There is a utility that will make linux recognise your js Rabbit, for the life of me can't remember the name of it tho. Think its something like qbit maybe.
Found a work around for it also:-
after plugging in the joysticks, run "lsusb -v" - and afterwards, the joysticks start to work magically.
If your happy with installing drivers etc, also found this
http://atrey.karlin.mff.cuni.cz/~vojtech/joystick/If I remember the full name of the other one, I'll update further.
hth,
Wurzel