Does an $$$ Flight Controller really make a difference?

[Pilotasso]

The more buttons at your finger tips, the better it is.

 

X52 is a great entry HOTAS, very confortable and easy to use.

 

Avoid Logitech G940 at all costs! had nothing but trouble with it, and is too expensive for what it is. The throttle is crap, and the stick has lots of center play.

 

I had CH, while its quality was top notch I dislikes the sticks light return-to center force as I did the axis transitions.

 

I have the TM warthog, I like it, plenty of buttons but its not perfect.

 

I still consider buying a X65F. It doesnt look as good as the warthog but the concept of it might be more practical for a desk HOTAS than the warthog, it depends on your taste.

[effte]

you've finally said what would

tempt to buy that thing, even for such terrible high price (for me overpriced). ;]

 

Yes, he said the thing which is the selling point for the TM gear IMO. The Cougar gave me almost ten years of simulator flying without ever limiting me in any way. Few other controllers could ever have done that. I've had a few Saiteks and what not, and there have always been nagging points and they have only lasted for a much shorter time span before it was time to move on, usually after sitting with them for a bit too long and being frustrated. Since getting the Cougar, the only other thing I have needed was a Pro Flight system for yoke aircraft. The hefty price tag divided by the heavy use the Cougar has been getting makes it drop down into 'costly but worthwhile' rather than 'insanely expensive'.

[SmokeyTheLung]

Had a saitek x52, thought it was fine for my purposes.

Recently upgraded to TM warthog.

Sadly throttle stopped working on the TM, while waiting for a replacement I've reverted to my x52.

I can't believe that I ever even used the x52, that's how big the difference is.

It's like comparing a squirt gun to a 12gauge, toy vs tool...

[LawnDart]

...that's how big the difference is.

It's like comparing a squirt gun to a 12gauge, toy vs tool...

 

:lol: +1, that was funny.

 

I think everyone who feels high end controllers are too pricey has a valid concern, but I'd second everyone who's said that once they made the investment it paid off over time. While the Cougar may have had its flaws OOTB (out of the box), I have never regretted the years (6+ and counting) I've gotten out of it. When you add it all up, I've spent a lot of money on mods and upgrades, but probably not a whole not more than I would have spent buying new joysticks every other year. I still have the same unit I originally bought and never wanted anything else......

 

...until now (of course). ;)

[DocSigma]

:lol: +1, that was funny.

 

I think everyone who feels high end controllers are too pricey has a valid concern, but I'd second everyone who's said that once they made the investment it paid off over time.

 

I agree. At first it may seem like you're dumping a hefty chunk of change on a "controller", but that feeling is immediately diminished one you get your hands on the HOTAS, ecspecially the Warthog. I have never been fully satisfied with my cougar but have had it since it's release and still the original OOTB hardware save for a replacement pot ( I actually have Cubbies Hall sensor mod, but have yet to install it). I've gotten used to it and never have regretted my purchase of it. Now, with the Warthog, and the quality it brings to the table, I sometimes think I would have paid more.

[Kuky]

I think everyone who feels high end controllers are too pricey has a valid concern, but I'd second everyone who's said that once they made the investment it paid off over time.

 

Exactly ;) It's been 8 years since I bought my Cougar and I am still loving it and do not wish for anything else... yes it was expensive and yes I've spend more money to mod it but I wouldn't have it any other way as it's been the perfect HOTAS for all those years and hoping for many more in the future :joystick:

[Succellus]

"I agree the Warthog may not seem as fit as the Cougar for other sims, but there s always a trade off isn t it ? And its probably more a matter of adaptation than anything."

 

I keep seeing statements like this and wonder. Basically, the WH is a stick and a throttle with a LOT of buttons, and some of the buttons have labels. Is it the labels that makes one think that the the buttons cannot be reprogrammed?

 

Its not about Buttons, its about Axis, Cougar has 2 axis on the throtle right at finger range.

If you had a Cougar and played IL2, you probably as anyone programed the axis for flaps and Prop pitch. Its very very very very handy.

 

And we wont have that ewith the warthog, only 1 axe out of finger reach.

 

But as a trade of we will be able to program more buttons without superposition, easyer for teh mind.

[Slammin]

You gotta admit that using the ANT Elev for elevator trim in IL-2 is almost cheating since you can trim farther than the actual joystick input, but it sure was handy :P

 

Point taken, but just as you've said, we adapt.

[Succellus]

You gotta admit that using the ANT Elev for elevator trim in IL-2 is almost cheating since you can trim farther than the actual joystick input, but it sure was handy :P

 

Point taken, but just as you've said, we adapt.

 

I never tryed that trick... (start thinking)

[Midwestboi]

One thing I see is a lot of people complaining about the potential lack of programmability with the Warthog. However, have any of you tried the program Xpadder? You can basically use it to program any controller function to emulate a keyboard or mouse; I used it to configure my racing pedals for rudder control. I configured the throttle/clutch as 'right and left triggers' instead of an axis- which is something I could never assign within any flight sim directly. So now it uses the keyboard 'X' and 'Z' via the racing pedals for rudder control- which I think works perfectly.

So if it can easily program my racing wheel, XBOX gamepad, and even my Thrustmaster Flight Hotas.X- surely it could also work with the TM Warthog. More buttons equal more options- and with the complexities of current games- I think the potential is worth the price of the Warthog. No more- "I wish I had another button for..."

Oh, and no... I'm not an Xpadder salesman- but I am amazed by how well this program works and what it can do. :-)

[Doctahg]

The Warthog is absolutely the best Hotas i have ever used. The way it handles the sims is amazing. This is even better than the old TM stick and throttle. I fly Aces High/ ww2 online and this...the difference from a CH stick or the X52 is like night and day. I can't decribe how much better it is..off the charts. of you have the cash it's a no brainer. I knew it would be good but not THIS good!

Doc

[Midwestboi]

...the difference from a CH stick or the X52 is like night and day. I can't decribe how much better it is..off the charts.

Doc

 

I fully agree. I had originally purchased the TM HOTAS-X in preparation for this A-10C sim- but then after drooling over the Warthog HOTAS for weeks- I finally gave in and purchased it. In Wings of Prey, I noticed a HUGE difference. Everything with the Warthog is smooth and, dare I say, realistic... while the HOTAS-X felt sloppy in comparison. The Warthog feels like you are holding the real thing- not some little plastic 'toy' that is trying to be a real flight stick. Yes it is expensive- but as I've said in other comments- this thing can be programmed for any current or future flight sim with 3rd party software if the sim itself doesn't support it. So no fears that it is, "only for the A-10" because it's not.

[Frazer]

The difference precision wise? None!

X52 Pro (with simple maintenance) gives you enough precision to fly the most demanding:

 

The difference in feel? Huge

The TM Warthog feels awesome and for that matter, adds a lot in realism.

 

Is it worth to pay $$$ for a joystick? Up to you.

 

(I compared the X52Pro with the Warthog because I have those sticks, before you buy anything, also check out the other brands)

[BoneDust]

I bought an X65F yesterday. How it will work remains to be seen, first because I don't have the stick yet, and second I need to wait for beta5 because 4 will not run for me :)

[S77th-konkussion]

Bringing this thread back up because it’s the most relevant to my point. Before you new guys go “el cheapo” on a HOTAS- it is CRITICAL to understand that almost all the terminology that you will see while trying to learn this simulation will be “true to life”.

 

How do I switch White & black hot? …slave my maverick to the tgp? ..change countermeasures program? … zoom the TAD map in and out? …

 

You’re going to get answers like “boat switch fwd/ aft” “china hat fwd. LONG” “DMS fwd. / aft” From both forum people and in a lot of the training itself.

 

This is not a sim where memorizing “[insert key command here]” is going to be very helpful for the vast majority of the aircraft’s operational procedures. It’s almost impossible to focus your mind on individual key commands and come up with a sensible, organized profile no matter what HOTAS you buy. I tried- on a CH setup which- second to the TM warthog- is the most accommodating to flying DCS A10. It won’t work. There are too many key combinations that serve multiple purposes to program individually. They often all sound the same, and are dependent on what is the SOI/ long & short, etc.

 

If you want to learn this aircraft- you NEED to get as much programmability and as many options in front of you as possible. YOU MUST choose a HOTAS that can program a TRIM, TMS, DMS, SLEW, CHINA, BOAT, and COOLIE “true to life” (or very close to it) or you are in for a lot of anguish.

 

I’m not going to get into “in depth reviewing” in this post. Already done. Your best options in no particular order are:

 

Thrustmaster Warthog - (authentic to real A10- doesn’t get much better than that design wise)

 

CH Products* -(fighterstick is authentic design- throttle is missing a couple things- but easy to overcome)

 

Saitek X52 pro or X65- based solely on pictures- they SEEM to have enough HATS to accommodate DCS A10. (edge to x65, IMO )

 

*owner

 

 

I'll now defer to sobek : "good, fast, cheap" choose any 2" :D

Edited January 26, 2011 by S77th-konkussion