Check this out:
http://www.3dconnexion.com/3dmouse/spacenavigator.php
Full 6DOF controller. Heavy so it stays put. Good stuff.
Scott

I've not used it with the GOG copy of Descent yet, but it works great using the open source DXL (or whatever it's called) on the Mac. Shouldn't be hard to get running on Windows.
Scott

Interesting, I used to use my Gravis Firebird when I played Descent back in the day. I still have it, in fact, and it worked well with its 17 buttons + throttle. It's too bad Gravis went out of business. Though that SpaceNavigator seems like it would be much more fluid than a joystick.

I reach for my Spacetec SpaceOrb 360 whenever playing Descent. It's an old 6DoF controller from the Win9x days, and it came bundled with a Descent II demo for good reason.
However, it requires an old-school DB-9 serial port, and the USB version never materialized. Furthermore, since Spacetec went under, the controller's fanbase had to make their own 2000/XP drivers. Too bad there are no Vista drivers at the moment.
IIRC, 3Dconnexion's devices use the same underlying technology that Spacetec did. For some reason, though, they've opted for more of a puck shape as opposed to the spheres that Spacetec used.
The only issue with getting a 3Dconnexion product is that I recall reading that they do not present themselves as DirectInput devices with their typical drivers, as they are intended for use in CAD products and the like as opposed to games.

I still have my Space Orb 360 and thought that it was never going to see the light of day again due to no driver support. Happen to have a link to where these homebrew drivers for 2k/XP??

Beautiful! I remember that I could never find a controller that rly felt good with this game so I always stuck to just the keyboard and for $59 thats awesome

http://www.planethardware.com/spaceorb/
Click on Patches & Files towards the left, then the mirror of your choice, then "win2k_xp", then "!DRIVERS", and then on HIDSPORB.ZIP. You might also want to snag ORBPROPS.ZIP and setup.exe as well.
Extract the contents of HIDSPORB.ZIP somewhere, then when you plug in your SpaceOrb and Windows brings up a Found New Hardware prompt, direct it to install drivers in whatever directory you extracted HIDSPORB.ZIP to.

A joystick plus keyboard works very well. Plus you have those lovely buttons to launch your varied attacks, and hat switches to look around(very handy indeed).

I've used that space navigator for modeling in solid works... Not sure how it would work for gaming...

Hey...I have a Saitek x45....can you help me Apeman? to make mine work with descent II?
I really want to be able to use the three axes to pitch bank slide etc....
but how can I make it do all that wiith a dos game?

Scott, after reading your post...I just ordered one of those 3d controllers!!

I remember my Firebird joystick back when we had a PowerPC (first computer). I used that joystick for Descent, F/A-18 Hornet and any other flight simulator I could get my hands on for the Mac. Those were the days...

It's a matter of setting up DOSBox to work with the controller. In case you aren't aware, a lot of the older games on GoG use this emulator to run. There are several frontends avaliable - check out dosbox.com for just about anything you might possibly need. :D

When I first played Descent I used a Microsoft Sidewinder 3D Pro joystick. I still have it, but without a computer with a gameport, I can't use it. Microsoft's gameport-to-USB adapter doesn't work with the 3D Pro, so I'm forced to either look for a new joystick or find a way to make the 3D Pro work.