Author Topic: New To The Game (Read 1084 times)

ROXINATOR44 · « **on:** June 20, 2006, 06:14:41 PM »

Hi All,

Being new to the game, can anyone recommend a joystick brand?

Thanks

WOZ30BAT · « **Reply #1 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:01:29 PM »

It's really up to how much you want to spend. I use a Saitek ST290...costs about $20 @ Wal-Mart. A better stick with more functions is the Saitek X52, which has a separate throttle control & more hat switches...costs about $100.....top of the line is CH Products, which an entire set new will run >$300. So consider how much serious gameplay you do. If you are new to flight sims, probably going cheap is the way to go. Main thing is find a stick with multiple buttons, a throttle control, rudder control (twisty stick), & a hat switch ( for multiple views). Woz30Bat aka Sidious

ROXINATOR44 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:17:08 PM »

Thanks alot

Spatula · « **Reply #3 on:** June 20, 2006, 07:18:22 PM »

I would highly highly recomend a full HOTAS set up from CH. Pricy, but the quality makes it worth every cent due to not having to replace chewed-out sticks every 6 months.

Great customer support too.

http://www.chproducts.com

RTR · « **Reply #4 on:** June 20, 2006, 08:32:56 PM »

Reality check!

Before you spend untold 100's of $$. Or conversely, get a stick that will seriously limit you, here is what I would recommend.

Spend $30.00 on a Saitek EVO. It's a good basic stick with a twist grip for rudder control, an 8 way hat switch, and enough buttons to map to keep you off the keyboard for most things.

I flew with one for years, and feel okay recommending it.

Stay away from logitech sticks. They will give you nothing but grief. (past experience).

If you find that you become addicted (like the rest of us poor saps), that's the time to look at upgrading to the more expensive stick setups.

Just my humble $0.02

cheers,
RTR

Max · « **Reply #5 on:** June 20, 2006, 10:21:14 PM »

Ditto what RTR said except for one caveat...buy it with a replacement warranty from Best Buy or a "box" store near you. Evo's are notorious for worn "pots" which will cause you constant recalibration and nose bounce. The cost of the replacement policy is $10. If the stick is still working on the 364th day after you bought it, Best Buy will allow you a trade-in credit towards the X-52...a full HOTAS system. Can't go wrong there

RTR · « **Reply #6 on:** June 20, 2006, 10:24:56 PM »

Yep, good point Max. I was getting about 10 months to a year out of my evo's.

Still, best bang for your buck if you are on a budget.

cheers,
RTR

bozon · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2006, 01:54:41 AM »

What ever you do, don't buy logitec.
If you see a logitec wingman FF - run! run like a P51 and don't look back!

Bozon

Schatzi · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2006, 02:53:42 AM »

Welcome to Aces High, your new addiction

.

RTR s advice is very reasonable. Before spending hundreds of Dollars, be sure youre going to stay in the flight sim business for a while.

Saitek Evo is a good stick if youre looking for twisty rudder. A good rocker rudder stick is the Thustmaster Afterburner II or the Speedlink Black Widow.

What you prefer, rocker rudder or twisty is personal preference i guess, but the rocker makes for a bit finer control and you have less trouble with involutary input in the heat of the fight. Of course you can always go for pedals

.

No matter what stick you get, this is what you NEED it to have:

8-way hatswitch
throttle lever
rudder control (twisty or rocker)
a stable base
as many buttons as you can stand

I started out with a real real cheap Logitech (no rudder, just small throttle, very unstable). That got ditched after a few weeks in favour of the Speedlink Black Widow. I played with that one for over a year and was very happy. Never a lost calibration or a spike. I finally upgraded to Saitek X45 because of the button layout. Now all i need is enough money to get me some rudder pedals

.

If you dont mind spending around 100 USD, get a Saitek X52 or Saitek X45.

ROXINATOR44 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2006, 03:30:41 PM »

Really appreciate all the input. Know absolutely nothing about flying, but figured this is a lot safer. Going shopping.

ROXINATOR44 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2006, 04:59:47 PM »

When i first joined i was given a game ID consisting of 8 numbers. How do i change this to a name when logging online in the game.

SuperDud · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2006, 05:47:00 PM »

send email to support@hitechcreations.com

Tell them what you'd like your name to be.

ROXINATOR44 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 25, 2006, 08:54:37 AM »

Ok guys, i bought the Saitek X52.

Need some help in what controls to map from someone that has one.

Not understanding all the terms and how they translate to a specific function of the controller. Such as Aileron, what exactly am i mapping. Hat switches, yaw rudder, etc. What keys are used for what controller function.

Sorry for the grade school stuff, any help is appreciated.

Schatzi · « **Reply #13 on:** June 25, 2006, 09:24:49 AM »

Aileron - control surface on the outer wing, makes your plane ROLL around its longitudinal axis

Elevator - control surface at the tail, controls PITCH (ie up and down)

Rudder - also at the tail, controls YAW (ie rptates plane around the Z axis), use it to steer on the ground and in fight to help roll. More info on rudder SimHQ

Flaps - extra surface on the inner wing, adds lift but also a lot of drag. Very important in slow stallfights and for landing. Read more here

Combat trim - trims your plane level at all times. Very useful in most planes. I would fly with it enabled for the time being. You have enough else to worry about.

To map your stick, go to controller setup. Hit DEFAULT MAP.... this automatically assigns the analog input axis (ie stick movement, throttle lever and twisty). Stick left and right - roll, forward and back - pitch, twisty - rudder.

Im not sure if hatswitch gets mapped by default, youll have to check that. Just clicking a button on stick (or moving hatswitch) will highlight it on the list for you. Map the 8 views (forward, forward left, left, back left, back etc etc ) to the first hat. Dont forget to assign a button that you can hold at the same time as using the hat for your "look up" view (so you can combine them when in flight).

Views, fire button primary and fire secondary, flaps raise/lower and WEP (war emergency power) are essentials. Map those first. Then as you get used to it slowly add the rest of the buttons as you think you need them. Theres plenty buttons to map on that X52

.

If you drive vehicles, dont forget to map the mode 2 as well. Youll need to assign the x and y axis to Vehicle inputs, also need gear shift buttons etc etc..... If you check the "switch mode automatically" box, youll automatically use the second mode in GV.

How to set up your Joystick - by Hammer.

I hope this helps you. Keep asking if youre still unclear

.

gw327th · « **Reply #14 on:** June 25, 2006, 10:00:44 AM »

I have a Microsoft FF2 that I have had for 5 years now,been a good stick.But when we got that last patch it's a pice of junk now.