Enhance Your Gaming with Vista-Friendly Peripherals - Part 2
Flight Control Systems (cont.)Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar | ARP: $205 / £130 Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar The most realistic flightstick and throttle combo on the market is, without a doubt, Thrustmaster's HOTAS Cougar, a replica of the U.S. Air Force F-16 block 52 controller. While the competition houses their components in plastic shells, the HOTAS Cougar is decked out in full metal casings. Its feature set includes 28 programmable buttons, multiple hat switches and axes, 18-pound springs, adjustable throttle resistance, afterburner and idle detent, a long-travel coolie hat and easy to use software with pre-programmed functions. As for performance, it's near flawless. This beastie is one of the most realistic combat flight controller duos available and has an extremely loyal following. Is it the best alternative? Well, that depends on what you're looking for. It's definitely the most realistic looking HOTAS and the only all-metal combo. All the Cougar really lacks is a multifunction display and complete Windows Vista 64-bit compatibility.
Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System, Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant and Pro Flight Rudder Pedals | ARP: $130, $48, $125 / £140, £60, £100 Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System It used to be that if you wanted an affordable flight sim yoke, your choices were severely limited. That's no longer the case with the release of Saitek's Pro Flight Yoke System. Aimed at dedicated flight fans, this new yoke-and-quadrant duo, when paired with rudder pedals and another quadrant (for handling larger aircraft), can be had for just over $300 – a fairly low investment when compared to high-end controllers (a compatible LCD-based Flight Instrument Panel is due in 2008). What's included? The Pro Flight Yoke System is based on actual aircraft controls and features an integrated USB Hub (to connect other Saitek Pro Flight products), stainless steel shaft with precision bearings, built-in chronograph, 14 buttons, a point-of-view hat switch, three-position mode switch and a separate throttle quadrant with additional switches for throttle, flaps, mixture and prop pitch. Saitek Smart Technology software allows you to configure controls to your liking and save them as personal profiles. Available separately, the Pro Flight Throttle Quadrant offers three axis levers and three two-way rocker switches, and includes additional lever heads to adapt the configuration of throttle, flaps, mixture and prop pitch to suit the type of aircraft being flown. While one quadrant is included with the Pro Flight Yoke System, you can easily add another to upgrade your flight sim experience, expanding the number of controls available to handle bombers and large, multi-engine commercial aircraft (one is sufficient for single-engine craft).
The third component in this mix, Saitek's Pro Flight Rudder Pedals add further realism to the game experience. Its precise, three-axis pedals are solidly built, self-centering with adjustable damping and near silent in operation. Features include tension correction, footrest adjustment and non-slip construction. Moreover, programming software allows you to configure the pedals to suit your gaming style, as well as save your configurations as individual profiles. Setup is easy, but learning to use rudder pedals requires some time and effort (regardless of maker). A better carpet-gripping system is needed.
Saitek X52 Pro and Pro Flight Rudder Pedals | ARP: $190, $125 / £140, £100 Saitek X52 Pro Flight System One-upping Saitek's previous X52 combo, the X52 Pro bears a much higher-grade, design that’s more than skin deep. This matte-black joystick and throttle duo features niceties such as a precision centering mechanism, non-contact technology on both X and Y axes, 3D rudder twist, constant spring force to reduce free play on the stick and an advanced Multi-Function Display (MFD) on the throttle with a pair of dedicated MFD buttons and rotary dials. Between the two controllers, a combined total of 30 programmable buttons, triggers and switches allow for the utmost in customization, while lighted buttons and MFD backlighting provide ideal illumination for low-light environments. It’s a distinctively-styled, finely-engineered duo for sim buffs. The only real downside? Game profiles for the X52 Pro are scarce and using the included profile editor is a bit tedious and time consuming. As reference above, Saitek's Pro Flight Rudder Pedals are a high-quality addition and offer a near flawless gaming experience with regard to functionality, performance and realism. The well-constructed, self-centering, three-axis pedals enable foot control of the rudder function while providing precise rudder and braking control. The Pro Flight Rudder Pedals tend to slip a bit when used on carpeting, too. Still, the overall package is high quality and a solid investment.
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