Aerial Combat Game/Accessory Suggestions

[DPete27]

I'm interested in trying out a modern aerial combat game and need some suggestions. The last game of this type that I played was F22 Lightning II (circa 1996) which I recall as thoroughly enjoying at that time. It's nice to have a break from the usual gauntlet of 1st person shooters and 3rd person RPGs (etc etc) and take to the skies every once in a while.

I'm also open to suggestions for joysticks. Something within a reasonable price range, maybe $50 or less?

[TurtlePerson2]

I use this joystick and I like it a a lot. It's also fairly inexpensive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6826102204

The important thing with a joystick is to make sure that it gives you rotate in addition to just X and Y tilt. I'm not a hardcore flight sim person, most of my experience comes from the two Freespace games. Someone else may be able to advise you better.

[DPete27]

e important thing with a joystick is to make sure that it gives you rotate in addition to just X and Y tilt.

What is the rotate fuction used for?

[UberGerbil]

e important thing with a joystick is to make sure that it gives you rotate in addition to just X and Y tilt.

What is the rotate fuction used for?

Typically for rotation around the directional axis, ie a substitute for rudder pedals. It's been a while since I've played any modern flightsims, but usually they have an option to auto-coordinate turns making explicit rudder inputs unnecessary (since many users don't have pedals or alternatives anyway). Naturally if you're actually practicing flying rather than gaming, so that you need to work on slips and crosswind landings and other aspects of uncoordinated flight where precise directional inputs are necessary, then the situation is different; but in that case you'd probably want to spring for pedals anyway. But more inputs (of any sort -- more buttons!) can almost always be put to some use, so depending on what game you're playing you could employ it to control viewport panning, turrets, or whatever.

[DPete27]

Ok, that's what I figured, just wanted to make sure my assumptions were correct. That joystick looks good. Now, what game/s should I use it for?

[Aphasia]

If you are really into flightsim's on a hardcore level, what you want is the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog joystick-throttle together with the DCS:A-10 sim and some track-IR. Thats about as close as you get without having a cockpit at home I think. I have the earlier HOTAS Cougar which is a droolworthy, but for me, sadly underused, piece of tech. That said, I dont really know if there is so many more really modern flightsims out right now beyond DCS. Otherwise I think the latest one was the IL-2 Sturmovik(ww2 sim).

I also have a version of the Logitech extreme 3d joystick that UG linked that I use for games like Battlefield and simpler games where it shines brightly and works well, since the hotas system is not as movable if you just jump into a plane and take off.

Here's a vid zAmboni on arstechnica did of a mission in the DCS:A-10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsVm1fRCwqo

[DPete27]

(Bump) Still looking for any game suggestions. I'm not so much interested in flight sims. I want to shoot down aircraft and blow things up.

[superjawes]

Check out the free to play section on Steam. I can't remember the name off the top of my head, but I am pretty sure that there's a space shooter on there.

[yogibbear]

Battlefield 2/3 Multiplayer... 2 for choppers, 3 for jets.

Apache Air Assault

Wings of Prey

Saitek Cyborg X for cheap joystick with rotation.(i.e. no need for pedals)

Descent I,II,III (gog.com)

Moon breakers (F2P multiplayer space on steam)

[vargis14]

You can try warbirds 3 i played it many years before 3 came out:) Its a ww2 flight sim that is very realistic. Since it takes place in ww2 you cannot get any better dogfighting, no missles, just cannons and guns. True dogfighting where if you have a wingman the thatch weave will save your life, even if you outnumbered 3-1
Get low and slow and alone then the rolling sissors is a hard to perform slow speed rolling and turning manuver that can make your opponents crash or fly past you, But do it wrong and you will spin to your death without a bullet ever touching you.
It has a very steep learning curve where you learn altitude is energy and energy is life. Starting off booming and zooming will give you the best results. Once you understand the strength and weaknesses of each of the 50+ planes then you can do some turn and burning until you know it is time to disengage, run/gain more altitude and return or fly to a friendly base and land:)