Helicopter sim and joystick emulator?

Hello all,

Recently I've felt some nostalgia from the time I played Gunship 2000 a LONG time ago. I've heard good stuff from more recent heli sims (like Jane's Longbow), and would like to ask around:

- Are they too detailed? I don't want to feel like I have to know as much as a real pilot, I like more the tactical approach of having to fliy low, etc.
- Can you use them on Vista?
- How playable are them with no joystick? Can you emulate it well enough with a mouse?

Thanks in advance!

 

lol helicopters in video games with a mouse = fail

try gta iv helicopters with mouse, my god is it aweful!

 

I was hoping for more constructive comments...

 

LOL @ "more recent like Jane's Longbow". The original was released in 1996 and sequel released in 1997.

Helicopter sims *NEED* a good joystick with throttle and rudder. A HOTAS is preferable but a good twist stick is all you really need.

Might I suggest Enemy Engaged (original). There is an Enemy Engaged 2, which might be easier to get running. The original was great though.

Also if you want a true sim, then get DCS's Black Shark that was just recently released.

Very involved chopper sim.

Although Longbow 2 and Enemy Engaged: Apache vs Havoc and Comanche vs Hokum are my all time favorites.

Best chopper "game" to play with a mouse is Comanche 4. It's almost like a first person shooter but in the cockpit of a Comanche. Great fun, and plays great with a mouse.

 

Ok, thanks for the tips! I'll give EE a try (had heard of it before). However, I have no joystick nor the chance to get one (no space on the desk).

 

Here you can get a software that emulates a joystick by using the mouse (The PC thinks the mouse is a joystick). Good luck.

http://www.geocities.com/deonvdw/PPJoy.htm

 

For any real aircraft "sim" you will need a joystick, throttle, and yaw axis. Just part of the beast.

That being said, the Logitech Wingman Rumblepad (NOT the cordless and NOT Rumblepad 2) is a great gamepad controller because it comes with a sliding (throttle) axis. They're hard to find, but make a great compact control scheme for flight sims. Do a search at froogle.com, amazon.com, or at ebay.

It looks like this:



Also, joysticks being USB it's easy to plug in when needed, and removed when done. That's what I do so it doesn't clutter the desk. There's LOTS of sticks that have twist, throttle, and joystick axis that are relatively small. The Logitech Extreme 3D Pro is a good option.

 

THAT's the kind of constructive feedback I wanted. +rep

 

Thanks! Saitek makes some decent sticks too, and have one that folds up when not in use, but it doesn't have a twist (rudder/yaw) feature which is pretty much required especially for chopper sims.

I'd recommend Comanche 4 though. It's a 2001 game, and it's more arcade than sim, but still gives you the feeling of being in the cockpit, and utilizing proper arsenal.

 

I have a cheap joystick that is from saitek I think it came from walmart it worked well for BF2 chopers and FSX. It has rudder, analog, it has twist for rotation and all that good stuff.

Its just collecting dust now (a lot of it lol, I dug it out looking for my dreamcast and it was encased in a dust shell)

Here is a really nice looking one from them:
http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=1106

I have that keyboard too and its great.

Here is the one I actually have for a joystick: (mind is the wired version, this one is wireless so its even better)
http://www.gogamer.com/Saitek-Cybor...VVproductId5589589VVcatId455197VVviewprod.htm

I think it was like $30 not bad if you need one.

 

Yeah, I have the Saitek Eclipse keyboard - really nice. The X52 is a great inexpensive HOTAS. I have the CH Products gear though (expensive, but has lasted over five years now).

Yeah, I hear the Cyborg Evo is a good stick.

I have one of the original Microsoft Sidewinder joysticks. I don't know why they stopped making gaming peripherals. They made great stuff, good quality, as a testament to my ten year+ old Sidewinder - lol. Has a USB to gameport adapter to show how old it is!

 

I had a Sidewinder Precision Pro bought with FS2000. Great stuff! Too bad i lost the gameport to usb adapter... And one thing that pissed me even more is the fact that MS axed the gameport support from Vista... I'm currently using a logitech one, while semi decent it doesn't come to the level of the ol' Sidewinder...