I have been playing FS since version 4 and am looking forward to the release of Flight. I used a number of different joysticks over the years and finally needed to replace the last one I broke a few years ago (Why can't they make a decent reasonably priced joystick that will hold up for more than 6 months) and decided to try a gamepad. I have always liked the way the XBox 360 controller fits in my hands so I spent the $45 on the wired XBox Controller for Windows and hooked it up to my PC. Windows recognized it right away and I didn't have to load the included drivers. FS9 recognized it right away and I set about mapping the controls, including the D-Pad, to the functions I wanted quick access to. I had 12 buttons that I could map plus the triggers to act as rudder pedals. It certainly doesn't have the same feel as a joystick when you are flying, but for me that was a mental thing anyway. I was pretending to fly so I felt better about having a pretend control stick to use. But once I got used to the feel of the gamepad and how light it is compared to the last couple of sticks I had used I have never looked back. It is also way easier to pack for when I travel.
When I moved to FSX I moved my gamepad along with me and FSX also recognized the XBox controller right away. 15 minutes re-mapping the controls to my old FS9 settings and I was up and running again. FSX also recognized all the buttons and controls on the gamepad. The right stick (the one I use to look around with) did work differently in FSX than it did in FS9 but that was the only real difference.
There are wired and wireless XBox 360 Controllers for Windows and obviously the wireless one is more expensive, it includes a rechargeable battery, a transceiver and a USB dongle to connect the gamepad to the PC. So it just makes sense that it would cost more. At $33.99 for the wired http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWLA/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1330015334&sr=8-4 and $43.99 for the wireless one http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Controller-Windows/dp/B004QRKWKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330015334&sr=8-1 they are about the same price or a little bit cheaper than a good multi button joystick that would actually hold up for awhile.
And in the spirit of full disclosure, I don't work for Microsoft. I have just been using their products for over 30 years and for the most part like them. This has all been my opinion and you are free to agree or disagree with it as you choose. :-)
