12 replies to this topic

[the Battle Cat]

I am thinking of getting this but first I want to hear any input you guys may have concerning this device.  I've read several reviews, and it's supposed to deliver a good flying experience for the buck.  I can add a rudder foot peddle device if I want to get all real life but then I'd have to get 3D rumble seats, surround sound, force feedback, an IMAX monitor, smell-o-rama, and a cute little babe booth to stab me with a screwdriver when I get shot down.  I want to fly casually, not become some flight sim geek.  There are some games I play where flying a prop or jet is needed and I'm tired of failing so poorly with a keyboard.  It will also open up my portfolio to games where flight may be the main game mechanic, hopefully.

[Camper-Hunter]

No experience with it. But now I'm thinking of getting a joystick too! My wife won't thank you, Battle Cat. I'd take a T.16000M because I need an ambidextrous device. The problem is my desk is so crowded I don't know where I'd put it! (OK, I could clean up, some papers have been there for years...).
I see CH Products still sell the Flightstick Pro, I had one 25 years ago and it hasn't changed one bit (except it's now connected via USB rather than ADB)! I hope for them the product development is amortized by now.

[the Battle Cat]

I like the T.16000M's modular design. Perhaps if I take well to flying I'll go that route next time.

[Frost]

I have had quite a lot of the major sticks and accessories over the past 6 years since I got back into flight sims. Here's the short and dirty version of my opinions.

Is Thrustmaster the best answer? Yes.

But I'm on a budget? Yes.

But I want a dedicated throttle? Yes.

But that's too much, maybe I want to add a throttle later? Still yes.

What about the T-Flight HOTAS X? No. It's a cheap holdover from when Thrustmaster was putting out mediocre budget products for the PS3 and Xbox 360 last decade. It's revoltingly inferior to the T.16000M despite being close in price. Seriously, the steering precision of TM's products can be summed up as a McLaren MP4 (Warthog) versus a C7 Corvette (T.16000M) versus a base model Altima (T-Flight HOTAS X), and the throttle is doubly unimpressive.

But people online say CH is as good or better? They are wrong.

But people online say MadCatz is okay. They're really wrong.

But people online say Saitek is as good or better? They were good. Then MadCatz bought them. Then in typical MadCatz fashion, $250 sets started falling apart on their owners due to cheap construction. Then MadCatz sold Saitek to Logitech. The end results of that are still in the air. I wouldn't buy one yet.

If you want a T.16000M but really don't want to spend much over around the $40 mark, PM me. I can arrange something.

[the Battle Cat]

Frost, on 21 May 2017 - 04:10 PM, said:

If you want a T.16000M but really don't want to spend much over around the $40 mark, PM me. I can arrange something.

You've done so much already for me, I don't want to wear you out.  The Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Flight Stick module is right for me.  Between you and Camper-Hunter it sounds like a pretty sweet system.    First I'll buy the T.16000M FCS Flight Stick, then later add the modular throttle controller upgrade and a rudder foot peddle module if the gods of the wind and sky so decree.  Found a stick for 56 bucks.  Next Month is my Birthday.  Gonna get me something that I don't have to get shots for later.  Tigers can fly, so why not I?  Thank you for your input mens.

[Camper-Hunter]

I received the T.16000M I ordered. Base buttons are a bit mushy, and you'd better not have small hands to grip this joystick (fortunately mine are large enough), otherwise it's okay.
I've been playing a few games from my Steam library, but it's mostly arcade I've tried so far: Ace Combat Assault Horizon (OK game, a bit boring), DogFighter (quite poor), Air Conflicts Pacific Carriers (already finished with the mouse actually).
I'm downloading Battlestations Midway (which I already finished with the mouse too, but just to check how it handles joysticks and I may buy the sequel Battlestations Pacific), Strike Suit Zero and MS Flight Simulator X (holy sh*t: there are 194 DLCs for this, for a total of €3450! Insanity!).

[macdude22]

Camper-Hunter, on 05 June 2017 - 03:40 AM, said:

MS Flight Simulator X (holy sh*t: there are 194 DLCs for this, for a total of €3450! Insanity!).

Dovetail is the master of overpriced piece meal DLC. They do good work but trains and planes are not worth 20+ bucks a pop. There are 50-75% off sales a couple times a year so if there are trains and planes you're interested in just toss them on your wish list and get notified when they are on sale. Yo wallet will thank you.

[Janichsan]

macdude22, on 05 June 2017 - 06:26 AM, said:

Dovetail is the master of overpriced piece meal DLC. They do good work but trains and planes are not worth 20+ bucks a pop.

Dovetail didn't start it in this case, especially since most of the DLC are actually third-party. That was already the case when FS X was still owned by Microsoft. This seems to be a common theme for civil flight sims: just look at the DLC available for X-Plane (which also all third-party).

[Frost]

Janichsan, on 05 June 2017 - 06:35 AM, said:

Dovetail didn't start it in this case, especially since most of the DLC are actually third-party. That was already the case when FS X was still owned by Microsoft. This seems to be a common theme for civil flight sims: just look at the DLC available for X-Plane (which also all third-party).

In X-Plane's defense it looks like they're selling super-detailed airports. For someone who's flying into an airport like that and using X-Plane to learn their way around before doing it for real, the absurd cost all of a sudden is super-justifiable. $20 and $30 is a drop in the bucket in even in the world of general aviation.

[Camper-Hunter]

Yes I understand this kind of software isn't merely a game, but is also used for training, etc., and this justifies semi-pro pricing. Because even if bought on sale at -75%, buying all FSX DLCs would seriously hurt the average gamer's wallet. This badly need a bundle: Humble Bundle or Bundle Stars, get moving already!

Back on topic: the T.16000M is super smooth with FSX, it feels much better than with the arcade games. I've not played this "game" since MS Flight Simulator II on a Mac Plus when I was a kid and it has come a long way in 30 years. The learning center is very useful, and missions are cool. Graphics are average for 2017, no wonder since the game was released in 2006. I find it weird the graphical engine hasn't been updated in all this time!

The Battle Cat, which games do you intend to use the stick with?

[the Battle Cat]

Camper-Hunter, on 06 June 2017 - 03:24 AM, said:

Yes I understand this kind of software isn't merely a game, but is also used for training, etc., and this justifies semi-pro pricing. Because even if bought on sale at -75%, buying all FSX DLCs would seriously hurt the average gamer's wallet. This badly need a bundle: Humble Bundle or Bundle Stars, get moving already!

Back on topic: the T.16000M is super smooth with FSX, it feels much better than with the arcade games. I've not played this "game" since MS Flight Simulator II on a Mac Plus when I was a kid and it has come a long way in 30 years. The learning center is very useful, and missions are cool. Graphics are average for 2017, no wonder since the game was released in 2006. I find it weird the graphical engine hasn't been updated in all this time!

The Battle Cat, which games do you intend to use the stick with?

Just Cause 3 to start with, others if the controller works well for me.  There is a jet mission in JC3 that is required to complete in order to advance the story.  I can get the damn jet in the air, but after that it all falls to popsnizzle and I always crash.  I can fly great and land on a gnats gnut in a helicopter, but fixed wing flights always end in screaming and dying and an acre of burning aviation fuel.

Also, you can call me "Battle Cat".

[macdude22]

the Battle Cat, on 06 June 2017 - 11:24 AM, said:

Just Cause 3 to start with, others if the controller works well for me.  

oh its for just cause, you should just wait for me to stop being lazy and mail you that old xbox controller before you buy a flight stick for just cause

[the Battle Cat]

I used to play MS Flight Simulator on my Mac Plus, I wound up buying the FAA Instrument Flying Handbook and another called Aviation Fundamentals.  Thought for awhile that flight simulators would be my thing then Escape From Castle Wolfenstein came out, then Doom, and I've never been the same since.  BUT it was my childhood dream to fly and it keeps calling to me.  So I want to get something nice for my birthday that will open flight games to me in a modular fashion.

But still... hell boy get off your butt and send me that xbox controller so I can be a better bro at Broforce.  I'm about as useful a bro to you in that game as Brogyver's bomb toss is.  Thanks for sending me your xbox controller,  I know you will have to now because I just pulled the Bro Card on you.  It was my cunning plan.