Joystick recomendations

Originally Posted by sigintwarrior

So I have been using this Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 Joystick for the last couple of years and I think its on its last legs. The joystick itself is loose and 2 of the buttons on the base don't work anymore. Wing Commander (read Wife) has authorized the purchase of a new one. I went to Best Buy, but they only had 2 instock, and I just couldnt decide. So, I figured I would ask here. What kinds of Joysticks are people using out there?

I have the Saitek X52. I like it because you have the throttle separate to the stick. I've had it for years and it's still going strong. Have the pedals as well and they're awesome too.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by 602Sqn.McLean

I have the Saitek X52. I like it because you have the throttle separate to the stick. I've had it for years and it's still going strong. Have the pedals as well and they're awesome too.

OT: Bro, would you mind changing the font in your sig - a bit smaller would be nice.

BTT: What's the budget? Around 100-150 there's only the x52 which isn't bad at all.
You could also use the x52 throttle in combo with a FFB2 which I love too.

How's that? Sorry it annoyed you..... Bro.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by 602Sqn.McLean

How's that? Sorry it annoyed you..... Bro.

No reason to delete it completely, just a tad smaller.

(It was just too big and too bright, almost made my eyes bleed, lol)

[B_Bogus]

I had to retire my old M$ FF1 stick as part of the latest PC upgrade, and just took delivery of a Logitech G940 FF system - not a cheap piece of kit, but I'm impressed so far - really good force feedback, and good solid bases. The rudder pedals are a new feature for me, and work well, especially the toe brakes, which don't work on the Spitfire (well they wouldn't would they, as it didn't have them They do work fine on the 109 though ).
I was using an X45 until this arrived, and it's in a different league altogether.

Adds enormously to the game immersion, and is absolutely, definitely, positively worth the investment

Another week and I'll have all the features understood and programmed

A couple of game-related FF comments:
The stall warning is excellent (my main reason for having it!) and the FF effects generally very good.
The machine gun effect is rather good, but the shake continues after the ammo runs out.
The shake when the engine cooks is quite frankly just unnecessary and shatters the immersive quality of the game IMHO - it reminds me of the old CFS stick shake when taxying - did those ailerons really drag along the ground

I waited ages for a decent FF stick to come on the market, and although I haven't tried anything else, I'm glad this came along when it did - it's nigh on perfect.

[grunge]

Originally Posted by B_Bogus

I had to retire my old M$ FF1 stick as part of the latest PC upgrade, and just took delivery of a Logitech G940 FF system - not a cheap piece of kit, but I'm impressed so far - really good force feedback, and good solid bases. The rudder pedals are a new feature for me, and work well, especially the toe brakes, which don't work on the Spitfire (well they wouldn't would they, as it didn't have them They do work fine on the 109 though ).
I was using an X45 until this arrived, and it's in a different league altogether.

Adds enormously to the game immersion, and is absolutely, definitely, positively worth the investment

Another week and I'll have all the features understood and programmed

A couple of game-related FF comments:
The stall warning is excellent (my main reason for having it!) and the FF effects generally very good.
The machine gun effect is rather good, but the shake continues after the ammo runs out.
The shake when the engine cooks is quite frankly just unnecessary and shatters the immersive quality of the game IMHO - it reminds me of the old CFS stick shake when taxying - did those ailerons really drag along the ground

I waited ages for a decent FF stick to come on the market, and although I haven't tried anything else, I'm glad this came along when it did - it's nigh on perfect.

How is the feel of the center with this stick? I mean is there any deadzone? I have an MS Force Feedback 2, but i want to buy a complete system with pedals and throttle also. With thisstick i got very good immersion at what speeds does the plane feel itself good. I'm wondering whether is it possible to use the pedals and throttle of the G940 with the MSFFB 2?

[B_Bogus]

Originally Posted by grunge

How is the feel of the center with this stick? I mean is there any deadzone? I have an MS Force Feedback 2, but i want to buy a complete system with pedals and throttle also. With thisstick i got very good immersion at what speeds does the plane feel itself good. I'm wondering whether is it possible to use the pedals and throttle of the G940 with the MSFFB 2?

It's still early days here (only got the game running yesterday), and I'm still tuning the controls to suit the stick, but control finesse around neutral seems just fine; reducing the deadzone in the control panel certainly gets translated into a more sensitive stick around neutral - most time I feel like I'm just breathing on it to keep the sight on the target, so I'd say its as tuneable as you need from pretty much zero deadzone upwards.

<edit> watching the joystick in the cockpit there's no deadzone at all, so the stick is very tight when new, at least

When carrying speed out of a dive the stick firms up to the point where real strength is required to overcome the FF. I was doing some vertical stuff earlier, and I stayed nose high for too long; the stick went very baggy just before the plane started tumbling, so the force range is very large.

I don't see why you couldn't run the old M$ stick with the new pedals and throttle, although you'll still need the new stick connected as it's the main interface - I can't try this with my old gameport FF1, so it's pure specualtion!

That said, I'd say this stick is a worthy successor to the old M$ stick, and I don't think you'd be missing it once the G940 is up and running.