A list of Vendetta tested and recommended joysticks on the system requirements page would be nice. I was thinking of getting a Logitech Force 3D Pro joystick if the one I have breaks. I have a Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2, which is old, and it has driver issues, but works well though the return-to-center strength is not strong as it used to be.

put the thrustmaster fox 2 pro on the no no list,it hates the game and cant be configured even by witchcraft.

We only have one Thrustmaster stick at work, for testing, but it works ok. Sorry to hear that one doesn't.

The sticks we've tested the game with the most: Logitech, followed more distantly by Saitek. That said, we're a generation behind on most sticks, so we haven't tested the very latest and greatest, but they should all work fine. Strictly speaking, anything should work fine, but we have had some weird edge-cases of sticks that were unusual in some way and resulted in unexpected behaviour.

Saitek Cyborg EVO works fine with my iMac. I have two of them installed at the same time, and everything works just fine.

I also have a Logitech Rumblepad 2 that works with the VO game and my iMac.

No issues whatsoever with any of them, the springs on the sticks have lasted about a year now, without losing any resistance or spring-back.

the same joystick as leber's works quite well with linux too.

and with no added OStweaking

Any joystick that supports DirectInput should be recognized on the controller page correct?

As a side note, I have my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 at the highest return-to-center tension as well. I don't think that this joystick uses springs, but belts and gears drive the force feedback in it.

Good to know that the Logitech joysticks work with Vendetta. Now I don't have to worry as much. Thanks!

I have a Logitech Force 3D Pro. It works well, but Logitech doesn't offer much in the way of callibrating it (using Win2K Pro) and it tends to not sit in center. I got to try the Saitek Cyborg EVO and it is better for VO. But... the Force 3D Pro works really well for other games that support force feedback.

I have 2 Saitek Cyborg EVOs for my PC, and they work great in VO. In fact, they ROCK.

Man the Microsoft FF2 is one of the best joysticks ever made - just go with that. Unlike software, Microsoft hardware is actually worth its price.

firsm, I know it is really good, that is why I am afraid of which joystick to go for after this one breaks since it seems like it's on its "last legs". Microsoft doesn't seem to want to make another version. I have driver issues when I access the controller settings where it terminates with errors as I go around the menus.

I looked at the Saitek Cyborg EVO and it looks cool (http://www.saitekusa.com/usa/prod/cyborg_evo.htm). What are the shift buttons used for? No force feedback on this one for my other games.

The "Shift" buttons on the Saitek are just normal buttons. The software that Saitek ships for Windows maps them to act as configuration toggle. I'm not sure if it acts as a temporary shift (hold the button while pressing another) or an on/off type. For OS X, I think Gamepad Companion can also set up that kind of behavior. Not sure about Linux, never used a stick on it.

And you can always emulate a config toggle in-game by scripting up some binds and aliases that remap all of the buttons at once.

Saiteks are good. The spring and stick itself tend to hold up well, though the hat switch and buttons wear out over time. Joysticks in general aren't as much of a priority for accessory makers, it seems, because the flight sim market seems to be at an all-time low.

the shift buttons are just like any other button. The saitek profiler can configure any button to any keystroke, and by default the shift buttons are to the shift key AFAIK. I use a different (more convenient) button for shift though. The idea is that by pressing shift and another button at the same time, you double up on commands. The pinky-switch shift lever on the Saitek X52 was a million times more useful than any other button on the EVO, since you can simultaneously press it and any other buttons without repositioning your hands at all... the shift on the base isn't great for that.

I spent some time today looking at Joystick comments. I compiled a list of the controllers that are stated in NO UNCERTAIN TERMS to work FINE with VO.

I don't use windows, and I am guessing the windows users have the fewest problems with compatibility anyway. So I only listed Mac OS and Linux compatibility after each.

Joysticks:
Logitech Attack 3 M
Logitech Extreme 3D L/M
Logitech Force 3D Pro M
Logitech Wingman 3D M
Logitech Wireless Freedom L
Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold M
Saitek Cyborg Evo L/M
Saitek ST290 M
Saitek X45 L2.6.4/
Saitek X52 Joystick and throttle M*
Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro USB ?

Gamepads:
Logitech Rumblepad 2 M
Playstation 2 Controller + Super Joybox 5 Pro Playstation 2 to USB L

Notes: Extreme 3D - can strafe and roll, is "awesome", seem to have lots of happy users.
Reconditioned Saitek: http://saitekusa.stores.yahoo.net/recprod.html

Hope this list saves someones else some time.

I recently came across this thread and have been reading it with great interest.

I, too, am currently going through the agonising process of trying to select the ideal joystick setup for VO that will:

a) Work with MacOS X (including Leopard, if possible) on my MacBook Pro

b) Contain enough analogue axes to do all the necessary functions in VO (and preferably other games as well, including flight sims) and enough buttons so that I won't run out. I think a 4-axis stick will do the job (pitch, roll, yaw, thrust) but perhaps more would be beneficial for use with other functions.

c) Work well with VO (since this is my primary concern) but also be useful for other games that I may want to use a stick with. It is most likely that these other games would be Flight Sims since other types of games are not really suited to sticks. However, operation with other games is secondary to it's operation with VO.

Within reason, price is no object in my case. I'll happily pay $300, or more if need be, for a good solution. Of course, I'd prefer to pay less than that.

I have been impressed with many of the offerings from Saitek, notably the Cyborg Evo Range and especially the X52, however, as far as I am aware, these will not work on the Mac. However, some of the posts above seem to contradict this. Can anyone tell me definitively whether or not I would be able to plug a Cyborg Evo or X52 into my MacBook Pro (under either Tiger or Leopard) and fully utilise all the buttons and axes that these sticks offer? If so, is there anything special that I would need to do?

Last week I purchased a Cyborg Evo Force and tried that out but I was unable to get all 4 axes to work. Only 2 were being recognised. If it had worked, I would have been reasonably happy with it, I think. Of course, that was before I found the X52 which seems to have so many whistles and bells that I can't see any game ever needing anything more.

Any advice that anyone can give me on this front would be very gratefully accepted. If anyone would prefer to correspond with me privately or via email, please let me know and I'll supply my contact details.

Thanks,
KD