Need recommendation for Joystick for BF 1942.

[spartacuskzm]

I don't need anything fancy, and preferably one already proven to work with it. If anybody knows of good place to buy one suggestions would be appreciated as well.

Thanks!

 

[thorin]

1) Doesn't buying a joystick for one specific game seem kind of near sighted? What else do you play? What games coming up do you have your eye(s) on? Is there some reason that you dislike using mouse and keyboard like most FPS pros do?

2) Is there a reason you have full text of your rig plus the link to your system rig in your sig? Doesn't that seem kind of a) Redundant b) Wasteful (from a bandwidth perspective).

Thorin

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Best joystick for THIS game is the MS Sidewinder Pro. I really hate that joystick otherwise, but it definitely is the best for this game.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: thorin
1) Doesn't buying a joystick for one specific game seem kind of near sighted? What else do you play? What games coming up do you have your eye(s) on? Is there some reason that you dislike using mouse and keyboard like most FPS pros do?

2) Is there a reason you have full text of your rig plus the link to your system rig in your sig? Doesn't that seem kind of a) Redundant b) Wasteful (from a bandwidth perspective).

Thorin

Gawd damn dude, can you get ANY MORE OVERLY critical his question (which you obviously don't seem to understand) :Q

Besides, a joystick is almost mandatory for flight operation in BF1942. Only the sick and saddistic are good using the mouse for flying

Anyway, I had this same question last night, spartacuskzm, for the EXACT same game. I've been using a Gravis Xterminator Force Gamepad for BF1942 and quite frankly, it sucks at it. I had posted a question on this forum last night asking for a good joystick for BF1942, but quickly edited it when I found one over at Amazon. I chose this one:

Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2

It has a throttle, 8-way hat switch, 8 programmable buttons, and twist handle for rudder operation (much needed in BF1942).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00005NIMA/103-5608273-2731068

When I bought it last night, it was $35.99. I use the $5 coupon and free shipping for a total of $30.99. They jacked the price up to $39.99 soon after I bought it.

You might not want something with all of these features, but I think that something like this is perfect for BF1942.

 

[spartacuskzm]

Thorin,

1.) The only reason I'm only asking about BF1942 is that it's the only game w/ flying I play (actually I just dl'd the demo yesterday and ordered the full version today). I am very comfortable with mouse/keyboard for driving vehicles, walking, etc and would never use a joystick for that. For flying, however, the mouse/keyboard just doesn't seem sufficient.

I primarily play Day of Defeat (HL Mod - nickname ThorsHammer - close to your name), and there is no need for a joystick there. I do own Combat Flight Simulator II, but uninstalled it since I sucked so bad at it (I had a joystick but it must have been broke because it never calibrated properly and I could never control the plane). Perhaps if I got better with flying (through use of joystick) in BF 1942 I *might* reinstall it and try to play again, but that is doubtful since I'm a huge fan of ground warfare and not as thrilled about solely flying.

I can't say there are any games on the horizon I know of that I'd like to play, but then again I'm not very up to date on them.

2.) Good point on the sig - I'll fix it.

 

[CurtCold]

1. Keyboard
2. Mouse.

I can't think of a joystick that I know of, or have ever seen that can top a keyboard and mouse for fps.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

I can second the ms sidewinder percision 2, everything works out of the box with bf1942. I am now bombing and shooting down planes left and right, its a great joystick and makes flying very easy, or easier I guess I should say.

 

[spartacuskzm]

GoodRevrnd & NFS4,

Thank you both for the comments. I think I've also decided on the MS Sidewinder...specifically the Precision 2.

I'll probably overpay for it (at BestBuy) to the tune of $49.99+tax since I've had a $150 giftcard for a few months now and haven't had a chance to use it.

Thanks both for the great feedback.

 

[jamison]

I am using the Microsoft Sidewinder - not sure what variant etc. - but I think it is pretty much everyone's opinion that Microsoft joysticks are excellent for BF1942. The caliberation is dead on from the beginning and it is very solid.

 

[spartacuskzm]

Originally posted by: CurtCold
1. Keyboard 2. Mouse. I can't think of a joystick that I know of, or have ever seen that can top a keyboard and mouse for fps.

I agree wholeheartedly. I didn't do a good job of pointing out in the original post the only reason I wanted it was for the flying...everything else will be keyboard+mouse.

Snuffaluffugus & Jaimison - thanks both for the opinions as well as reaffirming the other recommendations. One thing I don't want to do is spend 15 hours trying to get a joystick to work with the game - as I read on some msg. boards when other joysticks (Saitek Cyborg 3d) Ouch

Thanks again everybody.

 

[Celeryman]

I fly nicely with a keyboard and mouse. Anybody else crazy like that?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Celeryman
I fly nicely with a keyboard and mouse. Anybody else crazy like that?

I find it to hard to do barrel rolls and loops with a mouse/keyboard. Also, it's too difficult to maneuver in tight places.

 

[ElFenix]

i played tie fighter with a mouse and keyboard... that sucked.

 

[Mutilator]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Celeryman
I fly nicely with a keyboard and mouse. Anybody else crazy like that?

I find it to hard to do barrel rolls and loops with a mouse/keyboard. Also, it's too difficult to maneuver in tight places.

I use a keyboard/mouse for everything in the game. The trick is to turn the sensitivity all the way up under all the tabs. Unfortunatly there is a bug in the game when you do this though where you have to go into the common options and move the slider down, save, and then move it back up and save again to have proper sensitivity.
With max sens. I have no problem doing rolls or loops or flying in tight places... I use 3rd person view and mainly just bomb people... rarely dogfight but if I do then I switch to first person. The only thing I can't do very well is fly inverted under bridges.

I just think it'd be a big PITA to switch between keyboard/mouse and joystick every time you jump in a plane.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Mutilator

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Celeryman
I fly nicely with a keyboard and mouse. Anybody else crazy like that?

I find it to hard to do barrel rolls and loops with a mouse/keyboard. Also, it's too difficult to maneuver in tight places.

I use a keyboard/mouse for everything in the game. The trick is to turn the sensitivity all the way up under all the tabs. Unfortunatly there is a bug in the game when you do this though where you have to go into the common options and move the slider down, save, and then move it back up and save again to have proper sensitivity.
With max sens. I have no problem doing rolls or loops or flying in tight places... I use 3rd person view and mainly just bomb people... rarely dogfight but if I do then I switch to first person. The only thing I can't do very well is fly inverted under bridges.

I just think it'd be a big PITA to switch between keyboard/mouse and joystick every time you jump in a plane.

It's not a PITA. My joystick sits right beside my keyboard and when I need to hop in a plane I quickly switch over. Using the mouse/keyboard to fly a plane in BF1942 is like using a joystick to play Quake3 or UT2003...sure it might work, but it is far from being the most effective way of getting things accomplished.

 

[Mutilator]

I think my problem is my joystick is a Logitech Wingman Force so it's pretty big. Usually ends up in my lap with me stretching to reach the keyboard & mouse.
Maybe I'll dust it off and give it a try though... just for you Brandon.

But I really don't think the guys on the ground in BF really care if my bomb hits them in the leg or the face. A Mustang with a joystick would be quite entertaining though.

 

[DOOPYLOOPY]

Quite a few years ago I bought a MS Sidewinder Pro for X Wing Alliance. Anyway since that time, I haven't used it. Then for BF:1942 and flying i decided to give it a go with the Joystick and it works great via USB in Win2k it auto detects and no worries everything is fine.

The only thing I'd like is a more detailed throttle control a bit more like Space sim, where I can press a single button and get 25% 50% and 75% throttle.

Anyway I'd highly recommend the Sidewinder Pro too.

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: spartacuskzm
Thorin,

1.) The only reason I'm only asking about BF1942 is that it's the only game w/ flying I play (actually I just dl'd the demo yesterday and ordered the full version today). I am very comfortable with mouse/keyboard for driving vehicles, walking, etc and would never use a joystick for that. For flying, however, the mouse/keyboard just doesn't seem sufficient.

I primarily play Day of Defeat (HL Mod - nickname ThorsHammer - close to your name), and there is no need for a joystick there. I do own Combat Flight Simulator II, but uninstalled it since I sucked so bad at it (I had a joystick but it must have been broke because it never calibrated properly and I could never control the plane). Perhaps if I got better with flying (through use of joystick) in BF 1942 I *might* reinstall it and try to play again, but that is doubtful since I'm a huge fan of ground warfare and not as thrilled about solely flying.

I can't say there are any games on the horizon I know of that I'd like to play, but then again I'm not very up to date on them.

2.) Good point on the sig - I'll fix it.

1) Ok now I see what you're getting at. I'd also suggest the MS Sidewinder Percision 2, I've used it for some flight sims before.

2) Cool. Although I would have thought you'd fix it by deleting the text and leaving the link....but whatever.

Thorin

 

[thorin]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: thorin
1) Doesn't buying a joystick for one specific game seem kind of near sighted? What else do you play? What games coming up do you have your eye(s) on? Is there some reason that you dislike using mouse and keyboard like most FPS pros do?

2) Is there a reason you have full text of your rig plus the link to your system rig in your sig? Doesn't that seem kind of a) Redundant b) Wasteful (from a bandwidth perspective).

Thorin

Gawd damn dude, can you get ANY MORE OVERLY critical his question (which you obviously don't seem to understand) :Q

Besides, a joystick is almost mandatory for flight operation in BF1942. Only the sick and saddistic are good using the mouse for flying

Yawn. Yes I obviously didn't understand his question hence I asked for further information....heaven help

I know lots of people who fly in BF1492 without a joystick it's not rocket science or brain surgery.

Thorin

 

[Mutilator]

Bleh I tried my logitech joystick... didn't like it.
My desk just isn't setup so that I can reach the keyboard, mouse, and joystick comfortably simultaneously. Plus the joystick wasn't nearly as pin point accurate as I am with my mouseman. Sure it can do rolls easier but it can't line up for that perfect bomb in the left eye like my dual optical can.
Maybe I'll go to my parents and get my old Thrustmaster joystick and try that one day.

 

[Maverick]

Sidewinder Force Feedback 2....I love it. Unfortunately there's no FF in bf1942...but I bought this joystick way back when I was addicted to Freespace2. Works great and it has that extra weight on it so it doesn't slide around the desk.

 

[dszd0g]

I like CH Products and Thrustmaster sticks. I currently have a CH Products as Thrustmaster seems to generally be behind on their releases.

 

[kgraeme]

I have the MS force feedback. I don't care for it because 1.) there's no FF in 1942; and 2.) it doesn't do self-centering. I've also noticed that with the throttle at less than the halfway mark, I start out going backwards. Is this the case with other sticks with throttles? I'm guessing it is. Bad coding if so.

 

[NFS4]

My Precision 2 just came in today. It works great...just takes a little getting used to

 

[spartacuskzm]

NFS4, I've been enjoying mine since I purchased it too, but it doesn't help that I'm naturally a terrible pilot...give me a few weeks.

And to kgraeme, yes, mine also goes in reverse if it's all the way back. It may have to do with where I initially set the configured it (I started from the middle thrust position vs. the far back), but I highly doubt that matters.