Does anyone have a sort of list or can tell me some games that use a joystick? I'm thinking of getting freespace 2 but don't really feel like spending £20 on a joystick just for this(I know i can use a mouse but thats just dumb). I was thinking along the lines of space sims as i'm not really into flight sims. I was looking at X3 but don't know how well it controls.

X3 is kind of a... Niche... Game. It's very expansive and interesting, but it's not very exciting. If you want older games, there's always the classic Wing Commander and X-Wing games. On the newer side you've got stuff like Darkstar One, but personally I think FS2 was the last of the good ones. It's really worth $6, especially when you add the Freespace Open community into the equation.

Think of this way; at this price for the game, you're spending what excess you might have from getting a newer title on a way to enjoy this gem the way it should be.

Thanks for the advice, i was thinking about it and thought I'd be quite happy to spend £20 on the game, and considering i can get this for free with my beta key, i may aswell get the joystick. I also checked out darkstar one and it looks pretty good and found a freeware game called free allegiance.

I tried DarkStar One. I never managed to get into it. Not sure why as it's quite a bit like Freelancer I think but with a joystick controller... I guess I just like my (joystick based) space sims to have lots of lasers and explosions and not much else :)

Hey, i just found some more space sims that are meant to be pretty good. Not sure if anyone is that bothered but i thought i'd chuck these out there if anyone (like i was) is debating wether to get a joystick for freespace. They're both made by the same developer but arvoch conflict is a mission based combat sim and evochron renegades is a freeform space sim, with trading, open universe and combat.
[url=]http://starwraith3dgames.home.att.net/evochronrenegades/index.htm[/url]
[url=]http://www.arvoch.com/[/url]

I don't know if this is the right place for this, but can anyone recommend a joystick suitable for use with Freespace? I'm really interested in playing the "right" way.
Edit: Silly me! I just noticed the topic further down the page. Feel free to ignore me!

Wait, you want games with joystick controls yet don't want to buy a joystick? Huh?
Freespace 2 can be controlled with a keyboard and mouse just fine. Other games to look for, if you eventually DO get a stick, include:
The aforementioned X series, though it might be too deep at times for real enjoyment
The X-Wing/Tie Fighter series, especially Tie Fighter
The Wing Commander series, especially Privateer
Tachyon: The Fringe
Terminus
Jumpgate (this one is an MMO though)
Star Crusader
That should get ya started. ;)

You know, I really hate to even bring it up, but Star Wars Galaxies. I really wish they'd bring out the Jump to Lightspeed part of it as a standalone game (with a story and stuff). The space combat is the one thing they REALLY nailed in that game.
Basically what I'm saying is that I wish they'd make a new X-Wing/Tie Fighter game - get back to their roots.

You and me both buddy, but for now I'm happy replaying Tie Fighter again. NEVER get tired of that game. ;)