Hello,

I'm thinking about buying some of the Wing Commander games but I'd like to be able to play it with a joystick. Can anyone recommend a decent one, preferably $50 or less, that's worth getting with it?

For that matter, does it make the gameplay more engaging - or is it really worth it?

I have my eye on this baby right now:

http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Game-console/dp/B001CXYMFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314456876&sr=8-1

I haven't seen it in action but it seems to getting good reviews from people.

I just got a Thrustmaster T.16000M for about $45 on Amazon. It work really well for the games I've tried for far (WC1, X3, Descent: Freespace).

I grew up playing space sims, and to me, a flightstick is a must for this genre. Don't get me wrong, mouse control works fine for some games (X3 and Freelancer). I played these games that way recently, and it was tolerable, but now that I have a flightstick again it feels more natural to me.

Edit: By the way, a lot of the reason I made the choice I did is because I needed a stick that I could use left-handed. That drastically limited my selection. What I'm saying is there are probably better choices for righties, but this one does a pretty good job for either.

I have never had any problem with saitek sticks of any price range. Saitek sticks also come with a very easy to use profile software. Making it very easy to map the extra buttons to functions in older games like WC1+2 and Privateer.

I love my old Microsoft sidewinder Precision Pro... I have had it for I think at least 10 years. I have never wanted anything else. Make sure if you get it that it has the USB adapter.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Sidewinder-Precision-Pro-Joystick-7-PC-Games-/180713860331?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a1362aceb

Definitely the finest Flightstick for any Wing Commander...

I was wondering if force feedback for joysticks is passe now?

"Joystick deadzone" is known problem of DosBox (search this forum for more info/solution). I'm using mouse instead my Logitech WingMan Attack 2.

I've been trying the Saitek Cyborg Rumble pad - which is in essence almost the same thing as an XBOX 360 joypad, and it seems to be working wonderfully, though configuring it takes a bit of time.

Thanks for the suggestion!

get a saitek ST290 Pro
its 20 bucks or less, looks cool, has a throttle built into the base, and has 6 programmable buttons, AND a hatswitch, which you can map to anything you like (i usually use it for targetting, right for hostile, left for sub system targeting, up for target under reticule and down is usually countermeasures. you can also set the diagonal directions if you wish, giving you another 4 "buttons" to program)

I have the same problem, but judging from all the research online, it's not really possible to use the old gameport stick with an usb adapter. Not in a way that it would work properly anyways. So I guess the solution would be to buy a new usb edition of the stick.

But if anyone out there disagrees, please inform us how to make it work. :)

I went and picked up a Logitech ATK3 to relive the awesomeness that is, Wing Commander 3... Problem is that it works when I'm onboard the TCS Victory, but not in the cockpit...

Does anyone have a fix for this issue?

I have this exact same issue (and joystick, oddly)
Which is strange; when I play WC3 with my original CD's, it all works just fine. On the GOG version, joystick works everywhere just fine except when I'm flying. (I could easily tolerate vice versa, but this is just puzzling)