Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick?
 

I'm curious if anyone is experiencing any problems with the "Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick" and "Vista" or "Windows7 beta"? I'm think about a new joystick and I have heard many people who claim that the "MS" is their favorite force feedback joystick...I'm curious what the future of this (old) stick is? Micro$oft no longer supports this product so how do the "old" drivers work with "vista" and "windows7"? Is their anyone (third party) modding the old drivers to work with "IL2 1946" and Vista & W7?

Vista accepts this stick as a standard stick with hat switch and throttle...
So it works generally.
But:
The MS-setup software and original driver software don't work with Vista.
There is no third party software available.
The a.m. standard functions don't include any force feedback features.
Therefore you won't have any force effects and even no 'back to center force'.

That means: The stick is working in a 'degraded' mode. You can use it to fly, but with the a.m. restrictions and by programming all button functions at the IL2-setup side.

That's why I sold my Sidewinder FFB 2 and got a Saitek X52 Pro system (which really rocks) :-)

Rango

MSFFB2 works fine in Vista32/64 and Win 7 Beta/RC 32/64bit's

With IL21946 You can fully program the sticks axis and buttons but not the tension.

As for Rangos "back to centre" problem I dont have this mine working fine on both sticks (green & red light) versions.

Thanks for the quick reply... :)

See this thread @ UBI.

The Pinnacle has FFB editing fetures in it.. but it is very system intensive... since I don't use the full FFB features.. I use the TGC software.. it lets me assign keystrokes to my MSFFB2 using XP-64.. and it works in Vista.

Two freeware that allow programing buttons in any joystick's, with multiple profiles;

JoyToKey
SVMapper

Sokol1

Wo, another response I didn't see... I remember that you are a long time M$ SW joystick owner. You don't use the FF feature? Are you only using the "centering" feature?

Sooo, would you (still) recommend shelling out the duckets for this joystick? Do you feel it has a future?

p.s. I will read the post you "linked" next...Thanks

My 0,02$

Well, many users say that M$ SW FF 2 USB is good (the best) for IL2 (or WWII sim) not because the FF feature, but from the point of view from the precision in put your crosshair over the enemy. ;) So, they use only return to center force.

Sokol1

I do.. I have a new unused spare in my closet that I got fior $50 6 years ago.. but my current one is still going strong.. I got that one in 2001.. it was my original spare.. when FB came out I put IL2 on another PC and let my son use my original FFB stick.. and I started using that one.. when I heard they were getting out of the business I got one of the last ones at my local Best Buy back in 03.


That is my opinion.. I like the FFB as far as feeling hits and the ground.. but the gunshake always did seem kind of hokey to me.. but IMO the solenoids in the MSFFB2 do things no spring can do.. I can sometimes feel damage before I realize I have it.. The stick is sturdy.. and feels good in my hand.. (If you ae left handed you might have some problems with it..) I think it is worth it for the stick forces alone.. If that glitch in FB that makes you loose FFB (Not the stick forces.. just the additional FFB features) when you ALT+TAB or WINkey out of the sim gets fixed it will be even better.

Simply remove the gun shake file from IL2 FFB folder

The only file I have in there is "spring" , gun shake, bump and the others have >>>>>>>>>>>> GONE :)

Also I've been waiting over 7 years for mine to break yet and its in use daily sometimes for too many hours to mention :)

My spare ones still in its box brand new !!!!!!!

Lucky you... I soo regret I did not buy a spare one when they where available. Had a hint of trigger death on mine last year but it went away after dismounting it and some careful cleaning...

I stripped this one down once after some red wine found its way in there and the 6&7 buttons got sticky.

Apart from that and the usual cleaning out of the laser holes (above and below where your fingers grip) its all been good :)

Wow, you guys make me want one (lol)...no, for real. Its 'just' a hard chip to swallow...the price is a bit dear. My stick is getting 'long in the tooth' and its starting to impede the joy of playing. I miss the force feedback of my old stick...I 'stall out' all the time now, and I have no "flight information". Its interesting to hear it could improve my aim.

HE/COUGAR vs FFB2
 

I have had a modded COUGAR for about 6 months and am still using my FFB2.:o I have owned 3 FFB2s' The #3 button is broken on the one I use now, my back up has a busted #3 and the rudder is also busted. Yet I will fly my primary FFB2 until it is cold and dead in my hand, until I switch over to the COUGAR.

IMO Still worth every penny over at Go-Gamer dot com. The original stick was like 130.00usd in 99/00. So what would that equate to in 2009 dollars?

http://www.gogamer.com/Microsoft-Sid...VVviewprod.htm


I'm surprised they're not gone yet. Jason mentioned them about 6 or more months ago.