Oolite Bulletins

Hi everyone. I 'discovered' Oolite a couple of weeks ago and am enjoying playing on my 13" MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard. I'm doing okay as a trader, especially now I've upgraded to a Python, but am pretty hopeless in combat as I just can't get used to the cursor keys. Can anyone recommend a joystick that works with a Mac? For once, Amazon have let me down -- all their Mac joysticks are labelled 'currently unavailable'.

Hi Albee, and welcome to "The Friendliest Board This Side of Riedquat"™!

I don't have a Mac, so can't really help, although you might find some helpful threads in the Mac sub-forum..

And if not, don't worry.. there's lots of Mac users here, and I'm sure one will be along shortly..

Hi Albee, and another welcome from me!

I'm a Mac user, but I'm afraid I can't help either. I've never used anything else but the keyboard for playing Elite since 1985.

Hi Albee – I'm a Mac user but I don't fly with a stick ... but googling for "Macintosh Joystick" brings up lots of compatible ones, e.g. Logitech variants. It might just be that they're not listed as Mac-compatible on Amazon because Amazon has that whole evil/incompetent vibe going. Other, less evil/incompetent sellers are available ...

Also, a Python isn't the fightiest ship out there. Joystick or keyboard, it's always going to be tricky taking on opponents in a big ol' barge. Learn the art of shooting out your rear laser whilst beating a hasty retreat!

Hi Albee... many of us use the Logitech Attack 3 joystick, which I believe works fine on Macs. See this thread.
It's a very good budget 'stick!

Thanks for the tips guys. I did look at a Logitech Attack 3 in Currys, having seen it advertised by some vendors as Mac-compatible, but there's no mention of this on the box and the salesman wasn't certain. I'll give it a go.
I know a Python isn't really cut out for combat, but thought I'd try some 'serious' trading for a while to build up my cash. Certainly the earning potential is much higher than with a Cobra 3 -- I'm making over 4k per round trip on the Onrira-Erlaza run.
I have to say, I love this game. I played Elite on my Spectrum many decades back and eventually reached Elite rank (though I missed the cut-off date for the plastic badge, sadly). This is a great forum, too. I've downloaded quite a few OXPs and created my own ubership using the OXP tutorial. I flew it a few times just for fun, but, as others have said, what's the point? Cheating takes all the pleasure out of it. So it's back to slogging back and forth with computers, luxuries, furs and liquor/wines for a while -- a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Albee wrote:

a dirty job, but someone has to do it.

Aye... the same applies to running contraband!

Albee wrote:

I missed the cut-off date for the plastic badge [...]

Then you might be interested in this ... Giles has a couple of "Oolite" badges on his Shapeways site. Cufflinks, too: just the thing for dressing for dinner or for a court appearance.

Albee wrote:

I know a Python isn't really cut out for combat, but thought I'd try some 'serious' trading for a while to build up my cash. Certainly the earning potential is much higher than with a Cobra 3 -- I'm making over 4k per round trip on the Onrira-Erlaza run.

A whole 4k per round trip huh? Since you have a Python, try running some cargo contracts (F8-F8) instead. Once you build up your reputation to excellent (easily tracked with the Display Reputation OXP) you'll start making some serious money..

Hi Albee, and welcome.
I use the Attack 3. It works out-of-the-box on my Linux computer, although it didn't say it would on the box, so (no promises) but a good chance it will work on the Mac as well. Excellent 'stick for the money it is too.
As for the Python, well a bit slow and sluggish but I ran one for months and loved it! As has been suggested, get an aft laser and learn how to use it and you will be quite lethal. Although I started my Python career as mostly a trader, it wasn't long before I went on the offensive and got into 'Aggressive Salvage' depriving the pirates I met of their booty
I called my Python the 'Fatal Attraction', as those suckers just couldn't resist attacking this nice juicy Python heading their way. Very few lived to regret it.

The specifications on Logitech's website says "Mac OS9 or better", and "USB port". I think it's a safe bet.

http://www.logitech.com/en-gb/gaming/jo ... evices/302

I thought I just replied, but it seems to have disappeared into witchspace. Apologies if you get this twice.
First, a newsflash. I just got back from Curry's with my Logitech Attack 3, and sure enough it works on my MacBook straight out of the box. Great tip, El Viejo, Smivs & Disembodied -- many thanks!
Disembodied: Oolite badges sound good: have to get me one of those.
Diziet Sma: I must confess to some confusion over contract-hauling -- I don't even understand how it works. I don't remember that feature from the original game, and certainly I've never tried it. Maybe it's time to read the instructions?
Anyway, I'm all tooled up now with my Attack 3, so no more excuses. Asps? Bring 'em on! (Or maybe not just yet).

Albee wrote:

Anyway, I'm all tooled up now with my Attack 3, so no more excuses. Asps? Bring 'em on! (Or maybe not just yet).

<grins>

Albee wrote:

Maybe it's time to read the instructions?

That's certainly not the worst of ideas.

As to the contract market, yes, it's one of the additions which Oolite adds to Elite (just like, for example, the ability to buy a new ship). It's pretty much straightforward, though: You take a contract and have to deliver it at the specified destination before the specified time. That's more or less all that's to it. There are penalties for missing the deadline, of course, thus you're forced to have an eye on your ship clock, and look out for the fastest route to your destination (which is not the same as the one with the least amount of jumps).

hej, welcome.

Albee wrote:

Asps? Bring 'em on! (Or maybe not just yet).

Personally I gave it up with the Asps when I flew a Python. I shot them until they fled and happily let them flee. Too fast, those buggers.

Heck, even for a lonely, particularly tough Fer de Lance, I needed >6 LY-worth of fuelinjecting to finally finish it off.
10 or 15 or so RL-minutes, and then on the remaining part of my way to the station I was stuck with "normal speed".