Poll: The Joy of Joysticks.

[Chairman Miaow]

So I just got myself one of these Beautiful devices but I'm
lacking games to play with it. I plan on using it for some
mechwarrior, and I'm looking into spave sims like X3:terran
conflict, but I've never really gotten into this genre before.
Any recommendations will be appreciate, whether they be
space sims, flight sims, or even farming sims, as long as I will
get some more use out of this lovely little thing.
To add a bit of discussion value, HOTAS, Twisty stick,
controller or just a mouse and keyboard?
What model do you use?​

EDIT: For those not in the know HOTAS stands for Hands On Throttle And Stick, like what I have up top there.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I love flight sticks, and I wish more games that were suited to them were still being released.

Spoiler: I've got one of these babies sitting on my shelf and collecting dust, waiting for the day I once again have a game worthy of it:

As for the poll: right controller for the right job. Flight sticks for flight (and giant robot ) sims, mouse and keyboard for FPS, RTS, and MOBA, and game pad for things like fighting, driving, and action-adventure games. I know that racing wheels are better for driving games, and a lot of people prefer arcade sticks for fighters (personally I prefer a controller with a good D-Pad, although a bad D-Pad is just about useless), but if I could only have two dedicated game controllers (not counting mouse and keyboard) it would be a flight stick and a gamepad, since they cover pretty much everything you need a dedicated controller for between them. If it was just one, it'd have to be a gamepad. Not because it's the best at everything, but because it's the most versatile.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

I love flight sticks, and I wish more games that were suited to them were still being released.

Spoiler: I've got one of these babies sitting on my shelf and collecting dust, waiting for the day I once again have a game worthy of it:

As for the poll: right controller for the right job. Flight sticks for flight (and giant robot ) sims, mouse and keyboard for FPS, RTS, and MOBA, and game pad for things like fighting, driving, and action-adventure games. I know that racing wheels are better for driving games, and a lot of people prefer arcade sticks for fighters (personally I prefer a controller with a good D-Pad, although a bad D-Pad is just about useless), but if I could only have two dedicated game controllers (not counting mouse and keyboard) it would be a flight stick and a gamepad, since they cover pretty much everything you need a dedicated controller for between them. If it was just one, it'd have to be a gamepad. Not because it's the best at everything, but because it's the most versatile.

I'm glad I'm not the only wierdo who prefers to use his D-pad for fighting games. A friend of mine tried to convince me of the merits of his arcade stick (Ooh-err) but I just wasn't convinced. I suppose what you say about the right tool for the job is true as well, I don't know why it didn't occur to me. I think I would probably choose a mouse and keyboard if I could only live with one, because I couldn't live without RTS's, and I would sooner die than try play one on a controller, or worse still, a flight stick.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I love flight sticks, and I wish more games that were suited to them were still being released.

Spoiler: I've got one of these babies sitting on my shelf and collecting dust, waiting for the day I once again have a game worthy of it:

As for the poll: right controller for the right job. Flight sticks for flight (and giant robot ) sims, mouse and keyboard for FPS, RTS, and MOBA, and game pad for things like fighting, driving, and action-adventure games. I know that racing wheels are better for driving games, and a lot of people prefer arcade sticks for fighters (personally I prefer a controller with a good D-Pad, although a bad D-Pad is just about useless), but if I could only have two dedicated game controllers (not counting mouse and keyboard) it would be a flight stick and a gamepad, since they cover pretty much everything you need a dedicated controller for between them. If it was just one, it'd have to be a gamepad. Not because it's the best at everything, but because it's the most versatile.

I'm glad I'm not the only wierdo who prefers to use his D-pad for fighting games. A friend of mine tried to convince me of the merits of his arcade stick (Ooh-err) but I just wasn't convinced. I suppose what you say about the right tool for the job is true as well, I don't know why it didn't occur to me. I think I would probably choose a mouse and keyboard if I could only live with one, because I couldn't live without RTS's, and I would sooner die than try play one on a controller, or worse still, a flight stick.

Very true, but I was working under the assumption that if you have a PC to use it with, you have a mouse and keyboard, effectively putting it out of the running on that specific question. I was thinking additional add on hardware or a general purpose input device for dedicated gaming hardware (read: consoles). I definitely wouldn't give up my mouse and keyboard for a gamepad XD

 

[Luftwaffles]

Freespace 2
Il2 1946 or CloD
Take-On Helis
Microsift flight

Now get yourself a headtracker and drool at the things you will never get to do irl =/

 

[skywolfblue]

I've never had a full HOTAS setup. Back when I was playing Falcon4 (1998-2000 era) I looked for some but all the non-shoddy ones were over $150+, way outa my price range. I did get a twisty joystick with a throttle at the base, but after 2 years I broke it.

It's an amazing setup for flight/space sims but ~really~ abysmal for everything else.

I'm not sure what to put for the poll. Joysticks are fun for flight sims. Console controllers are nice and simple for a game you want to pick up and get into without a lot of advanced controls. Keyboards allow for a lot of flexibility. I like each in their own way.

 

[King of Asgaard]

I'm a PS3 guy myself.
I've had a controller, specifically Sony, in my hands since I was four years old.
In fact, I'm uncomfortable using mouse and keyboard when playing on my PC.

 

[MeChaNiZ3D]

PS3 all the way, but only because I'm used to it, the only other one on there I've used a fair bit is of course keyboard and mouse, which would be fine if it weren't for my wrist after a while. Cheetos are great though, what other controller lets you use every single finger at the same time for a practical purpose? That's what I thought.

 

[Nalgas D. Lemur]

As for the poll: right controller for the right job. Flight sticks for flight (and giant robot ) sims, mouse and keyboard for FPS, RTS, and MOBA, and game pad for things like fighting, driving, and action-adventure games. I know that racing wheels are better for driving games, and a lot of people prefer arcade sticks for fighters (personally I prefer a controller with a good D-Pad, although a bad D-Pad is just about useless), but if I could only have two dedicated game controllers (not counting mouse and keyboard) it would be a flight stick and a gamepad, since they cover pretty much everything you need a dedicated controller for between them. If it was just one, it'd have to be a gamepad. Not because it's the best at everything, but because it's the most versatile.

This is almost exactly how I feel (and why I only have a keyboard, mouse and gamepad at the moment). I totally want to steal my friend's four-player MAME cabinet he built though, with arcade-quality sticks and buttons for each player. I forget, but I think there might even be a single trackball in the middle too. If you're going to be playing old games that were designed to be played that way (or new games made in that style, because you can throw normal PC games on there too), that's how they deserve to be played.

 

[EHKOS]

I voted other because I like the PS2 controller better than the PS3. Simply because of those fucking annoying R/L 2 buttons.

 

[Clive Howlitzer]

I use many different game controllers. I have mouse and keyboard for the majority of my games. I have a Mad Catz Fight Stick for my fighting games. I have a Ps2 controller for most of my console games and PC games that are lame ports.
I also have a joystick for flight sims.

 

[hazabaza1]

Never got into flight sims so sadly, I have no joystick joy to share.

But generally for control? If I need precision aiming (shooters, RTS, all that good stuff) or a fuck ton of buttons (mainly MMOs) I'll go for Keyboard+mouse. Anything else, I'll use a controller.
I've been enjoying the PS3 controller with these little trigger clip on things that remove the "marshmallow trigger" effect.

 

[Rems]

So I just got myself one of these Beautiful devices but I'm
lacking games to play with it. I plan on using it for some
mechwarrior, and I'm looking into spave sims like X3:terran
conflict, but I've never really gotten into this genre before.
Any recommendations will be appreciate, whether they be
space sims, flight sims, or even farming sims, as long as I will
get some more use out of this lovely little thing.
​

Freespace 2

X3 Terran Conflict

Two fantastic space sims that makae full use of a joystick. Freespace is a fighter pilot type game whereas X3 has that but is more of a sandbox game. It has a living universe with a running economy for you to inhabit. You can trade, dogfight, pilot a giant capital ship, mine, manufacture do missions (story or side quests) and explore. Freespace is a series of missions.

A joystick is also great for Mechwarrior. Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries (arguably the best, and the latest) is available for free. Not only are there all the missions and such to do but multiplayer is still going strong.

There's also the new Mechwarrior MMO however.

A joystick is also useful in Planetside 2, another new fps mmo based on mass combat. You can spend all your time in the air if you like.​

 

[The_Echo]

I can do the mouse-and-keyboard thing just fine, and I have absolutely no problems with it.

However, having grown up on PlayStation, I can't help but be inclined to the PS controller. If I have the option to use my PS3 controller with a PC game, you can bet your ass I'm going to take it.

 

[Chairman Miaow]

So I just got myself one of these Beautiful devices but I'm
lacking games to play with it. I plan on using it for some
mechwarrior, and I'm looking into spave sims like X3:terran
conflict, but I've never really gotten into this genre before.
Any recommendations will be appreciate, whether they be
space sims, flight sims, or even farming sims, as long as I will
get some more use out of this lovely little thing.
​

Freespace 2

X3 Terran Conflict

Two fantastic space sims that makae full use of a joystick. Freespace is a fighter pilot type game whereas X3 has that but is more of a sandbox game. It has a living universe with a running economy for you to inhabit. You can trade, dogfight, pilot a giant capital ship, mine, manufacture do missions (story or side quests) and explore. Freespace is a series of missions.

A joystick is also great for Mechwarrior. Mechwarrior 4 Mercenaries (arguably the best, and the latest) is available for free. Not only are there all the missions and such to do but multiplayer is still going strong.

There's also the new Mechwarrior MMO however.

A joystick is also useful in Planetside 2, another new fps mmo based on mass combat. You can spend all your time in the air if you like.​

The Mechwarrior MMO? The only up-and-coming MW games I'm aware of are Mechwarrior Online, and Mechwarrior Tactics neither of which are MMO's as far as I'm aware.

Thanks for the advice regarding Freespace/X3 I may get Freespace first as I would like to have a game I can jump in/jump out of without committing too much time to it at once.

I did already look back at the older mechwarrior games, and I looked at MW2, a game I remembered distinctly in my head as being absolutely amazing to look at, and then found out it looked like this...
Makes you realise what a powerful force nostalgia is...​

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

If Squadron 42/Star Citizen turns out half as good as the promises about it, I might retire my old Logitech 3D Pro and get a Saitek X52 HOTAS... or if I've got the cash, go completely batshit and get the Saitek ProFlight set up - yoke, throttle box, rudder pedals, MPD, radio and trim wheel.

 

[Private Custard]

That's the exact same stick I have. I use it primarily for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. It's perfectly happy flinging around an F-16 or Spitfire, as well as lugging around the heavies such as the PMDG 747 or 737 NGX.

If you decide to get into FSX, be warned, a rig that you're happy with for general gaming (CoD, BF3 etc...), will probably be seriously underpowered for the sim. Overclock the shit out of your machine and get ready to spend a lot of time tweaking the config files.

End results can look something like these...

Spoiler: Some of my work

Also, just a warning. I was never into video editing before I started simming.....but it's become something of an addiction. If you have a creative mind, you may well end up getting sucked in!

Spoiler

 

[Shadowcreed]

I really hate playing with anything other than Mouse & Keyboard. The joysticks don't lay in your hands properly, feel so damn fiddely and generally have multiple actions bound to 1 key. Not to mention the trigger holding 24/7. I don't want to cramp up my fingers just to play a game.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I really hate playing with anything other than Mouse & Keyboard. The joysticks don't lay in your hands properly, feel so damn fiddely and generally have multiple actions bound to 1 key. Not to mention the trigger holding 24/7. I don't want to cramp up my fingers just to play a game.

So I take it you've never used a flight stick before? Because those complaints apply to gamepads, but not flight sticks, which is what the thread is about. They basically replace the mouse with something better suited to sim mechanics. You still use the keyboard, although your basic functions (targeting, firing, throttle if your stick has it) will be mapped to the joystick as well as the keyboard. These things are as PC gaming master race as it gets, they blow away anything consoles have in terms of complexity, with the possible exception of that one mech sim on the original Xbox that had a special controller that cost $200 on its own.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Depends on the game really but I either go mouse and keyboard or ps3 controller. Never owned a joystick, although I've never played a game that required one either.