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I plan on buying a cheap joystick because my current (bargain bin, 8-button, basic) gamepad's thumbstick doesn't work properly any more. I'm not looking for massive amounts of features or pinpoint accuracy, just a cheap stick that's suitable for games like Freespace. I would like it to be about $50 or less, not obscenely big, Linux-compatible (although I understand that any modern joystick should work with the default drivers - the old Action Pad did) and reliable.

Now, I've so far found plenty of gamepads in that range but the joysticks all seem to start at $80-100 full flight-sim setups with separate throttles and whatnot. Is there something in my range?

Saitek Cyborg Evo

Saitek PC controllers

The Evo is usually $40, now it's $30 apparently, which probably means a new model is rolling out. The Aviator looks cool as hell and is $40.

If you're looking for a HOTAS like the X52, you simply will not find anything under $100.

If you're looking for a HOTAS like the X52, you simply will not find anything under $100.

No. Just a stick with a trigger, maybe three of four programmable buttons and if possible one of those wee little throttle sliders.

The Evo looks good. Do you know anything about the ST290?

Just that it's not as good. The lack of buttons at the base is really a quibble, the 5 thumb buttons are the meat of its offerings, but it lacks a third axis (no torso twist/rudder control), and that is in itself a dealbreaker in my book. While games like Freespace don't really NEED three-axis control, I find it helps a lot.

Logitech's offerings.

You might want to look at the Extreme 3D Pro, or if you want to knock off a few USD and lose the rudder twist, the Attack 3. They're the non-force feedback versions of my current joystick, which I am pretty pleased with.

The Extreme 3D Pro is going for $45...looks good. Looks very good, in fact. Thanks

So what's this broken calibration thing that people are whining about?

Logitech devices have a horrible habit of losing calibration, and you usually have to reset the drivers to get calibration back (in addition to unplugging and replugging and unplugging and replugging until it recognises the device the drivers are for again), which is a pain in the arse as it should have been part of their goddamn driver software.

Also - Logitech sticks in my experience blow pots way to regularly, meaning that unless you can replace it yourself or want to pay for it to be replaced you're left with a useless lump of plastic.

The only time that this has been avoided was with an old Gameport Version of the first gen Wingman which a friend has and has been going strong for close to 8 years.

if you are still in brussels region iirc, there is a shop at the "Bascule" galleries which was selling end series of saitek X45, i can't remember the price but you could maybe check it out

Mobius wrote:if you are still in brussels region iirc, there is a shop at the "Bascule" galleries which was selling end series of saitek X45, i can't remember the price but you could maybe check it out

Brussels will be tricky. I don't have a car right now and the train ticket will probably cost more than the money I'd save

Are Thrustmasters any good?

i had one, sold it to a friend, never had a problem with my Afterburner 2 (i had the HOTAS version)

I now own the Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro, a deliciously ironic name for what is essentially already a homoerotic throbbing phallus with a trigger. Considering the last stick I owned was a Sidewinder with a horrible case of axis drift that came free with Hellbender I'm quite impressed with this one; it's responsive, stable, has easily-accessed buttons and is nicely stiff (so it's a Top Gun stick alright).

I once picked up MS Combat Flight Sim for a fiver and promptly forgot about it, so to test the stick I installed the game and it's a helluva lot of a fun flying around with a stick. I can't wait to try Freespace

ETA: Autodetected and working in Linux, too. Woohoo!

So...does anyone know any good space sims/air combat games I can use this with? Preferably ones that are a few years old...I haven't installed my extra RAM yet. Say something that'll run smooth with 256MB RAM and a Radeon 7000.

fun: Total Air War/F22 ADF, SFP1, European Air war.
realistic: Falcon 4 with whatever SP or FF is around these days, Orbiter for space sims