The Joystick/Controller discussion thread

[Humourwriter]

After 15 years (I originally bought it for 'X - Beyond the Frontier'), my Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is starting to fail. I have to keep re-calibrating it or I lose the ability to roll to the right.

So I'm taking it as a sign I should lash out and buy a HOTAS system.

I'm not really interested in using pedals, so that rules out the Warthog (unless there's a nice way to use the controller for yaw). So that leaves:
- X52 Pro (if I can find one--most places seem to be selling the non-pro version)
- X55 Rhino
- a CH throttle and joystick.

I like the look of the Rhino, but I've heard the build quality has gone downhill since they were taken over by MadCats (or whoever they are). Has anyone bought one recently?

The X52 obviously has an advantage in that it was replicated in the game itself. But I've heard about build quality issues with this one too.

But the other option is buy buy the throttle and joystick separately, in which case the CH products might be a good option (providing they have enough buttons for all the functions you need).

I'll keep watching the discussions to hear what other people are saying. But if you have any suggestions (particularly with the CH products), I'd love to hear them.


Bill.

 

[Monkiki]

I picked up an x55 a few months ago and it's still working great without issues. I have no complaints and love the toggle switches...even if they're just momentary. I've heard the CH products are really good and read of a few using a Thrustmaster T.16000M with a CH throttle and being pretty happy with the combo.

 

[Jenneration]

I currently own a 2002 Logiteck Freedom 2.4. I have no idea why but I cannot seem to find any wireless PC joysticks still being made? My beloved Freedom is beginning to fail and I can't find a replacement.

If anyone knows where I can get a decent WIRELESS joystick for the PC, I would be overjoyed to hear it!

 

[ev3slay3r]

Using a Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 myself.

Had it sitting around from when I played fighter pilot games when I was a kid, discovered Elite: Dangerous, remembered I already had a flight stick (had a gamepad but didn't personally care for that much)

Sure enough it worked like a charm, even though it's been sitting about 15 years or more lol.

 

[Jenneration]

Wireless Joystick / Flight Stick Discussion

Hi commanders. When Elite Dangerous came out, I dusted off an old Logitech Freedom 2.4 Wireless Joystick. To my delight it still worked and I have been enjoying reclining leather sofa based flying for nearly 6 months in front of a 50" 3D TV. Surely this is the only way to play!

To my dismay, my wonderful old Freedom 2.4 has begun to develop some dead zones and erratic signal output. I understand this is common with joysticks using "Potentiometers" to determine positioning. No problem, I thought its ok, I'll treat myself to one of these fancy new CH or Saitek baby's. Except none of them are wireless as far as I can tell. In fact several days of Googling has provided no evidence that you can actually still buy a new wireless PC Joystick / Flightstick anywhere in the UK.

I found some second hand ones on ebay, plenty of wireless console style gamepads (urgghhh not for ED please!) but nothing wireless and flight stick shaped for the PC. Logitechs Extreme 3D Pro Joystick is only wired USB so even they have abandoned wireless technology.

To add insult to injury, you can buy the Mad Catz Cyborg FLY 9 Wireless Flight Stick for £25 but its only for the Xbox or Playstation!!!!! OMG

The Saitek Cyborg Evo Wireless PC Flight Stick - PS30looked promising but its out of stock on Amazon UK and I can't find anyone else selling it here.

What happened??? Did all the worlds joystick manufacturers secretly decide to stop producing wireless joysticks for the PC????

There was more choice available back in 2002! What is going on?

Please tell me I'm missing something. Maybe the terminology has changed and I'm looking for the wrong thing??? I just can't believe how hard it is to find a replacement for my Freedom!

I assume I'm not the only one desiring a wireless Joystick. Anyone else think there is now a gaping hole in the marketplace? Logiteck are you listening?

 

[Ancipital]

Wireless? Ugh. Too many years of multiplayer online gaming where someone goes wrong, and one player suddenly screws up, and explains on voice "sorry, the batteries in my mouse are dead again".

Wireless adds latency. It makes things more likely to fail at weird times. Wires are sometimes really useful. Pick up a proper stick/HOTAS, and be happy..

Edit: Oh, and avoid colouring your text, it will become invisible/look horrible for many people. Just use default colours and typefaces.

 

[Jadentsu]

Anybody else not able to do initial take off after instally T.A.R.G.E.T. software? The takeoff worked fine before installation, now it only recognizes thrust when i actually move the joystick, so it's next to impossible to get the initial take off check to recognize that I'm doing it right...

 

[TorTorden_VR]

win 10 build 10074: Unrecognized joystick

Just mentioning that after updating my tech preview (which has been going very well so far) to current build windows can no longer recognize any usb devices beside keyboard and mouse, inow no love for my CH fighterstick or the little joystick on my g13 I have been using for headlook as well.

I know its what you get for running a beta windows but figured worth mentioning.
I have called it an early quits on troubleshooting and i am just reinstalling win 8 at the moment.

 

[moosehead]

I've had one for about 2 months. All I can say is that as long as you are not into heavy metal, then this is tremendous value for money. Not enough buttons but I've overcome that by linking my tablet using the Roccat Power-Grid, Voice Attack and FaceTrack NOIR.

 

[adrinker]

Transitioning from mouse and keyboard to joystick (ch combatstick)

I've been playing since the alpha, but only with mouse and keyboard. I purchased a ch combat stick thinking it would help a little bit with the roll precision and long 360 loops/ flight assist off spins, where as right now it's a lot of dragging the mouse up and down.

After un boxing my ch combat stick I can say I'm pretty disappointed in the transition. The x/y movement feels very springy and snappy which makes it incredibly difficult to align my target. ED does seem to have an option to adjust the sensitivity of the joystick either?

For anyone who has switched from mouse to joystick, this going to be a whole new terrifying aspect of combat to learn? I'm barely surviving the tutorials now.

 

[Milkdragon]

Im guessing you already look over all the presetting in the control options.. Also you have to edit each sensitivity for each Yaw roll and pitch.. that's probably where your problem is

 

[Agarthan]

Your mouse, is it just a stock mouse or something nicer?

 

[Troster]

You need to calibrate a new joystick in Windows before using it in any games. Look it up in Google if you don't know how to do it.

 

[Agarthan]

You need to calibrate a new joystick in Windows before using it in any games. Look it up in Google if you don't know how to do it.

I didn't have to calibrate mine, Saitek X-55. E: D even auto assigned most of the keys for me, I only had to add a few of them to the throttle switches.

 

[[HJ]-RedRaven]

Agarthan - Even so, joystick calibration is a good idea, even if it appears to work fine in-game, it may not be working fine. Troster's point stands.

Jittery controls are a classic response to not being correctly calibrated.

adrinker - it might take a bit to get used to it - but a joystick is a much more natural way to pilot a 'plane, or spacecraft.
You will get sore hands and tired arms, but stick with it and a mouse will never be right again for pilot's work. Building that new strength and muscle memory will give you a lot more control compared to the mouse/keyboard.

TLDR; Give it time.

 

[Agarthan]

Yeah I'm not disputing the point I think the point I was getting at is you get what you pay for, which is why I brought up stock mouses.

 

[adrinker]

Im guessing you already look over all the presetting in the control options.. Also you have to edit each sensitivity for each Yaw roll and pitch.. that's probably where your problem is

I already changed the settings. Where do I adjust yaw roll and pitch sensitivity? I've set it to the axis but all I see is dead zone size.

Your mouse, is it just a stock mouse or something nicer?

Basic mouse, no trackball. it really works fine except for pulling large loops, where I have to drag multi mouse lengths to flip around etc...

You need to calibrate a new joystick in Windows before using it in any games. Look it up in Google if you don't know how to do it.

Already done with the ch control manager.

Yeah I'm not disputing the point I think the point I was getting at is you get what you pay for, which is why I brought up stock mouses.

It's not an issue with the mouse itself, it's just an issue with all mic unless I have an epically high sensitivity which would make certain parts of the game unbearable.

- - - Updated - - -

Agarthan - Even so, joystick calibration is a good idea, even if it appears to work fine in-game, it may not be working fine. Troster's point stands.

Jittery controls are a classic response to not being correctly calibrated.

adrinker - it might take a bit to get used to it - but a joystick is a much more natural way to pilot a 'plane, or spacecraft.
You will get sore hands and tired arms, but stick with it and a mouse will never be right again for pilot's work. Building that new strength and muscle memory will give you a lot more control compared to the mouse/keyboard.

TLDR; Give it time.

Thanks, I'll give it another shot. I do want to have more precise roll and an easier time flipping around in fa off mode.

 

[flashand]

Logitech extreme 3d pro, non hotas starting to rethink that though

 

[DD_Crash]

Anybody else not able to do initial take off after instally T.A.R.G.E.T. software? The takeoff worked fine before installation, now it only recognizes thrust when i actually move the joystick, so it's next to impossible to get the initial take off check to recognize that I'm doing it right...

Target combines the throttle and joystick into 1 device. So go to settings and create a profile.

 

[Oopsie Daisy]

I use a Thrustmaster and it is a huge improvement over my old Saitek. Here is how I did the control bindings: http://bit.ly/1Ey08Zs