Never have there been more choices in the joystick arena, with more makers producing more kinds of sticks than ever before. How do you know what suits you?

Mostly, you read reviews like this. If you're lucky a friend might have a stick you can try before you buy.

But in any case, at the mid price line (around $50) where you aren't looking for a complete HOTAS setup, there are some good choices out there. Lets look at three at roughly the same price point.

Logitech Wingman Extreme

Logitech is almost like mothers milk to me. Its familiar and reliable. My first DECENT mouse was a logitech two button, and I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Compared to my first generic cheapo disaster, it was a veritable cadillac. It did what I expected it to do, simply and without argument.

If you don't know, Logitech makes all types of gaming peripherals, from mice to trackballs to console products. Recently Logitech introduced their first digital joystick. Its much like the old version except for two buttons on the left side, one toward the front and one toward the back of the stick. And this stick has a throttle control. Like the other two sticks, the Wingman Extreme is programmable.

Programmable sticks are definitely a step up from the rest. Simply put, you can decide which buttons do what. Once you've tasted, its hard to go back!

In DOS the Wingman Ex works like a Sidewinder 3D Pro, and the throttle and twin buttons don't work. In a sim that allows you the choices you can configure the WEX as a Thrustmaster FCS or Topgun.

Logitech supplies a setup program that they describe as "intuitive." The interface is fairly straightforward, and you can print out the button assignments in a full page color diagram, if you have a color printer. The software is accessed from the Control Panel in Win95. All four buttons in the handle, the two base buttons, and the four-way hat can be assigned as you choose. Logitech also includes preprogrammed configurations for most games. Many recent games support the WEX directly.

I tried the WEX in ATF Gold (WIN95) and the throttle and buttons worked well. But when I tried the stick in Comanche 3 I couldn't get the throttle functioning. It could be that other DOS games will have difficulty. In CH emulation, for example selecting the FS Pro, both HAT and throttle should function, but they don't. The stick prefers WIN95 and you shouldn't have any problems in that environment.

Documentation is a bit weak. Like too many manuals out there these days, it doesn't really seem complete. If you intend to use your stick in DOS and WIN95 and need a functioning throttle, you might be best to look elsewhere.

ActLabs Eaglemax

Act Labs is a recent arrival in gaming peripherals, and like others in this area they also make console products. Thankfully, you wouldn't guess from the Eaglemax that they are new on the block. Of the three sticks in this review, this one FEELS the best. The handle has some flex and the base of the stick is shaped for the hand. This might not matter much if you play a sim for an hour a day, but if you intend to do some serious flying you are going to respect the comfort factor. The three buttons on the stick are within easy thumb reach.

Setup is simple, and Act Labs has included both keyboard connector types. In these days of bare bones pricing, its a nice touch!

Act Labs pronounces that the Eaglemax is "hyper programmable." What in the world does THAT mean? Well, for one thing, it IS easy to program the buttons, even for a series of keystrokes. But maybe more amazing is that you can program the buttons at any time, just as with Suncom's sticks, without having to exit the game or enter a special setup program. Hmm. Something unusual here!

The four Macro switches store different key combinations for different games. Each Macro stores the key combinations for the ten 10-in-1 programmable buttons, as well as the 1-in-1 programmable buttons.

The Eaglemax also has a rocker switch on the left side base of the unit. This two-way switch can also be programmed, and I used tried it for zoom in and out on the MFD in Comanche 3, but you could use it for radar range or HUD brightness or anything else you like.

Now what about the other features, like the throttle and Autofire? You can program the Autofire switch into any of the programmable buttons. There is an Off/Throttle/View switch controls what buttons are available during gameplay, and this also determines which ones can be programmed. Why would you choose OFF? I dont' know!

Wait a minute! Do you have to choose between throttle and hat? Yes and no. "Throttle" position enables the throttle wheel and turns off the Hat, and "Hat" turns off the throttle and enables the hat. BUT, you can program the hat switch while having the throttle enabled. So maybe "hyper programmability" saves the day after all! You can also trim the stick on the X and Y axis with the controls in the base of the unit.

Like the WEX the EagleMax comes with a Windows 95 setup program. Its easy to find out what you have programmed, and you can also Load and Save configuration files. DOS is a bit more complicated since you have to click the buttons to see the output from the programmed button. If you program on the fly you won't have a nice record of your configuration, but at least you can do it when you want to!

I tested the Eaglemax in Comanche 3 and it worked perfectly. While comfortable the tension is perhaps a bit weak. But for the price, this is a great product!

Gravis Firebird 2

Gravis is another "old-timer" in the peripheral market, begin well known for their Ultrasound series. I recall plugging in an ultrasound board in about 1990 and being amazed at the sound that it produced. Although early Ultrasound boards had some compatibility issues, Gravis began making PnP products and then got out of sound boards entirely.

Some time ago the Firebird and Thunderbird replaced the Phoenix, which is no longer in production. The Firebird, Thunderbird, and Blackhawk are Gravis' new entries in the PC peripherals market. The Thunderbird looks like the Firebird but it's not programmable. The handle on the Firebird is more comfortable and feels far more solid than the rather unique grip previously used on the Phoenix sticks.

The Firebird2 emulates a CH Flightstick Pro. It offers an analog throttle control, elevator trim control, a nice handle with four buttons (including the trigger) and a four-way hat switch, and nine other programmable buttons. The throttle is an analog function, but for those games that don't support analog throttle, there is a + - key on the base that may be programmed with increase/decrease key commands.

By default the elevator trim control is disabled, so you must access the control menu to change this. The software seems simple enough and is versatile enough to allow you to program keyboard macros and even to set delays.

You can also use an existing control set (.FBD files) or modify existing files. You can create your own custom files and save them to disk. All in all there is a lot of flexibilty here, and most users will be well pleased.

However, the buttons on the base are quite close together. Unless you are a touch typist, you may find it takes quite a while to be able to distinguish individual buttons finely enough when you need them in a hurry. Furthermore, although there is SOME tension on the throttle control, it could be a bit tighter, and likewise with the elevator trim control. Maybe in future editions of the stick Gravis could provide tension adjustment for the elevator and trim controls as they do for the main grip.

As for the handle itself, tension is adjustable by sliders under the base. I found the tension almost right at maximum setting, which is saying something since the stick I use most often (the F22 Pro) has springs out of a 1956 Ford (ie. they are STRONG).

I tried the Firebird2 in F22: ADF, Comanche 3 and Janes Longbow 2. It worked fine with all these, and I had no difficulty using my CH rudder pedals at the same time.

Finally, the manual is quite thin. Thats not so bad, because this stick is easy to set up. But like many others they depend on your referring to the online manual for such niceties as the Button Mode options (Standar, Turbo, Step). If you don't mind, then its not a problem.

The only caution I have is the control wire on the outside of the stick. It enters the handle at the base. You'll never feel it, since they've placed it just right, so it shouldn't be a problem. But it is exposed, and if you ever hooked it with a sharp object (maybe a Japanese ceremonial sword) it would likely be damaged! =8-D

All in all, this is a nice stick with features you would expect to may more for. With the few caveats above, it will suit many gamers just fine.

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Last Updated August 30th, 1997