Thrustmaster Tacticalboard Review

Introduction

Thrustmaster has created a game pad which functions as a Virtual Keyboard when attached to your system, i.e. it’s not a Game Device, like a joystick.  Therefore, this thing works right out of the box, without really needed the Thrustmapper software.  It won’t interfere with other controllers you might also want to use (remember that Windows won’t let you use more than one gaming device in a game).  A great example of this would be Battlefield 1942, where you need to be able to control your character in FPS play, vehicles, and also aircraft.  In his game, you might want to keep your flight stick available for flying the aircraft.  With the Tacticalboard, running as a virtual, extension of the keyboard, you’ll have access to the ergonomic keys and still be able to switch tot he flight stick.

Specifications

As the above picture shows, there are twenty easy access buttons, designed for left hand use.  Thirteen are centrally located for fingers, while seven additional buttons are located for your thumb’s use.  There are 22 buttons designated for more advanced actions along the top of the controller.   At the left are lighted buttons specifically set-up for using on-line communications (called the “Chatterbox”).  There is also a wheel amidst these comm buttons.

Features

4 direction keys

7 thumb keys

9 quick action keys

22 advanced features keys

1 escape button (small red button located above thumb pad)

3 adjustable zones: thumb, wrist pad, top keys.

Chatterbox to communicate with players and to command the games.

Removable wrist pad.

1 command key to order units with the chatterbox

Platform: PC

Controller Type: Gamepad

Number of Buttons: 42

Programmable Buttons: Yes

Connectors: USB ‑ Universal Serial Bus "A"

System Requirements: PC

Pentium 133MHz or higher with a USB port

Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or 2000

DirectX 8.0 for chatterbox

Requirements for the chatterbox

Headset with microphone (to use Chatterbox)

Game commander 2 and Teamsound (included software)

The Thrustmaster Tacticalboard comes with a driver CD that also includes a special edition of Game Commander 2 and Teamsound. 

Currently, it appears that there is limited availability of the Tacticalboard.  I’ve seen it at the CompUSA store, locally.  On-line, I can’t find it anywhere but CompUSA’s website.  It sells there for $79.99.

Installation

As for all USB devices, it is recommended that you install the drivers then plug the device in.  After doing this, Windows XP and Windows 2000 Pro found the Tacticalboard and installed the Virtual Keyboard drivers.  I also installed the Thrustmapper software, but this really isn’t needed.  The default settings for the virtual keyboard allow any game to recognize key assignments.  I suppose some people may choose to use the Thrustmapper software if they want to assign specific key strokes to certain of the Tacticalboard’s buttons....But this really isn’t necessary.  I also installed the Game Commander 2 and Teamsound software.

Testing

Besides my own testing, I asked my sister-in-law’s husband ([BDE]Kovey) to give it a try.  He’s a serious mouse/keyboard user for all games and I knew that he would be the one person that I knew who could test the Tacticalboard to it’s limits.  As for me, I dabble with these left hand keypads.  I’ve used the MS Sidewinder Strategic Commander, and Belkin’s Nostromo n50 SpeedPad to great success, but I’ve never been very efficient at using all of the available keys.  The Tacticalboard, with 42 programmable keys, appeared daunting to me.   Beyond the Tacticalboard testing, I looked at the included software.

Gene: I immediately tested the Tacticalboard on Mechwarriror 4: Mercenaries.  I need 11-13 keys to play this game, and I can’t get that with my Thrustmaster TopGun Afterburner, which is my usual stick for mech and flight sims. 

List of buttons and what I used them for:

I used my mouse for turning (aiming), and didn’t use the buttons since I wanted to rely on the Tacticalboard’s wealth of buttons to help me out. 

Pro’s

1.  More buttons than you can possibly use, but certainly enough within the radius of your fingers.

2. The virtual keyboard drivers make this thing idiot proof for setting up.  There’s no need to even think about the Thrustmapper software, all you need do is go through the configuration settings within the game to assign the buttons.

3.  The moveable wrist pad and thumb pad helped me get very comfortable with the Tacticalboard.

Con’s:

1.  This is a serious piece of hardware that will certainly take time to master.  After a few nights of playing, I began to memorize and use the buttons without thinking.

2.  The thumb pad, on the other hand, has small buttons and they’re difficult for my clumsy hand to use accurately.  I relegated these buttons to less critical tasks in game.

[BDE]Kovey:   I'm comparing it to the use of a keyboard. I also am using it in conjunction with a MS Optical mouse, and also playing Mechwarrior 4: Mercenaries, which needs lots-o-buttons.

List of buttons and what I used them for:

I use the mouse for torso twist, right mouse button for cycling through weapons groups, and left mouse button to fire selected group.

I tried experimenting with the ALL and TEAM buttons for in game Chat and Team Chat but I found it was easier to use the default keys of Y and U since I had to go to the keyboard anyway to type my message(This could be a drawback to the Thrustmaster if you aren't on voice coms).  I also experimented with using C1 through C10 as Move Forward 10%-100% but I found it was easier to use accelerate and decelerate (Up Arrow and Down Arrow ).

Pro's:

1. All the buttons are fairly close together where they are fairly easily accessed with one hand.

2. The thumb array and wrist rest are adjustable letting you get the optimal position for your hand.

3. The game recognized it as a keyboard which made the in-game setup easy.

The only Cons I saw with this controller is the difficulty I had with using the C1-C12 and S1-S10 in game (the two rows of buttons along the top of the Tacticalboard). To use those buttons for anything I found myself having to look down to see where my hand was all the time which got annoying. MW4 is a fairly fast paced game and you can't afford to be looking down at your controller. That bank of buttons is in a fairly awkward place and it's not easy to tell where your hand is on it by feel. In a RPG game like DAoC or Diablo2 those buttons may be ok to use, since there isn't action happening continually and you have a chance to look down. :)  I guess you could say that makes this controller work for a diverse set of games which could also be looked at as a plus.