Joystick

[Walsingham]

I'm thinking of uying a joystick to better enjoy X2 the threat, because I can't very well dogfight using a trackball. Can anyone recommend a good one that won't destroy my bank balance? I can go up to 50 quid without screaming.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

You should be able to pick up a decent one for that kinda money, something by saitek will probably have both enough buttons and features to keep you happy for months.

[@\NightandtheShape/@]

Saitek X52 is pricey at

[metadigital]

The more expensive ones are the metal ones used for real-effect flight simulation (can't remember the name of it), which costs upwards of

[jaguars4ever]

Ah, I have fond memories of one state of the art Logitech Wingman I had back in the day of Tie Fighter, X-Wing and Wing Commander.

 

Alas, good space-sims are few and far between these days.

[Walsingham]

Heh, I remember the Wingman.

 

In actual fact i used to play TIE fighter using a touchpad. I got really mad about how hard it was to hit anything, until someone pointed out that nothing was hitting me. If you really really don't want to get hit, accept no substitutes.

 

Think I'll try that Saitek.

[Humanoid]

The die-cast one was the Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar, based on the F-16 stick. It was designed to be modular as well, with plans for additional replica sticks, first one being for the F/A-18, but nothing ever came of it. There was a touch of irony about it, being that some people would complain about it not being made out of the same die-cast metal as the F-16 stick - but then, neither is the one in the plane....

 

In terms of general usability and comfort though, I prefer the shape of the old Thrustmaster FCS, simple 4-button + hat design. I think it's supposed to be a reproduction of the F-4 stick.

 

For space sims, I preferred the CH brand controllers, which had almost no tension at all to the point of being limp. They didn't feel right for conventional sims though. And the sticks were so big, it seemed like a gorilla would be comfortable using it...

[metadigital]

The die-cast one was the Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar, based on the F-16 stick.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That's the one!

[Walsingham]

I'm thinking of getting thisthis baby, since I only need it for the occasional game of X2 (thinking of getting more space sims after this).

 

I'm worried, tho that there could be problems using it wireless. Any thoughts? Should I stick with cables? My keyboard and mouse are wireless so I can work from the couch.

[metadigital]

I'm not a fan of WL game control, but there is no reason not to

[astr0creep]

I'm thinking of getting thisthis baby, since I only need it for the occasional game of X2 (thinking of getting more space sims after this).

 

I'm worried, tho that there could be problems using it wireless. Any thoughts? Should I stick with cables? My keyboard and mouse are wireless so I can work from the couch.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Cordless heh...

 

Aside from the price and availability, I 'm hesitating from buying one of dem shiny new consoles because the controllers are cordless.

I've bought wireless PS2 controllers in the past(2.4Mhz Madcatz and some other, with or without vibration) and even brand new ones with brand new batteries would lose the connection every few seconds, rendering them unusable, at 30$ a pop.

As for PC cordless controllers, I really don't trust them to play games. What if you lose the connection or the batteries die?

[metadigital]

As for PC cordless controllers, I really don't trust them to play games. What if you lose the connection or the batteries die?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now you know that only happens when the player is about to beat the final boss, make the high score or achieve a personal best.

[astr0creep]

As for PC cordless controllers, I really don't trust them to play games. What if you lose the connection or the batteries die?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now you know that only happens when the player is about to beat the final boss, make the high score or achieve a personal best.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Exactly! :'(

[Walsingham]

Hmmm... I concur. Cables it is. Tis cheaper, anyway.

[Walsingham]

Update: I decided to go with the Saitek Cyborg after all. Why?Because it has a blue LED on the top, and I find blue LEDs soothing.

[metadigital]

Colour blind (men, it's an X-chromosome-thing) cannot tell the difference between green and red, so blue should be the "on" colour for electronic status, anyway. Plus blue is teH c00l.

[alanschu]

I have the Saitek Cyborg as well, and I really like it.

 

Show down many a plane in the Battlefield games with it. I've been thinking on picking up some sort of Combat Flight Sim with a dynamic campaign to really give it the go to, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

[Gorgon]

It's so sad how so few games are made with joysticks in mind :C

 

Nothing beats a joystick for arcade mele/ ****pit action.

 

Also, the filter is a joke.

Edited January 19, 2007 by Gorgon

[metadigital]

I would just like to say that Jimmy's new avatar r0xxz0rz!!11

 

And there is nothing wrong with the filter: I can quote Philip K. Dιck and androids in cοckpits all day ... "

[Walsingham]

I can really say that while the combat is probably better in other games NOTHING compares with X2 for flying around zapping stuff fun. Because of the whole free galaxy aspect you can quite literally do anything from be a bounty hunter to a courier, to become a tycoon and finance your own wars.

 

Plus you get a lot of different ships with a wide range of ammo loads and...

 

OK I need to calm down.

 

As a final point X2 is now out in the classic games bin for a fiver.

[Rosbjerg]

hey Walsh have you tried X3? I borrowed it from a friend to see if my computer could run it, but alas it could not.. and I'm really interested in the whole trade/build galactic trade empire thing..

 

is X2 as good as the sequel (minus the graphics) ?

[metadigital]

I can really say that while the combat is probably better in other games NOTHING compares with X2 for flying around zapping stuff fun. Because of the whole free galaxy aspect you can quite literally do anything from be a bounty hunter to a courier, to become a tycoon and finance your own wars.

 

Plus you get a lot of different ships with a wide range of ammo loads and...

 

OK I need to calm down.

 

As a final point X2 is now out in the classic games bin for a  fiver.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sounds a lot like Space Rangers 2 ... which also has Infocom-type text adventures as well as mech RTS minigames ... "

[Sand]

I need a good solid joystick for X3.

[alanschu]

I have played the demo briefly for X3, but I couldn't really get into it. I'll give it another try later though.

[Walsingham]

I haven't tried X3. So long as I'm enjoying the simpler version I will stick with that. Besides I have to get through NWN2 before I start buying other stuff!

 

I think the thing I like best about X2 is that it can be played as so many things. I can sit in a space station running my trade empire. I can sit in a carrier (OK it takes a while to save up and buy one), and run a war. I can act liek a taxi driver. I can jump in a fighter and bally well charge into the foe, shouting things like "I'm going to make the skies safe for mumsy and daddy and Buckingham. Hurrah!" I can even start a pirate kingdom and start my own private wars with the mainstream empires.

 

*happy sigh*

 

The Saitek cyborg is, incidentally, just awesome. I didn't realise, but it has all these buttons on it, and you can map them to keyboard and mouse commands, which greatly improves playing something like X2. For example, I have your regular fire weapons, change weapons, tactical map on the joystick. But I also have my trading screens, message board, and universe map on there as well. Allowing me to check the market prices while I execute long banking turns in my destroyer.

 

Speaking of destroyers it is worth mentioning the capital ship combat. There is a fair variety of different ships, and a large variety of weapon loadouts suitable for different prey. But fighting with a capital ship requires real finesse. You can't expect to take on serious opponents with simply a winning smile. You need to learn all the overlapping patterns of fire on your vessel and maximise these in conjunction with the rights instructions to each bloody turret, and I'm tod you can hire gun crews as well. Serious brainache combined with righteous fury. My biggest problem is that I'm not used to flying such a big ship as my new destroyer and keep ramming things accidentally.