[Grey Wolf]

Any suggestions on a good replacement joystick? I've had a Logitech Wingman Extreme Digital 3D for a while, but the handle twist has started to go. Should I just replace it with another copy of the same joystick, or is there a better one in the $20-$60 range?

[Exarch]

I know it may be a bit old, but if you ask me, nothing beats a CH Flightstick Pro. Been using the same one for the last, what, 8 years? Maybe more. Since I got my 486-dx2 at any rate. So that'll vouch for the reliability. And as for the grip, I find the no-nonsense smooth grip much nicer than the ones which try to fit your hand, but inevitably seem made for a different hand size than your own Does lack a few buttons compared to some newer joysticks, but if you can get by with 4+hat I can't think of anything better, and they do have throttle if you like to use that.

Another thing I should mention, the Flightstick has a pretty huge deflection compared to most other joysticks I've tried over the years, so it's not a general purpose joystick by any means. It's great for flightsims of any kind, but only for those. If you use joysticks for more arcady type games as well, it's probably better to opt for a less specialized one.

And hey, it's even made an appearence in the 'X-Men' movie (their aircraft is steered with a Flightstick Pro), so it's a celebrity joystick too

[Odyssey]

Currently I use a Saitek X45 HOTAS joystick, which I can barely fault. Sure, it's a flight simulator joystick primarily, but as it's fully programmable I've been able to make it useful in just about all the 3D games I have, even FPS games. It's got a proper throttle with a finger-paddle rudder control at the back, which I find much preferable to a twist-grip. And it's not even that expensive!
I'd recommend anything else from the Saitek range too, the build quality ain't half bad, and so long as you aren't a complete AOL n00bish person (which since you're at HLP, you are not), the support isn't all that bad either. The programming software is not for the faint of heart though, there's one heck of a lot to program if you take into account everything - well over 200 different buttons if you program all the 4 8-way hats as buttons each way, as well as all your other buttons and 4 axii... I've never even got close to even programming all of mode 1 though, that's plenty enough ^_^

[Grunt]

I'm currently fed up with the pricey HOTAS systems that go scrap within 2 years (like my TOP GUN Afterburner did recently).
Now I have changed to HOKAS (Hands on Keyboard and Stick ) with a Thrustmaster TOP GUN USB (15 $).
Simple but works.

[Turnsky]

my gravis blackhawk digital isn't too bad,  before that i actually KILLED my last joystick playing FS2.. snapped the handle clean off

[Fury]

Originally posted by Grunt
Now I have changed to HOKAS (Hands on Keyboard and Stick )

LOL! Touché mate.

My favorite is MS SideWinder Precision Pro.

[silverwolf]

i like my ms sidewind force feedback 2

[LAM3O]

The older Top Gun, really good, and really cheap

[Grunt]

Originally posted by LAM3O
The older Top Gun, really good, and really cheap

That's what I have but with an USB plug. Some says that it's quite durable. But even if I have to buy two of them a year, compared to the Afterburner I'm still there in price.
It's OK for FS, not too good with a chopper sim though.

[Terorist]

Originally posted by LAM3O
The older Top Gun, really good, and really cheap

Oooh, I was just going to recommend that (guess what I use?).
One problem though, no driver support with Windows 2000: the general drivers can't figure it out - pressing multiple buttons together results in 'POV hat left' and the hat itself doesn't work... (the signal itself can be read alright, just no drivers to translate it properly!) Win 98 did have the right drivers for it, but I haven't found ones for Win2k. Anyone else had this problem?
(And no, I'm not going to use win9x for anything.)

It is cheap and a very durable joystick, an excellent purchase.

[pyro-manic]

Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold USB.

Reliable, strong, high build quality, etc.

[Grey Wolf]

Just as a note, I should mention that I'm running XP on this comp. And I'm reminding you guys about the upper spending limit of 60-70 USD

[Hippo]

I use a "TOP GUNTM FOX 2 PROTM USB" From Thrustmaster. It works great, but has no FF. it was like $30ish... 8 buttins, 8 pos. hat, 3 axis, throttle, adjustable resistance, and it looks like an actual fighter controlstick.

Heres a picture

[Grey Wolf]

I think I found what I want

The damn cord has always bugged me on the one I have now, and this is basically the same as my current one, with a few extra buttons. Pushes the upper end of my price envelope though. My only question about it is, where's the throttle? If I don't get this, though, I'll probably just replace me old one with a new one of the same kind. Lasted me over two years, so I'm not really worrying about lifetime.

[Anaz]

see the funny silver bump right before the black part on the odd support out? That's it.

[Grey Wolf]

OK, I see it. I was looking for one of the Wingman-type throttles.

[Zeke]

Hey, how important in FS2 is it to have a twist handle stick? I live close to CH company and thought I might get a good deal on a fighterstick usb if I drove over there to get one, but I dont think they have twist handles. Is keyboard for left hand stuff and rudder ok in FS2? I dont have the game yet but gonna get it soon. I wanna be able to plug in and go when it comes in heh.

[Fractux]

I'm still using my Sidewinder PRO that I got in 95.

I have to put the deadzone up there cause it's a bit shaky, but she still works like a beaut!

[Turnsky]

my gravis blackhawk digital hasn't let me down yet

[Bobboau]

I had that stick untill I got my new computer, then it dies suddenly, for the longest time I thought it was the computer