As per the title, the question is can anyone recommend a make and model of joystick suitable for X type games?
As I should be getting a new PC delivered (hopefully today) and have decided to put my good old trusty Flightstick into retirement after many years of faithful service.
Which joystick???
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~Lonowski~
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~Lonowski~-
Rei Ayanami
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oopsdedagen
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Marco H.
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I use the Logitech Wingman Interceptor and this is a fine joystick... 
9 buttons, throttle control, coolie hat...
9 buttons, throttle control, coolie hat...
Small_CPU is right... life sucks.
Against TCPA. Don't let them take your rights!
Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not after you... (Kurt Cobain)
Against TCPA. Don't let them take your rights!
Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not after you... (Kurt Cobain)
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Mercenary
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Rei Ayanami
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Thrustmaster Aftrburner Topgun2:Mercenary wrote:Cheers
Throw in a quick couple of additional questions / observations...
Any reason for choosing <whichever> joystick over any of the others?
Any problems?
How has it stood the test of time?
Cost not much,has 8 Buttons,one Coolie,Throttle control,rudder control (you can choose,if you want to use the rudder by spinning the stick or by using a second "throttle"),USB-connection.
You have to use the Win98/Me-compa-mode with the joystick.exe,but when you are using it,its perfect.
Timetest:very good.
I use it around 1 Year extremly often (in X and FS2),but its running like @ the first day.
Rei
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InvrSmall
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For Xt, I use a Logitech Cordless Pad and it's the business.
It's like a DualShock but with more buttons and a LOT more weight. Using the Wingman profiler you can config the pad so you never have to touch the keyboard, apart from renaming objects. Yes! all ships functions can be configured for the pad.
As for joysticks in general, I really like my Wingman Extreme 3D as it feels good, 7 buttons, throttle and twist.
BUT this joystick is a lemon in terms of lifespan. The pots go haywire after a couple of months unless you maintain the stick with suitable cleaning equipment.
In otherwords,
This joystick is up there with the best BUT YOU MUST PULL IT APPART EVERY MONTH TO KEEP IT WORKING.
BTW i do not work for logitec, just like their stuff+software.
It's like a DualShock but with more buttons and a LOT more weight. Using the Wingman profiler you can config the pad so you never have to touch the keyboard, apart from renaming objects. Yes! all ships functions can be configured for the pad.
As for joysticks in general, I really like my Wingman Extreme 3D as it feels good, 7 buttons, throttle and twist.
BUT this joystick is a lemon in terms of lifespan. The pots go haywire after a couple of months unless you maintain the stick with suitable cleaning equipment.
In otherwords,
This joystick is up there with the best BUT YOU MUST PULL IT APPART EVERY MONTH TO KEEP IT WORKING.
BTW i do not work for logitec, just like their stuff+software.
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oopsdedagen
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Hey I've got one too- how do you pull it apart?InvrSmall wrote:For Xt, I use a Logitech Cordless Pad and it's the business.
It's like a DualShock but with more buttons and a LOT more weight. Using the Wingman profiler you can config the pad so you never have to touch the keyboard, apart from renaming objects. Yes! all ships functions can be configured for the pad.
As for joysticks in general, I really like my Wingman Extreme 3D as it feels good, 7 buttons, throttle and twist.
BUT this joystick is a lemon in terms of lifespan. The pots go haywire after a couple of months unless you maintain the stick with suitable cleaning equipment.
In otherwords,
This joystick is up there with the best BUT YOU MUST PULL IT APPART EVERY MONTH TO KEEP IT WORKING.
BTW i do not work for logitec, just like their stuff+software.
I can't seem to get an allan key that fits the screws to get that main disc off - have I lost something that came in the box?
THanks and sorry Merc for hijacking your thread
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Mercenary
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InvrSmall
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Ahh! the Allen keys. 
they are fake.
Just remove the 4 screws on the stick, (2 on shaft and 2 under the rubber) and flick the small catch under handrest, the shaft will fall appart. [ buttons everywhere
]
Then there are the 5 screws underneath.
Apply suitable Contact cleaner and try to reassemble.
DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU WANT BITS OF STICK EVERYWHERE.
Have fun...
they are fake. Just remove the 4 screws on the stick, (2 on shaft and 2 under the rubber) and flick the small catch under handrest, the shaft will fall appart. [ buttons everywhere
]Then there are the 5 screws underneath.
Apply suitable Contact cleaner and try to reassemble.
DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU WANT BITS OF STICK EVERYWHERE.
Have fun...
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oopsdedagen
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Al
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oopsdedagen
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Scarecrow
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Mercenary
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UncleKnobby
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Dutchman
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If I have to recomend a Flightstick i'd say the Suncom F-15e Talon.
I got mine for over three years now and it's still as new, and I play a lot, X-tension, flightsims etc. It has 12 programmable buttons in 4 banks, so 4 times 12
, and together with my throttle which has another 9 programmable buttons in 4 banks, I hardly touch my keyboard while playing X-Tension
Hmm lemme see
4 x 12=48
4 x 9=36
----------------------
Total 84 buttons...yikes!
Maybe that's why I have such crooked fingers
Cheers
I got mine for over three years now and it's still as new, and I play a lot, X-tension, flightsims etc. It has 12 programmable buttons in 4 banks, so 4 times 12
, and together with my throttle which has another 9 programmable buttons in 4 banks, I hardly touch my keyboard while playing X-Tension Hmm lemme see
4 x 12=48
4 x 9=36
----------------------
Total 84 buttons...yikes!
Maybe that's why I have such crooked fingers
Cheers
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GHarper
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the Suncom F-15 stick is REALLY good. the problem is that suncom went out of business a long time ago. but they still appear on ebay from time to time. The Suncom SFS Throttle is more of a mixed bag.
buying a joystick is kinda contigent on what you are looking for.
low end, middle, or high end?
on the low - middle end, any of the logitech recommendations already here are really good. Logitech has a long track record from what I've seen. I dont own one personally so I dont know about its inaccuracy but that seems to be treatable.
Microsoft also makes solid hardware, they're all kinda the same so teh choice is really whether or not one wants force feedback.
If you want a seperate throttle assembly, then the Thrustmaster Afterburner 2 thing mentioned above appears to work ok.. Personally I cant stand the way it looks. actually I cant stand the way most joysticks look. all space agey and lame.
Also the Saitek X45 stick/throttle (hotas) combo is pretty good. Saitek has some driver problems, but there are 3d party drivers available that seem to solve all the problems. I had its predecessor the X36/35 many years ago, it was a great stick but eventually broke after about 2 years. but for $80-100 USD for a stick and throttle, it is certainly the best bang for the buck out there.
Which brings us to the High End. Which are way overkill for anything X, but there are other games out there....like Falcon
Ch Products- Ch puts out a whole line of stick, throttle and pedals. with very good programming support too. CH is solid and well built and lasts a long time. even better, there are several sticks to choose from so you arent forced into buying the top of the line. plus since all parts are available sepearately one can build one's setup in a modular fashion. the downside is that its over $300 for the total setup. but I've always felt investing in a good joystickl is money well spent, since joysticks, when they're quality sticks, can last for years. better to spend $300 up front on a stick that lasts for 4 or 5 years than buy several $80 sticks over the same timeframe. but others have had real longevity with lesser sticks. I guess I just abuse mine too much
Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar- the undisputed King of Skies
The Cougar has so many features that I'll refrain from even listing them.
go here: http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/
for details. buyer be warned though, as with anything this complicated, there are some defects. but there are also fixes for 99% of them. This AINT a Toaster, something you just buy and use, it becomes a hobby in and of itself (see its forums). so if ya think that might be something you're interested in, go for it, if not, stay away.
so as should be obvious, my expertise is more in the high end gear cuz its what I know best, if thats not for you, then please go with the recommendations of others for the logitech/microsoft stuff cuz they know more about em than I do.
buying a joystick is kinda contigent on what you are looking for.
low end, middle, or high end?
on the low - middle end, any of the logitech recommendations already here are really good. Logitech has a long track record from what I've seen. I dont own one personally so I dont know about its inaccuracy but that seems to be treatable.
Microsoft also makes solid hardware, they're all kinda the same so teh choice is really whether or not one wants force feedback.
If you want a seperate throttle assembly, then the Thrustmaster Afterburner 2 thing mentioned above appears to work ok.. Personally I cant stand the way it looks. actually I cant stand the way most joysticks look. all space agey and lame.
Also the Saitek X45 stick/throttle (hotas) combo is pretty good. Saitek has some driver problems, but there are 3d party drivers available that seem to solve all the problems. I had its predecessor the X36/35 many years ago, it was a great stick but eventually broke after about 2 years. but for $80-100 USD for a stick and throttle, it is certainly the best bang for the buck out there.
Which brings us to the High End. Which are way overkill for anything X, but there are other games out there....like Falcon
Ch Products- Ch puts out a whole line of stick, throttle and pedals. with very good programming support too. CH is solid and well built and lasts a long time. even better, there are several sticks to choose from so you arent forced into buying the top of the line. plus since all parts are available sepearately one can build one's setup in a modular fashion. the downside is that its over $300 for the total setup. but I've always felt investing in a good joystickl is money well spent, since joysticks, when they're quality sticks, can last for years. better to spend $300 up front on a stick that lasts for 4 or 5 years than buy several $80 sticks over the same timeframe. but others have had real longevity with lesser sticks. I guess I just abuse mine too much
Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar- the undisputed King of Skies
The Cougar has so many features that I'll refrain from even listing them.
go here: http://cougar.frugalsworld.com/
for details. buyer be warned though, as with anything this complicated, there are some defects. but there are also fixes for 99% of them. This AINT a Toaster, something you just buy and use, it becomes a hobby in and of itself (see its forums). so if ya think that might be something you're interested in, go for it, if not, stay away.
so as should be obvious, my expertise is more in the high end gear cuz its what I know best, if thats not for you, then please go with the recommendations of others for the logitech/microsoft stuff cuz they know more about em than I do.