reccomended pad/joystick

[ryuu]

So, I have returned to EM after a long time of not playing, and my control stick has long gone missing, does anyone have any suggestions for a replacement?

[SeeJay]

Hi and welcome back.

I use the X52 Stick/Throttle system and it works great.
It's also available fairly cheap. around 90-100 euro.

[Nigel_Strange]

"Fairly cheap" is strangely defined.

I use a Thrustmaster T16000. It is great for flight, though it has some limitations. The main reason that I got it was that it has a unique stick control mechanism that uses a sensor instead of mechanical movements of the stick. The stick is very sensitive (you can use software to add a deadzone).

The drawbacks are:
A light displays whenever the stick is off center. The light is a gimmick to let you know that there is no deadzone.
Other games sometimes mistake the stick for a console controller, and your character spins around in circles until you unplug it. I'm still waiting for a fix for this issue.

[DaveK]

Hi ryuu - it's great to see you're back!

The first two offering from SeeJay and Nigel sum it up really It's up to you - what do you want? Is immersion important? How rich are you?

Primary: What's you budget?

Secondary:

• Do you want HOTAS or are you happy clicking keys as well?
• Do you want a separate throttle control?
• Do you actually want a stick or are you happy with a pad?
• Have you thought about extra control units in support?

I use a Saitek X52Pro (stick and linked throttle unit) plus a pair of Thrustmaster MFD cougar Flight Panels. The combo has allowed me to dump the keyboard except for text chat ingame. TeamSpeak and ingame voice chat deal with that some of the time.

I started with a Saitek X52 (stick plus separate throttle) and used it for a long time and it worked very well for me. The upgrade to the Pro was a birthday present (go access more buttons and HATs). A few years later the addition of the flight panels was a Christmas present (to get even more buttons!!)

EM is the only computer game I play so I want it to 'feel' right



ps - search the forum and you'll see that some dedicated souls have build full sit in rigs with real seats, a massive display in front, real flying yokes (or twin sticks), pedals and extra monitors and pads as displays! My kit feels ve e e e ry sparse in comparison!

[sundalo]

If you don't mind cost, go with a CH products HOTAS setup with either combat stick or fighter stick with the pro throttle and pedals. Tough as nails on durability that will last you many years. I'm talking decades with abuse lol. Budget sticks I recommend the thrustmaster tm16000 I think with the accurate hall sensors or the logitech extreme 3d pro. Consider a dual joystick control option, you can pull off some fun tricks with IDS off in pvp and regular gameplay.

[Edited on 10-30-2014 by sundalo]

[Edited on 10-30-2014 by sundalo]

[Edited on 10-30-2014 by sundalo]