Being There

I'm a big believer in competition in the marketplace, and so when I first heard hints of the Saitek X36 HOTAS system a few months ago, and then read the descriptions on their web site, I was excited! Last week the nice shiny box came by UPS, and after settling into a new home this week I have finally had time to crack it open and have a good look around.

The first thing that struck me on opening the box was the tightness of the packaging. There was a place for everything, and everything was in its place. The styrofoam had a spot for the 3.5 diskette and for adapters and suction cups. The sticks were securely set in their own compartments, with slots for the cables to run. I had a feeling this was something good!

These sticks will remind you of other sticks on the market, but the X36F stick is rather a unique piece of hardware. It looks like a cross between a standard F16 type stick and a sabre out of Three Musketeers. On the front away from your hand is a guard that sweeps up and away from your hand to rejoin the top of the stick. Nice as it looks, like some sail from a lost world ship, it also happens to be functional, with a pinkie slider switch built in.

Moreover, the pickle button on the very top of the stick even has a flip protector, like the ones you have to flip in 688I. Flip the SAFE out of the way and you are ready to take on those tanks or sink those ships or mangle some MiGs. I know, its window dressing in some ways, but it does enhance that feeling of being there.

The throttle is a little exotic also, not so much in its look as in the design function. Comparisons are inevitable, so lets say that much like the SUNCOM Talon, the X35T throttle may be programmed with three complete control sets. The set you have selected currently is indicated on the base of the unit by a glowing LED.

But thats not all! Beneath your resting palm where you curl your fingers around the handle on the throttle is a large and spring loaded rocker type switch that you can use as a rudder! Got your attention yet? Because this throttle also has a built in mouse function that is even better than that in the Thrustmaster TQS. Ok, I confess, I only used the mouse function in my TQS for a week or so last year and then went back to my trackball... but this one I think I could use permanently. It just seems easier to use. If you prefer to stick to your mouse or trackball you can program this control as another four way hat! But enough of the introduction, lets get to the meat of these units.

First, as I have pointed out somewhere recently, these stick/throttle combos really are designed to be purchased and used together. If you can only afford one, plan to buy its mate in the future. Really, a HOTAS is a control SYSTEM, and when you have used both in this hands on style, you will never go back.

Installation

So, the next thing I did after opening the box, looking over the docs, and drooling all over these things, is plug them into a shiny new PII 300 MHz system. (You can read all about this system soon enough, for now lets stick to UK style HOTAS). This part of the install is much like any other HOTAS system and is really quite simple. You unplug your keyboard from the back of your computer, then plug the 5 pin DIN socket of the stick in its place. Plug your keyboard into the base of the stick, and plug the joystick connected of the stick into your game port.

Next you plug the throttle into the 15 pin D socket on the stick. If you plan to use the throttle for mouse control you have to supply your own 9 pin serial cable to connect the throttle to a serial port. You can then plug your personal mouse into the 9 pin socket on the stick so that you can continue to use it. PS2 mouse owners beware, you will also need an adapter for your mouse in order to do this. (They are inexpensive but sometimes hard to find, and Thrustmaster no longer supplies the PS2 adapter with the F22 Pro either).

OK, you've done the hard part, now you install the software. Pop the 3.5" disk in the drive and run Setup. Once the software is installed you will be asked to reboot so that the appropriate dll files can load. Once into WIN95 again you can execute X36Edit from the icon supplied. Then you can either choose "Command Editor" from the File menu or "Open" to select a prepared game configuration to load. (You can also load a configuration from DOS if you are running a DOS game).

The interface reminds me of the software that Microsoft has developed for their Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro, or of Calana's CS Commander. You will be presented with a graphic of the stick or throttle, and using the mouse you scroll to the button or dial you wish to program and away you go! The dialog box presents you with five choices: Single Action, Toggle, Assign to Games Port, Disable and CH Emulation Mode. You simply select the option you want.

At this point the process becomes a little more involved, but its still quite intuitive, especially if you have used programmable gear in the past. To program a particular command keystroke into a specific button you simply click on it, select "Single Action," and then input the keystroke you want from the list in the dialog box. If you want both a "Press" function and a "Release" function, you may also choose from the command list for the "Button Up" box. It really is very simple.

For those who need even more flexibility for adding commands, the "Pinkie" switch mentioned above comes into play. For every button and dial on the Saitek HOTAS, you can specify whether or not the control will be toggled by the pinkie switch. If you select the toggle function, another dialog box pops up and you can then program ANOTHER function to that button or dial. Think of it as a SHIFT function. Whenever you press the SHIFT key on a normal keyboard, it changes the function of every other key. The second function set is active whenever you press the pinkie switch at the same time as you press the button so programmed. You have now doubled the commands you can access; nice!

Its a good thing that this is as easy as it is, because there is no written documentation supplied. On the other hand, the HELP file built in to the software is quite complete and I don't think the average user will have any difficulty. If this were Thrustmaster gear shipping without documentation, none of us could use it. But the system is simple enough and intuitive enough that its not really an issue.

Esthetics and Flexibility

The feel of this equipment is solid and comfortable. Saitek has even integrated some real rubber into the handrest area on the throttle for increased comfort and control. Motion on both the throttle and stick feels very solid and smooth. The throttle has the necessary detente's, those almost unnoticeable click points that tell you you are at idle, or full power, or into the afterburner range. I found the throttle tension a bit weak, but you can adjust it via a screw on the bottom labelled "friction." The existing tension is very close to the default feeling of the CH Pro throttle, so not too many are going to be bothered making the change.

In the same way, the joystick feels very good and is heavier than it looks. Every switch is easily accessible and has good tactile feedback when pressed. I have to tell you that the ergonomics of these units is equal to or better than anything else out there.

In terms of command options, the throttle has two rotary knobs, a four way hat switch and two fire buttons. It also has a mouse control and a rudder rocker, as well as an Auxiliary switch and a Mode switch. Now lets talk about this mode switch.

The throttle has a three way mode switch that allows you to program and access THREE entirely different command sets. For those of you familiar with TM gear, the function is similar to the dogfight switch on the TQS. Think again of a SHIFT button, but this time make it apply to three levels or sets of command keys. You got it! This switch increases the total commands you cna program to the stick and throttle by a factor of three. Whenever I program a command set for a sim to my F22 and TQS I set them up into logical sets: navigation, landing and refuel, dogfight and acm, and a third set which will combine left over functions usually including specific A2G and/or FLIR commands.

Total nu of programmable functions = 14
w pinkie switch = 28
w mode x3 = 28x3 = 84!

As if that weren't enough, the throttle also has both a rudder function and a mouse/cursor function. Calibration of the rudder rocker is exactly the same as calibrating pedals, but I have never found a rudder switch on a joystick which was as user friendly as this one! They really have done it right, both in terms of the spring loading and the position. It works great. If you already have a set of pedals, you can diable the rudder function.

As for the mouse/cursor control, what ya gonna do with it? These boys haven't done this work for nothing, and if you have flown EF2000 or iF22, you already know that this is one practical solution! Briefly put, a mouse/cursor control built into a HOTAS means that you don't have to reach for your mouse to get at all those lovely clickable cockpit switches. Since DiDs upcoming F22: ADF and TAW will also have feature an interactive cockpit, this is a great feature. And yes, the Thrustmaster TQS also has a cursor control.

The X36F joystick has two four/eight way hats, five buttons and a trigger. The eight way option becomes possible using the pinkie (SHIFT) function. As with the throttle, placement is excellent, providing easy of access and comfort. Total number of functions for this stick is 14. With the pinkie switch make that 28. Using the three modes of the throttle, make that another 84 possible functions! Yes, you will have to print yourself a command chart if you use them all....

Great, you say, so how does this work in practice! Okay, I fired up F16 Fighting Falcon using the command file provided on the CD. It worked just fine. Note that this system is unlike Thrustmaster gear in that the file you load does not stay in ROM. Saitek attempts to simplify the loading process by placing a autoload function in your Windows Startup directory so that when you load WIN95 the file you last loaded is automatically reloaded. There has been a bug in this ointment and Saitek has already placed a fix on their web site. If you run a lot of different games you will just have to download the relevant configs.

As to other up and coming sims, you can be sure that they will support this gear. And Saitek maintains a download area on their site where you can snag configurations that aren't available elsewhere.

The bottom line is, would I purchase this setup myself? Yep, in a minute! Its great to see another quality offering hit the market, and at a discount price of around $129 US for the pair its a real steal. Saitek will also ship a programmable throttle that can be used to program most other non programmable sticks... the X36T.

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Last Updated August 30th, 1997