Cougar HOTAS

[Revvin]

I will whine about TM pots wherever I can, because I have a right to

And you also have the right to make a right prat of yourself which you've used to some success over on the other msg boards LOL you just gotta love the whole freedom of speech declaration...the last defense of a compulsive whining flamer. You did'nt want to listen to the guys who have first hand knowledge of the Cougar, you don't want to listen the pots are of a better quality than the last ones, you don't want to listen that they've been using these pots for over a year with no spiking, you don't wantto listen to the fact that the Cougar software can filter inputs from the stick as part of its programmability you just want to whine and squeak...well I won't waste anymore time so go cry me a river.

Samm> What proof have you of a 500% markup? do you have access to figures? how do you know how much TM are making on this stick? As for hurting the community by paying such  prices LOL! If you really believe that then I'm sorry you are delusional. TM are taking a big risk by making this stick, to create a high end controller when the sim market is hardly in a healthy state. This might just breathe some life into the market. Take a look at what options you have..the Saitek range are cheap and they look and feel the same way. The Microsoft range look like childs toys and feel like them, god knows why I bought a MS FF2 that really was one of my poorer decisions. That leaves CH who have not changed much about their sticks for years, smae levels of programmability, the same look and feel the only thing to change is a USB interface. This might just spark the competition into life and you'll be damn sure they will be watching how TM fare with this new stick before they try anything as bold. As for never producing a quality stick...where have you been? the PFCS/WCSII and F16 FLCS/TQS setups are both top of my best ever joysticks list.

I don't know where you guys have seen adverts, all I've seen are the odd E3 mention and then the Cougar World site went live about a month ago, hardly on par with something like the hype over the Xbox.

I don't know why you guys feel the need to get so bent out of shape, don't like it? don't buy it its simple but if you feel the need to rain on someone else's parade then perhaps there is something missing in your life.

[GtoRA2]

I post to a web board as part of my job, and let me tell you, people can be so unreasonable.

Just cause you have a problem does not mean everyone does, but people always make that assumption

Samm What TM products have you owned?

The F16 FLCS was awesome, and I would still be using it if I hadn't broken the keyboard connector (my fault not the sticks)

The F22 is one of the best if not the best joystick out there, CH stuff looks goofy and you can blow on them and move the handle. MS stuff? Not a chance! Saitek? cheesy feel and looks like it came right out of a tie fighter!

It all comes down to this, you don't like it, fine, you had a bad experience in the past with a TM stick, so sorry, don't spend the money on another one, but do not think cause you had a bad time with them that they suck or all there products do, Maybe it was just you.

[AKDejaVu]

Originally posted by Smut


I disagree. My several year old F-22/TQS/RCS combo works like a champ. I have an identical set in storage that used to be in my office. The home set is digital, the office set is not.

The only TM stick I had troubles with was my old FCS Pro, which had issues with the pots. That was over ten years ago however. Not all pots are created equal BTW...

At my last job, I was the POC between our team and the various hardware companies. In fact, I was flown out to Microsoft at their expense to provide developer feedback on a proposed game hardware item (sorry can't say what). I got all the latest toys, from all the companies...TM, Microsoft, Logitech, Satiek, and others. Five years worth of sticks...I had shelves full of them, literally.

I tested them all, and always came back to my TM setup.

-Smut

Well said smut.

AKDejaVu

[Samm]

The TM stuff I had spiked like a suncom, but cost much more that's why I took it back . Except the pedals like I said, I still use them . If you can tolerate spiking and drifting, turning up deadbands and recalibrating fine, I can't and don't have to .

A lot of you keep coming back to look and feel, "it's made out of metal" etc. I could give a rats bellybutton about that. If it spikes or drifts at all it's going back . Thats my pov .

 If it was the only durable, progammable, hotas stick that didn't spike or drift (giving it the benefit of the doubt), then I would consider shelling out $250 . But it's not .


 

[GtoRA2]

Samm
 Your assuming cause you had a bad experience that everything they produce sucks, its not the case.

my 5 year old F22 with 4 year old pots never spikes. nor do my 6 your old TM rudder pedals

I can understand not wanting to spend the money if you had problems but they where your problems not everyone's, Every company has a lemon every once in a while TM fixed the only problem I had very fast.

I can't say the same about ford, but I don't go bashing them saying everything they made or make or ever will make is crap.

[Samm]

Originally posted by GtoRA2


I can't say the same about ford, but I don't go bashing them saying everything they made or make or ever will make is crap.

Are you insinuating that this is what I'm doing ? I have been using TM pedals for 3 years, they are the best available. They have allways spiked, but they are pedals so it doesn't matter . I'm advising people in hopes that they don't get ripped off, i.e. make sure you can get your money back if you don't like it . And as for what I prefer to spend my money on . I would get rid of my tv and mobile phone before my js . Would that not truely suck to have paid $270 for a stick only to find out that it is unremarkable and you can not get your money back ? My personal experience with almost every js I've ever owned has been bad, and I'm sorry but I'm not going to omit the fact that two were TM . I like to think that I am part of an online community that looks out for eachother better than any other online game community .
Don't be suckers .

[Hristo]

270$ is not the issue for me. Although it might, it is a monthly salary in this part of the world .

But as Cougar has pots, I'll keep my salary.

[Zeb]

Originally posted by Samm


I'm advising people in hopes that they don't get ripped off, i.e. make sure you can get your money back if you don't like it . And as for what I prefer to spend my money on . I like to think that I am part of an online community that looks out for each other better than any other online game community .
Don't be suckers .

I don't think anyone is going to get suckered.  For a start the first batch of Cougars that are destined for various parts are already spoken for with pre-orders.  In fact the pre-orders have overtaken the availabilty which is why distribution has been delayed a few weeks.  If the stick is the lemon you are expecting, then believe me the boards will be overflowing with comments to that effect.  I would expect that anyone who spends that kind of money on a piece of equipment like that will already be enough of a flight sim enthusiast to research the thing as deeply as I have.  

I have had one TM setup before, many years ago.  I disliked it for various reasons, the main one being quality.  That doesn't mean that this product will be bad.  Give them a break!

Zeb

[Samm]

Originally posted by Zeb

I don't think anyone is going to get suckered.

I hope you're right.

 That doesn't mean that this product will be bad.  Give them a break!

Zeb [/B]

I hope you're not trying to imply that I have been saying that this product WILL be bad, because I haven't .

[Samm]

Originally posted by Zeb

 I would expect that anyone who spends that kind of money on a piece of equipment like that will already be enough of a flight sim enthusiast to research the thing as deeply as I have.  
 

What better way to research it than taking it home and trying it for a few days on your system, then if you don't like it take it back and get your money back . Provided you bought it at a place were you can take it back for a FULL REFUND for ANY REASON .

[Zeb]

Originally posted by Samm


What better way to research it than taking it home and trying it for a few days on your system, then if you don't like it take it back and get your money back . Provided you bought it at a place were you can take it back for a FULL REFUND for ANY REASON .

Not many places here in the UK will take a product back just because you don't get on with it unfortunately.  There are exceptions, but not many.  One of our biggest PC equipment suppliers is PC World.  They are the worlds worst for taking stuff back, even when it's faulty.  I would expect some of the reputable specialist dealers over here like RC SImulations will come to some arrangement.

[Zeb]

Originally posted by Samm
I hope you're not trying to imply that I have been saying that this product WILL be bad, because I haven't .

I was getting the impression that you had doubts about the quality of any joystick made by TM.  Until now I may have agreed with you.

[Samm]

Sorry to hear that Zeb
Based on my experiences with TM I do have my doubts .

[Wlfgng]

6 yr old TM stick/pedals.. still woikin'

[Reschke]

Well I pre-ordered on the basis of past experience with TM gear (particularly HOTAS products) and the very positive experience that I have had with them. I am spending my $249+shipping for that reason only. I have a F-16 FLCS, TQS and RCS that I bought second hand two years ago now. I did have an F-16 FLCS, F-22 Pro and TQS but I sold them to another guy when I moved from back to Alabama in 1998 and I had the FLCS since it was first on the market.

The one I use now has been hosed twice both due to MS and I now have it fixed under WinXP. The other time was when I was beta testing DX8 beta and that was resolved inside of a week also. Plus I had the place where the pot in the TQS sat break a few weeks ago. I fixed that with some superglue and a screwdriver.

As for Potentiometers (pots) I have never had an issue with them and have used the digital upgrade chips for the F-22 in the past. I even really wanted to give it up and try the TM Afterburner HOTAS but the feeling was just crappy to me. It felt too much like a cheap CompUSA joystick that you can get for about $9. I have even used/tried to use CH gear and Saitek but they did not hold up at all under even moderate usage. Lastly I will never use a MS stick setup after I bought the first version of the Force Feedback one after I used the first Saitek I broke inside of a month.

So after years of quality Thrustmaster flight sim gear I will be buying new once again. So if anyone wants to buy a used F-16 FLCS, TQS I will entertain offers for them.