How important for

[YertletheTurtle]

It may seem like a daft question, but it is the one thing that is holding me back from plunging headlong into a buying a joystick/flight control system.

I have used FS since FS98 and have always relied on the keyboard for my actions. Perhaps you could say I'm a slow learner that it's taken me this long to get around to a joystick ;)

Nevertheless I would really welcome any helpful advice from anyone who has used a joystick without forcefeedback, and from those who use one with, as to what their experiences are. If there are people who have used both, then better still :)

I have my eye on a Saitek X45 (might as well plunge in two feet first eh?), but since this doesn't support FF, it got me wondering what are the benefits?

So if anyone can assist in extolling the virtues of their yoke/stick/homemade gizmo by telling me what I'm missing if I don't get a stick that supports FF, I would really appreciate the help.


ps. I'm a southpaw, so if you have a suggestion for a stick that would benefit a lefty then so much the better.

Thanks again,

Joe

[YertletheTurtle]

The title was cut a bit short sorry, it should have been:

"How important for "real" experience is forcefeedback?"

Cheers

Joe

[ballofix]

My opinions of the topic:-

I don't bother with force feedback
Its a novelty and it causes big problems when you fly autopilot, because the joystick will slightly counteract any drastic movement of the aircraft, causing the autopilot to counteract the stick and so on..

Can't beat a CH Yoke and pedals, no force feedback, but realistic.

[YertletheTurtle]

Hi Steve.

I've had a similar reponse from several other people as well that it isn't all it's cracked up to be, and tends to be more hassle than it's worth.

Thanks for the pointers though, I'll have a trawl through some websites to look at prices now.

Cheers

Joe

[Bigshot]

I use the MSSWFFB2 stick. Wouldn't be without it. FS9 third party aircraft require a lot of adjustments to get good FFB as a rule. There are exceptions. The FFX line of aircraft and a few others have FFB all set up. Most of the rest require changes to and/or swapping out airfiles with FS2k2 aircraft along with many adjustments to the airfiles. I just swap them out. If you're not willing to tinker with airfiles and aircraft cfg files, you'd likely be disappointed with the MSSWFFB2 stick using FS9 because most designers just simply overlook it. Having said that, once you get the aircraft flightmodel adjusted for the stick, there's nothing better. Without my MSSWFFB2 stick, I would have thrown out every flight sim I have a long time ago. Without FFB, might as well use the keyboard. It's even more important when using combat sims. Especially IL2FB and just about any FPShooter.

I've never had an issue with an autopilot and FFB and find FFB one of the nicest features of any sim. Nothing more important than being able to feel what the aircraft is doing at any particular point. It's especially helpful on takeoff and landings. Nothing better than being able to feel the wheels lift off or touchdown on the runway or feel a stall coming on or being able to feel the controls tighten up as the speed increases and loosen up as you slow the aircraft down and knowing when the aircraft needs to be trimmed.

In short, I wouldn't be without one. Hope my MSSWFFB2 lasts for years. If it ever breaks, I'll be shopping EBay, I suppose.

[YertletheTurtle]

Hi there,

Well you're the first person I've had reply and say FF is a good thing! ;)

Seriously though, I appreciate the opposite view because although I do like tinkering with the .cfg files, I know my limitations and would end up probably not appreciating what FF has to offer.

Although I now know a lot of the sticks out there are more than capable of doing a ##### job of representing FF, I get the feeling as well that it has to rely rather heavily on the prowess of the aircraft desinger to include a well-written aircraft.cfg with their package. Although this is not normally an issue with payware models, I have a little niggle that FF is represents what I think it should be.

However I have not written off FF completely; I do appreciate what you've said and will bear it in mind when looking at a stick this month.

Thanks again,

Joe