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Rec.Autos.Simulators Archive

Microsoft Joystick !? Is it for real?

5 posts by 5 people · 26 Oct 1995 - 28 Oct 1995

Isaac Wo 26 Oct 1995#306746
I just saw a Microsoft joystick at a local computer superstore. The store has a demo unit so I could touch it but it wasn't connected to any computers so I couldn't feel how it works. I plan to use a joystick for only my driving sims (e.g. F1GP, NFS etc), has anyone used the MS joystick? If so what are your comments? I don't want to get driving wheels like T1 since they are more expensive, and they are damn hard to find in Ottawa, Canada. Besides the MS joystick, are there any good alternatives? The Logitech Wingman Extreme is comparably priced, but my friend doesn't recommend it since it is flimsy (He broke his). Thanks for any info. -- Isaac Wong (613) 763-6127 | Protel Compiler Group http://chat.carleton.ca/~iwong | Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
>I just saw a Microsoft joystick at a local computer superstore. The store >has a demo unit so I could touch it but it wasn't connected to any computers >so I couldn't feel how it works. >I plan to use a joystick for only my driving sims (e.g. F1GP, NFS etc), has >anyone used the MS joystick? If so what are your comments? I don't want to >get driving wheels like T1 since they are more expensive, and they are >damn hard to find in Ottawa, Canada. >Besides the MS joystick, are there any good alternatives? The Logitech >Wingman Extreme is comparably priced, but my friend doesn't recommend it >since it is flimsy (He broke his). >Thanks for any info. >-- >Isaac Wong (613) 763-6127 | Protel Compiler Group Ottawa Engineering >http://chat.carleton.ca/~iwong | Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada I've seen two different Microsoft joysticks in the stores. One is about $39.95, the other is about $69.95. The more expensive one has "optical" controls to help eliminate drift. It also has more buttons. I bought the less expensive one, and I find it to be a good, solid joystick for use with NASCAR and other games. If you're into alot of flying sims, I think you'd be better off with one of the aircraft type sticks. You may also want to look into one of the steering wheel/pedal units, but these tend to be very expensive. Emerson D. Champion Pasadena, Maryland GO BILLS!
>I plan to use a joystick for only my driving sims (e.g. F1GP, NFS etc), has >anyone used the MS joystick? If so what are your comments? I don't want to >get driving wheels like T1 since they are more expensive, and they are >damn hard to find in Ottawa, Canada. I bought one a few days ago and have been using it with NFS. It works under win95 (but only when telling win95 setup it is a wingmanextreme) and under DOS with NFS (NFS is actually more stable under win95 on my system then under dos; I think I have some system peculiarity that win95 handles better). In any case it works ok with NFS, and gives dramatically improved lap times over the keyboard, but I must say that a joystick and in particular NFS's joystick design choice (single-axis joystick support only -- how stupid was that, along with no sensitivity control) is very awkward in NFS. I would love to try a good steering wheel/pedal setup. And NFS begs for a patch. I have not used the Sidewinder 3D Pro in win95 digital mode as yet, but am d/l the Fury3X demo as we speak :) rms
Quoted text (20 lines)>I just saw a Microsoft joystick at a local computer superstore. The store >has a demo unit so I could touch it but it wasn't connected to any computers >so I couldn't feel how it works. >I plan to use a joystick for only my driving sims (e.g. F1GP, NFS etc), has >anyone used the MS joystick? If so what are your comments? I don't want to >get driving wheels like T1 since they are more expensive, and they are >damn hard to find in Ottawa, Canada. >Besides the MS joystick, are there any good alternatives? The Logitech >Wingman Extreme is comparably priced, but my friend doesn't recommend it >since it is flimsy (He broke his). >Thanks for any info. >-- >Isaac Wong (613) 763-6127 | Protel Compiler Group >http://chat.carleton.ca/~iwong | Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
Isaac, If you are at all interested, ThrustMaster has come out with a newer version of the Formula T1 - the Formula T2. It has a lot of improvements, and along with the improvements, the price has also gone down! If you're interested, you can find them, and get a good price with a mail order place called Flight Sim Central here in the U.S. Their # is: (800)477-7467, or you can send them Email at: Matt ThrustMaster, Inc.
: Besides the MS joystick, are there any good alternatives? The Logitech : Wingman Extreme is comparably priced, but my friend doesn't recommend it : since it is flimsy (He broke his). I don't know about the MS stick (probably gives "General Protection Faults" :-) ), but I've had a CH Flightstick for over a year and it has survived a lot of use (HOF, LFRS, and 'buddy' racing). It's a solid unit, and at about $45-49 Canadian (I'm near Toronto) it's a reasonable price. I recommend it. BTW - the unit I have is the basic one, one button on top, one in front. The switches are beautifully precise. The enhanced model has switches growing all over it. Good for flight sims, I guess, but the handle feels awkward for racing. Regards, --Brian Ferguson | "When I'm racing, I'm alive. | LFRS '95-96 --Newmarket, ON, CAN | Everything else is just | Uranus-Nissan --

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