Joysticks For Flight Simulation Using A Lever To Fly A Plane! — THG.RU

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Using A Lever To Fly A Plane!» —>

Using A Lever To Fly A Plane!

With Flight Simulator 2002 and IL-2 Sturmovik, it looks like the drought in PC-based flight simulators is finally over. Apart from Fly! 2 or the very elitist X-Plane, not a single new title has revolutionized the genre in recent years. This means that this is as good a time as any to do a joystick comparison — here, we take a look at which ones are best adapted for use with flight simulators, although most of them could be considered universal joysticks, as well.

Even if you aren’t a flight simulation enthusiast, you may well consider buying this type of game-playing apparatus at some point so why not buy the best; a lever that can also be used for action game-play? In compiling the list, we decided to choose models by well-known makers, ditching the clunky models studded with all the bells, whistles and flashing lights that serve no particular purpose. Our choices were narrowed down to a powerful foursome of products by the leading manufacturers: Microsoft, Thrustmaster, Logitech and Saitek.

For starters, we rejected anything that moved or vibrated randomly in all directions. These «power» effects have never been much use in flight simulators; in fact, they are more of a handicap than anything else, because they make it all the more difficult to guide the joystick with precision. We’ll be doing a comparison study of these jittering and vibrating levers at a later stage, for the benefit of fans who still prefer the ‘live’ stick.

Minimum Requirements

All the models we tested incorporate a minimum of essential functions required for any flight simulator. Each joystick needs to offer the following options: an analog throttle, designed to control fuel input and thus, the engine; a directional hat, to allow display of 360° views; and, a rudder bar. When opting for the single lever, the best option is the one introduced by Microsoft, in which the rudder function is linked to the rotation of the joystick shaft on its axis. When you turn it to the left or the right, and combine this with a dipping motion, you can fly your aircraft as effectively as if you had a genuine rudder bar at your feet. In fact, it is a wonder that Airbus planes have not been equipped with such a system.

A good joystick obviously connects to the USB port, a standard that all the makers have adopted out of preference to the game port. Despite this, the drivers continue to remain a source of problems. The software supplied with each stick, which allows you to program its buttons for a particular game, is virtually useless with a plain joystick. That’s because all the latest games recognize specific joystick functions, so that you can assign the desired function to each button and save your choices to disk. You are therefore forced to use a specific driver and this becomes something of a handicap. It needs to be installed, it will place icons all over the place and may create compatibility problems in the future. Personally, I would like to campaign for the abolition of this system of drivers, in favor of automatic and systemic configuration, a system for which Windows XP is ideally suited. Drivers are only useful for running the most complicated systems such as the Saitek X45, for which some sort of programming software is vital. Manufacturers need to be able to offer unified drivers, because some drivers still conflict with others that have been installed. You also need to check the compatibility of drivers and hardware with Windows 2000 / XP.

The Protagonists

Our initial selection consists of four universal joysticks, each of which can be used to work a simulator in the same way as they are used in action games. Microsoft’s Sidewinder Precision 2 costs around $45. Saitek’s offering in this category is the Cyborg 3D Gold for $40, and Logitech’s Extreme Digital 3D is about the same price. All of these are older models. Thrustmaster, on the other hand, is marketing a new range that includes the Fox 2 Pro, which costs $29.99. This stick can also be used with Afterburner 2 (approx. $60, just recently released with scant retail availability outside of Europe), a system at the higher end of the range that is dedicated to flight simulation and fitted with a separate throttle handle. The same applies to the Saitek X45, which consists of a joystick and throttle handle liberally sprinkled with buttons and wheels. At $80, it is also the most expensive system in this comparative study. All of these products can be found in most specialist shops, and some are even available in the big superstores.

Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2

The Sidewinder was the first joystick designed for flight simulation. That’s not surprising, given that it was made by Microsoft, the company responsible for the Flight Simulator program. Microsoft is also responsible for the principle of a rudder that works by rotating the shaft on its axis. Precision 2 is the latest addition to the range, with a price somewhere in the vicinity of $45. The uncluttered design leaves an exemplary impression of quality and finish. This joystick is virtually indestructible. It has a slightly grainy texture that has a very pleasant feel, and the ergonomic design of the shaft offers a very good grip (for right-handed users only). The position of the buttons and of the directional hat on the top of the shaft is ideal. It’s just a pity that they are slightly tacky in comparison to those used on the previous model. They are ergonomically perfect, because the hat and three buttons can be operated without unduly stretching your thumb.

Precision 2 has eight buttons — four on the base and four on the top of the shaft. All are numbered, which makes it easy to identify them. The shaft movement is perfect, being long enough and steady enough to guarantee maximum precision. To make it as accurate as possible, Microsoft uses optical detectors rather than a potentiometer. The same applies to the rudder bar. Only the throttle handle lacks the same firmness. The joystick is sufficiently stable on its base.

To install Precision 2, you will need to use a driver, provided on a CD. The problem is that Microsoft’s drivers are not unified, so you could find yourself with two versions of the software installed on your PC if you happen to own a lot of Sidewinder peripherals. Furthermore, you will be forced to install a program manager for programming the buttons, which puts an icon onto the task bar. In Windows ME and on certain makes of PCs, this could even cause a conflict between various versions of the driver and the peripherals, which seems rather silly when you consider that the Windows developers and the Sidewinder programmers work right next door to each other! That said, most of the time, the joystick operation presents no problems. Once the driver has been installed, Precision 2 is automatically recognized by the system and does not need adjusting. When running under Windows 2000 and XP, it is as easy as pie. The joystick is recognized automatically and no driver installation is required. In conclusion, Precision 2 is particularly well suited for use with flight simulators. It is absolutely precise and has excellent ergonomics.

Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold

The Cyborg 3D looks really wicked. The engineers at Saitek came up with something that is the exact opposite of the Microsoft product. Everything on this joystick is adjustable, using the Allen key supplied with the device to adjust the Allen screws that hold it together. It is as easy for lefties to use as it is for right-handed folks, and it will fit you whether your hands are large or small. You can position the throttle stick on the left or right of the base of the shaft. The top of the shaft is dipped by pressing with the fingers.

You can even change the direction of the hand-rest, which can be made to slope upwards or downwards. On the other hand, care is required — the device is slightly fragile, so it should be handled gently without forcing it, or one of its parts might break. Cyborg 3D’s handgrip is good; the buttons and the directional hat are easily accessible. It has eight buttons, four of which can be made to support two functions, depending on whether or not the Shift key is pressed on the keyboard. The Cyborg incorporates a very effective rudder, operated by rotating the shaft. When used with a flight simulator program, this joystick is extremely accurate, though it is a touch less effective than the Microsoft product. The throttle works perfectly and is particularly effective.

The Cyborg 3D connects to the PC via the USB port and requires ad hoc software. Its installation is in no way problematic, at least when running under Windows 9xx. Windows 2000 and XP are another story, however. The joystick is not recognized at all and the drivers supplied (the latest available versions) don’t work. Finally, the Cyborg is not calibrated automatically, so it needs to be calibrated the old-fashioned way, not always the most reliable way to do it.

Thrustmaster Fox 2 Pro

Hurrah! At long last — the Fox 2 Pro Thrustmaster doesn’t need a driver. Plug it into a USB port and wait a few seconds for it to be recognized — that’s all there is to it. You don’t even have to calibrate it. That’s real plug ‘n’ play for you, no matter which version of Windows you are using, even XP. Like all the other joysticks that don’t require a driver, you can always calibrate it yourself, though it is not necessary to do so. Combining curves and sharp angles, the shape is quite attractive, as is the anthracite color and contrasting yellow buttons. The ergonomically-shaped shaft is designed exclusively for right-handers, who will find it extremely comfortable, provided that their hands are not too large. The two buttons and the directional hat on the top of the shaft are easily manipulated with the thumb, but a second throttle, situated in front on the right to be operated by the index finger, is almost unusable in reality.

The hat is also slightly too pointed for our tastes, but the movement of the shaft is extensive enough. The rotating rudder is also satisfactory. The Fox 2 Pro does have one unique and brilliant feature: the resistance when bringing the stick back to the center can be adjusted via a wheel under the stick. This is a brilliant idea because different users prefer different levels of resistence in movement. The throttle is also well positioned. It has a wide range of movement, but the movement is quite firm. In addition to the four buttons on the shaft, there are an additional three buttons on the base. In use, the Fox2 Pro proves to be very accurate, which makes it much easier to operate the simulator. Though its performance is as powerful as that of Microsoft’s Precision 2, at about $38, it is actually a bit less expensive.

Logitech Extreme Digital 3D

Logitech’s Extreme Digital 3D joystick is a relatively old model, but the company has no intention of introducing a new range before next year. In comparison to the other joysticks, its grey-and-blue color scheme seems rather dreary. On the other hand, the Star Trek-style design is quite appealing. The shape of the shaft is good, as is the handling, but the smooth plastic material does not have a nice feel to it. The throttle, directional hat and buttons are easy to use without straining the thumb. The movement of the shaft is perfect. Nor is there anything bad to say about the rudder function. As for the throttle, it is by far the most ergonomically sound of all the joysticks we tested. The movement is accurate to the nearest millimeter.

The other buttons on the base are also easily accessible. Since this model has been on the market for a rather long time, it can be connected to a PC via either the game port or the USB, an important advantage for those using older PCs. Logitech drivers are unified and easy to install. You will still have to calibrate your joystick manually, however. Here again, it shows its age. However, it is still recognized without a driver when running under Windows 2000 and Windows XP, and under its own name! When used with a flight simulator, the Logitech stick is very accurate and is as good as Microsoft’s. The Extreme Digital is thus to be recommended, especially as it is such good value for the price of about $35.

Thrustmaster Afterburner 2

Take the Fox 2 Pro joystick, add a separate throttle and a few extra buttons, and you’ve got the Afterburner 2. The throttle can either be situated as part of the joystick or it can be separated from it, using the small key attached to the bottom of the stick.

The Afterburner 2 joystick is identical to the Fox 2 Pro model, so there’s no need to describe it all over again. The throttle is quite wide and has a pleasant movement. There is a notch for starting up the jet engines and a second one that indicates that you have moved into post-combustion mode. The ergonomics of the handle are good. The back of the hand-rest incorporates an additional rudder operated by an analogue lever. It is easy to manipulate, but we still prefer the rudder that moves by rotating the shaft. Thrustmaster probably realized this, because there is a switch that makes it possible to move the rudder from the stick to the shaft and vice versa. On the other hand, the four buttons on the throttle are inadequate for a device dedicated to flight simulation. A wheel or a second directional button would have been welcome.

Thrustmaster Afterburner 2, Continued

To install the Afterburner 2, you will have to resort to drivers. These are grouped under the name of Thrustmapper 3. In fact, these are the manufacturer’s own unified drivers. All of the Thrustmaster peripherals that require drivers are compatible with the Thrustmapper 3. At last, a carefully thought-out strategy! There is more good news. The handle works without a driver under Windows 2000 and Windows XP. It is even recognized automatically and under the correct name. Furthermore, the profile manager is very well-designed, with several levels of difficulty from which to choose. It is interesting to select profiles on a system of this type because they offer a multiplicity of functions.

Afterburner 2 is very pleasant to use. The joystick is always accurate and the throttle has the advantage of being very realistic. However, it is sometimes difficult to decide on an engine mode with precision. For about $65, the Afterburner 2 has a lot to offer, and should satisfy any would-be pilot.

Saitek X45

The X45 system is clearly designed for flight simulation, with the joystick’s shape being clearly reminiscent of that on a jet fighter. The whole device looks appealing in metallic blue with orange detailing. This joystick offers a plethora of buttons and two directional hats, while the throttle incorporates two wheels, mouse emulation and a rudder bar placed behind the hand-rest. The system is very comfortable to the hand, at least to start with. The traditional trigger has a smooth action, but a push-button located lower down to be used by the little finger is problematic.

In fact, it is pretty difficult to arrange your five fingers in their designated positions, making this second button difficult to activate. Furthermore, two of the buttons are easily within range of the thumb, but the second directional hat and the missile-launching button are both inaccessible without having to put yourself through highly unnatural contortions. This button is protected by a safety device which is supposed to imitate those on the launchers of real fighter planes. However, the device gets in the way during a simulation, unless it has been activated from the beginning. Either Saitek’s designers couldn’t avoid making their product look like a toy, or they have spent too much time watching Top Gun.

Saitek X45, Continued

There are similar problems with the throttle, which is on the left. The hand-rest itself is pleasant enough to use and the movement is long and accurate. The wheels can be activated without too much difficulty and they can be assigned a choice of weapons or display modes, which is quite practical. The small shaft that is supposed to enable mouse emulation is unusable, however. The rudder is positioned at the back of the shaft, making it really hard to be accurate when using it because the fingers cannot grip it naturally.

Of course, if you want to program all the functions available for each button, you need to use the software supplied by Saitek. Although installation poses no problems, it’s hard to figure out how to use it. It will take you a good hour to discover how to enable each of the functions.

Saitek X45, Continued

The big drawback is the function of the button that selects three different modes of assignment. Do you understand? Well, we don’t either! Actually, in theory, this is what makes it possible to change the functions of the buttons while the game is being played. For example, if you want to move on from a dogfight to a bombing raid, you have to use different controls.

The same problem arises if you change aircraft in Flight Sim. The basic idea is a good one, but due to its poor design, it is hard to believe that Saitek ever tested this program properly. And that’s not all — if, at a later stage, you install a steering wheel from the Saitek range, its driver will uninstall the X45’s driver! How practical! This means that you can’t use two Saitek peripherals at the same time! The X45 is literally downed by its defective drivers and a few problems of ergonomics. That’s a pity because the basic idea is excellent, and flight simulation fans have very few accessories of this nature available to them.

However, in flight simulation mode, the precision of the whole device is excellent, with the one exception of the steering. To end on a positive note, the X45 and its software are easily recognized by Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Summary Table

* Not yet available in North America