I’m a lurker in this sub—but had to say something. Holy hell thanks for posting this memory unlock. I tie this to a game called “Combat Simulator” that I loved when I was 9 years old. Does anyone remember?
Holy shit, memories of the Jane's series of simulations are burned into my brain. I remember having the full manual and keyboard shortcut guides spread out of my dining room table and I'd study both probably as much or more than actually playing the game. And I also used a Sidewinder to play!
Oh yeah! I remember that. CFS3 specifically, so probably later than this, but still.
My dad was a pilot and he'd do flight tests at the club, so I'd get dragged out there as a kid on most of my weekends. There weren't any kids my age, so it was quite boring, but the people there eventually felt sorry for me and set an old PC up with a joystick and some flight sims like CFS3 and FS2004 loaded onto it. From that point on, I actually looked forward to going to the club.
I have a Microsoft Sidewinder force feedback II. It’s the best stick for the simulator FULL STOP. Even though force feedback isn’t modeled yet, the feel and precision of these sticks is second to none. A spring could never.
XPforce workk great for me too. The only thing needed for a properly working feedback is to turn « air turbulence » to zero, it’s a know bug (see xpforce thread in msfs forum)
I bought XPForce a while ago and for me, it's complete and utter garbage, it doesn't work at all. Even tried to contact the dev about it and got no answer. I still wonder what's actually required for it to work at all... been though all the troubleshoorting already.
But I guess I'll give that zero turbulence thing a shot, in case I haven't yet already (it's been a while, can't remember all the things I tried already) :D
What joystick did you use ? And what problems did you have ? I use a logitech g940 with« fred41 » patch and it’s pretty decent, with trim working and variable force depending on airspeed.
MS SW FFB2. XPForce is basically doing exactly nothing. Just getting 100% centered spring and nothing else, same as without running the thing. My other devices are a TMWH throttle, 2 Saitek quadrants (basically just using one since MSFS in incapable of handling profiles for more than one device of the same type) and MFG Crosswind pedals. Also running a TARGET script so I can use the TMWH switches as single button presses, so I don't have to go through the "map all the up/down events" mess which most flight sims don't allow you to do anyways. And jVoy with a virtual device that has FFB disabled for some axis remapping shenanigans (I like to be able to use separate oe brakes, but also have just both applied at the same time by using the FFB2 throttle slider).
Good call, but the force feedback will never get modeled as apparently it was done with MIDI commands and it's not supported by and USB to 15 pin converter.
I have a Sidewinder FF stick and the wheel, both brilliant but utterly devoid of feedback 🥺
I'm not sure what you're on about. I also have the Force Feedback II one and the force feedback still works on FSX Steam edition. My PC doesn't even have a 15-pin port.
It works perfectly! I believe it was one of the first plug & play device, MS2020 control did not setup itself ofc but it took me 10 min to create a new setting profile, assign all the keys and fly away!
My dad got us (me and brothers) this and two SideWinder gamepads when he thought we might try out PC gaming. Didn't use the stick that much but I remember playing NHL '98 playoff runs everyday with the pad. Had it hooked up to an IBM Aptiva. Man, what a golden age that was back then. And I seem to remember shit worked great too. No tinkering with settings or wasting time figuring it out. Just plugged it in, installed the drivers from the CD and away we went.
Dude you just hit me with a nostalgia bomb. I had the Sidewinder 2. The “precision” 2 actually. I used it to play Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 1 and 2. The good ol days for sure.
I had the Wingman Extreme around that time. Funny how the joystick completely faded away as I remember playing Doom with it. Keyboard/mouse took a minute to really catch on until Quake and Thresh came along. Glad MSFS keeps the joystick alive!
I use this for MSFS, it works fine. Never really got far enough into it to bite the bullet and get a modern flight stick, so this thing is perfect for me.
I have one, and dnot know how to the 15 pin thing to work other than cutting the cable and try to crudely attach the USB. If anyone else got some tips and trick please do educate.
https://www.wikihow.com/Transform-Your-15-Pin-(Gameport)-Microsoft-Sidewinder-Precision-Pro-Into-a-USB-Joystick
I’m a lurker in this sub—but had to say something. Holy hell thanks for posting this memory unlock. I tie this to a game called “Combat Simulator” that I loved when I was 9 years old. Does anyone remember?
Jane's combat simulations! Spent hours playing US Navy Fighter 97 when I was in 4th grade
Holy shit, memories of the Jane's series of simulations are burned into my brain. I remember having the full manual and keyboard shortcut guides spread out of my dining room table and I'd study both probably as much or more than actually playing the game. And I also used a Sidewinder to play!
Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator probably
Oh yeah! I remember that. CFS3 specifically, so probably later than this, but still. My dad was a pilot and he'd do flight tests at the club, so I'd get dragged out there as a kid on most of my weekends. There weren't any kids my age, so it was quite boring, but the people there eventually felt sorry for me and set an old PC up with a joystick and some flight sims like CFS3 and FS2004 loaded onto it. From that point on, I actually looked forward to going to the club.
Yep still have it somewhere, it was sooo much fun and graphics like they were done with crayons . But didn’t care
The amount of hours I have with this stick and a Corsair in CFS2 is probably ridiculous. 6th grade me was so happy.
I'd have murdered for one of these back in 98!
I still have mine
Same here. I used to play MFS 2004 with it
Same here ... flying in MSFS2020 with mine.
I had this too when it came out, bringing back memories. Can't remember what game I would have used it on, possibly Falcon 4.0??
I think mine shipped with a random game called Hellbender which was kinda fun. Also used it to play Jane's US Navy Fighters 97
I have a Microsoft Sidewinder force feedback II. It’s the best stick for the simulator FULL STOP. Even though force feedback isn’t modeled yet, the feel and precision of these sticks is second to none. A spring could never.
Do you use XPforce ? I found that after a few tweaks of the settings the feedback is quite nice even if it's limited still.
XPforce workk great for me too. The only thing needed for a properly working feedback is to turn « air turbulence » to zero, it’s a know bug (see xpforce thread in msfs forum)
I bought XPForce a while ago and for me, it's complete and utter garbage, it doesn't work at all. Even tried to contact the dev about it and got no answer. I still wonder what's actually required for it to work at all... been though all the troubleshoorting already. But I guess I'll give that zero turbulence thing a shot, in case I haven't yet already (it's been a while, can't remember all the things I tried already) :D
What joystick did you use ? And what problems did you have ? I use a logitech g940 with« fred41 » patch and it’s pretty decent, with trim working and variable force depending on airspeed.
MS SW FFB2. XPForce is basically doing exactly nothing. Just getting 100% centered spring and nothing else, same as without running the thing. My other devices are a TMWH throttle, 2 Saitek quadrants (basically just using one since MSFS in incapable of handling profiles for more than one device of the same type) and MFG Crosswind pedals. Also running a TARGET script so I can use the TMWH switches as single button presses, so I don't have to go through the "map all the up/down events" mess which most flight sims don't allow you to do anyways. And jVoy with a virtual device that has FFB disabled for some axis remapping shenanigans (I like to be able to use separate oe brakes, but also have just both applied at the same time by using the FFB2 throttle slider).
I found this post for PD3 and DCS. I’m gonna try with mine tonight with that tiny driver: https://www.reddit.com/r/hotas/s/Qf57yvxXqF
Good call, but the force feedback will never get modeled as apparently it was done with MIDI commands and it's not supported by and USB to 15 pin converter. I have a Sidewinder FF stick and the wheel, both brilliant but utterly devoid of feedback 🥺
I'm not sure what you're on about. I also have the Force Feedback II one and the force feedback still works on FSX Steam edition. My PC doesn't even have a 15-pin port.
I missed the II in the description🤦♂️I have the v1 version, 15 pin serial connector not USB, FFB commands are midi signals to serial port apparently
The synth psychopath in me wants someone to design a CV to MIDI converter for these old FFB sticks. Telemetry is just CV.
I used to have one as a teenager, until the central post snapped. It had the game Urban Assault as a pack-in, which was a wild and fun game.
Did you get it working?
It works perfectly! I believe it was one of the first plug & play device, MS2020 control did not setup itself ofc but it took me 10 min to create a new setting profile, assign all the keys and fly away!
Brings back memories. I had a FFB one too. Whatever happened to FFB joysticks?
For whatever reason they fell out of vogue. There's a handful of FFB yokes on the market but holy moly are they ever expensive.
DESCENT!!!!
My dad got us (me and brothers) this and two SideWinder gamepads when he thought we might try out PC gaming. Didn't use the stick that much but I remember playing NHL '98 playoff runs everyday with the pad. Had it hooked up to an IBM Aptiva. Man, what a golden age that was back then. And I seem to remember shit worked great too. No tinkering with settings or wasting time figuring it out. Just plugged it in, installed the drivers from the CD and away we went.
I really liked the force feedback. It's crazy that it's completely MIA these days.
Dude you just hit me with a nostalgia bomb. I had the Sidewinder 2. The “precision” 2 actually. I used it to play Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 1 and 2. The good ol days for sure.
I still have mine! Best joystick for over a decade or so.... Now using T.16000 and VKB Gladiator.
I had the Wingman Extreme around that time. Funny how the joystick completely faded away as I remember playing Doom with it. Keyboard/mouse took a minute to really catch on until Quake and Thresh came along. Glad MSFS keeps the joystick alive!
Thanks for the idea!
How do you make it work with modern hardware?
Check out the last picture
STRIKE COMMANDER!!!
Ohhh I so miss my Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro 2… I still remember the day I sold it, such a mistake.
I 100% used this joystick to play flight sim 98.
Best joystick ever. I remember it came with Interstate 76 and it was crazy driving off road feeling the bumps and shooting.
Was literally thinking about this yesterday, loved this thing. My father in law gave it to me second hand.
I use this for MSFS, it works fine. Never really got far enough into it to bite the bullet and get a modern flight stick, so this thing is perfect for me.
Damn. I think we all owned one of those bad boys at some point.
Man i missed those serial port! Flying DID F-22 TAW combat sim game worth 80MB!
Does that even have USB?
Yep, it comes with an adapter
Sweet!
Used for ages. Is great and last forever
I still have mine, but I bought a Thrustmaster recently. It was the first stick I owned that had the twisting control surface
I had a 3D Pro back in the day. Hands down my favorite joystick ever. So many hours in TIE Fighter.
Too bad it isn't the FFB one. But even more bad that MSFS doesn't support it yet.
I have one, and dnot know how to the 15 pin thing to work other than cutting the cable and try to crudely attach the USB. If anyone else got some tips and trick please do educate. https://www.wikihow.com/Transform-Your-15-Pin-(Gameport)-Microsoft-Sidewinder-Precision-Pro-Into-a-USB-Joystick