Finding a decent joystick

[Kurt]

Hey all

Is it just me or is it impossible to find a decent joystick nowadays? I used to have a Microsoft Sidewinder thingy and thought it was great. It died a while ago though so I went out and bought a Ligitech Cordless Freedom one. No cable which was great but the stick itself was crap, plasticky and there was always a bit of lag between moving it and anything actually happening.

So, I decided to treat myself and, after lots of research, bought a Saitek Cyborg Evo. It's ok but I still don't think it's very good.

My biggest gripe is that, as you move the joystick to bank or whatever, there should be more resistance the further you bank, adding more "feel". However, these two joysticks feel more like you're holding a spoon vertically in a bowl of water, there's just no resistance. In addition, the Saitek takes a bit of force to move it from the vertical then that force mahgically disappears so you have to use force to move it from the "dead zone" then there's no resiatance at all so I tend to bank a lot more than I'd expect.

Is it just me being useless? Anyone have any suggestions? It's got to a point where I just don't bother flying as I don't enjoy it.

[XmetallicaXguitarstX]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

I use a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro and I modified it a little. I changed out that hard stiff spring. In it's place, I put in a spring from one of my guitar pedals, and now it is perfect for me.

I used to have a Sidewinder 2, and I loved it. Going from that to this, this was WAY too tight.. now it is perfect. Loose enough to have complete freedom without "fighting" the JS, but there is plenty of "return-to-center" power.

I don't know what you like, etc.. but it's a pretty good JS if you change the spring with something looser. If you like the feel of your sidewinder, you should get this.

It's only $40, plus, is corded. I hate cordless joysticks.

[Kurt]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Yeah, I looked at the Logitech but as I was replacing my Cordless Freedom I didn't want another Logitech stick. Replacing the spring sounds like a good idea but I don't have a guitar :-)

I think maybe that I liked the Sidewinder so much that nothing else can really compete. I wonder why they stopped making them. Anyway, thanks for your advice but I've just checked on Ebay and there are a few on there so maybe I'll just get an old Microsoft one. It's rubbish playing BF2 and not being able to fly properly (of course properly is relative in my case as I'm a pretty crap pilot).

It's just be nice to get some revenge on the carpet bombers out there that seem to like me so much but whenever I try I always get wasted pretty well straight away so don't really try any more.

[XmetallicaXguitarstX]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Yeah I really loved the sidewinder. I'm very happy with the extreme 3D pro though. Well worth the $40.

[John Edmo]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

My logitech cordless shat itself as well. Funny for everyone else watching but annoying for me. Extreme 3d pro is now the go. Very happy

[XmetallicaXguitarstX]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Yeah imo you shouldn't knock logitech out the window without trying the extreme 3D pro. I'm sure everyone that owns one has nothing but good things to say about it.

[Kurt]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Yeah ok, fair enough maybe I should give it a go. My only concern is that I didn't like the cordless one (it DOES lag no matter what everyone else says...no bank.....no bank....oooh, barrel roll) and I didn't really like the feel of it and the other Logi's look pretty well identical except they're corded so I thought it would be the same old same old except corded.

I'll head off to PC World or whatever and see if they've got them out so I can have a play. I've already got two perfectly good (ie, not broken) joysticks I've bought that I don't like and I'd hate to add a third, hence me thinking about buying something I know I'd like.

Cheers
K

[John Edmo]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

The 3D pro works well for flying in BF2.

[davelisowski]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Yeah, after reading some other threads, I'm planning on buying an Extreme 3D Pro.

I think BF2 was just a cover for a conspiracy to boost the struggling joystick industry :p.

[[2bit]Modmaven]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

I use the Extreme 3d Pro, and have no problems. Very comfortable, and nice feel.

[machstem]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Hey all

Is it just me or is it impossible to find a decent joystick nowadays? I used to have a Microsoft Sidewinder thingy and thought it was great. It died a while ago though so I went out and bought a Ligitech Cordless Freedom one. No cable which was great but the stick itself was crap, plasticky and there was always a bit of lag between moving it and anything actually happening.

So, I decided to treat myself and, after lots of research, bought a Saitek Cyborg Evo. It's ok but I still don't think it's very good.

My biggest gripe is that, as you move the joystick to bank or whatever, there should be more resistance the further you bank, adding more "feel". However, these two joysticks feel more like you're holding a spoon vertically in a bowl of water, there's just no resistance. In addition, the Saitek takes a bit of force to move it from the vertical then that force mahgically disappears so you have to use force to move it from the "dead zone" then there's no resiatance at all so I tend to bank a lot more than I'd expect.

Is it just me being useless? Anyone have any suggestions? It's got to a point where I just don't bother flying as I don't enjoy it.

Well, I can't understand what you have against the Saitek Cyborg Evo. Other than its extreme light weight (mine is affixed to my desk by dual-velcro strips; some on the joystick and some on the desk) this joystick rocks. I had a Logitech before, and it was a POS. It would always lose its calibration, and just didn't feel right.

The Saitek is a great addition to my geek PC arsenal. Once I'm in a heli/jet with this joystick, I can sit back and relax...well, not really, but it truly is a great joystick.

PEACE

[davelisowski]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

Found this after trying to get the Extreme 3D Pro on eBay... half price for a refurbished joystick.

[BeerStein]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

So what you want is a force feedback joystick - I have not seen those in years. I love my Logitech Forcefeedback - gave me many years of great service.

Months ago the motors finally started giving out on me and I was on the hunt for a new stick.

Simply the best stick out there hands down is the Saitek X-52 flight system. It is pricey - but worth every friggen penny...and then some.

The amount of precise control, macros, options, feel, everything is perfect. If it only had force feedback it would be even better - but I have learned to live without it with this stick.

Invest the money - you will thank yourself over and over and over for purchasing the best one out there. I was able to get mine through a sale on Circuit City.com for under $70 including overnight shipping back when I bought mine.

[JonnyMacFred102]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

I use the extreme 3d pro stick and it's great. It's stiff, but it has smooth movements and feels comfortable in your hand.

[sarb]

Re: Finding a decent joystick

3d pro is great. mainly because of the twist handle,