Hi, since I'm now the proud owner of

Descent I
Descent II
Descent 3
Terminal Velocity
Fury3
Hellbender
Freelancer
and
Freespace 2

I need the controller to rule them all. Any suggestions? Some sort of joystick. I hear that

Microsoft SIdewinder Force Feedback 2

is a great option. But what are your thoughts? Let's hear them.

Edit:

Also, I NEED MOAR. What else is there, besides:

Sublevel Zero
DXX-Rebirth
Overload
Descent: Underground
Star Citizen

I don't know about "the ultimate joystick". For Descent, honestly I prefer a mouse and keyboard. For the space sims a joystick is a good idea.

A couple really good ones for the price are the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, and the Thrustmaster T.16000M.

As far as other 6DOF games...Retrovirus is one. If you liked Freespace, I'd also recommend Strike Suit Zero and Independence War 2: Edge of Chaos.

As far as a controller goes, +1 to the Thrustmaster T.16000M.

I use one as the stick component of my HOTAS. It's quite cheap and the Hall Effect sensors are wickedly precise. It's also ambidextrous (comes with a left-handed conversion you can swap in). This makes it uniquely suited to being used in a twin-stick scenario if you're interested in that. Another one to keep an eye on is NeonXSZ.

Your mind.

Look at Hawken

As for Freespace 2 make sure you get the Freespace 2 Open MOD to upgrade it.

http://www.fsoinstaller.com/

Also for Descent 1 and 2 get either

http://www.dxx-rebirth.com/

http://www.descent2.de/index.html

Also look at Wing Commander Saga

http://www.wcsaga.com/

The Babylon 5 Project

http://babylon.hard-light.net/official_downloads.php

Diaspora: Shattered Armistice (Battlestar Galactica MOD)

http://www.hard-light.net/forums/index.php?topic=81859.0

And also get TrackIR or FacetrackNOIR to use for the best immersion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX_F-8ZO5WQ



Suggest using dual Thrustmaster T.16000M for the 6DOF games like Star Citizen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3323373375&feature=iv&src_vid=3rGByLmXs6s&v=-La1sWURDAU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9nKYczj6KE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvs4UbqmSXc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wME7TfZZc4A

Does DXX-Rebirth handle playng with the mouse well? my joystick recently got toasted and it will be a while before I can replace it..

Very well, I have a T.16000M and prefer WASD+mouse for this game.

hmmmmmm I never thought Descent was even playable using KB+M

It always has been, though on DOS mouse support in general was a bit spotty. With Rebirth it's great! Now...it is very different from most fps games because you have a limited turn speed. So you have to learn what mouse movement speed is the max turn speed of the ship, and then not move your mouse faster, otherwise it's just wasted movement and you run out of room.

I have to agree, I never thought it would be this playable, plus I bound turn to the Q and E keys and pitch to Lctrl and lalt keys to assist, but its pretty fucking playable.

At least I can descent until I can get a new Joystick!

I use a Saitek X-52 pro as my controller for Descent and its sequals. it has never failed me for a long time.

^this^

IMO playing Descent games with joystick is like playing Doom with joystick, there is little joy in it

Flying any type of ship without a joystick seems wrong. Would you fly a plane or the space shuttle with a mouse or KB only?

I use keyboard and joystick for X-Wing; keyboard and mouse for Descent.
I don't think about right and wrong, only about my own personal comfort. I also occasionally play racing game without a wheel, so what?

I recently sold my Fanatec wheel+pedals+shifters, because after playing with it for 30 minutes I was exhausted and my belly was cramped. If you don't have a good seating solution a steering wheel is a waste of money IMO.
Now I play racinggames with a Logitech Rumblepad and I can race all day long.