Just thought this might be a good thread as I am kind of interested in picking up a new modern joystick.

Unfortunately, Windows Vista dropped Gameport support and since gameport's an old design (you have to calibrate your joystick) i would like a new stick comparabile to the microsoft sidewinder precision pro. I'm sure eveyrone knows that one.

Anyone got any recomendations of a stick that's comparible, especially ones with a HAT that works as well as the one on the precision pro??


and of course, i'd like to use this for Descent series. Will need one anyway if/when descent 4/freespace 3 comes out.

Also, when Mechwarrior 5 comes out... but that's a whole different topic lol.

They don't really make good modern joysticks anymore. The microsoft line were the ones to use. The logitech seems like it would do the job nicely too. The saitek one is junk for descent. Maybe theres a flightstick you could use?

Which Saitek is bad Powell? I use a cyborg graphite for my left hand and a cyborg 3d for my right and they work great. On the other hand they're several generations old.

I've had bad experience with logitech sticks. every one that I've had (4 or 5 of them) even a racing wheel have gone bad a month or two after the warranties expired.

I would say from personal experience then, to get an old saitek and avoid logitech. basically any stick that uses USB should work though, and some of the last of the microsoft line had USB.

I miss my CH flightsticks.

Is there anything on the market comparable to a CH these days?

pax,
-Chris

CH still makes sticks???

http://www.chproducts.com/retail/index.html

Anyway, I wish i could pick up one of htose side winder precicion pro force feedback joysticks that works with vista and is usb capable. I know now-a-days they make gameport to USB adapters but gameport joysticks i believe still need to be calibrated... sigh, i miss the old days. they were so much more fun.

The Saitek X52 throttle and stick works just fine for me. Stick movement could be smoother (maybe if I waxed the plastic plate it slides on underneath), but there are plenty of hat switches and buttons to make use of.

I didn't relize they had a newer line than the cyborg but i hated that one. I couldn't use the hat switch and the stick buttons at the same time because they were placed too far from the POV. How in the world do you use two joysticks? i didn't even know Descent supported two at once?

What went wrong with the logitech?

I just stick with the FF2 even though i never use the force feedback part.

Those sticks can still be used, guys.

I still use my original Sidewinder Precision-Pro with Vista, no problems. There are two flavors of the Precision-Pro, one with USB support via an adapter; you can tell which is which by the id# on the base. The USB-supported one works great in Vista.

Also, Grendel is working on kits for a new run of his custom USB adapters for the original Sidewinder 3DPro / Precision-Pro / Force-Feedback Pro sticks.

Descent 3 supports 2 joysticks depending on how it's patched, and if you use D2X-XL which you can find on [url]descent2.de[/url], that adds 2 stick usb support for Descent 1 & 2. I personally prefer 2 actual joysticks to a stick and throttle combo because it allows for easy strafing with the extra X-axis. my right handed joystick has a twist axis for banking. The only movement control that's missing from the joystick movement is slide up and down, and stick buttons work fine for that.

All Saitek joysticks are called Cyborgs regardless of which model they are. I like mine because they are reliable, fairly accurate, and elements such as the hand rests and top buttons move to support Lefty or Righty. I do not like the Cyborg Evo. Mine are Cyborg Graphites as I said

On all of my logitech gaming products (two separate Wingman attack 2s, a 3D extreme, and a Momo racing wheel) the rotation sensors failed after a few months, and at least one button stopped working, 2 buttons in the case of the 3D extreme. In every instance, the failures occurred after the warranties had expired.

I'm sure your Force Feedback 2 is good. I've never tried one myself. If I had my actual choice, I would still be using a Sidewinder 3D Pro, but they don't have USB and I'm unclear about how to get hold of one of Grendal's adapters.

I use Saitek X52. It works great. For D1 and D2, i use the Re-birth mod. XL works well too.

i've also been using the saitek x52, works really well, although a quicker throttle would be nice. so many buttons, for so many controls!! plus, using the saitek software so (in a different mode) i can press one button to enter a cheat code...slick

For some reason I have always enjoyed mouse over Joystick for Descent 3. But there is an older Gravis joustick, I forget the model, but it has a second left-hand thumb stick perfect for the slide controls. It worked great with Descent 3. If you see Metal Maniac, let him know I'm looking for 'em.

Does anyone know if the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro will work with Descent 1-2? I have an older (gameport version) of Wingman Extreme that I loved to use 8 or 9 years ago. I recently dug out my old Descent game and joystick but ended up loading down the D 1-2 from GOG. My laptop(Vista) doesn't have a gameport however. I am leery of the usb-gameport adapters. I would rather just get a modern joystick that is compatible with Descent.
BTW, someone from gamesas turned me on to this website. He said he hasn't used a joystick in years. How the heck can you play Descent well without one - a gamepad?

I believe that any JS is compatable w/ Descent. I've never heard about one not working (except when the hat breaks. Never happened to me ) But I wouldn't really know much about what would work. Only used 3 JS and they have all had very long lives. I'd reccommend more opinions.

Without a JS, they use...THE MOUSE!!! They get damned good and it gets to the point that I cannot tell the difference between JS and mousers. Never heard of gamepad users, except for the Wii controls.

Piece of advice, keyboard is NOT reccommended for online play. There is a point where keyboarders can't get any better.

you can find Gameport to USB adapters on ebay and i believe newegg.com. Anyone try these?

They work with some gameport-sticks, but not others. For example, those adapters will not work for the MS Sidewinder gameport sticks.

I personally used a Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro USB and always has worked great. Peter
"Another one bites the dust!"

CH Products for the win!

Hi there.

I have Descent3 loaded on my system.
I am running Windows Vista, and have a Logitech Attack3 joystick.
It wont pick up the joystick in the game, I dont know what to do......

Can anyone help?

sorry I don't know...

Just saw a thrustmaster joystick that looks really sick.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826280016

looks pretty legit! i will buy it when i have some monayyyyyyy!