I need an easier joystick

Scout · 08:10 AM

I've got a iMac Intel and am new to the filght sim genre. I bought a logtech extreme 3D pro and am just plain bad at flying with it because I'm too inexperienced. The problem is the twisty handle thing that gives me the ability to do loops and such...and, like I said, i'm inexperienced and would rather the thing just go left and right, rather than the z axis routine.
My problem is that I can't get my settings in Blazing Angels to ignore the z axis and just give me the simplified left & right stick option only. I'm playing on the windows side of my imac intel and gotten into the control panel settings and found everything is calibrated/recognized for my computers drivers/software/logtech stuff etc. and am beginning to think I've just over-bought and need a more dummy oriented/forgiving joystick than the one I've got. Any ideas on what I ought buy that'll be less z axisy and more dummy/easy proof?

Jump

You might want something like a Saitek X45. It has a seperate throttle unit that has a rocker arm on it for roll. This makes the joystick itself more simple to use. Then you can just not use the rocker arm when you use the throttle stick. There is an amazon link on our front page that will pop up a picture of it for you. They're pretty cheep now since they came out with the X52.

Scout

I'll check this thing out this morning.

Scout

I looked around and read up on the 45. I'm wondering about the new 52 and if it would have the same characteristics as the 45 (ie, I can just NOT use the rolly rolly side and merely go with the user/dummy friendly aspect of the two contorl ratio. It seems to me that, currently, the pricing may fall into the catagory of "in for a penny...in for a pound" routine...and, as such, I might just as well get the 52.
On another note, how much would YOU sell me your 45 for? If we could cut a tight deal, than YOU could upgrade to a 52 based on a quick/confirmed sale to me.

Jump

The 52 is twist which is what you said you don't want. If you look on the front page you can get 45's used.

Scout

Amazon doesn't have any of 'em in stock, Jump. There's a few on eBay, but I've been burned there before and think I oughta investigate further and look around for the time being. I notice, though, the Saitek 290 seems simplistic enough, but can't discern if it's got a hat switch happenin.'

Jump

I believe Saitek sells refurbished ones on their site.

Scout

and their outta stock, too.
Hey, I gotta idea, how 'bout you sell me yours and, than, you go buy a 52.
Oops, already tried that one.

Jump

Naw, I hate the twist too. Try Ebay for joysticks.

Scout

Gonna give eBay a try and see what shakes loose.
On a seperate, I'm really, really amazed at the graphics that are comin' thru on Blazing Angels. The puter upgrade to the iMac, which allows me access to window games, completely alters the game playing landscape and poins out the fact that Mac users have been the step children of the gaming industry and, too say the least, last on the software developers' list. With that said, there's a whole new world that's opened up to me now and I'm wondering what other flight sims are as lovely to watch/play as Blazing Angels.
Also, can I use the 45 to play other games (ie. F.E.A.R. and/or Half-Life 2)?
This may be a question for another forumed area, but I thought I'd ask as long as we gotta dialogue goin' on.
Nevertheless, Thanks Jump.

Poseidon

One thing to consider, is that on the x52, there is a lock to highly reduce the stick twist. It doesn't completely remove it, but if you set the dead zone settings good enough, computer won't recognize the little motion that it doesn't lock.

Jump

I didn't know that. Thanks for the info Poseidon. Sounds like Scout can get what he wants in a joystick with the X52.

Scout

but I already got my 45 on eBay yesterday..and, incidentally, there was a buncha other folks in on the bidding wars. In fact, questions to the seller were coming in from the UK & Australia, alike, yet it was the high ended international postage charges that probably allowed me to land it. The one I've got on the way is NIB, but doesn't include an owners manual, though. Hopefully, I can download it from the company or get needed advice from you guys. Again, Thanks.

TRI Pilots On Duty
On Duty:	23
In Flight:	9
Solrain:	5
Octavius:	7
Quantar:	11
TRI:	0

Category	Pilot	Score
Kills	Algore	2,687
Kill Ratio*	_KROM_	470.000 %
Bounty Collected	Killntime	402,838,097
Munitions Accuracy*	Psycho	85.916 %
Projectile Accuracy*	Psycho	96.61 %
Total Conflux Kills	vorlon31	147,886
Experience	Adi564	100,000,000
Mission Success Ratio*	Arkady	100 %
Insurance Rating*	Farve	10 %
Net Worth	McPlowed	c22,477,569,540
Duty Hours	RedDwarf	16,230.7
*minimum requirements to qualify


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	I need an easier joystick I've got a iMac Intel and am new to the filght sim genre. I bought a logtech extreme 3D pro and am just plain bad at flying with it because I'm too inexperienced. The problem is the twisty handle thing that gives me the ability to do loops and such...and, like I said, i'm inexperienced and would rather the thing just go left and right, rather than the z axis routine. My problem is that I can't get my settings in Blazing Angels to ignore the z axis and just give me the simplified left & right stick option only. I'm playing on the windows side of my imac intel and gotten into the control panel settings and found everything is calibrated/recognized for my computers drivers/software/logtech stuff etc. and am beginning to think I've just over-bought and need a more dummy oriented/forgiving joystick than the one I've got. Any ideas on what I ought buy that'll be less z axisy and more dummy/easy proof?
		Last edited by Jump; 01-09-2007 at 08:10 AM. Reason: fixed spelling in title


	Jump Big Daddy Pilot Name: JumpDemon Faction: Solrain Joystick: MS FF2 Join Date: May 2004 Location: Tracy, Ca. Posts: 6,953	You might want something like a Saitek X45. It has a seperate throttle unit that has a rocker arm on it for roll. This makes the joystick itself more simple to use. Then you can just not use the rocker arm when you use the throttle stick. There is an amazon link on our front page that will pop up a picture of it for you. They're pretty cheep now since they came out with the X52.
		__________________ Currently working hard to break the server... >> Help support JSR through our Amazon store


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	Thanks I'll check this thing out this morning.


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	Hey Jump I looked around and read up on the 45. I'm wondering about the new 52 and if it would have the same characteristics as the 45 (ie, I can just NOT use the rolly rolly side and merely go with the user/dummy friendly aspect of the two contorl ratio. It seems to me that, currently, the pricing may fall into the catagory of "in for a penny...in for a pound" routine...and, as such, I might just as well get the 52. On another note, how much would YOU sell me your 45 for? If we could cut a tight deal, than YOU could upgrade to a 52 based on a quick/confirmed sale to me.


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	I looked Amazon doesn't have any of 'em in stock, Jump. There's a few on eBay, but I've been burned there before and think I oughta investigate further and look around for the time being. I notice, though, the Saitek 290 seems simplistic enough, but can't discern if it's got a hat switch happenin.'


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	I checked and their outta stock, too. Hey, I gotta idea, how 'bout you sell me yours and, than, you go buy a 52. Oops, already tried that one.


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	Yep Gonna give eBay a try and see what shakes loose. On a seperate, I'm really, really amazed at the graphics that are comin' thru on Blazing Angels. The puter upgrade to the iMac, which allows me access to window games, completely alters the game playing landscape and poins out the fact that Mac users have been the step children of the gaming industry and, too say the least, last on the software developers' list. With that said, there's a whole new world that's opened up to me now and I'm wondering what other flight sims are as lovely to watch/play as Blazing Angels. Also, can I use the 45 to play other games (ie. F.E.A.R. and/or Half-Life 2)? This may be a question for another forumed area, but I thought I'd ask as long as we gotta dialogue goin' on. Nevertheless, Thanks Jump.


	Poseidon Member Pilot Name: Poseidon Faction: non-aligned Joystick: X45 Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 132	One thing to consider, is that on the x52, there is a lock to highly reduce the stick twist. It doesn't completely remove it, but if you set the dead zone settings good enough, computer won't recognize the little motion that it doesn't lock.


	Scout Recruit Joystick: logtech extreme 3D pro Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: vermont Posts: 7	Thanks for the info, Poseidon, but I already got my 45 on eBay yesterday..and, incidentally, there was a buncha other folks in on the bidding wars. In fact, questions to the seller were coming in from the UK & Australia, alike, yet it was the high ended international postage charges that probably allowed me to land it. The one I've got on the way is NIB, but doesn't include an owners manual, though. Hopefully, I can download it from the company or get needed advice from you guys. Again, Thanks.