Need Joystick help

[Kossori]

I've never owned a joystick much less do I know what to look for in one. I'm looking to by at good joystick to use for Battlefield 2. I'm looking to spend maybe $50 or less as Battlefield 2 is the only game I can really see myself using it for. I just have bad memories of all the pilots from BF1942 who were incredibly better due to me using a mouse and keyboard.

Also, can anyone tell me the real advantages that a joystick has over mouse and keyboard? Does it actually give better handling and response for better turns and such?

[Drayu]

I may be biased, but I would say go with the Saitek cyborg evo or cyborg evo wireless.

[Kernel Error]

I also have a qustion about this. If i have a joystick, are there any issues movinging from mouse to joystick and then back to mouse on the fly (no pun inteded). The reason i ask is i have never played a game that would require moving back and forth between controlers and i just dont know how that works on the practical side.

thanks

[GorroXXII]

well it is hard to say when talking about different games, but in POE, I have them both set up, so I can use either Joystick or mouse, so there is no real problem. I personally love the Saitek products, I have a USB GOLD, and for $40 cant go wrong. I think mine was replaced with what Drayu said, so I would go with the EVO.

http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/cyborg_evo.htm

[Kossori]

Ok, now can anyone tell me all the advantages to using a joystick as opposed to a mouse since I always hear about how much better it is and how much more control etc.

[atomicbob]

My joystick isn't all that fancy. I think it was the best one Walmart had.

It has an extra axis that I don't think you can't get on the keyboard (You probably can, but you need too many fingers). I mean you can twist the joystick giving you rudder. Especially handy in a chopper.

For me, I think that flying is just supposed to be done with a joystick and feels more normal. Could just be 25 years of flying pixels around making me bias. Flying without a stick is virtually impossible for me.

[GorroXXII]

Ok, now can anyone tell me all the advantages to using a joystick as opposed to a mouse since I always hear about how much better it is and how much more control etc.

I use both, when in chopper, I find sometimes it is easier to hover with the mouse, basically because I dont have a dead zone on my joystick, but advantages I find, when in fierce combat, your arm is going to get damn sore, :D it is so much smoother witha joystick, now I am not the best pilot, and I prefer choppers, but once getting a joystick and being able to feel the control to me, it is a huge difference. I think it is all personal preference. I have heard guys that use a joystick and hate it, there are guys, TRAHN for example who fly with a mouse and keyboard, and own. Wait till Drayu, Snake, Cal, come in, they all use joysticks, and when they are opposing me, I tend to stick to the ground :jester: , unless it is Drayu, then you wanna be in the air!!!


SO:
(Joystick side)
Control with a joystick is much more fluent
quicker acceleration and deceleration
MUCH easier to land
Ability to set up command controls, say you have a co-pilot, can set up a button, that says to "Bail", then eiects you with one click..
Easier to evade, to bad you couldnt get on POE, get some practice in

[Kossori]

Ok, then i'll definately pick up that joystick as it sounds pretty nice and its only 40 bucks. If I had BFV i'd have played POE but I dont so I will just have to wait till Friday when the BF2 demo comes out.

[dbodenheim]

Kossori I cant remember the name of MY joystick but SSP Redy might. I believe he had the same joystick I do before he switched to the Saitek. He said he had problems with it, but i DO NOT have problems with it, and it is only 39.99 with tons of bells and whistles on it. maybe he'll post what I have. To me the Saitek was just plain scary. I tried touching it at Best Buy and it said " Human! Step back or I will disengrate you." <shiver>


Also it is kind of pointless to do the BFV-POE route at this point. I am grateful though, for the many hours I logged in that tank and AA vehicles.

[Redy]

Yeah I broke the trigger because i used it so much.

I think it was the cygorg evo. It's a good starter stick.

[wihadmin]

Don't get the Logitech Xtreme 3D Pro joystick. It sux! I have one and afte about 4 months of use, it's drifting now. Recalibration doesn't do shit!

Next stick for me will prolly be a Saitek. I use the joystick for flying planes and my PGMs. Helicopter flying is pure keyboard for me. Sounds like I'm typing a term paper, but nothing beats the response time of a keyboard. :thumbsup:

[dbodenheim]

Don't get the Logitech Xtreme 3D Pro joystick

I believe this is the joystick i have. 6 buttons off to the left? Throttle in the front? I bought this because of the big base it had and i liked the tight feel of the throttle. It is however drifting to the left after I take off in a helicopter. Im a crappy chopper pilot anyhow so it just looks like "jeff is limping to a flag" business as usual. In all actuallity though Ive been compensating quite a bit with the drift. Was going to recalibrate but if it doesnt work it doesnt work.

[wihadmin]

That's the one Jeff. Sux0rz as the 733t would say.

[GorroXXII]

Well my saitek is a year old and has taken a beating, and still works as good as day 1, I think Snake has the same one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=74944&item=5206072296&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

here is a pic of one from ebay, but I have put SSSSSSOOOO many hours into it, and still no problems, unlike all those big boys out there such as the X52

and before the bufoons come on: that isnt mine for sale, I WILL NEVER SELL MINE, only place I could find a decent Pic :D

[=HR=Capt.Cal]

I've gone through two Logitech Xtreme 3D Pro joysticks in 6 months(the drift thing). Now I'm using a Saitek ST290 PRO and it seems pretty tuff, found it at Wal-Mart for around 20 bucks.

So my vote is Logitech :thumbsdown:
Saitek, still waiting for results :thumbsup:

[Bonez]

i'm still on my same stick and i don't notice a drift(probally because i fly off axis anyway)

[wihadmin]

Bonez - You don't fly. You just snipe. That's your BF specialty. That's prolly why your joystick isn't broken.

[GorroXXII]

Bonez - You don't fly. You just snipe. That's your BF specialty. That's prolly why your joystick isn't broken.

Actually I flew with him once... he was doing well till his lag hit, and then we hit the power line, or was it a tree, just remember going in circles...

[Kernel Error]

well i just got the saitek evo $40 bucks make flying a lot easier but still suck will have to practice a lot more :D

[Bonez]

Bonez - You don't fly. You just snipe. That's your BF specialty. That's prolly why your joystick isn't broken.

Actually I flew with him once... he was doing well till his lag hit, and then we hit the power line, or was it a tree, just remember going in circles...yea i allways warn people on ts when they go flying with me "when you hear the chopper completely throttle down, jump out"

[dbodenheim]

I was playing Zanzibar off the carrier the other day and someone hopped in the transport with me and we took off. 2 seconds later he asked "Jeff, can you fly?" Wrong time to be asking buddy. Crash.