[hiro]

The Thrustmaster X HOTAS that came out for lame HAWX game works. Its even plug n play (make sure its on ps triple setting). I used the thrustmaster settings and they work in game.


I'd give this a 4 out of 5. ANd I'd recommend it.

Why? First off it's plug and play (my BOP is patched for PS3), and reading the posts here kinda scared me because I didn't want to go through the hassle I went through setting up IL-2 and my CH stuff (which was semi plug n play) on my PC (which died so I'm here instead of there).

Note on plug n play: Make sure it works in the PS3 OS (operating system screen), if it does, once you turn on Thrustmaster in BOP settings you loose your game pad, so everything works on the Thrustmaster in game. The hat is directional button. Hold down the hat, as its not as sensitive as the PS3 game pad + directional buttons.


Its price is great. Lower than the Saitek PS3 offering, and logitech's (I wanted something else other than logitech, which is good but the deadzone of the Extreme needs tweaking).

Logitech on amazon actually was cheaper but I wanted a PS3 stick (for Ace Combat series which will return to PS3 muwahahaaha)

Workmanship is good. Its plastic, and good plastic. Its pretty tough. It uses 1 USB port on the PS3, which is great. Its not all metal, but good luck trying to find something all metal these days without costing an arm and leg and a tank of gas.

The throttle can be separated from the stick, which is helpful (especially for me who likes them apart like a real plane), but theres a limit due to the cable that attaches both units together (and you can't detach the cable).

You have two Yaw controls on default thrustmaster setting (first one in the game controllers), two buttons on the throttle and the twist stick.


The only issue is that its space age looking, and the throttle doesn't sit in my hand as well as CH Products throttle does.


Button placement is a minor issue. On the throttle I have let my hand go (i'm a medium glove size US) to reach some of the buttons. On the stick, sometimes I bump the bomb button during lots of maneuvering since its on one of the top corners (I use my middle finger on the trigger with my index free for something else; an old CH fighterstick habit).

For BOP I tend to fly 70% to WEP alot, and since the throttle rests highest on 50% that kinda is a bummer.

Another slight teensy tiny issue is the throttle is darn sensitive. I can get better control out of the game pad. On the game pad I could get 1% increments. On the throttle, I can get 5% increments of change if I get lucky, usually 10% is the norm.

Also anything forward of 70% and it slides into WEP easily. In Arcade you can milk the WEP (when engine coughs back off to 100% wait a sec and WEP again) which can get you ME-262 speeds, but on the throttle here its hard to do, since you pull back and its at 60% or something not 90-100%.


It doesn't force feedback. Movement is a little sluggish, more on the throttle than stick, stick is similar to a Logitech Extreme stick but as stated before, I'm used to the ease of a CH fighterstick.


Difference between the game pad and stick really is night and day. For the IL-2 PC gamers, its just a tad below using keyboard and mouse vs a joystick in my case. A stick really helps get that fine movement for gunnery. On the game pad, its hard for me to roll and track but on the stick it just comes natural, especially highly maneuverable fighters like the LA-7 or Spit.

Also realistic and sim modes are alot easier with the thrustmaster X, even the insta-stall of the P-51D is smoothed out and that plane really handles well.



All in all a good stick and serves my needs for IL-2 BOP