI and control interface. I find OFP and AmA probably the most complex FPS out there with the most fexible controls available. The Vietcong series is a close second with taps and holds on buttons for different functions, it's just lacking in overall depth of control.

A lot of games do point out what the conflict is, ie 'x' is bound to duck when you are tell it to use it for prone, but AmA unlike most games allows multiple functions on a keypress. With mine the Right mouse button does many things. It brings up my iron sights, it is used to hold my breath, to call out targets to the AI, and a double tap to lower my weapon to the ready. All don't conflict with each other in the actual playing of the game, but they are red in the UI so I can see what commands overlap. It's up to me to decide if they work together or not. I find this much more flexible than the UI saying they conflict and that is that.

[Guest Ti0n3r]

What were they thinking? Perhaps something like "to hell with Quake 2"

I've never played a game where the controls felt as user friendly and customizable as in OFP and especially ArmA

[Otter 0]

I'd be happy if someone could point out where the A/C throttle assignment for my joystick is.

One of the most universal controls in flight sims and it's apparently missing in ArmA. I'd be most happy if that's an incorrect statement.

[max power 21]

Those controls are called 'increase thrust' and 'decrease thrust'.

[Otter 0]

Those controls are called 'increase thrust' and 'decrease thrust'.

yeah I know,

they're called "keystrokes", they aren't programmed to a joystick axis, you can map them to the js but all you get is the same key stroke action and that's not the same effect as a real throttle with incremental control.

[max power 21]

Those controls are called 'increase thrust' and 'decrease thrust'.

yeah I know,

they're called "keystrokes", they aren't programmed to a joystick axis, you can map them to the js but all you get is the same key stroke action and that's not the same effect as a real throttle with incremental control.

For helicopters, it's incremental.

[frederf 0]

In defense of the OP (that's 'original poster' for those of you that can recognize the sun when you see it) he complained not about the complexity of the game but rather the setup and execution of the control reconfiguring interface GUI as well as some of the default control bindings.

And I agree the interface for changing controls is slightly whacked. It's got "OFP charm" written all over it.

[McLee 0]

Little OT, but since the topic is about keys in arma I would like to ask if anyone is using razer tarantula keyboard. I bought it and it´s great but... I have problem using the extra buttons. Arma does not Recognize these extra buttons. If anyone knows a solution for this it would be great!!

McLee

[granQ 293]

wow this replies are so creative and constructive, the mods really know how to help.

Hehe, n00b its your fault you only play cs on gamepads because nothing can be wrong with the arma interface, you just probaly stupid.

(ironic for all who doesnt get it)

[BeerHunter 0]

Thanks for the feed back.

Been making some progress but ran into a bug.

If you assigns the Right MB to "Fire" apparently automatic weapons don't ...

I posted this in the Tech section and one other person replied saying he had the same problem..nothing form tech yet though.

[kestrel7e7 0]

Been making some progress but ran into a bug.

If you assigns the Right MB to "Fire" apparently automatic weapons don't ...

I posted this in the Tech section and one other person replied saying he had the same problem..nothing form tech yet though.

You're forgetting ArmA is perfect, you must be doing something wrong. If you can't figure it out you'll have to go back to playing cs you bunny hopping noob!

[ht-57 0]

One thing that may be over looked by the general public is the use of a gaming specific keyboard. I use a Logitech G15. It has a bank of 18 programable macro's "keys" that are switchable between 3 modes. That gives you 54 total assignable "keys". Its real easy to use,and works with all games. The keys are backlit thru the symbols on the keys. Great for those who like a dark room when they game. It also gives you an extra pair of usb ports that are on the kb itself. It also has a couple of other creature features that come in handy as well. A flip up LCD sreen that can be used for time/date. or a fav of mine, a preformance monitor. it tells you real time how much ram and how much cpu you are using while gaming. I would be rimiss if I didn't mention the volume "wheel", very cool. So beside what you can do with editing arma controls. A kb like this one gives you the ability to customize controls on games that don't have that option. You can also edit your keys on the "Fly" or in mid game without having to pause. I don't recommend doing it in arma cause you will most likely get shot in the eye at that point!

[opg4740 0]

I love the complexity of the controls, but mostly for flying. I use a Saitek X45. the damn thing has like 130 possible controls, and I can map every one of them with ArmA.

[BeerHunter 0]

If you can't figure it out you'll have to go back to playing cs you bunny hopping noob!

Them thars fightin words around these parts..better be a smiling when ya say that pardner.

Actually , the more I get into it the easier it seems..

startin to wonder what all the fuss was about..

[franze 196]

You guys had better be joking, or I'm going to have to ban somebody.

Play nice.

[subs17 9]

most games don't offer the complexity and depth of control that AmA provides. It's hard to get that and keep it simple as well. I think they did a decent job and I had to only change a few key assignments.

I like the fact that you can have multiple commands on the same key and that hitting twice quickly and holding it longer have a different effect than just pressing it.

Look at my right mouse button. Tap it and it brings up the iron sights. Hold it down and I hold my breath for aiming and/or call out targets. I could set it up so a quick double tap does something else as well.

What about HOTAS support as the controls would be far better when flying the helicopters if we could use the throttle for collective and rudder pedals for the tail rotor. Overall the helicopters nice to fly but just the addition of Hotas support would up the realism alot.

[max power 21]

What about HOTAS support as the controls would be far better when flying the helicopters if we could use the throttle for collective and rudder pedals for the tail rotor. Overall the helicopters nice to fly but just the addition of Hotas support would up the realism alot.

You can...

Well... I mean, I can... maybe you can't...

[snakefang 0]

wow this replies are so creative and constructive, the mods really know how to help.

Hehe, n00b its your fault you only play cs on gamepads because nothing can be wrong with the arma interface, you just probaly stupid.          

(ironic for all who doesnt get it)

Wow, what a mature post. Thought i left those behind in the Planet Battlefield forums...

Anywho yes, the interface is very complicated, the only other time ive seen SO MANY commands is in a flight sim. Grant it, 50% of these commands are general useless, such as turn head left, right, ect when you can simply hold down cntrl and move mouse that direction.

Also i agree, mapping keys to diffrent keys for ease of use is extremely annoying, i spent 20 minutes the first time i played just trying to get keys in the right place and not one key for two things. Also the joystick controls are messed up, most of the my keys set for joy dont work period, and other wont map to it at all.

Tho it starts to feel okay (I wont say great because it feels like your character lags about 1/2 a second behind everything you do.) after you play awhile, they could still improve on some areas.

Id personaly enjoy it kinda chopped up, so flight controls are in one area ect, not all in a list like it is, very over whelming.

[subs17 9]

What about HOTAS support as the controls would be far better when flying the helicopters if we could use the throttle for collective and rudder pedals for the tail rotor. Overall the helicopters nice to fly but just the addition of Hotas support would up the realism alot.

You can...

Well... I mean, I can... maybe you can't...

What do have collective set for your throttle and rudder pedals setup for your tail rotor? My X45 doesn't seem to be detected by Arma.

[max power 21]

I have an x52. I have the twist axis set to the rudder pedals and the throttle stick set to increase thrust and decrease thrust. I have it set up like an aircraft throttle (up for more), but you can set it for the inverse by moving the throttle in the opposite direction (more like a helicopter).

What you do is you go into the keyboard settings, get the thing ready to receive a keystroke, then move the throttle... and voila!

[Cosmonaut 0]

Controls were awkward at first but once I figured out how to toggle crouch and prone and a few other other keys then I found it to be far better than any other FPS I've played.

I use ESDF which allows me to map more primary keys to the easy to reach real estate on my keyboard. One thing I would like though is the ability to map weapons and rate of fire to their own keys instead of having to cycle through grenade, 203 etc just to go from semi to full auto .

[McLee 0]

One thing that may be over looked by the general public is the use of a gaming specific keyboard. I use a Logitech G15. It has a bank of 18 programable macro's "keys" that are switchable between 3 modes. That gives you 54 total assignable "keys". Its real easy to use,and works with all games. The keys are backlit thru the symbols on the keys. Great for those who like a dark room when they game. It also gives you an extra pair of usb ports that are on the kb itself. It also has a couple of other creature features that come in handy as well. A flip up LCD sreen that can be used for  time/date. or a fav of mine, a preformance monitor. it tells you real time how much ram and how much cpu you are using while gaming. I would be rimiss if I didn't mention the volume "wheel", very cool. So beside what you can do with editing arma controls. A kb like this one gives you the ability to customize controls on games that don't have that option. You can also edit your keys on the "Fly" or in mid game without having to pause. I don't recommend doing it in arma cause you will most likely get shot in the eye at that point!

@ht-57

I also have a gaming keyboard Razer Tarantula. There is also 10 programmable keys, but I don´t know how to put them in use in arma. can u help me with this?

McLee