Flight Sticks for KSP

[Ten Key]

I'll note while the stick is great for aircraft, I find the keys far better for rocket flight.

This has been my experience as well. I have a flight stick, stand alone throttle and a set of rudder pedals, and while they work wonderfully for aircraft I always go back to the keyboard and mouse for rockets.

[sedativechunk]

I've never tried KSP with a flight stick but I have played with them on other games and typically I hate them. I think flightsticks are far behind mouse/keyboard precision and technology.

[zekes]

And, if you're left handed, well, there's pretty much no good options. I use a Mad Catz V.1, which is inexpensive and feels not horrible. I used to have a CH Flightstick Pro (old game-port version), but it had severe limitations, like you couldn't use the hat while the trigger was held down.

I would GLADLY pay for a left-handed stick of the caliber of the X-52, or even Fly.9 or Fly.5, but sadly, we're too small a market.

I'm a lefty, and I just learned to fly right-handed. When you get in a real plane the throttle's gonna be left anyway so it's better to learn it that way - there aren't many left-handed planes in the real world.

[InsaneDruid]

CH is very nice indeed. I have some of the older ones, all modded to usb using the joywarrior modules. I especially like the Mach1/Mach1+/Mach2 range. I have a Mach1Plus on USB since years and this little handy stick is so much fun, and I often find my using it instead of my Flightstick. Bought three more (one non+plus) on ebay for mooooore

Noo really Very fine hardware, old, simple but effective design and very sturdy, good quality stuff on all the CH. I had tons of sticks, Logitech, the X35, X45, but after all, I just my Microsoft Force Feedback 2 and my Mach1.

[longbyte1]

I use the Logitech Attack 3 periodically and it seems to have come a bit off center. So when I plug it in, a little twitch can bring the X left/right by 5-10 units. But as you use it during the day, it seems to center itself correctly more. The throttle axis also sometimes goes up to 99% but not 100%. Anyone experience these two quirks? Otherwise I'd recommend the joystick, if you don't mind not having a hat switch.

[tadswana]

Yeah, have been using a CH Flightstick Pro for years with no problems, rock solid.

I did upgrade to a Saitek X52 HOTAS as I'm playing DCS as well, however the CH would be perfect for Kerbal (if only I didn't sell it on Ebay before I started KSP!)

This is probably a little more than you want to pay, but this is the base model of the stick I use.

http://www.chproducts.com/Flightstick-Pro-v13-d-723.html?do=thumbnailer.get&src=images/chproducts/products/Simulation/FSP.jpg&w=200&h=200&method=surface&quality=80

CH Flightstick Pro

CH joysticks are a little on the expensive side, but they are precise and they are tough. The control software that comes with them is fairly powerful, though it's not the most user friendly thing in the world. This particular stick has a trigger, three buttons and an 8-way hat. It does have a dial on the base for throttle control, but there is no "twist" for rudder control. Personally, I find joysticks that twist annoying, but your mileage may vary.

For what it's worth, while joysticks make aircraft in KSP much more enjoyable, I've found that I don't like using the stick for spacecraft operating outside of an atmosphere. The keyboard is just more precise for RCS maneuvering.

[cartman]

Dual Thrustmaster 16000M. Has the same sensors as the way more expensive warthog. Tons of buttons. Only downside is the fragging led which I had to tape over.

Edited February 12, 2015 by cartman
spelling.

[Alshain]

This has been my experience as well. I have a flight stick, stand alone throttle and a set of rudder pedals, and while they work wonderfully for aircraft I always go back to the keyboard and mouse for rockets.

Same thing I've been doing with my 360 pad, but I've been reading Harvester's changes in 1.0 and though I find them a little confusing the way he words it, I think it's going to be easier to have a set of rocket controls and another set of plane controls. The big issue being Yaw and Roll should swapped for rockets because Roll is less used on a rocket during atmospheric flight and yaw is used less on a plane in atmospheric flight. From what Harvester has been saying, it sounds like that will be really easy to do and switch between quickly. Being able to have that rocket mode will also make out of atmosphere plane piloting easier as well I think.

Edited February 12, 2015 by Alshain

[FlyingPete]

I'm a lefty, and I just learned to fly right-handed. When you get in a real plane the throttle's gonna be left anyway so it's better to learn it that way - there aren't many left-handed planes in the real world.

Depends what you fly. In the majority of planes with side-by-side seating, the pilot's seat is on the left, with the throttles in the middle.

[Alshain]

Depends what you fly. In the majority of planes with side-by-side seating, the pilot's seat is on the left, with the throttles in the middle.

Those throttles aren't contoured to the left hand with buttons for the thumb though. It's hard to make a realism comparison there when you are looking at this:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FThrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Playstation-3%2Fdp%2FB001CXYMFS&ei=V_DcVImnHcqyggT41IDgCA&usg=AFQjCNF_4CnMTgNBjwhMk8KKsXhHVctl3w&bvm=bv.85761416,d.eXY

Edited February 12, 2015 by Alshain

[dr_jt]

This is probably a little more than you want to pay, but this is the base model of the stick I use.

http://www.chproducts.com/Flightstick-Pro-v13-d-723.html?do=thumbnailer.get&src=images/chproducts/products/Simulation/FSP.jpg&w=200&h=200&method=surface&quality=80

CH Flightstick Pro

CH joysticks are a little on the expensive side, but they are precise and they are tough. The control software that comes with them is fairly powerful, though it's not the most user friendly thing in the world. This particular stick has a trigger, three buttons and an 8-way hat. It does have a dial on the base for throttle control, but there is no "twist" for rudder control. Personally, I find joysticks that twist annoying, but your mileage may vary.

For what it's worth, while joysticks make aircraft in KSP much more enjoyable, I've found that I don't like using the stick for spacecraft operating outside of an atmosphere. The keyboard is just more precise for RCS maneuvering.

I had one of those years ago. I didn't know they still made them.

- - - Updated - - -

http://i.imgur.com/EkrmhXW.jpg

Beleive it or not, I lost one of those. Never did find out where it went. I think I let my brother or dad borrow it and they ended up throwing it out. I used a Saitek X52 now but not for KSP.

[Alshain]

Ok, well I got to borrow my Dad's, it wasn't a Logitech, it was a Saitek Cyborg Evo. Nevertheless, I'm already enjoying it immensely. I just flew to orbit for the first time without SAS the whole way in my favorite plane. I think I'm definitely getting one.

[Xavven]

I use the T.FLIGHT HOTAS and it's perfect for KSP. A friend of mine purchased one and says it's perfect for Elite: Dangerous as well.

[Alshain]

Well as an update, I bit the bullet on the T.Flight HOTAS. It seemed to have all the features I wanted in a layout I liked the look of. Thank you to everyone for your help. Hopefully the thread will help others as well.

[SpacedCowboy]

Well as an update, I bit the bullet on the T.Flight HOTAS. It seemed to have all the features I wanted in a layout I liked the look of. Thank you to everyone for your help. Hopefully the thread will help others as well.

Ah man! I'm sorry I didn't read this thread until today, but I just picked up a Logitech 3D pro a couple days ago from Walmart, on clearance, for $22.00!

[Alshain]

Ah man! I'm sorry I didn't read this thread until today, but I just picked up a Logitech 3D pro a couple days ago from Walmart, on clearance, for $22.00!

Yeah, the only locally available one was that flight stick for $35 here at office depot, but in the end I decided I would like the HOTAS and preset switching features and thought they were worth the extra $15 and a few days shipping time from Amazon.

[longbyte1]

What about serial port joysticks? I know those are pretty garbage but I have one laying around. How well do they work?

[FlyingPete]

What about serial port joysticks? I know those are pretty garbage but I have one laying around. How well do they work?

No reason theoretically why an old analogue joystick shouldn't work well enough. Often a new joystick still relies on potentiometers to track position. The difference is that the conversion is done in the PC rather than in the joystick. Try it and see is the best approach

[Alshain]

Some of those really old joysticks didn't have potentiometers. They were basically D-Pads with a stick.

[longbyte1]

No reason theoretically why an old analogue joystick shouldn't work well enough. Often a new joystick still relies on potentiometers to track position. The difference is that the conversion is done in the PC rather than in the joystick. Try it and see is the best approach

Well, I can't try it. Even computers from 2009 don't have serial ports

[Stone Blue]

Well, I can't try it. Even computers from 2009 don't have serial ports

Yup...I have two almost new-in-the-box Mad Catz Panther XLs I would love to try on KSP...But they are so old, and Mad Catz was such a mess around 2000, that these never even got Windows XP drivers...

20 buttons, stick and trackball...Yumm-ayyy...

[Alshain]

Well, I can't try it. Even computers from 2009 don't have serial ports

Not true really, you have to request them but you can still get them. Many industry computers require them because of old devices. A lot of Oil and Gas well controller are still using RS-232. You can also get USB-serial adapters. I recommend the one from IO-Gear or B&B Electronics.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Alshain

[SpaceHips]

I would suggest this one: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Extreme-Joystick-Silver-Black/dp/B00009OY9U

It's the one i use, got it pretty cheap on sale from bestbuy, had zero problems with it.

Very responsive, comfortable grip, good resistance and a nice, wide base.

Plus plenty of buttons for everything you need.

A friend of mine is a pilot IRL and plays a lot of flight sims along with air combat games like war thunder.

He's been using his for like a decade or something crazy like that, and it's still going strong. He was the one who recommended it to me.

[Freshmeat]

To the serial joystick guys: You can connect them through an arduino for a pretty fun DIY project. They are directly connected to their potmeters, so wiring it up is pretty simple, and a the relevant plugin is easy to use. Arduino clones are $10 on Ebay.

[Jonmeep]

On 2/9/2015 at 1:21 PM, Brotoro said:

I have it Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. It works well for me.

I have one,but the game dosen't seem to register the joystick's movements