I should have been more precise in my choice of terms. I am old, forgive me. When I refer to a joystick, I am referring to a HOTAS device (that's hands on throttle and stick) and not an Atari 2600 type of controller. I would not be reaching for my keyboard, as my device has a programmable keyboard emulation mode where I can assign most, if not all, of my hotkeys to buttons on the stick or throttle. I would be reaching for my beer more often than my keyboard. And yes, they do still make such things. They even make Atari controllers for misty eyed nostalgics like me.

I see what you are getting at there, and I really did not think of that. I am not saying that I want stick support now, but I would, at least like to hear from the developers that they are planning on patching it in sometime in the future. Maybe along with announcing a pod racing expansion.....

Sadly, the above is true, but it would be sweet to be able to reenact that A Wing Kamikaze in Return of the Jedi.

I understand what you are saying, and I appreciate it. It is, however, a bit shy of my point, but that is understandable since I forgot to add in the arguments for a fixed aiming reticle option. My point was that a skilled player will be competitive regardless of how they chose to control their game as long as it is a control setup that the individual finds intuitive and comfortable. NO setup is inferior if the PLAYER is skilled, and if that player likes competition, then that player should not mind someone else using what makes them competitive.

Since GSF launched for subbies, there has been a hot debate over adding joystick/ gamepad support. I have looked at alot of objections to this request and it boils down to four points: GSF is not a sim game, and should not be played like one Adding controller support would divert developmental resources from more vital things Controller support would give controller users an unfair advantage over keyboard/mouse users I don't want to be forced to use a control setup that I don't like/ can't afford I would like to address these in turn. 1. ANY game is a simulation of a given scenario under certain preconditions and rule sets (well.... maybe not golf. That one has me scratching my head. Maybe it is the exception that proves the rule). Therefore, I submit that GSF IS a sim, and that those of us who wish to play it as such should be allowed to. It isn't REAL starfighter combat, otherwise the participation requirements would be much more stringent than creating a Bioware account. 2. Much of the coding work to adapt the control scheme to a controller is already done at the OS level. This is called drivers. Most OS manufacturers offer the adaptation software to game developers for free. A pair of Bioware interns should be able to write up the patch for testing in a couple of weeks. 3 & 4. These two are actually tied together, and not only are they untrue, but hypocritical. Many who use this argument might find that using a keyboard and mouse is more intuitive and comfortable to them, but they are unsure of their actual skill. Fine. More power to them. We are not asking the developers to force them to use a controller, we are asking the developers to allow US to use a setup that we find more intuitive and comfortable. If you truly are highly skilled with a keyboard and mouse, then you should have no problem smoking a less skilled stick and throttle player. The folks who try throwing out these arguments simply don't want those of us who are having trouble with the current control scheme to be competitive. They say that is an "older minority" of players who want this. The subtext here is that the "older minority" of stick and throttle players have spent alot of years honing those stick and throttle skills, and the naysayers don't want to have to increase their own skills. I, personally, feel that this is an unintentional thumb in they eye of those who got their skills in the real world (shout out to all fighter pilots from an old grunt!) Contrary to not wanting to give controller users an unfair advantage, it is trying to keep them at a disadvantage. Contrary to forcing keyboard and mouse users to use a setup they don't like, it is forcing US to use one that we don't like. And WE are in the wrong for asking for controller support? Bottom line: If you don't want competition, then don't play competitively. If you are a hot hand on the keyboard and mouse, then support the request and PROVE you are a competitor.

Someone on an earlier post mentioned immersion and fun. This is why I would like the option to use my HOTAS setup. I am not looking to become ultra competitive or to be the Top Gun of my server, I want to feel like I am actually FLYING a starfighter into battle. I want to have fun. This is why we PLAY this GAME called Star Wars: The Old Republic. I tried GSF at launch, and felt that it was too much chase-the-reticle. I am not knocking the KB/Mouse users. I use it for the ground game, after all. I just want to be able to fly. I would like to add that I don't always go with a stick in sim games. When I roll in MWO, I set the stick from my HOTAS behind my screen and use the throttle in combination with my mouse. I know, I know..... GSF isn't really a sim, but it would not take alot of effort to give it that feel for those of us who want it, without breaking it for those that do not. The argument that a stick would give a player an advantage over a KB/M player is also somewhat incorrect. A skilled player using a mouse could smoke an unskilled player who is using a stick and vice-versa. It is the individuals skill that will win the day, and not the peripherals. To quote an old adage: "It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools." Do I think the developers should drop everything and immediately get the controller support patched in? No. Changing the development schedule would cost BW too much money, and would end up being a net detriment to the game. That said, I would like to see it at least added to said development schedule after the part where you can toggle a fixed reticle. My bottom line is that we all love this game, otherwise we would not be so vocal. We should all be allowed to enjoy it however we want to play it and be glad that others can enjoy it how they want to play, as well.

Hey, y'all I usually play 1:30 AM- 3:00 AM Pacific time every night, and sometimes around 10ish on my nights off. I am running into issues finding folks to run PvE with,and I am looking for a guild that tends to be on in those timeframes. I like to help out lower level guildies and, if I have the mats, I tend to craft items for guildies for free. I am a subbie, and I have a 51 smuggler gunslinger and an 18 Sith marauder. I have not done any PvP yet, but plan to and plan to fly in the expansion alot, once it drops. anyone got a home for me?

Just a quick question on the controls for the fighters..... well 2 actually. 1. Will there be support for joystick/ throttle peripherals? 2. If so, will it include XYZ axis+ throttle, or just XY axis+throttle? And I lied. I have a third question: 3. Will there be the option to fly in a cockpit view, or will the view be locked in third person? These have probably been answered already, but I just got off work and am too tired to use the search button.

Courtney, any way we can see an actual tour schedule, instead of announcing these things a couple weeks in advance? Some of us would like to attend, but will need more time to get time off requests in.

Ok, thanks for the info.

When I am trying to get gear for my companions, I can't get the item comparisons for them when I mouse over an item. Even if I have my companion up on the character window, it only gives stat comparison for what I have equipped. Is there some way I can change this?

When I am trying to compare stats with items my companions are using, it will only compare with what my character has equipped, even if I have my companion up in the character window. Now my usual running partner says that his does not do this. Is this a common problem,or do I have some sort of glitch in my install?

I am relieved that this doesn't mean the end of TOR. I do have to take some issue with whoever said that SOE had nothing to do with the end of Galaxies. SOE did develop content, and the two things that caused the downfall of Galaxies (Patch 9 and the New Game Enhancements) were SOE's babies.