Worth buying a joystick?

[Blackbird_CaD_ 10]

Is it worth to buy a joystick for this game? I'm thinking of buying a Saitek X52..

Many people say: "i have a joystick but i don't use it because it works better with keyboard/mouse".

And that you can't make any precise manoeuvers with a joystick, you have to do the big movements with joystick and the small movements with a mouse.

If it is like this i wouldn't give a penny for a joystick.

Kinda weird that the joystick support is so bad in this game.. from what i have read even the arcade game BF2 had much better use of joysticks than this hardcore simulator.

[Eagle911 10]

I use keyboard and mouse and i have no problem flying. Im excellent too.

[Steakslim 1]

Tough to say. Personally I find the piloting of aircraft far more effective with a joystick, though I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for a X52 (got a Logitec 3D Pro instead)

[S7_Mega 10]

3D Pro as well and it works great. Wouldn't fly without one, and TrackIR 5!!

[Blackbird_CaD_ 10]

I think it's absolutely TERRIBLE to fly jets with mouse/keyboard in arma 2, i have not played any other game with such horrible steering. There is really no logic in the steering, it's even hard to turn the jet or fly up/down.

I have Logitech 3D Pro, but it broke, it broke after a couple of months after i bought it. (it steers even when i'm not touching the stick). I'll never again buy Logitech joysticks.

[Baff1 0]

I have bought a Saitek X52 pro.

I also have the X45.

I really enjoy them for this game. Worth every penny.

This joystick is excellently supported in this game. You can set the thumb slider to be the zoom, you have a mouse wheel and laptop style mouse pointer if you want to hop out of the plane for a minute without having to switch over to keyboard and mouse.

Will it improve your flying?

Not especially, (the hatswitchs will for looking around if you do not own trackIR) but it will make it more fun? Absolutely.

I have never regreted buying my X52 pro.

I also use it when I play X3 and Il-2. Mostly I use it for ArmA games.

I love the ejection seat button under it's little safety catch.

I love the 2 phase trigger. Pull the trigger gently to fire your long range canons, pull it all the way when you get close to fire your short range cannons as well. I love it.

I love it all.

It's one of those peripherals that isn't going to break. In about 10 years time computers will stop using USB ports and then you will have to replace it.

X52 has Hollywood appeal mate.

When your friends and kids enter the room they will all be "wow, what's that!".

Plus when you see it in all the military movies being used by UAV pilots etc, you will again know you made the right choice.

I tell you it could just sit there on desk unused and I'd be getting value for money.

Edited August 7, 2009 by Baff1

[Windexglow 10]

Even a cheap $20 or $30 joystick makes flying so much better.

[Blackbird_CaD_ 10]

Will it improve your flying?

Not especially, (the hatswitchs will for looking around if you do not own trackIR) but it will make it more fun? Absolutely.

I have never regreted buying my X52 pro.

I also use it when I play X3 and Il-2. Mostly I use it for ArmA games.

Well i would be glad if i just would be able to steer the jet to where i want lol, and maybe even kill a enemy or two.

[Fiya 10]

Hah, I found a joystick in the closet a week and go and even it makes flying more enjoyable. Throttle control, aswell as a few other things really make it nice to use.

[Sulu 10]

I use a £20 joystick for Arma2 and flight sims. Go buy one you wont regret it

[p75 10]

Hey mate, I was in the same situation, so not to spend a shitload I bought the 2009 released Saitek Cyborg X for 35$. And boy is it worth it, I see no need to shell out more for the X52, I'll would advise you to get the Cyborg X and wait for the succesor of the X52.

[Binary 0]

Better ? ... Dunno - properly not.

Funnier ? Hell yeah :)

[Grizzle 0]

The Saitek X joysticks are great because there are so many ways to configure them to add more than just yaw-pitch-roll. I use one occasionally for FSX but generally find no use for a joystick anymore. I haven't and probably won't ever use one for ArmA because I only fly helis and I think the key/mouse works perfectly for that. Haven't tried planes yet as I usually just don't fly planes in these war games - Heli's FTW!

BTW - someone mentioned a successor to X52. Not so sure there will be one as they just released the X52 Pro not too long ago (don't know what the 'Pro' designation adds to it.) That and the fact that X45 and X52 really aren't all that different so I can't see what a new model would add that the X52 doesn't already do.

[gone3d 10]

I use keyboard and mouse and i have no problem flying. Im excellent too.

This coming from someone called Eagle911 :D

I would by a joystick....

[Palehorse1 10]

Image Dimensions: 600px × 450px

Size of Image: 31.13 KB (31882 bytes)

Some of us are sicker than the others. I'm just sayin'...

Best wishes,

Palehorse1

[MadCatChiken 10]

I'd get a Thrustmaster stick, they're quite cheap and good for the money.

[Thirdup 0]

BIS at least made an effort (albeit, a failed one) to toss us a bone for the throttle this patch. Let's hope they press on.

To answer the OP, I'd say it depends on what you fly....

For fixed wing aircraft, a joystick makes all the difference in the world.

For flying helos, I actually find myself doing FAR better with mouse/keyboard (with regards to flight, hovering, landing on a dime, insertions, extractions, etc).

The game really needs sperate control options (vehicle, fixed wing, helo). If we ever get to that point, I think it would really favor a joystick. As it stands currently, they are a huge advantage in fixed wing alone.

ymmv

[p75 10]

The Saitek X joysticks are great because there are so many ways to configure them to add more than just yaw-pitch-roll. I use one occasionally for FSX but generally find no use for a joystick anymore. I haven't and probably won't ever use one for ArmA because I only fly helis and I think the key/mouse works perfectly for that. Haven't tried planes yet as I usually just don't fly planes in these war games - Heli's FTW!

BTW - someone mentioned a successor to X52. Not so sure there will be one as they just released the X52 Pro not too long ago (don't know what the 'Pro' designation adds to it.) That and the fact that X45 and X52 really aren't all that different so I can't see what a new model would add that the X52 doesn't already do.

Hey mate, the x52 Pro was released in 2007,.....:

http://gear.ign.com/articles/760/760775p1.html

I hope they release a new one???

[afp 1]

For hellicopters the mouse does somehow a better job but for planes a joystick is better.

[Blackbird_CaD_ 10]

Hmm ok, i'll maybe buy a X52 =)

lol i don't think it's that smart to wait for the successor to X52, because you don't know how long it will take, it could take many years before they release a successor..

[WYZe1 10]

I use a PS3 controller for flying and driving land vehicles, works pretty good. Everything else though is keyboard and mouse.

[Grizzle 0]

Hey mate, the x52 Pro was released in 2007,.....:

http://gear.ign.com/articles/760/760775p1.html

I hope they release a new one???

Ha! Didn't realize it had been so long :)