56 replies to this topic

[Nintenja]

Sim Stuff --> http://www.saitek.com/index.html

Build your own. --> http://www.chproduct...-28464-Home.php

Edited by Nintenja, 12 June 2012 - 05:37 AM.

[Aegis Kleais]

Not joking, but from the time I got into MW3 and then ended my "career" in MW4:Mercs, I had gone through about 8-10 Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joysticks (no force feedback)

I was so used to their feel and button layout that I didn't want to get a different one. Each one failed in the same way: The torso twist would go "loose" and when you weren't twisting, the Mech would register as if you were. The software could not compensate for this and I had no mechanical skills to disassemble it and fix the hardware.

Because of this, I could never drop money into a HOTAS. A cheap $20-30 joystick going bad compared to a $250+ one, ugh; don't wanna think about it. The HOTAS would have to have a LIFETIME guarantee against such defects for me to consider it, so for the first time ever I'm going to attempt to use keyboard/mouse in order to play MWO.

[Striker1980]

Aegis Kleais, on 12 June 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

Not joking, but from the time I got into MW3 and then ended my "career" in MW4:Mercs, I had gone through about 8-10 Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joysticks (no force feedback)

I was so used to their feel and button layout that I didn't want to get a different one. Each one failed in the same way: The torso twist would go "loose" and when you weren't twisting, the Mech would register as if you were. The software could not compensate for this and I had no mechanical skills to disassemble it and fix the hardware.

Because of this, I could never drop money into a HOTAS. A cheap $20-30 joystick going bad compared to a $250+ one, ugh; don't wanna think about it. The HOTAS would have to have a LIFETIME guarantee against such defects for me to consider it, so for the first time ever I'm going to attempt to use keyboard/mouse in order to play MWO.

I gave mine up mostly because the gameport was no longer supported, however I'd started noticing that the stick was becoming less and less centred and the 'deadzone' on the stick wasn't great enough to accommodate it.

Never had that problem with any later sticks though.

And yes I agree a full H.O.T.A.S. is a shed load of cash to burn through if you're on a budget, though the cheaper ones would probably be ok, but you're right that a cheap *** stick and throttle with twist is prob. your best bet if you're gonna give it some real abuse.

-Striker.

[Pht]

Aegis Kleais, on 12 June 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

Not joking, but from the time I got into MW3 and then ended my "career" in MW4:Mercs, I had gone through about 8-10 Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro Joysticks (no force feedback)

I was so used to their feel and button layout that I didn't want to get a different one. Each one failed in the same way: The torso twist would go "loose" and when you weren't twisting, the Mech would register as if you were. The software could not compensate for this and I had no mechanical skills to disassemble it and fix the hardware.

And the ironic part is that the problem is EASY to fix... the plastic bumpers on that the spring for the twist function would wear away the stopper walls... all that had to be done was to open the base, take off the circuit board and mainspring assembly, open the bottom of the handle, and carefully trim away just a little bit from the spring-holder assembly, allowing the spring legs to re-contact both of the side-walls in the stick base. Problem cured! You just have to take care to be sure and trim the spring holder assembly properly to realign the stick to center instead of off center, which is entirely doable. If only the had have made that part of the base from aluminum, the stick would almost never die!

[Aegis Kleais]

Pht, on 12 June 2012 - 08:52 AM, said:

And the ironic part is that the problem is EASY to fix... the plastic bumpers on that the spring for the twist function would wear away the stopper walls... all that had to be done was to open the base, take off the circuit board and mainspring assembly, open the bottom of the handle, and carefully trim away just a little bit from the spring-holder assembly, allowing the spring legs to re-contact both of the side-walls in the stick base. Problem cured! You just have to take care to be sure and trim the spring holder assembly properly to realign the stick to center instead of off center, which is entirely doable. If only the had have made that part of the base from aluminum, the stick would almost never die!

If I had known you then, I could have Paypal'd you a thank you for saving me hundreds.....

Cest la vie!

[Pht]

Heh... If you have the dead bodies of the sticks and don't want them ... lol.

I still have mine, but with only 1 good working and 2 donor bodies...

[Monthar]

I still have my original Sidewinder Precision Pro with a gameport-USB adapter and it works well. However, some of the buttons are starting to get a bit too worn out ti fix again. I've also had to fix the centering and twist a few times.

The good news though is Amazon has some of these.

[Soviet Alex]

Joe Kid, on 10 June 2012 - 08:44 PM, said:

Man, I loved my force feed Sidewinder Pro. It placed you right in the game and made you feel like you were piloting a mech, and that is what made MW3 the best game at the time.

Same here. I bought my Force-Feedback Pro after trying a friend's just for MW3. Unfortunately, to answer the OP's question, Microsoft no longer support those late '90's joysticks. When I made the switch to 64-bit Windows, I couldn't find a driver for it anywhere.

[WardenWolf]

Aegis Kleais, on 12 June 2012 - 05:26 AM, said:

Because of this, I could never drop money into a HOTAS. A cheap $20-30 joystick going bad compared to a $250+ one, ugh; don't wanna think about it. The HOTAS would have to have a LIFETIME guarantee against such defects for me to consider it, so for the first time ever I'm going to attempt to use keyboard/mouse in order to play MWO.

I just picked up this $50 HOTAS, which is not much more than the stand-alone joysticks you were talking about:

http://www.thrustmas...tflight-hotas-x

Haven't played MWO with it yet, obviously, but it works like a dream in MS Flight

[Aegis Kleais]

WardenWolf, on 12 June 2012 - 02:22 PM, said:

I just picked up this $50 HOTAS, which is not much more than the stand-alone joysticks you were talking about:

http://www.thrustmas...tflight-hotas-x

Haven't played MWO with it yet, obviously, but it works like a dream in MS Flight

Does the flight stick have twist?

[WardenWolf]

Aegis Kleais, on 12 June 2012 - 02:29 PM, said:

Does the flight stick have twist?

Yes.

It also has a rocker on the front side of the throttle, which I am planning on being sideways jump jet movement, and a lot of buttons to map functionality to. That, combined with good reviews on Newegg / Amazon and the low price tag did it for me. Once July 17th rolls around I will get some time in with it and try to post my thoughts back on the forums.

[Grokmoo]

Older joysticks should probably work fine. And while it is true that flight sims are pretty much the only games using joysticks anymore, there are still 3 or 4 companies putting with a product line. Prices range from $20 to $500 and even higher. So I don't think most gamers will have trouble finding a joystick if they want one.

[Skadi]

Iron Harlequin, on 10 June 2012 - 07:10 PM, said:

Wrong section?

Also I assume they're going tell us what hardware is supported, closer to release.


p.s. anyone see the hawken controller, looks like a strong competitor


Artemis
*snip*


Hawken Controller

So... Shiny... /drooooool

[Soljarka]

I bought myself a good old used "Saitek Cyborg Evo Force" for 20$ and now play "IL 2: Shturmovik" while waiting for the beta key:)

Edited by Soljarka, 12 June 2012 - 03:07 PM.

[RenegadeMaster]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sidewinder PP were compatible with MWO, assuming that the Sidewinder is at least detected by your OS (Vista or 7?). I was a big fan of that joystick with MW2 Mercs.
Years later, Microsoft gave me a Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 for being part of a small research study, which I thought was even better. With that, winning a raffle of the Office Suite for Mac that I resold legally for only a little less than MSRP, and years later getting a free Win 7 installation at a MS store promo, it seems the company has inadvertently matched my product purchases with what they've given me for free . Not sure I would testing that theory by buying their new Surface tablet thing though, as that would be a costly gamble.

[t0mn8r]

Fellow warriors,
I have a MS sidewinder precision 2 but I am not able to program it. Regardless of where I map it my mech only turns left or right.

>.<

Can anyone assist?

[BLAX]

I'd like to tell every one. I have a two sidewinder precision pro joysitcks one is new.
Microsoft says on there compatibility site not compatable with win 7. Total bull. You don't need special drivers that don't exist, some one at micro must have been a gammer that liked sticks.

THIS IS FOR ALL JOYSTICK USERS


Its simple in the run line type "joy.cpl".

This will get you to a real joystick control pannel where you can calibrate the stick like in 98, its there you just have to know where to look. I may hook up my old cyberman (Logitech 8 way with a bunch of buttons) to see if its recoginized.

So even after doing the joy.cpl, in the normal control pannel under interface devices you will see the stick but you will not be able to calibrate or test, you must use joy.cpl

What did Heston say " when they pry it from my cold dead hand,".
Enjoy