force feedback joysticks

[mkepilot]

Can anyone tell me how these work?I would just like to know how often you get force feedback on these?For example,do you get more feedback besides landings and stalls?Do changes in airspeed affect the joystick?
Thanks

[Vike]

Put it this way - they won't change your life! I turned off the force feedback when on the ground because it just throws the stick left and right violently, causing you to zig-zag down the runway. In the air, it all depends on how well the aircraft has been designed, some, like the Dreamfleet 737 feel quite heavy at speed and get noticebly mushy and light on approach.

I'm glad I've got one, but to be honest I expected more based on the hype surrounding them when they were first released. BTW, these comments are based on the Microsoft Sidewinder FF.

Cheers,
Adam

[aman]

The violence in a joystick's FF is owing not to a lack of exorcism by Microsoft, but by errors/lackings in the aircraft.cfg. If the aircraft.cfg has no FF entry, the joystick is...well, pretty much evil incarnate! :) However, good force feedback settings give you good-ish effects, though, if you're a big ironer, go for a yoke over an FF joystick!

The incidents that provide force feedback can be seen in Settings > Controllers > Force Feedback...things such as stalls, the gear retracting, etc. all provide FF...

What I really dislike about FF is that there is no change in the rate of vibrations depending on aircraft groundspeed, i.e. your stick shakes just as violently at 2 knots as it does at 100! :-irks

Happy landings,

Aman

PS - I use the MS SideWinder FF 1

[Vike]

I'm intending a major system upgrade in a few months and intend to get a yoke / pedal / throttle set. In my mind, this will make flying "nicely" easier as I find coordinated turns almost impossible by twisting the stick and crosswind landings have to be based on reactions rather than planning.

Any yoke users out there who don't think yokes are they're cracked up to be?

Adam

[dil52]

Adam,
I have the USB CH Pro yoke and pedals. As with everything else in flight simming, there is give and take. I love the pedals, simply because they help maneuver on the ground, and after using them for awhile, steering with pedals becomes 2nd nature. They work to control the rudder when flying, but lack the FF (resistance proportional to speed) that a real airplane would have. They're as good as you can make it, as the old saying goes...(for the money) Do they 'feel' realistic? No, they're much too soft to the touch, and the toe brakes aren't the same as in a real aircraft. Bottom line, I like em. And that's after using them for quite some time, can I honestly say it.

The spring-loaded yoke is also a give and take situation. Yes, it helps because you're holding a yoke while flying and not a joystick, however, flying the helicopter is very unrealistic. Not that I've ever flown a real helicopter, it's just stands to reason, they are controlled with a stick instead. The spring-loaded action is not at all like the real thing either. If you are an automobile operator then you'll have an idea just exactly what I'm saying. It's not exactly like flying a real plane and the trim is much different, but anything other than hitting keys on the keyboard or having one hand on the mouse, is a step in the right direction. :-)

I used the FF. Sidewinder before acquiring the yoke and pedals, and albeit far from perfect, there is some of the realistic feel when the FF is working properly. It's just a little better that not have FF at all. Is it worth it? That is entirely on what value and individual would put on their enjoyment.

As with everything else in simming, the simulator requires a keen sense of imagination, plugged into the memory of what real feels like. Putting all this together makes for a hobby that retired Commercial Captains with 30,000 hours plus and 12 year olds can share the same sense of enjoyment.

Like everything else. You can take two people to the local sports event. The home team loses and one just had a miserable time. The other person will come away with wonderful memories of the nice time they had at the game.:-)

Hope this gives you some 'feedback', at least. Pun intended' :-)
All the best,
Fred
http://www.flight-sim.net

[Vike]

Thanks for all that Fred :)

Actually, that all makes a lot of sense. I remember a few years back buying an FF wheel for an F1 game. The wheel didn't see much sunlight before snuggling back in its box.

It's too easy to expect too much from these things.

So now I know the yoke & pedals aren't the be-all, hopefully I'll just be able to use them for what they are - an improvement over the stick.

I'll be satisfied if just simple VFR cruising at 1000ft is just, well, more relaxed!:)

Cheers,
Adam

[dil52]

YW Adam,
If you don't expect the yoke and pedals to create an affect of wind blowing in your face, you'll like the upgrade. :-)
Don't get frustrated with the pedals at first. They're harder to get used to than the real thing, but with that in mind, once you're comfortable with them it will add solice.

Another added feature that makes flying feel realistic, is a fairly good headset. I have a Optimus Nova 80 headset from Radio Shack, which has a volume control in the cord. They're comfortable to wear, and it keeps the background noise down as well. :-)

Just an office chair here. I'd like one of those chairs that vibrate, but then there's no use in getting carried away.:-)

The added throttles will be nice.

Fred,
http://www.flight-sim.net

[morvious]

FF is only nice for your sister,, if you have one..

I have a FF too, but i've put it off.. i just set mine jostic to some force i like.. thats the only reason why i like the ff joysticks.. It doesn't feel realistic to me.. (i dont know how a stick shakes in real life) but mine fealings are telling me that it isn't that real :) and i am sure i can trust my fealings

[Simon Evans]

I like FF for one reason above all others - you can disable the forced centring of the joystick.
Everything else I can take or leave, it's not earth-shattering, but I do like being able to leave the stick in position and NOT see it return to centre unless and until I put it there.


Simon Evans

[fbass]

I have a Microsoft forced feedback joystick and as far as I'm concerned it enhances the simulation of flight. You get the feel of the wheels on the runway, you get immediate feedback when you've pushed your aircraft over the edge, and the best feedback is when you put a "heavy" into a stall and it shakes your hand to pieces. Man its great. If you don't have one - GET IT NOW. You won't be sorry.