Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading worldwide third-party
interactive entertainment accessory provider, today announced the introduction of
the Pro Flight X65F Control System under its Saitek brand. A premium hands-on
throttle and stick flight simulation device, the X65F utilizes 'Force Sensing'
technology, a world first for a commercial gaming device.

Force Sensing technology simulates the authentic aircraft controls typically found
in modern fighter jets by responding to the pressure exerted on the stick while it
remains still at all times. With the stick remaining still and in-game movements
reacting only to the player's pressure, gamers can command with extreme precision
resulting in realistic, fatigue free response. In addition to the Force Sensing
Shaft and Twist Rudder Controls, the X65F affords gamers the opportunity to adjust
multiple aspects of the Force Sensing system on-the-fly, including adjustments for
each axis of the stick, resulting in customized control without the need to
interrupt game play,

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, "The
release of the new X65F demonstrates our intent to deliver industry-leading realism
in control systems and accessories for simulation game enthusiasts. We believe the
X65F is an ideal showcase for the innovation and engineering prowess of our Saitek
engineering team and believe that consumers will respond enthusiastically to the new
technology utilized in this product and look forward to its release in time for the
holiday season."

Exhibiting state-of-the-art technology along with premium build quality, the X65F is
constructed from metal, with a high-grade steel shaft containing no moving parts,
thus increasing the product's longevity.

Featuring a separate Dual Throttle with rear Switch Panel controls, the system
allows for finer precision when controlling a twin engine jet and can be locked
together when flying single engine aircraft. Both the Stick and Dual Throttle
Control Unit feature a comprehensive array of hats, buttons, triggers and switches
allowing total control of the most complex of aircraft and when combined with the
additional 5 control switches, Force-Sensing strength selection, mode indication and
mounting points for Saitek Pro-Flight Instrument Panels located on the rear panel,
gamers have access to an astonishing 608 possible commands without the need to ever
remove their hands from the X65F controls!

Ideal as the centrepiece of a premium professional flight simulation installation,
the X65F has been designed to seamlessly integrate with other products in the Saitek
Pro-Flight range, offering full compatibility with the Pro-Flight Instrument Panel
and Pedal System (both sold separately) to deliver an all encompassing flight
experience.

The X65F ships with Saiteks proprietary SST software, allowing users to reconfigure
multiple control aspects of the system to ensure compatibility with virtually all PC
flight simulation or flight action titles. In addition, the X65F is fully
compatible with Windows(tm)7, Vista(tm) and XP(tm) operating systems.

The Saitek Pro Flight X65F Control System is expected to be available across North
America and various European territories beginning in the fall of 2009 retailing for
an SRP of: $399.99 / £349.99.

Thanks for the press release/update; and the photo [RS]Wedge. But unless I win the lottery, this is all window shopping for me. It does seem that this , andthe latest Logitech offering, hve to be sold as a whole package, but it would be sweet to have them as individual components.
Again, thaks for the info.
Regards,
Derek

$400 for a controller with a handful of sims that even feature FSS a/c technology no less. Well here's hoping they make a proper FFB stick still, HOTAS preferably......

Don't get me wrong this looks like a great stick but given this is marketed to high end simmers yet alone ones that fly Falcon or some FSX add-ons exclusively it leaves a lot to be desired for the rest of the sim community. I guess saitek is really banking on modern sims that haven't been released yet? A great looking piece of kit but I think most will be turned off by the FSS technology given the heavy emphasis on non FSS sims available.

Other than the F-16, which civil and military aircraft have force-sensing controls? Of those, how many are represented in high fidelity simulations?

Way overpriced compared to the G940.

This what Saitek have said

They have also said the throttle WILL NOT be available separately

I have an FSSB R1 mod on my Cougar and don't really care for it. I don't hate it but it just doesn't feel right most of the time and especially in BS.

I guess it is their right to test the market but they just have chosen such a niche I don't see how this will be successful! My money, in other words my opinion, would have gone towards a HOTAS with FFB and a split throttle like the G940.

Well I won't be one of those people finding its a joy to use in other non FSS sims. I like a bit of realistic feel (impossible I know) in sims and having a stick that actually moves is part of that realism. Well looks like I'll be modding the Logitech pedals as a stand alone device so I can use the HOTAS with my saitek pedals. Saitek is losing its touch with all the FSX oriented hardware and it seems they're making what they think we need and not what we think IMO.

This post on the Saitek forum sums it up.


How can they get it SO wrong???????

I betcha they will release a 'regular' version of this joystick.
So they can please a wider market. Guaranteed!

Unless they want to lose all the R&D money they invested in it, and not make any substantial sales.

I'm sure they hate me over on the Saitek forums!

I'll betcha Saiteks sales won't go up drastically, their own confidence aside. 400$ for a controller with no relevance and or $400 for a throttle with a stick attachment few want.

Well, look at hand rest of X65F stick: 8mm/28grm.

Seems that stick have a movement= 8mm.

Sokol1

LOL Good looking out Sokol! I'm gonna stop my complaining here because I vote with my wallet and it says no!

8mm of "possible" movement? Not gonna make it into my flight game hardware closet. I am more interested in something that actually MOVES and responds to my inputs in a way that I can actually SEE. If they did release a real tactile version of this I bet it would still be up in the $300+ range since they would need to make some money to offset the high dollar low selling items that they obviously geared up to make and sell.

US$400? Can't afford that. (Then again, just the FCC-2 or FSSB ALONE to mod a Cougar with costs a bit more than that, so the X65F has effectively made force-sensing stick tech that much more affordable for the serious Falcon 4.0 jock.)

I just wish that they had two versions of the stick-the force-sensing version they have now, and a deflecting force-feedback variant for the prop job types. Even better if they're interchangeable so that one could switch between both sticks based on the sim at hand.

(Why has no one done that yet?)

LOL How many people buy two high end sticks to switch between the sim at hand? Richie Rich?

I've seen a few Cougar owners who have both FCC/FSSB and U2-NXT/Evenstrain/etc. stick bases, or they might throw in something like the old MS SideWinder FFB2 for the prop jobs. Of course, they have a heck of a lot more money than most of us to spend on flight sim gear, myself included.

Exactly a few, now back to the original question about "how many people would buy?"........... lol

Psycho, er I mean Hardcore simmers don't count!

Some more information about the device click here

What Saitek should have done here is have a gimbal system in place and within the gimbal system, have the force sensing module. Then have a locking mechanism for the stick where the gimbal system doesn't move and relies on the force sensing module and then have the ability to unlock the stick where it can then move via the gimbal system and disable the force sensing module via software.

Now that would have been a killer setup. While it would have added an extra $100 or so, that $500 price tag would be a lot better value than the $400 price tag for a force sensing only stick. I think they are making a big mistake with such a limited focus. It's a shame to because that throttle looks like the coolest on the market and I have no complaints about the stick either with the exception of its limited scope. They'll probably give it a couple of years, but I bet they will have a revision that is more worthwhile for a wider audience.

I agree with you.

Yeah thats how I feel too, like the stick but not the technology involved. Well we will see what the sales figures tell us but I still have a hunch that this product line will bomb on low sales. I'd gladly give my $400 for a FFB version though...........

According to the saitek forum they claim that not enough people wanted a FFB Saitek Hotas!
If they had to go down this route they should of made the thruster seperate and made two sticks FFB and FS and you pick the type that you want but they probably knew that the FFB stick would have out sold the FS stick.
Very bad call from Saitek.

Because it's VERY expensive to make.

Jason

I might be naive, but maybe it's not about how many people will buy but having pride in a quality product?

No, what a dumb idea. Forget it.