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Here goes the poll explanation: what I mean by "hardcore" are those Thrustmaster sticks requires button programming and usually used for some serious HOTAS setup, like F-16 FLCS, F-22, and HOTAS Cougar.

On the other hand, "casual" means Thrustmaster products aimed for casual gamers, which requires no scripting headaches and can be used straight out the box. Examples would be the Top Gun series.

CH doesn't seem to make such distinction, since most product lines serves well in both hardcore and casual setup. Correct me if I'm wrong, though.

As for myself, I can't really vote in my own poll since I like both TM and CH and cannot choose between the two. Each for very different reason.

CH is *very* durable and serves you well for years to come. However, the HOTAS setup represents itself as *two* joysticks, which causes compatibility issues with certain games (like European Air War).

Thrustmaster, on the other hand (pardon the pun) is *very* flexible and driver-independent, virtually eliminates compatibility problem. All you need in Winblows is set your game controller to standard joystick with Z axis (if you're using pedals) and do the scripting. Note it doesn't apply to casual products like Attack Throttle, which doesn't work in DOS and requires driver to work.

Well, how about yours?

I like the Wingman series, but Microsoft joystick that I'm using a the monet ain't bad either.

Lord Revan wrote:I like the Wingman series, but Microsoft joystick that I'm using a the monet ain't bad either.

The Wingman Extreme? Anyway, have you ever tried that Wingman Warrior for FPS games? I never managed to get one.... I always wonder whether using stick and turning knob is actually better than mouse & keyboard setup.

A thing I like from MS Sidewinder is the stick-twisting feature. It provides rudder solution at much affordable cost; a good introductory products for casual gamers to more serious simming.

I have the Saitek X36F and X35T. They've been helping me keep my computer safe for democracy since 2000.

Wicked Pilot wrote:I have the Saitek X36F and X35T. They've been helping me keep my computer safe for democracy since 2000.

Never really familiar with Saitek (the one with most hype is Saitek Megagrip, IIRC). Are those two you mentioned a stick/throttle combo or two different joysticks? What's their highs and lows? Any piccie?

PS: If there's someone I have no doubt would post in this thread, it's gotta be *you*

EDIT: never mind, I just quick-read some reviews. Seems to be some pretty damn good stick, and the dual hat... Kinda confused about the rudder setup, though. What "rudder rocker" means?

Gravis Gamepad basic.



While Thrustmaster may be quite possibly the best name for a joystick, I like the Wingman Extreme from Logitech. Has the handle twisting, and is much more solid and comfortable than the Sidewinder. Also, its big enough to comfortably fit my hand, which some joysticks aren't (though they aren't as heinously bad as some game controllers, ie. GameCube). And I just like it. Ergonomically and what not. And the trigger's all purdy.

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman wrote:Never really familiar with Saitek (the one with most hype is Saitek Megagrip, IIRC). Are those two you mentioned a stick/throttle combo or two different joysticks? What's their highs and lows? Any piccie?

It's a stick and throttle, usually refered to simply as the X36. It's a freakin awesome setup, both physically and software wise. It has six axis, four hats, two selector switches, and seven buttons. With the three setting mode selector and the pinky button being used as a shift key you can literally get six commands out of everything. The software makes it easy to set up. The sticks themselves are big, sturdy, and fit the hands well. I've had mine for the last four and a half years and they're still going strong. The only real negative I can think of is the color scheme. My set is a sweet solid black, but the ones available today are a blue/silver sceme I'm not too impressed with. As for price expect $100 or less.

PS: If there's someone I have no doubt would post in this thread, it's gotta be *you*

What can I say, I take my flight sims seriousily.

Kinda confused about the rudder setup, though. What "rudder rocker" means?

It's a rocker switch on the front of the throttle. It generally sits under your ring, middle, and index fingers. It's kind of hard to explain but it's a neat feature that functions pretty well.

Wicked Pilot wrote: It's a stick and throttle, usually refered to simply as the X36. It's a freakin awesome setup, both physically and software wise. It has six axis, four hats, two selector switches, and seven buttons.

Wait, FOUR hats? Like two ain't enough...... Where are the other two? I saw only two.

Wicked Pilot wrote: With the three setting mode selector and the pinky button being used as a shift key you can literally get six commands out of everything. The software makes it easy to set up. The sticks themselves are big, sturdy, and fit the hands well. I've had mine for the last four and a half years and they're still going strong.

Yup. From what I've read, it's one hell of a stick. Too bad it ain't as famous as TM or CH. Hmmm... Probably I'd start looking on ebay....

Wicked Pilot wrote: The only real negative I can think of is the color scheme. My set is a sweet solid black, but the ones available today are a blue/silver sceme I'm not too impressed with. As for price expect $100 or less.

That's too bad, since those color scheme would give an el-cheapo impression for such stick.

Wicked Pilot wrote: What can I say, I take my flight sims seriousily.

................................................

*jealousy starts to rear its ugly head*

Just tell me if you plan to sell those helmet/breathing mask combo, would ya!

Wicked Pilot wrote: It's a rocker switch on the front of the throttle. It generally sits under your ring, middle, and index fingers. It's kind of hard to explain but it's a neat feature that functions pretty well.

Uh... alright. Gotta find some more articles on the net, I guess.

YT300000 wrote:Gravis Gamepad basic.



While Thrustmaster may be quite possibly the best name for a joystick, I like the Wingman Extreme from Logitech.

I still remember the Wingman Extreme ads on Electronic Entertainment magazine around 1995 (the first one, gameport version). It had two pictures: the first was depicting some various ACMs like high yo-yo, immelman, and such, and captioned, "typical maneuver performed with Wingman Extreme". The second is a picture of ejecting pilot captioned, "typical maneuver performed with other joysticks". Pretty hilarious. Too bad I've lost the magazine....

There's a joystick named Thrustmaster? I've never needed one, but if I ever bought a joystick, that'd be the brand.

Konix Speedking, if you were right-handed and liked to hold your joystick in your palm there were none better.

Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman wrote: Wait, FOUR hats? Like two ain't enough...... Where are the other two? I saw only two.

The other two are on the throttle. One is on the front side in reach of your index, the other is a small rubber stick on the right side grouping in reach of your thumb.

Yup. From what I've read, it's one hell of a stick. Too bad it ain't as famous as TM or CH. Hmmm... Probably I'd start looking on ebay....

Well Saitek is British, so that may be the reason. Though they do make very excellent products despite their bad teeth.

Just tell me if you plan to sell those helmet/breathing mask combo, would ya!

A thousand bucks and it's yours. About four more thousand and I'll throw in matching NVGs.

Saitek Cyborg 3D, the only flightstick I know of (except it's smaler brother, the Cyborg 2000) that is not exclusively right-handed. The original Sidewinder was ambidextrous, too, but that was quite a while ago...

Competition Pro

Batman wrote:Saitek Cyborg 3D, the only flightstick I know of (except it's smaler brother, the Cyborg 2000) that is not exclusively right-handed. The original Sidewinder was ambidextrous, too, but that was quite a while ago...

I had the original Sidewinder and I distinctly remember a pair of buttons on the left hand side of the stick that can only be comfortably operated with the thumb of the right hand.

Also, the throttle slider was on the left-hand side of the stick, which would be pterry hard to get at if you're not holding the stick in your right.

I own a CH Flightstick Pro (one just like this), which I purchased at a pawn shop for $2.00.

As it is the only joystick I've ever owned, it is by default my favorite.

I just googled for some pictures of the Saitek X45 (the "ugly, blue/silver" replacement for the X36) and I didn't think it looked that bad. The X52, on the other hand, is just hideous.

I had the same sidewinder for 8 years...kinda scary ne?

-K

I had a Sidewinder for a number of years, then I got a Wingman Extreme 3D, and I loved it. Unfortunately one day, I was playing XWA, and in the middle of a dog fight, I pulled back hard, and to the left, felt a crunch, and the stick went dead. Now I have a Wingman Force 3D.

I have a Saitek joystick of some type, but I actually use a chopped-on Japanese Xbox controller for almost everything .. . @_@

I have a Force 3D, but I don't like it that much, since it tends to have problems centreing itself. That seems to be a problem common to all force-feedback joysticks.

My Saitek X-36 and I blew up a great many things. A very great many. It was for a long time the weapon of choice not only for keeping our skies safe, but for hunting down rebel scum and blowing up death stars.

Note: as if six axes, and four hatswitches wasn't enough, the Saitek programming suite lets you cram in well over a hundred functions, it has a three mode selection switch and a shift switch, so you can have six completely different profiles active all at once.

Even without it DirectX can pick up some 26 seperate 'buttons' (though some of them are hat directions)

Built like a brick, too. I used to go through joysticks at the rate of one every few months when I bought cheaper gear (though my Sidewinder still functions, despite it's plasticky feel)

For high-end you just can't go past a REALLY high end Thrustmaster HOTAS setup. For a casual gamer the Wingman Joysticks are fucking wonderful.

Wicked Pilot wrote:

PS: If there's someone I have no doubt would post in this thread, it's gotta be *you*

What can I say, I take my flight sims seriousily.

Go Air Force.

As for me I use the Sidewinder series. Microsoft hardware is actually decent.

I use a Force Feedback 2(microsoft), its great for 'arcady' games, has a wide base so big movements don't screw it up, and worked fine.

Except now my Z axis(Rolling) is broken.