26 replies to this topic

[Stainless Steel]

I saw there's a thread out there about what type of joystick you are using, but I was trying to put together a master list of what's available for our group who was looking for various sim controller. These are all HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) assemblies, cause, well, they are cooler.

I know there are a lot more stand-alone joysticks available then just these, but it was someplace good to start. Also, there is the Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar but that seems to be no longer on sale.

Anyone have any other ones that we should be looking at ? Currently the Logitech G240 or the Saitek X52 + Rudder Pedals seem to be the best buy.

Complete Hands On Throttle and Stick sets

Thrustmaster HOTAS X $49.96

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ]
# of Axis :3
# of Buttons : 7
# of 4 Way Hats : 1
# of 8 Way Hats : 0
# of Mini Joysticks : 0

--------------------------------

Saitek X52 Flight Control System $82.82

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 6
# of Buttons : 11
# of 4 Way Hats : 0
# of 8 Way Hats : 3
# of Mini Joysticks : 0

--------------------------------

Saitek X52 PRO Flight Control System $136.99

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 6
# of Buttons : 11
# of 4 Way Hats
# of 8 Way Hats : 3
# of Mini Joysticks

--------------------------------

G940 Force Feedback Joystick $259.00

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 7
# of Buttons : 20
# of 4 Way Hats
# of 8 Way Hats : 2
# of Mini Joysticks : 2

--------------------------------

Saitek PRO Flight X-65F $323.60

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 7
# of Buttons : 15
# of 4 Way Hats : 7
# of 8 Way Hats : 1
# of Mini Joysticks : 1

--------------------------------

Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog $459.25

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 7
# of Buttons : 86
# of 4 Way Hats : 2
# of 8 Way Hats : 4

Joysticks

Fighterstick Pro $67.24

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ]
# of Axis : 3
# of Buttons : 6
# of 4 Way Hats : 1

--------------------------------

Combatstick USB $73.99

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ]
# of Axis : 3
# of Buttons : 6
# of 4 Way Hats : 1
# of 8 Way Hats : 1

--------------------------------

Fighterstick USB $102.36

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 3
# of Buttons : 3
# of 4 Way Hats : 4
# of 8 Way Hats : 1

Throttles and Pedals

CH Throttle Pro $96.08

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ]
# of Axis : 1
# of Buttons : 3
# of 4 Way Hats : 3
# of 8 Way Hats : 1
# of Mini Joysticks : 1

--------------------------------

CH Pro Pedals $97.24

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 1
# of Buttons : 2

--------------------------------

Saitek Rudder Pedals w/ Toe Brake $88.99

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 3

--------------------------------

Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals $179.99

[ Manufacturer ] [ Amazon ] [ Review ] [ Youtube ]
# of Axis : 3

[Aethon]

Cool...didn't know a couple of these existed.

But don't forget the Gravis Phoenix!

[The Kwisatz Haderach]

I have an X-52 and Saitek Pedals in conjuction with THIS COCKPIT which made Mechwarrior 4 quite fun.

Maybe it will give you some ideas

[Scar]

Quote

Thrustmaster HOTAS X $49.96
# of Axis :3
# of Buttons : 7

Actually, 4 axes = two on joystick + slider + twist on the throttle handle. Additionally, it has 9 buttons, not 7.

Quote

Fighterstick Pro $67.24
# of Buttons : 6

It's a Flightstick, not a Fighterstick)) - and it has four buttons, not six

Quote

Fighterstick USB $102.36
# of Axis : 3
# of Buttons : 3
# of 4 Way Hats : 4
# of 8 Way Hats : 1

Buttons - 4
4-way hats - 3

Quote

CH Pro Pedals $97.24
# of Axis : 1

3 axes = 1 rudder + 2 independent brakes

Edited by Scar, 12 June 2012 - 02:16 PM.

[Pht]

http://www.chproduct...13-p-124.html#5

http://www.saitek.com/

http://www.thrustmas.../en_US/products

http://www.cyborggam...rod/v5stick.htm


Given logitech's completely ignored the reams and reams of complaints they have gotten from the bad potentiometers in their joysticks... I don't feel they deserve the justice of being on this list.


EDIT: Some neato mod-sites for the cougar joysticks:

http://www.cubpilotshangar.net/ <-- hall effect sensors to replace the potentiometers (UBER!)


http://cougar.flyfoxy.com/mods.php <-- Insanlely better stick after putting in the mods here

Edited by Pht, 12 June 2012 - 04:16 PM.

[Joeseph Pierce]

Anyone on here got a CH throttle? Because i would like to know about how comfortable it is, because the Artemis looks amazing, but the throttle is lacking in "realism", so is the CH throttle comfortable?

[Thomas Hogarth]

Dammit, how did I not know about this thread. Wouldn't have started mine if I had seen this. Sorry Stainless!

[Lt muffins]

I am using the Cyborg F.L.Y. 5 Flight-stick by Madcatz only $59.99 (not including shipping)



(wasn't paying attention and accidentally posted the fly9. same controller just that it was made for console not pc. what i get for posting while buzzed)

Edited by Lt muffins, 12 June 2012 - 03:40 PM.

[Nemesiis]

What am i missing here...Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog $459.25
Does this come with an 8 ball of coke and an expensive call girl? If so maybe, although my wife would not approve of the "bonus" goodies !!!!!

[Kifferson von doober]

That thrustmaster cougar seems to have disappeared, none of the uk resellers have a listing. Also the speedlink black widow doesn't look like a bad budget option.

[Shaddock]

I am still so conflicted what to do about a setup, either way I am sure I need to buy something new. If I got a joystick, and throttle that would control weapons, speed, and mech direction, with a twist handle even torso twist. But if setup that what what controls the up and down motion of the torso? The joystick, or something else?

How good will these setups be not only at the feel of the game, but in terms of being compared to the fine control a mouse will give you over aim points?

I think for Mechwarrior 2/3/4 I used a joystick in my left hand for mech movement, and a mouse in my right or vice versa. Been a long time.

[FiveDigits]

You are missing the best rudder pedals: SIMPEDs



Hall sensors, adjustable response curves, toe brakes

[WardenWolf]

shaddock, on 12 June 2012 - 03:58 PM, said:

How good will these setups be not only at the feel of the game, but in terms of being compared to the fine control a mouse will give you over aim points?

I have the relatively cheap HOTAS X, listed in the OP, and once I am in game on July 17th I will do some comparison with a mouse and try to get feedback here to the forums for other folks. If you aren't in a rush, I would wait to see what other folks on the forums have to say as well once we are in-game.

[Pht]

Here's a few links to an old CH program that has a VERY useful tool for testing joysticks:

http://www.flyfoxy.com/TM/Foxyv4.zip

http://www.101bathro...m/TM/Foxyv4.zip

http://www.checksix-...=detail&ID=1892

----

After you install it, either open it, give it some gibberish for your name and such, don't bother with the hotas folder, just hit acccept... than, look across the top options and find "apps" and in "apps" click on "joystick analyzer."

For the more savvy types, you can just make a shortcut to the analyzer tool and use it directly. No, you can't save the analyzer.exe and use it without the main program, it won't work.

For some pointers on what to look for you might check this page out, and maybe some of their other reviews use the software too: http://www.simhq.com...ology_174g.html

For testing your "dead spot" in the center, just wiggle the stick as gently as you can without moving the mainspring... in fact, you might pick the stick up by the base and gently rotate it/wiggle it and see if there's any dead-zone movement.

It would be VERY nice if we could all build up a thread with screenshots and reviews of the various sticks out there...

[80sGlamRockSensation David Bowie]

Anyone got an idea for a good Dual Joystick Setup? (not HOTAS, dual stick)


Pht I know you're quite familiar, any good but cheap suggestions?

[Pht]

mwhighlander, on 12 June 2012 - 04:41 PM, said:

Pht I know you're quite familiar, any good but cheap suggestions?

Alas, I wish I could help you man. Monetarily I'm out in the cold for the forseeable future and at any rate I still have my old MS precision pro to use, so, alas, no help there.

I am stuck with what I have... If I had any dough I would like to get my hands on a thrustmaster t1600m, the hall effect sensor setup appears to be quite precise... I have no idea how well the stick handles physically.


As for dual stick - that would utterly rock for MW ... BUT I have no idea what software or such would have to go into making that work.

You might ask over at the http://www.simhq.com/ site on their forums.

Edited by Pht, 12 June 2012 - 06:05 PM.

[abetterpilot]

for the logictech lovers who are good with their hands

..You Can Do It!: Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick Repair And Maintenance Help

[Spriing]

Nemesiis, on 12 June 2012 - 03:37 PM, said:

What am i missing here...Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog $459.25
Does this come with an 8 ball of coke and an expensive call girl? If so maybe, although my wife would not approve of the "bonus" goodies !!!!!

Haha I'm right there with ya man

[Pht]

abetterpilot, on 12 June 2012 - 06:10 PM, said:

for the logictech lovers who are good with their hands

..You Can Do It!: Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick Repair And Maintenance Help

Saw this, tried it with my logitech 3d pro that I got, fixed it for ... a little while. Than it went right back to it.

The potentiometers in that stick are crap, logitech knows it, they won't fix it, and they don't care how many people complain.

Best of luck to anyone buying this stick or who has one.

[Scar]

FiveDigits, on 12 June 2012 - 04:11 PM, said:

You are missing the best rudder pedals: SIMPEDs



Hall sensors, adjustable response curves, toe brakes

Actually, the best rudder pedals - it's a Russian VKB. Virtually, they're eternal, because they're made of steel, and have incredible accuracy, due to non-contact magnetic sensors, huge base and very comfortable pedals. The price is pretty high, but it's worth of it.

Edited by Scar, 13 June 2012 - 12:00 AM.