Author Topic: stick's (Read 2228 times)

kj714 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 13, 2004, 12:15:50 PM »

>The jury's still out though on it's durabillity.<

I go through one about every 3 months. At Best Buy the no questions asked 2 year warranty costs $8, so after your initial purchase, you just keep trading it in for $8 each time. I play about 60 - 80 hours a month, so that gives you some idea of the game play. I'm not real rough on them either, always seems to be the right side roll that goes out for some reason, gets spikey & and then there was the one that all the top buttons just went dead.

Whatever you do, DON'T even consider the cordless. You can't adjust it's battery save function and it kicks on after a couple of minutes with no use. So flying to a base, your stick goes dead, you get jumped, you grab for a roll and nothings there, cuz it tkes a couple of seconds for the stick to wake up. Your dead.

Steve · « **Reply #16 on:** February 13, 2004, 12:27:56 PM »

Wheeeeeeeee!!! Just like the plane, the stick doesn't make the kills.

Grimm · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2004, 12:31:35 PM »

GW,

IMHO it breaks down like this...

1) Thrustmaster Cougar is probably the most advanced stick out there. It has the most programability of all stick, but reliability has not been up to normal Thrustmaster standards. Still needs you to find Rudders Aprox $350 (without rudders)

2) CH Products Full Setup, Stick, throttle, rudders. Only slightly less programable than Thrustmaster. It has numerous functions and is extremly reliable. This is what I have Aprox $350 (all componets)

3) Saitek X45, Probably the Best bang for the Buck in sticks. Saitek is still very programable and has good reliability. It uses a butterfuly rocker on the throttle for Rudders, some like it, some find it a draw back. (can add CH rudders in desired) Aprox $80

There are also several other options, but those are probably the best. I hope that helps

gofaster · « **Reply #18 on:** February 13, 2004, 12:39:23 PM »

Don't forget - the CH pedals can be used for driving/racing games, too. I bought a USB MS Sidewinder steering wheel for $50 and use it with the USB CH Pro Pedals.

rabbidrabbit · « **Reply #19 on:** February 13, 2004, 02:31:33 PM »

FYI,

you can find the X45 for 39.95 at the Saitek website under the refurbished listings. May have a mark on it or not but comes with full warranty. Tough arguement to beat for under 50 bucks delivered.

Sway · « **Reply #20 on:** February 13, 2004, 02:32:58 PM »

Best Buy sell any good sticks?

gofaster · « **Reply #21 on:** February 13, 2004, 02:42:23 PM »

The Best Buy nearest me doesn't. Just the usual "We sell Microsoft and Logitech because they're cheap and mainstream."

Grimm · « **Reply #22 on:** February 13, 2004, 03:48:52 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sway
Best Buy sell any good sticks?

Last time I was at Best Buy in LaCrosse they had the X45 stuff on hand, but that was it for decent sticks.

jodgi · « **Reply #23 on:** February 13, 2004, 04:36:34 PM »

TM Cougar

I won't start to try to imress you, it does so all by itself.

If you just want a stick, get anything... If you want a STICK...

bj229r · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2004, 06:52:36 PM »

Saitek--not the X45 space shuttle control, but the Cyborg EVO--this is comparable to the MS sticks and the Logitech in price and features (twisty stick)--and takes LOTS more punishment than either. has 6 base buttons and 5 thumb fired buttons, + the trigger. And didnt Microsoft get out of the stick business? Havent seen one in any store in some time.

DAVENRINO · « **Reply #25 on:** February 13, 2004, 10:20:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Grimm
GW,

IMHO it breaks down like this...

1) Thrustmaster Cougar is probably the most advanced stick out there. It has the most programability of all stick, but reliability has not been up to normal Thrustmaster standards. Still needs you to find Rudders Aprox $350 (without rudders)

Actually,
Cougar sounds like it is still right up to TM standards. Sent my TM F22 stick back three times and it never did work right. I threw it in the garbaage.

CH USB HOTAS all the way!

DJ229 - AIR MAFIA

Gwjr2 · « **Reply #26 on:** February 14, 2004, 12:34:05 AM »

Logitech® Extreme™ 3D Pro

This has got to be the bigest POS Ive ever had loses cal, already the POTs are getting jiggy and have only had it now for 2 months with light use stay away from this stick!!!!!!

Xjazz · « **Reply #27 on:** February 14, 2004, 01:51:40 AM »

Saitek X36usb is very good stick but its hard to find anymore. X36 have better gimbal system than X45.

CH Products: best quality out of the box

TM Cougar: maybe best hotas billet out of the box. Spend 200-300€ more and it maybe start working as it should...

Revvin · « **Reply #28 on:** February 14, 2004, 03:58:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Grimm
CH Products Full Setup, Stick, throttle, rudders. Only slightly less programable than Thrustmaster.

As a former Cougar user and now a user of CH Products I feel that this is a myth that needs expelling. CMS scripting has enabled the CH HOTAS to compete with the Cougar's programmability and don't just take my word for it, the well respected sim site Frugal's World said in his CH review:

"CMS gives you an incredible amount of flexibility, in fact it will allow the CH gear to do things that other sticks can only dream of and makes the CH Hotas overall the most flexible and programmable Hotas available"

Bob Church has done wonders with the Control Manager software for CH, he's brought all his know-how from his years workign with Thrustmaster and put it into Control Manager.

Connection · « **Reply #29 on:** February 15, 2004, 11:55:23 AM »

I also gotta go with CH. Oozes quality and reliability. Only downside is how limp the stick and throttle are - very little resistance.

The X36 is suprisingly good in my experience. Owned one set for two years and it never gave me problems - other than crappy software and drivers for XP. But the hardware was, in my case, very good. Before I replaced it, it still worked like new.

I have never owned a Cougar, but they LOOK extremely cool. But unless you replace the potentiometers right away, prepare to do routine manteinance, or else it will just be a cool piece of decoration. To me getting a Cougar was not worth the price and hassle.