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http://www.thrustmaster.com

I guess the Saitek and Logitech offerings have convinced them it's time to replace the Cougar?




The Jedi Master

Competition is a good thing

Hopefully TM will produce a stick that will build on the strengths of the Cougar while learning from past shortcomings. TM has finally embraced Hall effect sensors, now they need high quality gimbals and switch housings out of the box, not imported from Australia (Uber customer #055, right here). Software is great, hardware could be as good if they do it right the first time.

Ooh, does this mean that they're going to produce a split-throttle based on the A-10's this time?

(The stick wouldn't change much, though, as it's practically identical to the F-16 design they've used since the FLCS.)

It's also about damn time they brought out a successor to the ol' Cougar. Hopefully, they'll refine the software even further, as I find it second only to CH Products' astounding Control Manager. Perhaps they'll take the opportunity to regain the programmability lead here?

Finally, from their talk of Hall sensors, it will most likely be a traditional deflecting stick, unlike my FCC-modded Cougar or the upcoming Saitek X65F. If that's the case, will it have force-feedback, or will FFB within a HOTAS still remain the exclusive realm of Logitech?

P.S.: I hope to goodness that the paint on the Warthog stays on much better than the Cougar. The paint on mine is starting to peel off pretty badly, especially after wiping it down to get the gunk off that bare human hands leave after a bit of hard dogfighting. Also, if there are rotaries, can the electrical range be the full physical range with the electrical center right where the physical detent is this time?

The A-10C doesn't have a strain guages IRL, so the stick will most likely move. Whether they will use potentionometers or HS remains to be seen...



Most of these smaller fixes have been corrected on newer serial #'s of the HOTAS Cougar lineup. My main stick has a 18,000-serial and the paint is almost entirely worn off the FLCS handle down to bare metal from top to bottom on one side of the handle. I also have a 33,000-serial stick (NIB) and it has a completely different type of paint coating on it (matte instead of glossy finish) and I'd suspect it's more "peel resistant". The antenna elev rotary has its detent in the correct place, speed brake-, and dogfight switches are also aligned out of the box on my newer serial... I know for a fact that TM has made small corrections to the HC over the years (and between various serial batches), but exactly what they are I'm not sure of. These are just my own observations between several HC I own, and I can tell you for a fact that there are some very noticable differences between the 18,000-serial and the 33,000-serial.

Another one that comes to mind is the use of Allen screws to secure the stick handle on the shaft instead of Phillips head.

Whoa, had no idea there were refinements, my stick is #2785 ... no peeling paint though, I guess my sweat isn't as acidic as others'. If it makes you feel better paint wearing off metal controls is quite normal over time, the yokes in the DC-9s I used to fly had a lot of paint wear.

Really? My Cougar's serial is 14832, which could have something to do with it. I also have an annoying issue with unreliable microstick Y-axis response that I hope they've fixed by now

I've thought about picking up a brand new Cougar and transplanting my FCC-1 into its stick base to get rid of some of the little idiosynchranies, but then Logitech and Saitek started announcing new stuff...and now Thrustmaster has this.

Your comments on new Cougars fixing the issues that fed anti-TM fanboys in HOTAS flamewars of years past makes me want to do that...but not until I see just what the heck this HOTAS Warthog is. (I really would love to have a split-throttle, though it would take away from the authenticity factor in Falcon 4.0...but even in that same title, having dedicated engine control for F-15s and such would make it worth it.)

I just hope they'll use a better gimbal system and HALL sensors this time. Don't want to order multiple parts from all over the world to get this thing right.

These were in design well before they learned of the Saitek and Logitech offerings. (I know because I was there.) I can't release further details yet as I'm under contract and NDA, but the name pretty much gives it away as to what's coming.

Nutty

Thanks Nutty!

Something tells me if it wasn't for you there'd be no Cougar nor Warthog...