Author Topic: Okay, what joysticks are y'all runnin? (Read 6816 times)

Grant · « **on:** October 28, 2014, 01:55:51 pm »

With the news that GOG will soon have TIE fighter and X-wing Fighter up for offer....along with eventually needing to get started on Wing commander....

I am in need of a new joystick. I ain't been in flight games for TOOOO long and I just got restarted and busted my last one (Logitech Extreme 3D pro) out of storage and hooked it onto my older XP computer (to run games I couldn't get going on windows 7. Crimson Skies, MechWarrior 3 and X-wing Alliance).

Back when they were $19.99 I would just buy a pair of Logitech 3d Pro's and use them until the twist wore out. A real weak spot, they were cheap and comfortable so I just bought them, used each one about 8 months then used my backup and got a replacement.

Well I want to spring for a "good" joystick, only requirements: Twist handle, and a natural secondary fire-button/IE thumb-fired. That was why I liked the 3D pro so well was the thumbrest and secondary button were unrivaled in my opinion.

ALSO....I fought and fought and even using the patches and "bug fixes" I couldn't get my NIB 3D Pro to work on my 64 bit Windows 7.

So...what do you recommend?

WeTheArmed.com

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #1 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:17:30 pm »

I used to run one that was an actual F-16 flight stick, and when that busted I got an MS Sidewider flight stick.
But I've not used those in like 15 years at least.

Avenger29 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 28, 2014, 07:52:04 pm »

Quote from: GeorgeHill on October 28, 2014, 07:17:30 pm

I used to run one that was an actual F-16 flight stick, and when that busted I got an MS Sidewider flight stick.
But I've not used those in like 15 years at least.

CH Pro made the F-16 style sticks, and are still available. The microsoft sidewinder has been out of production for a long while.

Do not go with Saitek. Just, don't. They look good but have software issues and such.

I would recommend CH Products. None of them include a rudder twist, I would recommend picking up a set of CH pedals on Ebay. Should be able to get one for $50-60. Yeah your total combo is going to run around $150 but it will be very much worth it to have quality equipment and not fight cheap sticks.

ksuguy · « **Reply #3 on:** October 28, 2014, 08:01:49 pm »

I am currently using a CH Products Combat Stick. Got it new on Amazon for about $50 as part of a "damaged box" deal. Works pretty well and has good features. I do wish it was a little heavier and the stick is a bit too easy to move. I used to use a Suncom F15E Talon, but it was an old analog game port model and I could not get it functioning on my newer PCs with Windows XP or 7.

GeorgeHill · « **Reply #4 on:** October 28, 2014, 10:01:18 pm »

I liked the Sidewinder because it had twist Rudder control. That was nice. But if you want the realism - you gotta get the pedals.
CH - I don't think that was what I had - it wasn't F-16 style. It was an actual F-16 stick. I did have CH pedals though.

Grant · « **Reply #5 on:** October 28, 2014, 10:31:59 pm »

Well realism is relative on the games I play. I'm so used to a twist handle.

Main thing is I don't want to have to twiddle and tweak to get it working on windows 7....I do that just to get stuff to work on XP or 7 and it's getting old.

That said....I guess I better start looking, I am going to want to be playing star-citizen at some point.

ksuguy · « **Reply #6 on:** October 29, 2014, 12:25:42 am »

Overall I'm happy with the CH Products Combat Stick, especially for the money. Just plug it in with the USB and go. Or if you want to get more customized, you can program the buttons however you like.

I'd really like to try a Thrustmaster Warthog, but those are extremely expensive. It's hard to justify dropping nearly $300 on a joystick.

ksuguy · « **Reply #7 on:** October 29, 2014, 12:27:58 am »

Also, I'm considering a dual stick setup for Star Citizen. With the way it flies in Arena Commander, I think it would be very useful to have a second stick for some of the maneuvers using the maneuvering thrusters.

Adskii · « **Reply #8 on:** October 29, 2014, 11:10:37 am »

Awww, I like my Saitek X45, other than no driver support past Xp. But I almost never let anything install its custom driver packages anyway. Plus I got it used for under $10. Now I went and dug it out of storage, and have to find a game that can use it... why don't games have joystick support anymore?

BTW here is the Link for TIE fighter: http://www.gog.com/game/star_wars_tie_fighter_special_edition

Roper1911 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 30, 2014, 07:37:59 pm »

I have a logitech extreme 3d pro and a Saitek ST90.
the Saitek is gonna be my translational, up, down, left and right. and the logitech is gonna be yaw, roll, pitch. missiles will be controlled off the saitek, and the logitech is gonna be all my guns.

Matthew Mayner · « **Reply #10 on:** October 30, 2014, 07:43:46 pm »

I have this bad boy.

This here is the THRUSTMASTER T.Flight Hotas X

It's not too expensive and it has a ton of buttons. Sure it's not modeled after an A-10 or F-16 set but meh it's a lot cheaper.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16879337003

Oh and one last thing... you can separate the two halves if you prefer a... wider stance.

Avenger29 · « **Reply #11 on:** October 31, 2014, 09:14:29 pm »

I used to have that, back when it was the "Top Gun" stick about a decade or so ago.

It was very servicable. Never gave any trouble, but it did eventually wear out. Worked way better than the Saitek POSs I owned afterwards. I liked the rudder rocker switch on the throttle better than the twist sticks.

Grant · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2014, 11:43:07 pm »

Okay....I may have found my new joystick. Those look nice, good reviews and not a total bank-buster.

Precious Roy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 01, 2014, 10:21:16 am »

I use/used a Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar and pedals. Before my desktop bit the dust I was an avid Falcon 4.0/BMS player. A great stick makes all the difference when playing hardcore sims like Falcon IMO. I don't have to use the keyboard for things like slewing the radar or targeting pod, activate the radio or kick out flares and chaff. A good stick makes refueling much easier too. Trying to hook up behind a tanker with my old MS joystick was a miserable experience which bordered on the impossible.

Adskii · « **Reply #14 on:** November 01, 2014, 10:27:10 am »

What are some games you guys would recommend playing with a joystick? I just re installed windows last night (had tried to wait for my upgrade but it died on its own) and no longer have 300+ GB of games installed.

ksuguy · « **Reply #15 on:** November 01, 2014, 11:11:29 am »

X-wing and TIE Fighter, the Wing Commander series, Star Citizen (you can play the Alpha version now), Mechwarrior.

Adskii · « **Reply #16 on:** November 02, 2014, 01:02:21 am »

I never could get into the wing commander games... I don't know why. X-wing Vs TIE fighter I played at LAN parties back in the 90s. I remember being able to carry my whole rig (17" CRT and everything) in one trip. Star Citizen... is something that I am holding off on. For now. I have another Baby on the way, and I won't be much help if I fall down that particular rabbit hole.

Grant · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2014, 08:32:42 am »

I never knew the Wing Commander games but I plan on trying to get them working on Windows seven after downloading from GOG.

ksuguy · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2014, 10:43:42 am »

Quote from: Grant on November 02, 2014, 08:32:42 am

I never knew the Wing Commander games but I plan on trying to get them working on Windows seven after downloading from GOG.

Be advised the first one has a few issues running on a modern PC. You might have to occasionally adjust the CPU timing for DOS Box. It tends to slow down when there is a lot of stuff happening and you have to speed it up, then slow it back down again after you kill a few bad guys because everything is running too fast. The newer ones like 3 and 4 worked fine when I tried them. Privateer ran great too.

Grant · « **Reply #19 on:** November 03, 2014, 12:29:18 am »

Quote from: ksuguy on November 02, 2014, 10:43:42 am

Be advised the first one has a few issues running on a modern PC. You might have to occasionally adjust the CPU timing for DOS Box. It tends to slow down when there is a lot of stuff happening and you have to speed it up, then slow it back down again after you kill a few bad guys because everything is running too fast. The newer ones like 3 and 4 worked fine when I tried them. Privateer ran great too.

Good to know, thanks. I am NOT a computer person.....seriously......just getting dosbox to work at all may be a challenge for me.

ksuguy · « **Reply #20 on:** November 03, 2014, 12:39:36 am »

The folks at GOG have taken care of most of that for you. Just install the games and click the startup shortcuts and they should run. I think Ctrl-F11 and Ctrl-F12 are the keys for changing the speed on dosbox. Also, the games are HARD. This is not your typical modern game where you can click through and save every step. Be prepared to die a lot or have the ships you are supposed to escort get blown up multiple times.

Nick Cage · « **Reply #21 on:** November 04, 2014, 03:36:54 pm »

I've been rocking my sidewinder precision pro since like 1998. Still knocks those dirty imperial thugs/rebels/commies/imperialists out of the sky/space just like it should.

Grant · « **Reply #22 on:** November 04, 2014, 06:22:05 pm »

Quote from: ksuguy on November 03, 2014, 12:39:36 am

The folks at GOG have taken care of most of that for you. Just install the games and click the startup shortcuts and they should run. I think Ctrl-F11 and Ctrl-F12 are the keys for changing the speed on dosbox. Also, the games are HARD. This is not your typical modern game where you can click through and save every step. Be prepared to die a lot or have the ships you are supposed to escort get blown up multiple times.

I played X-wing Alliance on hard....and lost...a LOT.....then played it on easy

So it is probably similar?

wow...I loved X-wing Alliance....I got to get it and Rogue Squadron and Naboo running again.

theirishdragon · « **Reply #23 on:** November 04, 2014, 08:09:12 pm »

I'm figuring that we'll see X-Wing Alliance on GOG before too very long. It took almost a year for WC Prophecy to come out there, but it eventually did. If we've seen X-Wing and TIE Fighter, I expect we'll see Alliance. I hope so, anyway.

Grant · « **Reply #24 on:** November 04, 2014, 09:06:24 pm »

My old games work pretty well, I have an XP set up just for old-gaming. XP with compatability mode to '95 and I can run "almost" anything