USB Joysticks/pads any advantage over standard 15 pin type?

[Mem]

I will be buying a new Joypad soon,the question is are USB Joypads better then the normal 15 pin type that plug into your soundcard(like SBLive)if they are better please state the reasons why?

 

[YaKuZa]

id get an usb one, u can plug them in and out without rebooting. so it doesnt have to be plugged in all the time, u can just plug it in when u want to use it for a game.

 

[Mday]

hot plug, and you can have more than one installed at the same time without the use of any special devices.

 

[dszd0g]

In addition to those already mentioned.

Software has better support for all the buttons with USB. It is much easier to write a game that supports all the USB buttons. With non-USB you may have to map some of your buttons to keys with included software.

In addition, USB being digital generally has a lot less calibration issues with joysticks and wheels (I know you are asking about joypads), one does not need to recalibrate the USB versions as often.

If you can disable your game port you probably free up an I/O range at a minimum, possibly an IRQ.

 

[Mem]

Thanks for all the replys,feel free to post some more opinions.

 

[sandorski]

I'm going USB all the way. So far I have a USB Gravis Gamepad Pro, USB Logitech Wingmman Formula Force, and USB Logitech trackman marble+. I plan on eventually getting a USB Saitek x36 joystick/throttle system, the reason is as mentioned above hot plugging. Gameports are too inconvenient if you have more than 1 game controller.

 

[downhiller80]

sandorski - are you running windows 2000 with your wingman formula force? I can't get any force feedback even witht the latest (3.6) software from logitech.

Seb

 

[sandorski]

No, I'm using Win98SE. I don't even want to touch Win2k for hardware compatibility reasons(have an Aureal SQ2500 which I'm unwilling to give up anytime soon).

 

[SSP]

Couple of things. You don't need to reboot with the 15 pin joysticks. You don't need to have it plugged in all the time, but you do need to caliber it more then the USB's.

And like some one mentioned, you can't have more then 1 joysticks at the same time.

Anyway, USB is much easier to use then the 15 pin joysticks. So go USB all the way. I'm stuck with a 15 pin crap.

 

[dszd0g]

I should emphasize the button support further with an example. My last roommate had a Thrustmaster (I forgot the model but it was the top of the line one they used to make) that used the gameport I have a CH F-16 Combatstick. When we both installed FreeSpace 2 on our machines to play together it took me approximately 5 minutes to go into their program and click on a feature and press the button on my joystick. It took him approximately 35 minutes to configure all the key mappings using the Thrustmaster software and have them match up with the keys in FreeSpace 2.