I've already posted this at lockonfiles.com and eagle.ru but I couldn't find an answer, so I'm hoping that maybe you guys could help me (even though you're probably all members of both lockonfiles.com and eagle.ru).

A few days ago I started up LOMAC and began a campaign mission, but I noticed that my mouse-look in the cockpit, and even in external view, wasn't working. I didn't understand (and I still don't) why the mouse-look just stopped working like that.

I then un-installed LOMAC, deleted its folder, did a registry clean with Registry Mechanic and then re-installed LOMAC. Then I set CockpitMouse = true in view.lua, CockpitMouse = true in cockpit.lua and MouseCockpit = 1 in view.cfg, but that still didn't work.

One thing that Ironhand said on the eagle.ru forums was:

quote:

I'm thinking that perhaps something has installed a different version of a DLL LOMAC uses in your Windows directory. This will force the sim to use the version it shipped with, if that's the problem.

So maybe someone would know what he means.

I don't know what to do anymore, and without being able to use mouse-look it's almost impossible to play (since I don't have a joystick or TrackIR). Only being able to use the keyboard isn't any fun.

It's a long shot, but I was listening to music using Winamp when I got into LOMAC and that was the first time I noticed that my mouse-look wasn't working. Maybe there's a connection between the two?

If anyone knows what might be wrong PLEASE tell me! I really wanna play LOMAC again!

My advice is simple: buy joystick even cheaper one without HAT. It is a must to play Lock-On and in fact every flight-sim!

As for lack of "mouse views" I don't know. It always works good for me.

Someone at the eagle.ru forums helped me out. It was because I had Free-Track installed and was still waiting to get a webcam. Didn't realize that it disabled your mouse. Anyway it's fixed now so everything's good.

I always hear people say how important a joystick is when playing a flight sim, but I don't get why it's so important. Does it really make a big difference?

My setup is my mouse with rudder control on the left and right buttons, and then throttle on the two side buttons. Plus I look around using the mouse as well. And I fly with WASD and all the important keys like lock, radar, airbrake, flares/chaff, weapons change etc., around the WASD. So I have one hand on the keyboard and one on the mouse constantly.

Yes, a joystick is a must for most people.

Apart from feeling like you are actually piloting the a/c, a joystick puts many often used & critical commands at your fingertips, ie you don't need to take your eyes off the target to press the button.

I use the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, it has 5 buttons & 4-way hat-switch plus trigger on the stick. The stick also twists to give rudder control - lovely.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joys...devices/291&cl=us,en

Each button has upto 4 functions by mapping with SHFT/CTRL/ALT and the 4-way hat is similarly mapped in each direction.
5 buttons can hold 20 commands.
Hat-switch holds 16 commands.

I have 22 commands mapped to 4 buttons & the Hat on top of stick + Trigger(fire)& Thumb button(release weapon).

With the mouse for looking (mouse wheel - zoom & airbrakes, mousebuttons - chaff) it is easy to hit SHFT or CNTRL with the thumb while I press a joystick button. Hitting ALT not so easy, so usually not mapped or just for non-critical functions.

It takes a while to get a feel for what functions you want on what button.

Perhaps borrow or buy a cheap stick but a quality stick gives smoother control of a/c. Lots of buttons on stick.