froogle

Eagle Dynamics did do an absolutely fabulous job on DCS A-10. BUT, I've got to leap to the defense of the IL2 COD team. They have always been committed to delivering a high quality project and it's well documented that in the case of COD they got well and truly screwed over by a project manager with a spreadsheet and a contract in the publisher's head office. They aren't the first development team to be forced into releasing something early, and they certainly won't be the last. Don't diss Oleg and his team for the COD hassle - I feel so bad for the crap they must be going through right now because they believe in making things right with their userbase (just like Eagle Dynamics and the Fighter Collection).

I seem to recall that access to the Beta area requires you to make a request to access it, and then a human needs to grant you access after they've looked up that you have indeed purchased the sim. Given that today is both a Sunday and the day after Christmas, it wouldn't surprise me to find that it takes them a few days to get back to any such requests.

Absolutely on the O/S. But not so much on A-10 itself. despite having a 64 bit O/S if you intend to fly hassle free with Track-IR you're going to need to run the 32 bit version of the sim (for now).

ok I'll chime in. I've got (or had) both; X65 and Warthog. In terms of looks, they are about equal. Both setups look absolutely stunning, and if anything I think the X65 throttle wins for me in the looks department. I also preferred the X-65 throttle - it's more comfy to hold than the Warthog one and has more in the way of configurability (rotaries etc the Warthog just doesn't have). In use though, the two are worlds apart. I adore the X-65 throttle, and absolutely hate the stick. It's a personal taste thing I know, but most of my flying is done in Helo's, The A-10 and old rotary engine warbirds. I just could not ever get the X-65 stick to 'feel right'. You don't realize it until you pay attention but when you fly with a moving stick, you subconsciously register the position the of the stick in the real world and balance that against what you are seeing and feeling in terms of the aircraft's response. Also, with a moving stick you apply pressure to move it to a certain point, then relax that pressure and apply a 'holding' pressure to keep it there. With the X-65 you've have to constantly apply that 'pushing' pressure, there is no concept of push then hold. In terms of settings the sticks up, both are a dream to configure, even without the programming software provided by Saitek and Thrustmaster. The X-65 stick for example is so similar in layout to an F-16/A-10 stick I had it set up in minutes within DCS:A-10 to work just the way the real one does. The Warthog of course doesn't require this - it just works. My old X-52 broke and I had to order a replacement set of sticks quick for a magazine article I'm working on. At the time the Warthog was exceptionally hard to get so i ordered the X-65. I grew to hate it very quickly and at the first opportunity ordered the warthog and sent the X-65 back. So, there's my opinion from someone that's owned and used both and that flies a hell of a lot (I write about it).

For me, yes. I had TM FLCS for many years, then a Cougar, then about 5 years ago switched over to Saitek (moved country and started over with much of my hardware).The X52 was actually pretty neat for a cheap ass HOTAS, but it died on me two weeks ago, so I ordered an X65. Absolutely HATED that thing. I love the Throttle on it, in fact I think I prefer the X65 throttle to the Warthog one, but I just couldn't get along with the stick, especially in chopper sims. I sent it back and got the Warthog expressed to me (I write about this stuff for a semi living so I need working sticks ASAP), and absolutely love it. Without doubt, the best, most accurate stick I have ever used, period. Makes the X65 look very silly indeed, IMHO.

Sure - forgive my ignorance, but you mean like machine, peripherals etc? Alienware M15X, Core i7 720, 6 gig of Ram, Geforce 280, running through an Alienware 22 inch monitor at 1920x1080, full detail. Thurstmaster Warthog, with Saitek Pedals. I didn't do much mapping of controls or anything, I just wanted to get into the air and try it out, so I did some axis mapping (duh), mapped Hover to the paddle, and trim to the joystick pinkie. Is that what you wanted?

Tried mine in Black Shark and IL-2 today. Absolutely amazing. My flying in both sims improved instantly. Very very smooth and accurate. Previously was flying with X-52 and X-65.

Serial #: 1209 Location: Orlando, FL

Mine arrived here in Orlando today. Shipping box had 'Destination : France' on the side, which had been crossed through and replaced with a handwritten USA.

The point I was making here, in pointing out Guillemot, is that this is probably not a result of a failing on Thrustmasters part, but Guillemots. If anyone should be compllained at, it's Guillemot.

Lol.

Well there is light at the end of the tunnel. shopBLT may suck harder than my 8-year old on a steak and shake strawberry milkshake, but US distributors are receiving units now. As someone pointed out SC Simulations got their shipment, and my Warthog is due to arrive here in Orlando tomorrow (just in time for a deadline - phew). So, not long now guys! Just choose yourself a decent reseller and all everything's just fine.

I think it's worth remembering that this is probably not Thrustmasters fault, but Guillemots. I remember when Thrustmaster got bought by them years ago and the general wailing and gnashing of teeth that the new owners, who had a reputation for cheap and nasty game controllers, would either kill the TM line altogether, or severely cripple it. We're incredibly lucky to see TM come out with a high end product like this at all, but any open letters and fault finding need to be directly firmly at the French.

You shouldn't really need one. A-10 supports Hotas mapping. Just pop open the manual to the pages showing the actual A-10 HOTAS and then in the sim map each real HOTAS input to the matching control on the X-65. Not talking about mapping commands and keys here, but actually mapping the actual HOTAS controls to your own stick. That way when the function of a HOTAS control changes due to aircraft state and mode, so does the same physical control on your stick.

IPad and GoodReader for me. I have a kindle too but honestly it's been gathering dust since getting the iPad. Perfect tool off manuals, charts, checklists and with good reader you can add your own notes too.