Best Joystick?

[-={Alpha}=-]

Hey,

Battlefield 2 was the first game out of the Battefield series that I played (I'm more of a CS player) so of course it took me a while to get used to flying planes.

At first I used my keyboard but this always ended disasterously, often as early as 10 seconds after take-off :p

This obviously didn't boost my confidence in my piloting skills any (lol), but I was determined to keep trying until I could fly porperly so I re-connected the Logitech Wingman Force 3D joystick that had been lying around in the corner for a while.

Now, while I find that just using this joystick I can already fly a lot better than I could with keyboard and mouse, I still crash regularly, often loose control (ie. flying off the map borders with no way of getting back) and, most important of all, I can hardly ever win a dogfight against an enemy jet.

Therefore, I've been looking for a better, proper joystick to fly with. I was going to get a Saitek Evo, but then I noticed the awesomely professional-looking Saitek X52. What joystick do you guys think is the best out there? Please don't suggest a cheaper one just because I'm a noobie flier - I plan to train, practice and work hard on my flying skills until they are at the level I would like them to be. This means I will need a joystick that I can use to learn to fly properly, yet it still needs to be able to support me well later on once I've mastered the art of flying - the main reason I am now leaning towards the Saitek X52.

All opinions are welcome, so please don't hesitate to post! :)

PS: Sorry about the length of my explanation :p

[-={Alpha}=-]

Re: Best Joystick?

Wow - I posted this thread 40 minutes ago and its already about to fall off the front page

Nobody out there willing to give me some advice? :)

[Inco]

Re: Best Joystick?

Possibly coz this subject has been discussed to death. Try using the search button!

[Mr. ADHD]

Re: Best Joystick? <-- Need Advice :)

1) Don't use anything with ForceFeedback
2) wireless....batteries blow
3) I have the evo and my flying improved immediately...however my flying improved dramatically when I got a better Vcard....flying helos with a higher FPS reduces over-correcting. I rarely lose control and if I do...it's easier to get it back.

Hey,

Battlefield 2 was the first game out of the Battefield series that I played (I'm more of a CS player) so of course it took me a while to get used to flying planes.

At first I used my keyboard but this always ended disasterously, often as early as 10 seconds after take-off :p

This obviously didn't boost my confidence in my piloting skills any (lol), but I was determined to keep trying until I could fly porperly so I re-connected the Logitech Wingman Force 3D joystick that had been lying around in the corner for a while.

Now, while I find that just using this joystick I can already fly a lot better than I could with keyboard and mouse, I still crash regularly, often loose control (ie. flying off the map borders with no way of getting back) and, most important of all, I can hardly ever win a dogfight against an enemy jet.

Therefore, I've been looking for a better, proper joystick to fly with. I was going to get a Saitek Evo, but then I noticed the awesomely professional-looking Saitek X52. What joystick do you guys think is the best out there? Please don't suggest a cheaper one just because I'm a noobie flier - I plan to train, practice and work hard on my flying skills until they are at the level I would like them to be. This means I will need a joystick that I can use to learn to fly properly, yet it still needs to be able to support me well later on once I've mastered the art of flying - the main reason I am now leaning towards the Saitek X52.

All opinions are welcome, so please don't hesitate to post! :)

PS: Sorry about the length of my explanation :p

[BeerStein]

Re: Best Joystick? <-- Need Advice :)

1) Don't use anything with ForceFeedback
2) wireless....batteries blow
3) I have the evo and my flying improved immediately...however my flying improved dramatically when I got a better Vcard....flying helos with a higher FPS reduces over-correcting. I rarely lose control and if I do...it's easier to get it back.

1 - disagree
2 - agree
3 - meh - no idea - never been a problem

Force feedback is awesome - I have a logitech Force - like 5 years old - and I LOVE IT. The feel you get while flying is very helpful. Also, if you configure it to 'auto-center' - where it forces the stick back to center if you are not active - it makes hovering CAKE.

Without force feedback it is very VERY easy to overcorrect when flying.

Keys for me are having the analog throttle roller, and the force feedback. Being able to roll my throttle for the jet or the collective in the helicopter makes a huge difference as well.

I am able to set how strong I want the forcefeedback to be as well - so if you don't like using it - turn it off. However, I am sure you will get to see the benefits of using it like I have over the 5 or so years of having mine.

I also find the force feedback to be a nice secondary warning of hits coming in that you don't hear. When I start taking secondary damage from some other source - other than say a chopper I am engaged in fighting - I can feel the damage - rather than just see the little indicator when I get focused on that one target. You can also feel when the tail bumps into something - which way to rotate/turn in order to get the tail out of danger.

[jayhigh]

Re: Best Joystick?

Ch Products Combatstick All The Way

[Eddy01741]

Re: Best Joystick?

The Cyborg EVO is cheap and great. i would get it too if i didn't have a joystick. I'm content with my 5 year old Microsoft Sidewinder Precision, it has twist handle, and throttle control. Anyways, here's my breakdown of needed things from a joystick:
Twist handle, you have to be able to turn the rudder easily.
Throttle control, then you don't just set it to 0% power, or 100% power
A sensitive enough joystick.
A button that is easy to use as your bomber button.
Lots of buttons to switch weapons, drop flares, afterburner etc.

Everything else is not needed. The EVO provides that all in a nice cheap price, plus, it comes with leds, so it lights up in the dark, it looks cool.

[SaladFork]

Re: Best Joystick?

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. I use it, my brother uses it, and all my friends use it. Cheap, powerful, and gets the job done.

Regarding the X52, I would recommend against buying a joystick with a seperate throttle unless you've used one in the past and are used to the system. Also, if you're only going to use the joystick for gaming, why go out and spend so much money on it?

~Salad

[Eddy01741]

Re: Best Joystick?

Yeah, i would just go with the cheapest one that you can find from a brand you know, that has twist handle, throttle control, and enough buttons, and buy it. If you really must know the best, like jayhigh said, CH products joysticks are really good, here's some links:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826169103

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826169106

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826169102

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826169105

The fighterstick is just like a real F-16 fighterstick. So it's great for combat flight sims, or games like BF2 (but if you're just getting a joystick so you can play on the BF series, don't get it) The pro throttle is extremely accurate and controls the throttle. The pedals are for the rudders, you press each one to turn left or right, just like real life. And a flight yoke, which is to be used with the pedals and throttle, but not the fighter stick. The yoke is strictly for non combat flight sims, because real aircraft actually use yokes instead of fightersticks.

[imported_Fusion]

Re: Best Joystick?

There isn't really a best joystick, it's all about preference and what you want/like - Personaly I love my Saitek Cyborg Evo - It feels great, looks great, has alot of buttons, nice throttle and it has nice lights on it too

[vbl]

Re: Best Joystick?

I love my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback II. I don't use FF, but the little electric motors inside supply the resistance (instead of springs) so they don't loosen up or wear out. I've had to re-solder a wire inside twice, but otherwise it's 4 years old and going strong.

[IVfluids]

Re: Best Joystick?

Your only gonna be 1337 if you use this.

[SmokeySnipe]

Re: Best Joystick?

hahah so true but my attack3 by logitechTM is the best i ve had it about 2 years now and it works like a dream also it lasted that long so it got to be good i got a satiek x52 and it blows dont ask me why it just dosent respond :S

[webwiper]

Re: Best Joystick?

Logitech Extreme 3D pro

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=12,CONTENTID=6954

Cheap, quality, does the job very well ...

[Iconix]

Re: Best Joystick?

I love my Wingman Extreme, Specially how the throttle is I can sit my thumb inside the groves and control it with nice ease and its on the side unlike most that are a switch style in the back.. mines like this setup but not force feed back

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/CA/EN,CRID=2221,CONTENTID=5016