VKB Gunfighter Pro (with first update)
Spoiler alert- it's pretty good!
But you probably thought that anyway...
Ok, I've only had it a week now, so these are first impressions, not any attempt at a proper review.
The purchasing experience: An utter joke! VKB EU had months to prepare for their latest delivery, but only got around to updating their website the month before the container was due. They refused to take pre-orders, had no clue what demand there was for the product and their shiny new website sold tons of gear they didn't actually have in stock. :O
I ordered a Gunfighter with English markings and a stick extension. I got a Russian marked grip and the extension- which I've already paid for- will be delivered 'soon'. Eduard, the EU spokesperson, reckons in around a month or so, but the next container won't be here until late July or August, so I've no idea how he thinks he's going to achieve that.
There's some industrial grade incompetence/dodgy business shenanigans going on over in the Netherlands.
Delivery: DHL, really quick with a tracking service. It would have been nice to have an estimated time for the delivery, as my whole household work and there isn't always someone home to take in a parcel, but otherwise no real issues there.
Packaging: A simple cardboard box around the Gunfighter box, no additional protection. A little disappointing, given how expensive the controller and delivery were. VKBs own box and packaging are pretty decent, though, with thick foam around everything, so they might not think any extra padding is necessary.
There are plenty of unboxings on YouTube you can watch, it's neat, compact and feels high quality. As it blooming well ought to!
Assembly: Fairly basic and they include a couple of reasonable quality allen keys so you don't have to go rummaging around your toolbox before you start. Everything goes together well, there's metal where you want it (base, threads, bearings etc) and strong, high quality plastic on the grip itself. There are what looks like scores of spare springs and an alternative set of cams if you prefer a hard detente in your stick. There's also a wee bag filled with spare buttons, so you can swap out any of the five way hats that you might not want. Nice touch.
Set-up: The stick connects to an aluminium firmware box, which has multiple inputs for VKBs pedals, another stick or (eventually) their planned throttle. It's orange, which I really appreciate. My wiring is a total mess, anything to help me figure out what's connected to what is very welcome. The 'black box' connects to your PC via a reasonable length of standard USB cable.
VKB have some software available for button testing, calibration and optimisation. The firmware can be updated if required.
First use: It's pretty much plug and play, it actually took me longer to set up my ED bindings than to put the stick together and test it! I'm still on standard, out of the box settings. I'll try stronger springs at the weekend.
For now, the stick feels light and very responsive. It's very smooth in every direction and actually goes around in a circle, unlike many/most conventional sticks that tend to have a square section hole in the ball and socket connection. (Anyone know why that is? [weird] Surely a circle would be just as easy to mould?) There's no detente and no software dead zone, but it centers beautifully. On standard settings the clutches are unobtrusive, but they dampen any spring or wobble if I let the stick go.
There are only four buttons on the Pro, everything else, including the thumb, is a five way hat or an analog stick. As I said, there are spare buttons if you want to change any of them. Button action is crisp, with a nice click. The five ways are nicely textured and well positioned, but feel much softer. There's no pinky button, but there is one where your ring finger rests. Sadly, thanks to an old injury, my ring finger doesn't work properly! [haha] Ah well, can't blame VKB for that. I can get my middle finger down to it, so no dramas.
The metal folding trigger has a very soft feel, almost spongy. The main trigger feels small (but I do have quite large hands). It has a full travel first stage and a very definite button click on the second stage.
The pinky lever represents a Russian style brake lever and is actually another axis. It's all metal with a really nice feel.
First impressions: The stick is lovely to use. It's very precise without feeling twitchy. The five ways work really well with EDs binding system. All of the buttons, hats and analogs are within easy reach. It looks and feels like a quality product- as it should, considering how much it cost! I'm really glad I bought it, it definitely lives up to the hype.
My main concern is how well will it last? Thrustmaster and Logitech seem to think that two years is reasonable for their flagship hotas'- I strongly disagree. And given that this beastie costs more than most hotas' I'm going to be devastated if it keels over a couple of years from now. The thing seems very well made, with metal moving parts, high quality impact plastic on the body and (so I'm told) top drawer switchgear. Here's hoping that leads to a long life!
Conclusion: This is a beautifully designed and manufactured enthusiast product with a marvelous standard of finish. It feels much better than flagship offerings from the mainstream producers. It's easy to set up and will make a great centre piece for your rig or simpit. But VKB EU are inept to the point of incompetence. If you lack patience or have concerns about customer service and support I'd struggle to recommend dealing with them.
Thanks for reading this far. If you're interested I'll post updates when the rest of my order arrives and possibly give yearly progress reports if VKB stay in business that long!
Spoiler alert- it's pretty good!
But you probably thought that anyway...
Ok, I've only had it a week now, so these are first impressions, not any attempt at a proper review.
The purchasing experience: An utter joke! VKB EU had months to prepare for their latest delivery, but only got around to updating their website the month before the container was due. They refused to take pre-orders, had no clue what demand there was for the product and their shiny new website sold tons of gear they didn't actually have in stock. :O
I ordered a Gunfighter with English markings and a stick extension. I got a Russian marked grip and the extension- which I've already paid for- will be delivered 'soon'. Eduard, the EU spokesperson, reckons in around a month or so, but the next container won't be here until late July or August, so I've no idea how he thinks he's going to achieve that.
There's some industrial grade incompetence/dodgy business shenanigans going on over in the Netherlands.
Delivery: DHL, really quick with a tracking service. It would have been nice to have an estimated time for the delivery, as my whole household work and there isn't always someone home to take in a parcel, but otherwise no real issues there.
Packaging: A simple cardboard box around the Gunfighter box, no additional protection. A little disappointing, given how expensive the controller and delivery were. VKBs own box and packaging are pretty decent, though, with thick foam around everything, so they might not think any extra padding is necessary.
There are plenty of unboxings on YouTube you can watch, it's neat, compact and feels high quality. As it blooming well ought to!
Assembly: Fairly basic and they include a couple of reasonable quality allen keys so you don't have to go rummaging around your toolbox before you start. Everything goes together well, there's metal where you want it (base, threads, bearings etc) and strong, high quality plastic on the grip itself. There are what looks like scores of spare springs and an alternative set of cams if you prefer a hard detente in your stick. There's also a wee bag filled with spare buttons, so you can swap out any of the five way hats that you might not want. Nice touch.
Set-up: The stick connects to an aluminium firmware box, which has multiple inputs for VKBs pedals, another stick or (eventually) their planned throttle. It's orange, which I really appreciate. My wiring is a total mess, anything to help me figure out what's connected to what is very welcome. The 'black box' connects to your PC via a reasonable length of standard USB cable.
VKB have some software available for button testing, calibration and optimisation. The firmware can be updated if required.
First use: It's pretty much plug and play, it actually took me longer to set up my ED bindings than to put the stick together and test it! I'm still on standard, out of the box settings. I'll try stronger springs at the weekend.
For now, the stick feels light and very responsive. It's very smooth in every direction and actually goes around in a circle, unlike many/most conventional sticks that tend to have a square section hole in the ball and socket connection. (Anyone know why that is? [weird] Surely a circle would be just as easy to mould?) There's no detente and no software dead zone, but it centers beautifully. On standard settings the clutches are unobtrusive, but they dampen any spring or wobble if I let the stick go.
There are only four buttons on the Pro, everything else, including the thumb, is a five way hat or an analog stick. As I said, there are spare buttons if you want to change any of them. Button action is crisp, with a nice click. The five ways are nicely textured and well positioned, but feel much softer. There's no pinky button, but there is one where your ring finger rests. Sadly, thanks to an old injury, my ring finger doesn't work properly! [haha] Ah well, can't blame VKB for that. I can get my middle finger down to it, so no dramas.
The metal folding trigger has a very soft feel, almost spongy. The main trigger feels small (but I do have quite large hands). It has a full travel first stage and a very definite button click on the second stage.
The pinky lever represents a Russian style brake lever and is actually another axis. It's all metal with a really nice feel.
First impressions: The stick is lovely to use. It's very precise without feeling twitchy. The five ways work really well with EDs binding system. All of the buttons, hats and analogs are within easy reach. It looks and feels like a quality product- as it should, considering how much it cost! I'm really glad I bought it, it definitely lives up to the hype.
My main concern is how well will it last? Thrustmaster and Logitech seem to think that two years is reasonable for their flagship hotas'- I strongly disagree. And given that this beastie costs more than most hotas' I'm going to be devastated if it keels over a couple of years from now. The thing seems very well made, with metal moving parts, high quality impact plastic on the body and (so I'm told) top drawer switchgear. Here's hoping that leads to a long life!
Conclusion: This is a beautifully designed and manufactured enthusiast product with a marvelous standard of finish. It feels much better than flagship offerings from the mainstream producers. It's easy to set up and will make a great centre piece for your rig or simpit. But VKB EU are inept to the point of incompetence. If you lack patience or have concerns about customer service and support I'd struggle to recommend dealing with them.
Thanks for reading this far. If you're interested I'll post updates when the rest of my order arrives and possibly give yearly progress reports if VKB stay in business that long!
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![30794667418_4ae98cc13a_b.jpg](http://[URL="https://flic.kr/p/NVdHKG"][IMG]https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1850/30794667418_4ae98cc13a_b.jpg)