Hardware & Technical The Joystick discussion thread

[Johnny7]

I've used various joysticks over the years. My current choices are an X-Box 360 controller (a good portable solution for flight sims) and an old CH Products Mach 1 (still pop up occasionally on ebay).
If you are into developing your own custom solution I would recommend using one of Leo Bodnar's USB boards http://www.leobodnar.com/.
I've rewired my Mach 1 to work with my board. This has the added benefit that you can add more buttons or design your own custom panel.

 

[BacchusZA]

I remember those things.. I broke my uncles playing Pole Position and found that the sticks were hollow and I could insert a small rod, glue it back together and made it much stronger.

Heh I remember those too Having them not center made docking in Elite so much easier, you could just match the station rotation and then let go of the stick.

@AdamMellor - I think you've got that a little back to front regarding the X-65F and the Warthog - it's the X-65 that comes close to the 'Hog, not the other way around

It is a damn good stick by all accounts though, and the Saitek software comes with it is evidently very good, which is something that sets it apart from most other HOTAS setups. Just check before you get one to see if they've fixed the ridiculously stiff throttle that a lot of the units shipped with. You'd literally have to hold the base down with one hand to be able to move the handle with the other, and it's the reason I went with the Logitech G940 I have rather than getting the X-65

 

[OSH]

Joystick control MUST BE implemented in Elite Dangerous. I can't imagine, how I could control my Cobra Mk. III with mouse or pad (aaardgh!!!).
I have Thrustmaster 16000M. Very good joystick for space-sims (i've played X-Wing, and Wing Commander). Unfortunately, has a weak throttle (mine is history now)

 

[paul.dautzenberg]

Joystick & Force Feedback

You should work not only on supporting Joysticks, but especially on teaming up with some of the better manufacturers (Logitech, Saitek, Thrustmaster) to have a great joystick (kind of special edition) ready when the game is ready!

It should have great quality, a rotary handle for 3D-Maneuvers, ForceFeedback ;-) and a price of around 50$/€...

Sadly no joystick like that is available right now .

Let's hear your additions...

 

[Azagaros]

Ugg the thought of no joystick...

Thankfully I have my Logitech rumble shock ps-2 style controller. I couldn't play this game effectively without a joystick of some type. I tried keyboard on the Apple II for the original but went quickly to a joystick it made the game that much easier.

I am looking forward to this game.

 

[Memnoch]

Joystick control MUST BE implemented in Elite Dangerous. I can't imagine, how I could control my Cobra Mk. III with mouse or pad (aaardgh!!!).

I did, and so did many others on the Amiga. In many ways a mouse is more precise than a joystick. Time will tell which is the preferred controller and this may be decided on the flight model they choose to implement.

 

[deMangler]

I used to have a Cyborg Evo and can recommend it. Unfortunately I can't find it anywhere now...
The XBox 360 controller for PC is good and practically indestructible but I find I never like using it for space sims. Dunno why. It seems I am a keyboard person at heart. If I really need analog control in a game I use my Logitech Trackball - probably my favorite interface device.

 

[Bounder]

When I wanted a joystick for Elite on the beeb, I ordered a dual-axis potentiometer from Maplin, mounted it in a bit of drainpipe and two jam jar lids, put a button in another piece of narrow plastic pipe, and wired it all up myself to a connector. I held the joystick part between my knees and used my left hand to steer while I held the fire button in my right hand.

If I needed to fire out of the rear view I just turned the joystick part around.

Up hill both ways, etc.

I've still got a magazine cut-out with instructions for making a Beeb analogue stick (in a box full of old copies of Micro User), the last one i made though was just for Elite, and was a digital stick. It was a massive brown thing covered in buttons, i forget the name. I used an old length of ribbon cable to solder each microswitch directly to the key terminals poking out the underside of a Master 128 keyboard! It was a travesty of hardware hacking, but worked.. IIRC i used a 24-pin connector, cut into the top of the case. Proper ugly but functional... still got the beeb, dunno about the stick - might try digging it out later..

 

[StarTux]

Just switched from my trusty old Logitech Force 3D pro to finishing off my CH setup with the Fighterstick and Throttle. Much better, one thing I noticed is just how much more 'travel' I have in the CH Fighterstick vs the Logitech, its almost if not more than twice as much.

It will be interesting to see how Frontier handle this as the travel in the little stick on the X360 is tiny in comparison. Two things to consider with this, firstly I have with greater freedom of movement imparted by the Fightstick I have found it easier to line up accurately n targets in Rise of Flight. Secondly maximum force maybe more than that applied to the Logitech as I was pushing the stick further to the extreme much sooner than on the CH Fighterstick.

Hope that made sense .

 

[Mobius]

to be honest im happy with my wireless microsoft xbox controller.

if you watch some of the dev videos you will see them using them.

 

[Blitzwing]

I have an old Thrustmaster Afterburner II in the attic... last time I tried it out it didn't work like I wanted it to... I might have to get a new one.

Although the only stick Elite should be played with is this one:

 

[JackWeaver]

I'll be happy if my Saitek X45 still works.

 

[robo]

Dug out my old Saitek Cyborg Evo (USB), but it's sticky all over, tried cleaning it with one of those rough sided scouring sponges, but to no avail. So I took a look at the Saitek Cyborg V1 & liked the look of it, especially where the shift button is located. It works for left handers as well (which I am), so ordered it (the Evo can be a spare, if needed), ED here I come.

 

[razaar]

If the control system will be adopted to MS FF2 so I thing all the rest but proven good new systems like from Saitec etc should be even better.

 

[Cristari]

I so went off Joysticks years ago when I bought a Saitek Cyborg Evo Force and never got to use it properly as the spring on it was so bad you can move the joystick forward and the stick would just stay forward!

Now i prefer using game pads and console controllers over these laboriously huge and overly expensive things!

They take up way too much desk space.

This game better support the PS3 controller or I'll be so sad!

 

[Voyager_NL]

I instantly fell in love with the SAITEK X52 series when I saw them posted here. From the few images I could find on the web they seem to light up like a Chritmas tree (at least the non-pro seems to) does anyone know the following:
- Do both non-pro and pro version have leds built in all over the stick and throttle?
- How do you anchor the 2 parts to your table? Do they have suction cups? Or are they heavy enough to operate without anchoring?
- What are the most important differences between the pro and the non-pro version? (from user perpective)

 

[SnowGhost]

I instantly fell in love with the SAITEK X52 series when I saw them posted here. From the few images I could find on the web they seem to light up like a Chritmas tree (at least the non-pro seems to) does anyone know the following:
- Do both non-pro and pro version have leds built in all over the stick and throttle?
- How do you anchor the 2 parts to your table? Do they have suction cups? Or are they heavy enough to operate without anchoring?
- What are the most important differences between the pro and the non-pro version? (from user perpective)

I have the non pro X-52.
The thing lights up like a Christmas tree
The suction cups work fine
My 20 month old little boy can play oolite with it

I don't know the differences.

 

[Voyager_NL]

I have the non pro X-52.
The thing lights up like a Christmas tree
The suction cups work fine
My 20 month old little boy can play oolite with it

I don't know the differences.

Thanks SnowGhost for your quick answer. I'm playing OOLITE aswell so I'd be able to get used to it for a year...

Any Pro users around that want to chime in?

 

[Penthux]

I always used the Competition Pro 5000 joystick back in the day. It was a serial connection. That used to be my fave joystick.

There's a USB clone version of it available (Speedlink SL-6603) but I'm sure there are better suited joysticks for the job these days.

 

[Zieman]

I always used the Competition Pro 5000 joystick back in the day. It was a serial connection. That used to be my fave joystick.

There's a USB clone version of it available (Speedlink SL-6603) but I'm sure there are better suited joysticks for the job these days.

Hehe, ditto.
The Speedlink works perfectly with CCS64 .
I've started a new Commander in C64 Elite emulated on CCS64, aiming to become ELITE before ED is released.