I recently upgraded my OS to Windows 2000, and found that my old MS Precision Pro joystick is not compatible with this version of Windows. So, I need a new one.
Not being “up” on the various joysticks available these days, I’m not sure which ones are good quality and which are, well, crap. Primarily, I’m interested in a joystick for flight sim-type games (e.g., Descent: Freespace, various Jane’s combat flight sim titles, etc.). I don’t need anything with rudder pedals, but having lots of buttons, including a rudder control of some sort, as well as throttle control, is a plus.
So, any thoughts as to a good, reliable joystick? Is there an established “best” out there, or are they all pretty similar?
I have a Gravis Blackhawk joystick that I used to play Freespace with. It was cheap, and has four buttons, plus a throttle control. Works good. Of course, I’m not a gaming fanatic, so…
I had the same problem, Win2K doesn’t like joysticks running from a game port. I got a Saitek Platinum USB stick. The thing I like best about Saitek sticks is that they can be set up for left or right handed use.
I use a Logitech Wingman Digital USB, it has a trigger, 6 buttons, POV hat throttle slider and twist axis. I’m on my second one, as the twist axis pot went flaky on me on the first.
Nice stick though, and not expensive. I think I paid $35 for it. It comes with a 15-pin game port connector that attaches to a USB adaptor that works well. Works fine under 2K.
If you go with a logitech joystick, I’d recommend the Wingman Extreme Digital 3D. The “3D” part is a twist controller with rudder function - it can be extremely useful in flight sims.
They’re very reasonable in price, although one of the sensors on my joystick (the left twitch potentiometer sensor) started going haywire early. It’s still odd, but has stabalized. Otherwise, it’s been reliable. Oh, and they come with gameport to USB adapters, so you can go either way with them.
Why are you trying to run games under Windows 2000? It was not really meant for that purpose, and will be slower than the same machine running Win98 or XP Professional. It also, as you have seen, has spotty support for game hardware. All in all, Win2k and games are not the greatest combination.
Me neither. In fact, certain games that didn’t want to run very well under Win98SE ran much better under W2K. Of course, I’m not a hard core gamer, so YMMV.
If you don’t mind spending a few bucks, MS’s own Force Feedback 2 is a pretty good joystick. $100 good? Maybe if you play a lot of flight sim games.
There are several different feedback effects, many of which can get strong enough that it becomes very difficult to hold on to the stick. The power supply is in the base of the joystick, which makes it heavy, giving it stability. That also means that the plug won’t take up two and a half spaces on your power strip.
The other really neat feature this joystick has is that it knows when you’re holding it. I’m not sure where the sensor is, but it’s a pretty good one. If you just poke the stick around with your index finger, it won’t react, but if you put your hand around it, it tenses up, ready for action.