Hey Folks,

I was looking for a new flight stick but not sure what I wanted to get. I guess I'll settle for the Warthog, but I was wondering what people out there want to see on the market? What would be ideal for you?

* cough *

Thrustmaster ergonomics and feel, CH Products software and programmability, and force-feedback that's even smoother, yet just as tight as the Microsoft SideWinder Force-Feedback 2.

Obviously, it doesn't exist, but I totally wish it did. The second-best thing might be this amazing piece of DIY; I could probably get most of the functionality I want with just the two SWFFB2s and a TM HOTAS Warthog handle.

I'm curious...what "programmability" do you think is missing in TARGET? I concede that the GUI mode is rather limited, but that was by design. The script interface however...I literally cannot conceive of anything I'd want to do that it can't.

The WH is the best HOTAS I've ever had and can't see anything else surpassing it.

Until TM do the Hornet HOTAS of course muhahahahaha!

If that was directed at me, I haven't tried T.A.R.G.E.T., and now that I've sold my Cougar + RCS setup, I can't.

Since I wasn't making much use of the Cougar's hardware logical programming capabilities in the first place, I didn't really bother to try out T.A.R.G.E.T. since it was just added unnecessary complexity. If I had a T.16000-M, MFD Cougar set, or the Warthog, though, I definitely would have installed it, since they lack the Cougar's hardware programming.

However, I did dabble a bit with the Control Manager back when I had a Fighterstick and Pro Pedals, so I am more familiar with its capabilities. It also has a neat feature to disable controllers without unplugging them (very important when I don't want games only seeing the wrong devices due to shortsighted DirectInput implementations), though if there is such a thing as a USB hub with an on/off switch for each port, that would be an adequate substitute.

Long story short, it's just a matter of familiarity, though I have heard limitations of T.A.R.G.E.T. only providing one virtual, merged controller ID to DirectInput, whereas Control Manager Scripting isn't limited that way. Has that limitation been lifted in newer versions?

I'm very happy with my TM Warthog. Great feel, look & quality.

Another Vote for the Warthog here

Yes, I would say the Warthog too. The only problem that I have with it is the Throttle, it's not that versatile (too tailored towards the A-10, obviously). For instance, it has only one rotary/slider/thing with an axis, and it is located in a not very comfortable place. Also the software on it is... well, it's a disaster, sorry, but it is, IMHO.

But, yes, I'd recommend the Warthog.

TARGET is still limited to one virtual controller, yes. I'm baffled at how that's a limitation for 99.99999% of simmers out there (add a few more 9s if you want to include general gamers).

As to setting the appropriate device for older software, I (admittedly I don't play the variety of sims I once did now that life has caught up to me) have yet to see one that isn't properly resolved by use of the 'preferred controller' setting in Win7.

I'll agree that TARGET is a bit awkward to get into at first...especially on the script side. Once I put in a bit of time, however, I'm staggered at the things it lets me do.

Some things I've done as a learning exercise and/or for useful gain...

In my F4AF profile, I have it set so that if I push the LG WRN button while holding both ENG OPER switches in the momentary [IGN] position, it fires off my "ramp start" macro...and I can still use all those switches for other purposes as well. I get my "ramp start" cheat (grin) in a safe manner (can't really hit that combo by accident).

In my VTB profile, I can enable a routine that makes my MFD LEDs flash at me if I move the stick off the Y axis - I mostly used this as a crutch as I was trying to train myself not to feed in unintended roll. Pulling back into a formation loop, for example, it's nice to know if I'm not pulling as straight as I think I am.

It would even be possible to have TARGET exchange "external data" over an IP connection to either another app on the system or to another computer entirely. I haven't done it yet but I've seen the code to do it.