Any recommendations for a PC joystick?

Grimthwacker

I've been gaming on my laptop a lot, and I'm starting to worry about the wear and tear it'll put on the keys I use most (like WADS and other FPS setup standards). I'd like to invest in a nice, inexpensive PC joystick to use with the mouse, and pickings at the local Best Buy are pretty slim. Does anybody have any good picks I can look into, and where I can find them? Thanks.

Stormwatcher

what kind of joystick exactly? A flight stick or a gamepad?
and why not a cheap usb keyboard?

A good, inexpensive but sturdy flightstick is the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro.

mcdermott

Thrustmaster Warthog. The only sensible option.

Grimthwacker

Stormwatcher wrote:

what kind of joystick exactly? A flight stick or a gamepad?
and why not a cheap usb keyboard?

Well, I was looking into a gamepad, but they don't work with a lot of Steam games like TF2 and Left 4 Dead that I play (other than the XBox 360 controller, which I'd need the USB input device for, but both together run for $60). I don't really want a flightstick, just something I can use in conjunction with the mouse. Again, something not overly complicated and something that works well in replacing WADS control via the "controller" or "joystick" options in the stuff I play.

minor incident

I'm not really sure about the using-in-conjunction-with-a-mouse bit, but a 360 pad is the way to go. You can find wired ones for under $30 easily.

Professor Snugglesworth

You can also find a wireless receiver for a 360 pad for under $30 as well.

It's pretty much the standard for PC controllers, as many multiplatform games support it out of the box.

A cheaper alternative is using a Bluetooth dongle and a program to hook up a wireless PS3 controller, which further allows you to "trick" the system into thinking its a 360 controller. This comes in handy for those few titles that have wonky 360 controller support like Alpha Protocol (I get analog deadzone issues where the character moves on his own).

Xpadder is also the way to go for mapping keyboard/mouse commands onto either controller. Handy for games like Mass Effect 2.

Also, fuck Bioware for not including controller support in ME2 on PC. ME3 better have it.

Stormwatcher

Yeah, wired 360 pad is best pad.

Dunno about anything that could work with mice.

TOGSolid

Grimthwacker wrote:

I've been gaming on my laptop a lot, and I'm starting to worry about the wear and tear it'll put on the keys I use most (like WADS and other FPS setup standards). I'd like to invest in a nice, inexpensive PC joystick to use with the mouse, and pickings at the local Best Buy are pretty slim. Does anybody have any good picks I can look into, and where I can find them? Thanks.

http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-G13-Programmable-Gameboard-Display/dp/B001NEK2GE/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_1

Joysticks? We don't need no stinking joysticks, just moar keys! Honestly, if you're just looking to save wear and tear on your keys, then here you go. A complete WASD + goodies replacement. There are other options out there if you're not a Logitech fan for some weird reason, so look around.

mcdermott

Yeah, I use the Razer Nostromo. It's pretty sweet. Gives you a little stick, extra mouse wheel, and fifteen keys...more than enough for 99% of games.

TychoCelchuuu

This is getting extremely complicated, convoluted, and expensive. You don't need a joystick or a 360 controller or a G13 or a Nostromo or wireless receivers for a 360 controller or anything.

You need this.

Stormwatcher

why does he need a shitty shitty keyboard
He already has a keyboard.