[Wobble73]

I use a Gravis Xterminator Joypad, with an analogue thumb control, eleven buttons (including triggers) POV control, a digital pad, and two sliders it's great! I still have some controls on the keyboard (usually some targeting controls and wing commands) but I'm sure that I could set it up even better than I have.

[aldo_14]

I use a Gravis Xterminator Joypad, with an analogue thumb control, eleven buttons (including triggers) POV control, a digital pad, and two sliders it's great! I still have some controls on the keyboard (usually some targeting controls and wing commands) but I'm sure that I could set it up even better than I have.

I have one of those, I think, but to be honest I thought it was pretty awful - unweildy, uncomfy, unergonomic and imprecise - so I ended up buying a PS2 adaptor instead.  Albiet I never bought it for FS2 anyways.

[Wobble73]

It's not that bad with a bit of practice, I have used PS1 pads and PS2 pads (not for Freespace but for other PS games) and yes they feel a little more natural. But with practice you can get used to it, I'm very used to it now.

[TopAce]

I've always used the mouse and keyboard, here the joysticks (and every game, btw) are way too expensive to buy.

Which part of the world is this?

[Wobble73]

I've always used the mouse and keyboard, here the joysticks (and every game, btw) are way too expensive to buy.

Which part of the world is this?

Check his profile, he's from Brazil!

[Xelion]

I've always used a keyboard but now I use a joystick with it. I wonder has anyone ever done a custom setup, like create/modify their own keyboard or rip the controls out of a military vehicle (eg. aircraft, helicopter, etc), or even perhaps gone out of their way to do something very different?

[Tyrian]

I play with my Saitek X52 HOTAS...I wouldn't trade it for anything else.  I have a fully customized control setup, so I rarely even have to touch the keyboard.  I think I have about 100+ functions mapped to my X52 for FS2 alone...






Plus...It's shiny!

[Polpolion]

Saitek makes really cool joysticks. I mean, they have LIGHTS!!! I have a Saitek evo Force.

[Cobra]

Pretty, pretty, shiny, shiny.

The beauty of the x52 is its versatility with functions of the toggles, axis, rotaries, and HAT controls. i have one mode properly mapped, and i'm trying to get the second and third working like true setups.

[Herra Tohtori]

Saitek makes really cool joysticks. I mean, they have LIGHTS!!! I have a Saitek evo Force.

I can full-heartedly repeat this statement with the exception of me owning a Saitek Cyborg Evo. It's very, very precise stick. Looks cool too, and is quite affordable.

And there is the positive side of looking like it's glowmapped...

[S-99]

I also used to play fs2 with the gravis xterminator. That gamepad had everything on it, it was so nice, i eventually got an ace using the gamepad as opposed to racking up aces all the time with the mouse. The thing i most loved about the xterminator was it's shoulder buttons, and the digital clickers on the underside of the controller(very similar to the n64 z button...except two of them). I had a very hard time looking for a controller similar to that, the only thing to do about it is get another xterminator. My friend broke mine
Now i use a madcatz pro 360 controller on fs2, very nice controller, it even has a joystick invert switch and turbo, and redesigned shoulder buttons compared to the normal xbox360 controller.

[foolfromhell]

I've always used a keyboard but now I use a joystick with it. I wonder has anyone ever done a custom setup, like create/modify their own keyboard or rip the controls out of a military vehicle (eg. aircraft, helicopter, etc), or even perhaps gone out of their way to do something very different?

I have a friend whos uncle bought one of those plane sim arcade machines, removed the parts, installed a computer inside, souped up the monitor from CRT to LCD, and installed some other Space-Sim games. I dont think he has installed FS2 yet. He usually plays Tachyon: The Fringe on it

[KappaWing]

Mouse support bleh... Its wayyy more fun with a joy.

[Getter Robo G]

As far as a custom set up, I use to play FS2 with voice commands... But then stopped cause my landlord started looking at me funny.   

[Tyrian]

Hmm...Voice command...?  What commands can you issue with it?

[Aardwolf]

The problem with using a mouse is that when you want to keep turning you have to pick it up, move it, and drag it again. My joystick broke, but I never used it anyway. One of the buttons fell out.

Landlord?

[S-99]

Well, that's just the nature of the mouse. Perfect for anyone who sucks with a joystick though. It'll turn a person into an ace really fast with all that ****ing dragging and repositioning. Using the mouse to play i haven't found it a problem...you just sort of do it, it does not get in the way of maneuvering your craft or gameplay at all. I'm just interested in getting a joystick again because i use to be good with one, and now i suck with one.

[Kosh]

I have always used a keyboard in FS2. It works just fine if you get used to it.

[Roanoke]

I've still got a MS Sidewinder somethin-or-other for FS. Hasn't been used for > or < 12 months tho 

[Genryu]

In my case, it's a Top Gun Afterburner from Thrustmaster, a cheap HOTAS setup, but still way too much fun when playing games like FS2 or Crimson Skies.