So, I've been playing for about half a month now, and at the beginning, it seemed like a joystick wasn't necessary. But now, I'm increasingly having to move my hands off critical controls during a dogfight, so I'm in the market for a HOTAS. I'm looking at the X52, specifically pro, but I've heard....... things about its quality. Thing is, there's no other HOTAS units at that price range, not that I can find, with that many buttons. Is there some joystick I'm missing? Could you guys recommend one? And before someone says Warthog or CH, aside from the fact that I don't have that kind of money to spend on something used for playing a video game, I don't want to have to buy pedals in addition to a HOTAS. So, any help you guys can render me is greatly appreciated!
Hardware & Technical Buying a joystick
- Thread starter AEROassault
- Start date
Plenty of joystick threads in the Hardware and Tech forum.
In short:
- if you don't mind a little bit of quality lottery (means you may have to get a replacement) buy a X52 Pro
- if you got big hands buy a X55 (less quality issues, but in some cases they still occur)
- if you don't mind about optics buy a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro with a CH Pro Throttle (good quality and precision)
Should be all in the same price range and for pros and cons and more information you can search the forum Cody mentioned.
- if you don't mind a little bit of quality lottery (means you may have to get a replacement) buy a X52 Pro
- if you got big hands buy a X55 (less quality issues, but in some cases they still occur)
- if you don't mind about optics buy a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro with a CH Pro Throttle (good quality and precision)
Should be all in the same price range and for pros and cons and more information you can search the forum Cody mentioned.
Well, if you don't want pedals, the Warthog is definitely out. Also, I believe the highly favored CHProducts sticks do not twist as well (correct me if I'm wrong there!) I personally use the X52 Pro, X55 Rhino, and TM Warthog, and enjoy aspects of each that the other does not have. I've made reviews of two of the three that you can get to via my sig if you're interested, and I'm always happy to answer questions if you want to know anything in specific! If you're going to go w/ a Saitek, I think I would recommend the X55 despite their spotty QA. It has a lot more buttons you can map to, and the price isn't that much more than the X52 Pro if you're a good shopper.
Mostly X52/55 threads with the odd other brand thrown in at the bottom of the pile. Would be good to have an updated thread with latest options and opinions, I think...
Z...
The X52 Pro is a great stick. I have owned one for many years. That said my stick is a genuine Saitek stick. The problem has arisen since they were taken over by MadCatz. The QA has slipped considerably so sadly their products have become a total hit or miss that you get a stick that doesn't end up with problems.
I use the Logitech Extreme Pro 3d and have to say that it tends to either pitch me upwards or yaw to the left. It is also fairly touchy when you try to get it leveled out. It's an OK joystick for the money. If I had more money to spend and known these issues before hand I would have bought something better.
It gets me where im going though. I just have to pay attention to where its taking me!
As Cody said plenty of threads.
Value for money. T Flight Hotas X. It's generally very reliable. It's ridiculously cheap. It's got enough buttons. The comments about precision are in my experience without foundation.
It is a bit plasticky.
Good luck
Value for money. T Flight Hotas X. It's generally very reliable. It's ridiculously cheap. It's got enough buttons. The comments about precision are in my experience without foundation.
It is a bit plasticky.
Good luck
I bought the x52 Pro, and I love it. I have actually had a problem with the throttle however; at zero and at full the throttle locks into place, and whatever the piece internally that the throttle pivots and locks onto broke. From what I noticed in the videos, it is a piece of plastic mounted on the bottom half of the chasis, and a rubber piece in between that the throttle pivots on top of. I ended up buying another one and had it overnighted, but I did call Mad Catz, and they helped me create a ticket and are replacing the throttle for me once I send it to them with proof of purchase. Therefore, they are good with the warranty claims.
They internals on the Pro are supposed to be higher quality than the standard x52. However, I noticed that the x55 Rhino parts include less plastic and more metal type components, which will probably be more reslient to breaking. You can watch a ton of videos on Youtube of people taking apart these controllers so you can get a better idea on what they look like from the inside. I should also mention that I did just get this joystick last month, but I spend a great deal of time on the game, mostly, whenever I am not working. I am not much for watching TV except after the wife puts the kids to bed to sit with her and watch a movie.
A few final notes, the software is pretty self explanatory, and although I was reluctant to install it, I am happy that I ultimately did install the software. It allows you to unprogram a lot of the buttons that you cannot program within ED until you unprogram them from the controller software. Moreover, I was able to change the throttle from 4 way to 8 way, which made it a lot more sensitive and offered better pitch control. Saving the best for last, once you install the driver to the controller, E
will automatically sense the x52 in game and will have a default profile within the controller settings for your x52, which programs pretty much 95% of the controller buttons, throttle and stick. If you install the progam and "unprogram" the remaining buttons, you can also apply them through E control set up to reclaim that final 5% that otherwise will be excluded from bindings within E controller setup.Definitely a great buy. I would say buy two, just in case something goes wrong with one of them and you have to send it out for warranty. After all, the x55 is about the price of two x52's, and is overkill for E
. May as well have two so you have a backup in case one goes out to Mad Catz for a few weeks for warranty repair or replacement, if you have the expendable cash to do so or in lieu of buying one x55 Rhino. If you have any other questions about the controller, feel free to message me, and I am glad to help.
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I agree. Don't neglect this option. The Thrustmaster 16000M's stick itself is very smooth, long-lasting and reliable. I've used one for years.
BUT...
You'll still need a separate throttle control. For two reasons. The 16000M has a slider for throttle but it wears out quickly (it's a potentiometer that gets scratchy, unlike the stick which uses Hall Effect transducers). And it's terrible ergonomically to use the slider with one hand and the stick with the other; you get scrunched up on the one device.
SO...
Get a 16000M but get a separate throttle quadrant. Because I fly flight simulators like FSX, I use a Saitek three lever pro throttle quadrant. That goes on one side of my keyboard; the 16000M goes on the other side.
HOWEVER... the combined cost if the Saitek and the Thrustmaster is scarcely much less than the X52. On the other hand, the Saitek gives me three levers with three end-detents - very useful for FSX (throttle, propeller and mixture), and (bizarrely) for Elite I use for throttle (set with 50% = zero thrust, 0% = full reverse thrust, 100% - full forward thrust), boost and FSD jump!
The long travel on the Saitek throttle lever, combined with center = 0, plus using the Thrustmaster's HAT switch for lateral and vertical thrusters makes the whole setup VERY good for close quarters combat, and I'm able in my Vulture to stay a few meters away from the power plant of an enemy Anaconda or Python with ease.
Defender Cobra M5 stick + CH Pro Throttle.
Best stick imo, but it's hard to find one in EU/US.
CH Pro Throttle is very good and has all "the buttons" I need + lots of buttons on the stick.
I won't change this combo for anything else.
[video=youtube;Qsrt_Sc4Seo]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qsrt_Sc4Seo[/video]
dayrth
Volunteer Moderator
I use the Logitech Extreme Pro 3d and have to say that it tends to either pitch me upwards or yaw to the left. It is also fairly touchy when you try to get it leveled out. It's an OK joystick for the money. If I had more money to spend and known these issues before hand I would have bought something better.
It gets me where im going though. I just have to pay attention to where its taking me!
If you want a budget option go with the black widow. I played with that before getting the X52 pro and it is amazing for the price. Reliable, comfortable to use and cheap. The only two drawbacks I found were lack of buttons (it has 8) and the odd yaw control. The yaw control did not take much getting used to and the lack of buttons was cured by using a cheap (< £3), usb numeric keypad from ebay.
I don't think you can go wrong with any HOTAS honestly. Like you, I am looking to upgrade. Currently I'm using an old Saitek Cyborg X (Madcatz Fly 5). It's getting a bit loose, but it has been a great stick for the money. Not to mention, I can travel with it easily. As some others in the thread mention, having throttle on the stick base gets a bit scrunched. It does have quite a few buttons, hat, and a wheel. I've made it work, and rarely have to use the keyboard for much but map use. What I can't put on buttons, wheel, or hat, I use Voice Attack.
All that said, I am looking at a HOTAS as well. I'm just not overly concerned of the number of buttons, as Voice attack can handle lots. (deploy landing gear, increase weapons, assist off, lower cargo scoop, enter hyperspace[go plaid]...)
For the price T Flight looks like a deal if it performs well enough. Prices overall have dropped on the Saitek units imo. X52 $130, X52 pro or X55 at $160. One can always shop ebay and perhaps save a bit.
All that said, I am looking at a HOTAS as well. I'm just not overly concerned of the number of buttons, as Voice attack can handle lots. (deploy landing gear, increase weapons, assist off, lower cargo scoop, enter hyperspace[go plaid]...)
For the price T Flight looks like a deal if it performs well enough. Prices overall have dropped on the Saitek units imo. X52 $130, X52 pro or X55 at $160. One can always shop ebay and perhaps save a bit.