Stick of Joy for Stimulator of Flight :)

Can anyone recommend a decent joystick to use with Flight Simulator X? Just picked up the Gold Edition of FSX and using the mouse w/ keyboard isn't the greatest set up, imo. Keyboard only is even worse. I dug out my old MS Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro joystick but it has an old gameport connection rather than USB, lol!

So anything not too fancy, say around $100 tops, would be great.

 

How about the Saitek Aviator? Less than $50 http://www.saitekusa.com/prod/av8rxboxv2.htm

or The X52 for around $100. http://www.saitekusa.com/prod/x52.htm

 

For a moment put on your dirty thinking cap and read " Stick of joy " LOL all i could read from the section page was " stick of joy " and i was just like " What the hell i have to check this out ". Onto topic. I have had this joystick since 2003 or 2004 i have even tried to break it and couldnt. I reccomend it. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=713258&csid=_25

 

+ 1 on the X52. I love the separate throttle control. TONS of programmable buttons. Very highly recommended.

Personally, though, I am looking for a good game controller so that I can use Flight Sim 2004 on my Toshiba laptop. Anybody know of a good portable game controller I could slip in my bag that would be compatible?

 

Thanks for the thoughts... both on the thread title and the subject matter.

The X52 looks nice, albeit perhaps a bit too complicated. Can the joystick ever be used without the throttle control?

 

I'd really recommend the X52, you have no idea how great it is to have throttle controls separate from the main stick.

 

What I mean is could only the joystick be used with other flight games such as Descent without having to use the throttle?

But yes, I think the X52 is the way to go. Just got to find a deal on one.

 

Yes, even though the throttle and joystick are connected to the computer through a single USB, the joystick has a sizeable number of programmable buttons you can assign to throttle control. This would bypass the separate throttle.

Just go into your assignments in FS 2004 or X and assign the necessary buttons to throttle up and down.

 

The only downside is that you have to keep the throttle, even if you do not use it because the stick is connected to the PC through the throttle.

 

I've become a rather casual flight simmer in my later years. I'm looking for a durable non complicated flight stick. Any suggestions?

 

I used a great, simple Logitech for about a year, beginning in 2005, until one part of the cord fell into my shredder.
Easy controls, plenty of programmable buttons. I am sure it has been supplanted by newer versions but Logitech is the way to go if you want simple, IMHO.

 

Another member posted a link to this flightstick. Any thoughts if it's reliable?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=713258&csid=_25

 

The one I had was a lot like that one, except it had a "slider" throttle control on the side. Looked a bit different but the idea was the same. Simple and does the trick. No major bells and whistles.

IMHO, it is very hard to go wrong with a Logitech product.

 

I am sure it is reliable, being a Logitech product. Besides for 25 bucks, if you get a year of use out of it, you will have gotten back your investment.

If you couldn't already tell, I am a Logitech fan.

The X52, though, was my first Saitek product and I am impressed...VERY.

 

I found the X52 locally for around $130 CDN ($20 US ). Picking it up tonight.

 

You will love it.

Just assign throttle control to buttons on the joystick and you will be able to bypass the throttle completely (though I love having the throttle).

GREAT deal. Enjoy.

 

Any interest in a used joystick with throttle? PM me if so.

 

Whoa.. stick of Joy? How joyful! I will joyfully recommend this joystick:Logitech Extreme 3D Pro

 

The biggest knock on that joystick is that it quickly wears out and or loses calibration.

The price is it right, though.

 

I used mine for about a year...pretty heavily...until circumstances beyond its control trashed it. It still seemed to be going strong.

One of the features I always look for in a joystick is stability. You want to be able to maneuver it around without having it skitter along its base all along your desktop.

And I agree that the price is definitely right.

 

Turns out the X52 is in short supply locally. In the end I could not really justify spending $140 this soon not knowing how long my flight sim fetish will last. So I opted to get the Saitek Aviator (excuse me, AV8R-01) which seems so far to be quite good and it's decidely retro appearance is actually kind of cool.

 

Looks good. I like the fact that it has a somewhat realistic throttle. How many programmable buttons does it have?

 

Joysticks are more fun with fighter plane games though. .like Ace Combat

 

Not sure. I think they are all pretty much programmable with the software. Not including the hat switch there's probably 12 customizable buttons. Plus the A/B switch can double it.

Agreed. FSX is a good do-all sim, tho'. I also downloaded the new FreeFalcon5.0 (mod to the classic Falcon 4.0) to try as well.
http://www.thommos.com/wiki/index.php?title=Free_Falcon

 

well my 2nd saitek cyborg evo just failed again (after fixing it twice), so that's about the 4th stick I have gone through.

I just noticed saitek has a new stick out, the Cyborg X. It looks decent, has dual throttles (which appears you can lock together as one). Supposedly the top folds over and the base rotates to make it portable. I think I'm gonna order one and see how it is.

 

I just bought Tom Clancy's HAWX and I was wondering what the best, inexpensive joystick with force feedback would be.

Any suggestions?

 

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/joysticks/devices/297&cl=roeu,en

check this one