Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: thundabooge on April 03, 2008, 02:33:27 AM
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Im going to download AH2 tom. morning and I new to get a joystick. What would u recommend on buying??
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That depends on your budget, if you have the money, CH or X52pro with pedals.
If it's a budget you're on then the Saitek Aviator is a good place to start.
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Anything but Logitech. Known to be unreliable.
I doubt you wanna spend the money on top end gear especially if your just starting out. Top end being separate stick / separate throttle / separate rudder / key stroke pad and mini fridge :D
There are cheaper sticks that have most things built in which is ideal for a newcomer. So keep the following in mind when buying a stick. You need a twisty (rudder) stick with a minimum of 8 way hat (views) with a throttle and as many buttons as possible.
Make sure you read the Aces High HELP file. You actually need to tell the stick what it does when you come in game. It's just not a case of "plug in and go". So read up on stick configuration. It's easy to configure but will be frustrating if not aware of it. While your in the help files it wouldn't hurt to read all of it. Spend 30 min reading instead of waisting 3 days asking basic or technical questions. Make sure to read about and note some Key and Dot commands.
Good luck shopping and welcome aboard.....new target :aok
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make this a sticky...
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Saitek makes several reasonably priced starter sticks from the ST-290, Aviator, Cyborg, EVO.
All of which would work just fine. Price is going to start at around 20$ for the ST-290 and go up from there.
The minimum you need 3 axis control, Pitch, Roll, Yaw (rudder), plus Throttle, 8 way hat switch for views, and a few buttons.
This is bare minimum, so don't settle for less.
Or you can do some searching on ebay and come up with a bargain on old MS Sidewinder Joysticks.
Not being made anymore, but if you keep your eyes open you can probably find good ones that are USB for about 30$.
(Read carefully, there are sidewinders sold on ebay that have no rudder, or hat)
The best of the best is CH gear, but you pay for it.
If you can afford it, by all means go for it.
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I still use a Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox2Pro. Reliable cheapy.
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Saitek X52 is good setup, but I hear CH sticks are even better for about the same cost. 125-150 bucks. Saitek 290 at WalMart for 20.00 if you dont want to spend much.
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I use the Av8r and I will never buy the x52. Those things got too many buttons and stuff. Av8r is perfect for the average player. Oh, and if you get one that doesnt have rudder control, get pedals
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I concur with Logitek. I went through 2 of them, they wouldnt stay calibrated. I use and old MS Precision Pro II. Got it off Ebay for $30 years ago, still works like a charm. I would stay with a more economical joystick till you get used to the game. There is a pretty large learning curve and with added grief of getting the x52 to work, it might save you some frustration to stay with a simplier stick.
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I still use a Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox2Pro. Reliable cheapy.
Mine lasted 3 weeks. We're talking 5 years ago but "once bitten..."
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I still use a Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox2Pro. Reliable cheapy.
Same here...can't beat it for the price. :aok
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When I first started AHII, I bought an Saitek Av8r from Best Buy. Served me well for the price until the hat switch started getting funny. Well, by the time I was addicted and sprung for the whole CH setup stick, throttle and pedals. I have no problem recommending CH. If you like, you can plug it in and set it up inside AH with no problems. If you're a little more ambitious, the CH software lets you do a lot of cool things. I've got everything mapped to buttons on my stick and throttle. The only, repeat only, time I use my keyboard is to type radio text. I like that a lot. AH needs voice recognition software for radio text. I guess that would be wishlist material.
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First off thundabooge .... welcome.
I think if you've decided to join...and pay $150 a year...you may as well get a great stick. (you will find this game is addicting) I ordred the CH FIGHTERSTICK after some research here...as everyone seems to think they are the rolls royce of sticks.
I got the CH fighterstick for under $100 online....matter of fact...I think it was $85 on sale.....just don't install the software that comes with the stick....it's not needed.
as far as foot pedals...I don't think a newbie needs to deal with that right outta the gate....if you're like me...you'll spend three days just learing to take off....wait...I'm STILL learning...
(http://www.fspilotshop.com/images/ftrstick.jpg)
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The software is a plus though.
I used Saitek for years with a twisty. Decent sticks and cheap price. Good starter pricing. Once your addiction kicks in you can move to Ch.
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I used CH for years back in the mid 90s for desktop sims. The held up very well. Since starting AH about a year ago I got the x52 and rudders. Absolutely zero problems or complaints with either.
The advice about a cheap stick to start with is pretty good but I sorta disagree with not getting rudders quickly if you like the game. I believe that pedals add a tremendous amount to the game and relearning to use pedals is more difficult than just starting out with them. Ebay.....
Good luck and enjoy the game. The learnng curve is harsh but worth it. :rock
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TYSM ev1 for all the advice, uve been very helpful!! Ive think im going to go w/ the ST avaitor. Im on my way to pick it up now. Im an ol' skule gamer that needs some new crack(WOW is my 1st love, but getting a lil old at times)I tried AH abt a year ago on my old roommates comp and really had a blast! SO i should be up and running at abt noon CDT. If anyone has some free time arround then I should be in the TA working things out. So if u see an uber nubcake struggling in the TA, PLEASE feel free to hop in and give me some advice!! Im looking forward to seeing ev1 ingame!!!
Thundabooge
"You want the Thunda.... U GOT THE THUNDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
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I have the Saitek Aviator. The springs are a little stiff, but an easy modification is to put a plastic zip tie around two spring coils at the base. You can rotate the zip tie around to change the spring tension. I also have a Logitech Wingman 3D, but I prefer the Saitek. I have had no problems with either of these cheap sticks, but I fly very gently, so that may be part of it.
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First off thundabooge .... welcome.
as far as foot pedals...I don't think a newbie needs to deal with that right outta the gate....if you're like me...you'll spend three days just learing to take off....wait...I'm STILL learning...
(http://www.fspilotshop.com/images/ftrstick.jpg)
The CH Fighterstick is a twisty?
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ST290Pro
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First off thundabooge .... welcome.
I think if you've decided to join...and pay $150 a year...you may as well get a great stick. (you will find this game is addicting) I ordred the CH FIGHTERSTICK after some research here...as everyone seems to think they are the rolls royce of sticks.
I got the CH fighterstick for under $100 online....matter of fact...I think it was $85 on sale.....just don't install the software that comes with the stick....it's not needed.
as far as foot pedals...I don't think a newbie needs to deal with that right outta the gate....if you're like me...you'll spend three days just learing to take off....wait...I'm STILL learning...
(http://www.fspilotshop.com/images/ftrstick.jpg)
He will need rudder input. CH isn't a twisty stick so he'll need peds with it.
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I use the Av8r and I will never buy the x52. Those things got too many buttons and stuff. Av8r is perfect for the average player. Oh, and if you get one that doesnt have rudder control, get pedals
I would not dismiss all those buttons on a HOTAS set up. While it is personal preference, being able to access multiple functions in a fight without having to mess with the keyboard is the way to go for alot of people, n00b or vet.
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Saitek X52 is good setup, but I hear CH sticks are even better for about the same cost. 125-150 bucks.
You can get a X-52 for about $90. With a CH set up each piece will run you that. It is worth the money however.
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Saitek Cyborg stick. Have had mine for about a year and although I have to put a little soap(lubricant, wax etc) where the spring meets the spring cup to get it smooth, it feels as good as new. I don't use any fancy HAT switches or the throttle even, I stick to good old numpad(for views) and bind engine throttle to 100% power to one button and 0% power to another. I wouldn't recommend that as it has it's disadvantages, but I've gotten used to it. Now if you can afford it, I've heard good things about the x52 but if you want cheap can't beat $20 bucks.
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Ive got the CH Fighterstick and CH Pro pedals.Since I play alot its worth the cost,around 200$ for both,and Ive had em for well into 8 years now.The stick is top of the line with the throttle on the stick.Nothing like toe breaks on the rudders too.Good durable stuff for the money.
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Thrustmaster Cougar HOTAS..
(http://blogs.nbcuni.com/lastcall/borat.jpg)
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to this day i have not use pedals. i started with an ST 290 PRO and now use the AV8R from Saitek. i have thought about going to the X52 Pro but just have not yet set my mind to buying a 100 dollar stick. the AV8R runs about 50 bucks. i think cheaper on Ebay.
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Kilz, even if you've never had the opportunity to use them in a plane IRL, I cannot say enough about getting pedals.
Planes have them IRL for a very good reason, and the same thing applies in game. You get much finer control using pedals, and the proportional differential braking makes everything on the ground so much easier, plus if you presently have braking mapped to your stick, it frees up two more buttons for other things :aok
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I have to agree with SD67
I drug my feet about getting peds aswell, but Falcon23 just would not shut up about his.
so I bought some saitek peds..
it took me about a week to get used to them, and about a month before I got really proficient with them, you get used to a twisty stick and its hard to break the habit. but now I dont even think about what my feet are doing, they just do it..
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I immediately took to my pedals... it took no transaction time whatsoever, and I will never turn back.
However I do have just a bit of flying experience IRL (3 takeoffs, 2 landings, and a bunch of flying around in a Cessna 172), so I guess it was familiar in the first place.
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See if you can get a MS sidewinder on ebay. I still use a Forcefeedback at times. Great stick. My current stick is an x52pro. Sometimes I think the MS FF is better.