Gaming Joystick

mattyj1085

mattyj1085

mattyj1085

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Joined
27 Feb 2006
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Normanton
Im looking for something second hand that should be good enough to play the odd racing and flight sim game aswell as being used on a couple of emulators

Ive been looking at the logitec wingman and microsoft sidewinder pro. Whats the difference between the sidewinder pro and 3D pro?


What are your recommended joysticks that are not plasticky and squeeky?
 
Google the following:

  • Saitek X52 Pro
  • Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas
  • Saitek Cyborg X
  • Thrustmaster T-stick X
  • Microsoft Precision Pro II
Quite a varied selection there so check em out and see which you think you would like best. :)
 
Richdog said:
Google the following:

  • Saitek X52 Pro
  • Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas
  • Saitek Cyborg X
  • Thrustmaster T-stick X
  • Microsoft Precision Pro II
Quite a varied selection there so check em out and see which you think you would like best. :)
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Probably the one thats cheapest, doent sound like its going to break and works with a usb connection. but thanks :)
 
I've ordered "thrustmaster T-stick X" this morning after reading good few reviews about it. If it arrives in time I'll check it out and post back.
 
mattyj1085 said:
^ that looks cheap
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Agreed. I looked at one of those and decided against it due to price and the use it was/is gonna get, be a shame and waste of money if broke through heavy useage after a few weeks/months. Its a shame they don't appear to sell a separate throttle as far as I can see that can be used with the standalone joystick (although I'd be grateful if someone could prove me wrong)

And yep, its gonna be used in freespace 2 and the other flightsims I'm intending to get, "Lockon" looks appealing 'frinstance.
 
pieman109 said:
Its a shame they don't appear to sell a separate throttle as far as I can see that can be used with the standalone joystick (although I'd be grateful if someone could prove me wrong)
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Cougar's processor is in joystick and throttle is connected to it... and there's also joystick/gameport connector for pedals for full ten analog axes... Which is actually two more than DirectInput can handle.


CH Pro Throttle is available separately, and all of their controllers can be apparently "programmed" because of complete relying to software emulation instead of hardware programmability.


Unless Saitek has done considerable improvement since their earlier models X52 is crappy loose bling bling without any resistance/centering force.
While Cougar is definitely too stiff (and CH probably) for faster paced games Saitek's "dead feeling" vision ain't any better. Even old Logitech Wingman Extreme I had (ab)used for years in games like TIE Fighter and then Freespace 2 had magnitudes better feeling than Saitek's dead limp stick X-36 I've had chance to try couple times.
 
Well guys I went out today and picked up a Saitek X52 from the local store...

First impressions were mixed, but after using it for a couple of hours it's got better. The joystick is well built and has a TON of fully programmable buttons, combined with 3 modes essentially tripling the potential number of programmable commands.

BLue LED's look gash but can be dimmer to nothingness or turned off. Throttle feels alright and can be tuned for slide resistance. Some of the "slider wheels" (extra axis) are placed in rather awkward positions and aren't that easy to manipulate... but i think this can be solved by tweaking the deadzones and i'm going to try that in a bit.

Anyway the important bit... how does it feel in games? Well as we all know Freespace 2 is the perfect test for any joystick... it's a fast-twitch space combat sim where accuracy is key. Does the X52 deliver? Well... yes and no really. Responsiveness is MUCH better than my Saitek Cyborg Evo, but my only real quibble is that in true Saitek fashion, the center of the stick is nowhere near as responsive as you want it to be, which makes minor adjustments a real pain, and targeting those nimble fighters in heavy dogfights can be a bit of a pain. However I am getting much better with it, so some hours training definately help, so I will see how it goes and if I don't like it will return it next week.

All in all though having all the extra buttons is a god-send, and really useful for pumping out orders and minimising interaction with the keyboard. I will expiriment with the mode switches at some point to see if I can use one mode for fighting and then one for comms and one for something else.

So far i'm giving it a 7.5/10 and will re-assess in a couple/few days. :)

EDIT - WOOOOO was browsing th Saitek foruma nd noticed someones made a X52 profile for Freespace 2... it has a SHIPLOAD of commandes mapped for every mode. Awesomeness, will try it ASAP. :D
 
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Dang! I totally have a logitech wingman that's been sittin in my closet taking up space that I was totally thinkin about selling last week. I still might.
 
Richdog said:
but my only real quibble is that in true Saitek fashion, the center of the stick is nowhere near as responsive as you want it to be, which makes minor adjustments a real pain, and targeting those nimble fighters in heavy dogfights can be a bit of a pain.
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Is Saitek's control software still limited to basic buttons and macros?
Axis response curve modifying could help to that.
 
EsaT said:
Is Saitek's control software still limited to basic buttons and macros?
Axis response curve modifying could help to that.
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My XP52Pro has deadzone and axis control available in control panel, response curves still apparently not though, it is Saiteks biggest failing in my opinion.
 
if you want the best built and the most programmable(including deadzone and axis and all button) go for a CH fighterstick,they been building flight stick for over 25 years and have a 10/lifetime/ year guarantee i think....they are the best in my opinion...read up do your reseach using google and you will see for yourself that ch products are the BEST!

I have a CH fighterstick pro with throttle also..i have amassed over 40000 kills on bf2 in a J10 using this stick :-)
 
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Dano said:
Now go play something thats actually hard to do that in and we'll all be suitably impressed ;)
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go look at my account uzidirtbox..i had the best record in the UK at one time for support class...its not the joystick...its playing games for over 27 years that helps mate,im also a hardcore flightsim addict...my very first being fighter pilot by digital integration from 1983 on the zx spectrum....as for bf2 im retired and waiting for the official bf3 ;)
 
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