[Alpha]

Hi, I'm new on this forum but not new to FS2. I used to post at the VBB, but you all know what goes on there. I also play on PXO sometimes as Alpha. I also play with FRED2 (yes, that's right play; don't know how to do a good mission yet).

Getting to the point, I've read how here you can REALLY get help so I was wondering what joystick would you recommend. Today I saw the Sidewinder Precision 2 and the Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 at good prices. What do you recommend, plese even tell me if I should see other joysticks besides the Sidewinder series. I've always used the keyboard for all my games, but my hands are tired now () and I would really like to get a good joystick. Thanks for your advice.

Alpha.

[Eishtmo]

Thrustmaster Top Gun.

Any more is a waste of time and money.

------------------
Visit Warpstorm.  Do it now.

---------

I know there is a method, but all I see is madness.

[Sandwich]

Personally, I use and love the Sidewinder Precision Pro (version 1). The only difference between it and the Mk. II (ahhhh!!!) is that v1.0 has a "shift" button, which is the main selling point of the darned thing. They removed that in v2.0.  

So if you're going to get the 2nd version, save some money and get the first version if you can find it - it's better.  

------------------
America, stand assured that Israel truly understands what you are going through.

"He who laughs last thinks slowest."
"Just becase you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you."
"To err is human; to really screw up you need a computer."
Creator of the Sandvich Bar, the CapShip Turret Upgrade, the Complete FS2 Ship List and the System Backgrounds List (all available from the site)

[Alikchi]

I use a logitech wingman extreme. It's suitable.

[Zander]

Saitek x36 usb version      more bindable buttons than you can count

[Thorn]

 

Originally posted by Alikchi:
I use a logitech wingman extreme. It's suitable.

ditto..
its cheap, comfortable, and if you have USB, it requires no effort to set up...
my only gripe is that that base is a little unstable...

[Vertigo1]

Logitech Wingman Strike Force 3D.    Anything less isn't good enough.  

------------------
"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

"Oh and Kazan - you have some nice rocks" - Thunder

Material Defender Studios

[Nico]

the SW2 is great. There's maybe not the shift button, but you can link key chains to a single button (means you push a button, and it will trigger as many actions as you want, in the order you want).

[Terorist]

 

Originally posted by Eishtmo:
Thrustmaster Top Gun.

Any more is a waste of time and money.

Yes, get a Thrustmaster joystick. Top Gun is an excellent choice: with a trigger, 4-way hat and 3 buttons it does it's job, and it's durable.

[Nico]

not enough buttons for me :þ and i'd miss my throttle  

[IceFire]

My old joystick just died (while playing FreeSpace 2 actually) and I think the Precision 2 is the way to go.  Thats what people have been saying.

[Black Sheep]

If you have too much money you are going to love a force feedback stick...

[Akrovah]

Logitech Wingman of any variety (If you can find the old handle style. It has a nice little button that is right by your thumb when you rest your hand on the stick. Perfect for quickly sending a few missiles into your target's exhaust.)

But, if all you can find is the new lame *** handle style, then go, not with the Thrustmaster Top Gun, But with the Thrustmaster Top Bun Afterburner. That version has a throttle with an alternate thrid axis control on it.

Edit: Typos! typos! typos!
------------------
Bobby (Akrovah) Hovorka
    [email protected]  
    "The future is all around us, waiting, in moments of transition, to be born in moments of revelation. No one knows the shap of that future, or where it will take us. We only know, that it is always born in pain." -- G'Quon - Babylon 5


[This message has been edited by Akrovah (edited 11-01-2001).]

[Vertigo1]

Actually, the new hand style is only slightly less comfortable that the previous design.  My wrist no longer aches from intense firefights in FS2.  

------------------
"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

"Oh and Kazan - you have some nice rocks" - Thunder

Material Defender Studios

[Alpha]

I'm still between the SW Force Feedback 2 or the SW Precision 2. Why is it so hard for me to decide??   I'd like to have enough money to buy both (yeah right!)  

Anyway, I'll have to decide sooner or later (better sooner). It feels good to receive answers different from "get out of here newbie" etc., etc. Thanks.

[Vertigo1]

To be honest, if it wasn't for the fact that my Wingman Strike Force 3D had more button on the stick part itself, I'd switch handles with my old joystick and use it instead.    

For you button fanatics out there, this sucker has a whopping 9 buttons and two hat switches!    Technically, its got 6 buttons, but three of the "nine" total are in the scroll wheel mounted on the base. (1 button = scrolling forwards, 1 button = scrolling backwards, and 1 button = pushing down on the wheel itself.)

Its a really nice joystick.  Definitely better than anything MS has to offer.  After all, when was the last time you ever heard of a hat breaking on a Logitech stick?   (MS sticks have had that problem since they were first released.)

------------------
"You know you've played Freespace too much when you're driving along trying to use countermeasures to shake off pursuing highway police." - Top Gun

"Oh and Kazan - you have some nice rocks" - Thunder

Material Defender Studios

[sergeantpingree]

I use a Logitech force feed back pro!
What a machine! I don't think they sell them anymore tho'.
I got mine at currys for £60 with european air war (can't say it's that good!)
My advice go for a logitech model, i prefer there standard config then microsofts.
Oh well...

------------------
'Well thats a switch'
PTE Hudson
Aliens
-------------------------
AKA Corporalpingree at the VBB.

[Fedaykin]

I'm using a Wingman Force - its great for FS2. I had a MS Precision Pro but broke it on FS2.

The Wingman Force has 9 buttons, a throttle and a hat...what more do ya need?

[sergeantpingree]

Yeah, it really is quite good, and it has plenty of buttons!!!

------------------
'Well thats a switch'
PTE Hudson
Aliens
-------------------------
AKA Corporalpingree at the VBB.

[Eishtmo]

 

Originally posted by sergeantpingree:
Yeah, it really is quite good, and it has plenty of buttons!!!

Buttons aren't everything.  In fact, I would be happy with just two, one for a primary, and one for a secondary.  I'll use the keyboard for the rest, thank you very much.

------------------
Visit Warpstorm.  Do it now.

---------

I know there is a method, but all I see is madness.