Look what I got for my birthday...

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-06-03 07:12am

So it was my birthday and my brother decided to surprise me with a toy I didn't have. Take a look and tell me what you think.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-06-03 07:14am

Great, you now have a $200 joystick which only works with a single game!

2000AD · Post by **2000AD** » 2004-06-03 07:16am

I thought Steel batallion had a sequel out?

Still, i wouldn't mind one (if i had an x-box)

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-06-03 07:19am

MKSheppard wrote:Great, you now have a $200 joystick which only works with a single game!

Two games, Steel Battalion and Steel Battalion: Line of Contact. And btw, it's the most kick ass mech simulation you'll ever play.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-03 07:28am

Hey, so long as you didn't fork out your own money for such an extravagance, sweet.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-06-03 07:38am

Sir, I do believe I hate you.

Can't find those things anywhere around here anymore.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-06-03 07:38am

Sweet ass joystick there.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2004-06-03 01:25pm

Niiice.

Of course, on the PC side there is always the mighty Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar to smite thine flight-sim enemies with*

* The crazy part is that people usually upgrade that fightstick after purchase to the tune of $100 or more (!)

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-06-03 01:39pm

I'm thinking of getting that. I just need to know if I have enough money after other expenses with my graduation money. (And then I'd need to make my own pilot suit...)

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-06-03 01:41pm

SylasGaunt wrote: Can't find those things anywhere around here anymore.

That's because it's only sold on the company's website now.

I have seen the sequel in stores, though, since it comes sans controller.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2004-06-03 01:51pm

SWEET TV. Did you get it for free?

*envy*

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2004-06-03 01:53pm

I wish that controller could be used with the PC and it's Mechwarrior games...

Post by **Ghost Rider** » 2004-06-03 02:09pm

Coolness.

First game is fun....but a tad short. may get the second one.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-06-03 02:16pm

DPDarkPrimus wrote: That's because it's only sold on the company's website now.

I have seen the sequel in stores, though, since it comes sans controller.

Actually, the controller version is availible in a few select stores. My brother purchased this one from Fry's Electronics.

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2004-06-03 02:18pm

Thanks to the fact that the thing is useless to us left-handed people I can believable pretend to be completely unimpressed.
Same goes for the ThrustMaster.
I think we're a persecuted minority...

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2004-06-03 03:44pm

Uraniun235 wrote:I wish that controller could be used with the PC and it's Mechwarrior games...

There are PS Dualshock USB adapters on the market.

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-06-03 04:14pm

Batman wrote:Thanks to the fact that the thing is useless to us left-handed people I can believable pretend to be completely unimpressed.
Same goes for the ThrustMaster.
I think we're a persecuted minority...

I was left-handed as a kid, but was "indoctrinated" into using my right hand.

Post by **Vympel** » 2004-06-03 10:20pm

Bah, I like my new X45 USB HOTAS over that Cougar thing. Mine looks nicer.

KhyronTheBackstabber · Post by **KhyronTheBackstabber** » 2004-06-03 10:43pm

Man, that is so mother fuckin' sweet. Plus you have a cool ass TV to play it on. I envy you.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-06-04 02:20am

Batman wrote:Thanks to the fact that the thing is useless to us left-handed people I can believable pretend to be completely unimpressed.
Same goes for the ThrustMaster.
I think we're a persecuted minority...

Uhm.. I'm left handed and can use it just fine (the joystick's design isn't better for righties or lefties).

The only place I can play it is at the local LAN party though..

Batman · Post by **Batman** » 2004-06-04 05:22pm

SylasGaunt wrote:
Batman wrote:Thanks to the fact that the thing is useless to us left-handed people I can believable pretend to be completely unimpressed.
Same goes for the ThrustMaster.
I think we're a persecuted minority...
Uhm.. I'm left handed and can use it just fine (the joystick's design isn't better for righties or lefties).
The only place I can play it is at the local LAN party though..

Um-excuse me?
The left stick in Hamel's post admittedly appears to be symetrical, but since there's a throttle to the left of it you either need to use the left for the throttle or operate it in a really uncomfortable crossover manner.
The right one is definitely designed for right-handed use.
(Incidentally, if all controls present in that picture are to be used together I don't see how anybody but an octopus can operate the thing...)
If you're talking about the Thrustmaster, you gotta be fucking kidding me...

Vendetta · Post by **Vendetta** » 2004-06-04 07:15pm

Vympel wrote:Bah, I like my new X45 USB HOTAS over that Cougar thing. Mine looks nicer.

I like the Saitek ones as well, though you do require enormous hands, or lots of wrist shuffling to reach all the buttons on the main stick (at least on the old X35/X36). But you can program a good hundred or so commands in without evenn touching the jog wheels or banding the rudder/throttle.

There are PS Dualshock USB adapters on the market.

There are also XBox-USB controllers (or you can hack the end off and rewire it yourself, the pinout's the same), which is what the Steel Batallion controller would require. Though it may well also need custom drivers, as it has many millions of buttons.

DPDarkPrimus · Post by **DPDarkPrimus** » 2004-06-05 01:03am

Just found out that a local gamestore has a couple copies of Steel Battalion... I'm considering putting money down for it... just have to figure out how much more money I'll be getting for graduation...

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2004-06-05 01:08am

Cool. You got chairs. I wish I had chairs like that.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-06-05 01:30am

DPDarkPrimus wrote:Just found out that a local gamestore has a couple copies of Steel Battalion... I'm considering putting money down for it... just have to figure out how much more money I'll be getting for graduation...

You won't regret it. I'm in love with Steel Battalion, and I haven't even bought Line of Contact yet...