48 replies to this topic

[Alistair Steiner]

Well, seems I've got a (semi) surprise coming this Christmas, courtesy of my significant other who is slowly coming to understand me and my gaming. Still haven't gotten her into MechWarrior, but Half-Life/TF2/Portal and even both Bioshocks will do for now. She's investing in a good one, and is always one to look for a deal, so I know whatever I get will work. As long as MWO supports it, of course. Going to be putting it through its paces through spring and early summer of '12 with MW4 and MWLL. So looking forward to it.

Also, as the OP, thanks a bunch to everyone who's commented. I will keep my eyes out for a good condition Sidewinder Force Feedback, should I ever stumble upon the holy grail of joysticks (as everyone seems to be describing it). You guys rock. Also, do continue. This post in no way locks the thread.

[mawg]

Used the MS Sidewinder and now the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro... Recommend the later..

[HardDrive]

I like a few other had the single button atari 2600 stick, But my FIRTS PC joystick was this little white POS with a square base and a short little square stick with a single red fire button on the top of it and it had to trim wheels to calibrate it. and it was for my IBM DOS ran computer that I played chuck yagers advanced flight trainer with..... after that it was the micrsoft sidewinder 3D pro and then a Sidewinder Force Feedback, that I might add I found another of on ebay for 6 bucks. but I also ordered a Saitek X45 since it seems to have most of the features of the 52 minus the twist stick for rudder cotrol, but I am getting a set of saitek peddles so it was not worth the extra money for the 52.

[Catamount]

Alistair Steiner, on 21 November 2011 - 12:09 AM, said:

Well, seems I've got a (semi) surprise coming this Christmas, courtesy of my significant other who is slowly coming to understand me and my gaming. Still haven't gotten her into MechWarrior, but Half-Life/TF2/Portal and even both Bioshocks will do for now. She's investing in a good one, and is always one to look for a deal, so I know whatever I get will work. As long as MWO supports it, of course. Going to be putting it through its paces through spring and early summer of '12 with MW4 and MWLL. So looking forward to it.

Also, as the OP, thanks a bunch to everyone who's commented. I will keep my eyes out for a good condition Sidewinder Force Feedback, should I ever stumble upon the holy grail of joysticks (as everyone seems to be describing it). You guys rock. Also, do continue. This post in no way locks the thread.

Ebay's got a ton of them for decent prices, like this one http://www.ebay.com/...=item415f951757

I'm buying one from that guy, so we'll see how good it is (returns or no, the item has to function as per the description). I wouldn't buy most sticks used, but these things are built like tanks, and there's no spring-based centering (it's electrical), so there's no wear there.


If you can, I'd actually probably say get a HOTAS, like a Saitek X52, instead of a Sidewinder, but that's not practical for all of us. My desk, for instance, is rather high up; it's already an ergonomic nightmare for the mouse/keyboard, and while I can adjust for that, I cannot accurately set a stick and throttle on it. I also travel a fair bit between two locations, which makes one piece easier to deal with than two.


The Force Feedback 2 is ideal because as someone who has to be a "lap user", and needs the stick/throttle to be one piece, the enormous base and high weight of the stick make for a very steady, solid stick. All in all, I'd say it's hands down the best single-piece stick/rudder/throttle on the market, which is saying something considering it's a decade+ old, and not even on the market!

Edited by Catamount, 21 November 2011 - 06:44 AM.

[Alistair Steiner]

Catamount, on 21 November 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Ebay's got a ton of them for decent prices, like this one http://www.ebay.com/...=item415f951757

I'm buying one from that guy, so we'll see how good it is (returns or no, the item has to function as per the description). I wouldn't buy most sticks used, but these things are built like tanks, and there's no spring-based centering (it's electrical), so there's no wear there.


If you can, I'd actually probably say get a HOTAS, like a Saitek X52, instead of a Sidewinder, but that's not practical for all of us. My desk, for instance, is rather high up; it's already an ergonomic nightmare for the mouse/keyboard, and while I can adjust for that, I cannot accurately set a stick and throttle on it. I also travel a fair bit between two locations, which makes one piece easier to deal with than two.


The Force Feedback 2 is ideal because as someone who has to be a "lap user", and needs the stick/throttle to be one piece, the enormous base and high weight of the stick make for a very steady, solid stick. All in all, I'd say it's hands down the best single-piece stick/rudder/throttle on the market, which is saying something considering it's a decade+ old, and not even on the market!

That's not bad. Let me know how the stick works. I may keep an eye on it myself,

[Catamount]

Alistair Steiner, on 21 November 2011 - 11:22 AM, said:

That's not bad. Let me know how the stick works. I may keep an eye on it myself,

It's entirely possible that you might not like the stick as much as some others here (though it seems like a widely held opinion that Sidewinders are great; I had no idea!), but I can say this, if you like it half as much as I do, you'll enjoy it very much.

I'll let you know how the used one works out in a week or two when it comes in (hopefully just ONE week; I want it for Battlefield 3! ).

I will say this though, if you get one, any will work, but at least try to get a "red" one, because that was the second, later production run on these sticks, so it'll be newer. Besides age, it'll be the same regardless of which you get.

[REDSLATE]

Coheed, on 05 November 2011 - 11:25 AM, said:

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. My first and only, love it to death.

I'd recommend this as a starter joystick. It's about $30, has all the axes needed (X,Y,and Z [rudder/footpedals]), throttle, Point-of-View, and several programable buttons. It's good for a variety of games, and fairly easy to set up. I should mention that I experienced calibration issues when I first got mine (uninstalled/reinstalled few times to fix this), but, once set up, works flawlessly. There is also a force-feedback version available, but it costs a bit more.

For a more advanced set-up, the new Logitech flight system is worth considering. It's a bit pricey (though definitely within reason), but includes a force-feedback joystick, dual-throttle, and PEDALS!

[HardDrive]

Catamount, on 21 November 2011 - 06:43 AM, said:

Ebay's got a ton of them for decent prices, like this one http://www.ebay.com/...=item415f951757

I'm buying one from that guy, so we'll see how good it is (returns or no, the item has to function as per the description). I wouldn't buy most sticks used, but these things are built like tanks, and there's no spring-based centering (it's electrical), so there's no wear there.


If you can, I'd actually probably say get a HOTAS, like a Saitek X52, instead of a Sidewinder, but that's not practical for all of us. My desk, for instance, is rather high up; it's already an ergonomic nightmare for the mouse/keyboard, and while I can adjust for that, I cannot accurately set a stick and throttle on it. I also travel a fair bit between two locations, which makes one piece easier to deal with than two.


The Force Feedback 2 is ideal because as someone who has to be a "lap user", and needs the stick/throttle to be one piece, the enormous base and high weight of the stick make for a very steady, solid stick. All in all, I'd say it's hands down the best single-piece stick/rudder/throttle on the market, which is saying something considering it's a decade+ old, and not even on the market!

One thing you forgot to mention about the electric auto center is that it can be turned off so when your aiming your stick stays where you put it and you dont have to worry about the auto center of the stick fighting your aim;)

[CSG Spaz]

Shr1mp, on 05 November 2011 - 04:19 PM, said:

My first joystick was in MW3 (MS Sidewinder)
My current that i use in Mercs is a Cyborg 3D Gold.
Gone through about 6 or 7 of the 3D's in Mercs but they're cheap enough on ebay.

My first was also a Sidewinder but I did most of my MW4 damage with a Logitech Wingman Extreme Digital 3D. Went through five of those myself but man they were deadly.

Anyone have a clue what joysticks are going to be fully supported?