Hi!

I found a old Thrustmaster joystick package on a site, and are considering to buy it!

My question is: are they going to work with Lock On and other newer games?



I now they are rather old, and they don´t have an USB connection. But if they would work with newer games i´ll think im gonna buy them.

Best Regards

Thorbjörn thulin

I'm not sure, but based on what I've seen, the joystick and throttle may work, but you probably wouldn't be able to program them, and the buttons on the throttle would probably be useless.

They were developed before the F-16 and F-22 FLCS, and the software for either of those would not run on anything newer than Windows 98, as I recall.

Oh...I remember that one from the '80's, it was modeled on the F-4 stick IIRC.

No...I'm pretty sure it won't work because it came along well before USB. I don't think Windows XP even supports Game Port controllers any more.

Yes.. they probably will work.
I had the MarkII years ago and just last year gave it to my grandson...(Found it in a box)

I used the throttle buttons for Doom and Wolfenstein back in early '90's on the thing...
(iguanaking.. it came out in '93 if I remember right)

I really don't think it will be DirectX compatible since it was made in the Dos 5 days.. but it should pass keystrokes just fine...
(after all , that is what the current Thrustmaster, Saiteks do anyway)
The question is the keymapping software...will it work with XP?

if they want $20 or less for it, yeah maybe today... otherwise..put it towards a saitek, ch, or thrustmaster instead.

I have been using the Thrustmaster FLCS or F-22 since they came out. TM joystick,CH Trottle, mouse, touchpad, rudder pedals in series. Go to TM download FLCSRT200.exe. Install patch typing FLCSRT~1.exe, install stick software ver.1.52 select no to overwrites. I had to add the B.50PROGS file, i had a backup. With xp you need a dos boot disk. I put in the disk start up select the boot disk and have a dos prompt. Then program throttle and joystick, run downloads and exit.

quote:

Originally posted by CrizeCaldron:
Hi!

I found a old Thrustmaster joystick package on a site, and are considering to buy it!

My question is: are they going to work with Lock On and other newer games?



I now they are rather old, and they don´t have an USB connection. But if they would work with newer games i´ll think im gonna buy them.

Best Regards

Thorbjörn thulin

No it won't work, its incompatible with XP. You're better off getting an X-45.

I used to have that but ran it on W9x/DOS. It should work with WXP though as well since all it does is emulate keystrokes through the keyboard port. The game controller connector is used only for X/Y/Z axis movements. Now thing is, you will need a gameport (either on your sound card or a seperate game card).

Keep in mind though, as noted already, that the actually programming/calibration is done through DOS and uses a scripting language you will need to learn.

Franky, this HOTAS' day is past. Get a Saitek. Or if $$ permits, a Cougar or CH setup.

I used to have one of those. The hat switches broke too easy. I'd buy something new.

Thanks for your replies!

I think i´ll pass on this one, i already got a Saitek X45 but i was tempted to get this old package.

I think i´ll have to wait a couple of months and buy the Thrustmaser HOTAS Cougar....**** that one is really expensive!

If anyone of You would want this old Thrustmaster joysticks,it´s available at eBay for around 50$.....

Thanks Again!

Thorbjörn

Don't get me wrong, that joystick was the shizzle back in the day. Your X45 is light years ahead of that one in quality and functionality.

quote:

Originally posted by CrizeCaldron:
Thanks for your replies!

I think i´ll pass on this one, i already got a Saitek X45 but i was tempted to get this old package.

I think i´ll have to wait a couple of months and buy the Thrustmaser HOTAS Cougar....**** that one is really expensive!

If anyone of You would want this old Thrustmaster joysticks,it´s available at eBay for around 50$.....

Thanks Again!

Thorbjörn

WOW $50! Really?

I think I've still got mine layin around here somewhere... Heck, if anyone wants to pay the postage I'll just send em to ya.

I don't 'think' they're usable... Maybe I'll dig em out and see. I'd almost feel like I was polluting my new PC with the stuff though...

Just picked up LOMAC from the bargain bin myself... It's been awhile.

What's the stick/throttle combo to have these days? I think I've still got a MS flight stick from a few years back with some rudder pedals... Might suffice for the meantime. Hate the stupid finger-spinny throttle though.

quote:

Originally posted by msearhart:
I have been using the Thrustmaster FLCS or F-22 since they came out. TM joystick,CH Trottle, mouse, touchpad, rudder pedals in series. Go to TM download FLCSRT200.exe. Install patch typing FLCSRT~1.exe, install stick software ver.1.52 select no to overwrites. I had to add the B.50PROGS file, i had a backup. With xp you need a dos boot disk. I put in the disk start up select the boot disk and have a dos prompt. Then program throttle and joystick, run downloads and exit.

Hi, I've gotten a hold of the F-16 FLCS stick, Mark II WCS and Elite RCS for about $100.00 on Ebay. I'm having a had time finding the Ver. 1.52 or even anything more recent and the B.50PROGS file and the DOS Boot Disk to run on Windows XP. I'd really appreciate if you could spare some time to get me set up with WinXP? It's encouraging to know that you've used this successfully on WinXP. If you prefer you can email/send me some files at lyebyeme@yahoo.com

Thanks in advance.

Its incompatible with windows xp, although some people have managed to get it to work you're better off converting it to usb!(for that sort of money you would have been better off getting an x45 or something.) Do you have any old usb joysticks? You can use one of those to get the stick/throttle and a couple of buttons going.

the (vanilla) pre-cougar thrustmaster gear is only semi-compatible with windows xp, it works, but you have to upload the profiles in pure dos (emulators like virtualpc, vmware and dosbox won't work). some newer motherboards apparently have problems with din to ps2 keyboard converters, though.

as for the x45 being better than an f-16 flcs & tqs... I dunno, maybe I'm biased but I've exchanged my x45 for an flcs and tqs, which I plan to connect to a betainnovations plasma 2 (along with a set of simpeds sometime in the future :P) and I couldn't be happier. I just couldn't stand the stupid sticks spring system anymore; even with lubricant applied the disc under the spring caused too much friction to allow precise movements near the center. the flcs fortunately has more or less linear tension (it's higher only when the stick is almost fully deflected, due to the rubber boot).

imho the only thing in which the x45 is superior is programming, and even that only with the unofficial dhauzimmer's drivers (I may be wrong here, but as far as I tested, even the latest official x45 drivers, and even the x52, still have the same old problem of the pinkie shift repeating the commands of the aux switch and banded rotaries).

lyebyeme:
you can get the latest programming software here and the patch for newer machines here. I think you'll be needing the mk2load sw though, since you have a wcs mk2.

Hi,

When you mean patch for newer systems. Does that include higher then P3 (like a P4) or just P3 systems.

Also, where do I find the mk2load sw and what does it do?

Thanks

I didn't mean the x-45 was superiour just a better hassle free choice considering you don't have much of a hassle to get it to work. The Flcs on the other hand is more of a headache but like I said converting to usb is the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by Jamiroq:
the (vanilla) pre-cougar thrustmaster gear is only semi-compatible with windows xp, it works, but you have to upload the profiles in pure dos (emulators like virtualpc, vmware and dosbox won't work). some newer motherboards apparently have problems with din to ps2 keyboard converters, though.

as for the x45 being better than an f-16 flcs & tqs... I dunno, maybe I'm biased but I've exchanged my x45 for an flcs and tqs, which I plan to connect to a betainnovations plasma 2 (along with a set of simpeds sometime in the future :P) and I couldn't be happier. I just couldn't stand the stupid sticks spring system anymore; even with lubricant applied the disc under the spring caused too much friction to allow precise movements near the center. the flcs fortunately has more or less linear tension (it's higher only when the stick is almost fully deflected, due to the rubber boot).

imho the only thing in which the x45 is superior is programming, and even that only with the unofficial dhauzimmer's drivers (I may be wrong here, but as far as I tested, even the latest official x45 drivers, and even the x52, still have the same old problem of the pinkie shift repeating the commands of the aux switch and banded rotaries).

lyebyeme:
you can get the latest programming software here and the patch for newer machines here. I think you'll be needing the mk2load sw though, since you have a wcs mk2.

You should have kept your x-45 and used its microcontroller inside the FLCS. How much did the plasma2 set you back? I'm considering using my x-45 microcontroller to create a Hornet hotas with split throttle. Maybe a plasma 2 might be another option.

Do you have any guide showing how to convert to USB?

stupid stupid forum software, ate up my first reply

quote:

When you mean patch for newer systems. Does that include higher then P3 (like a P4) or just P3 systems.

Also, where do I find the mk2load sw and what does it do?

it's for Pentium 2 and newer.

mk2load is a utility for uploading profiles on a WCS MkII, since that's what lyebyeme has. You can find in the TQS (and FLCS) Command and Control Center software and separately in the WCS MkII C&CC software. All are available for download on Thrustmaster's support pages.

quote:

Do you have any guide showing how to convert to USB?

I think he just meant buying a USB hotas.

quote:

I didn't mean the x-45 was superiour just a better hassle free choice considering you don't have much of a hassle to get it to work. The Flcs on the other hand is more of a headache but like I said converting to usb is the way to go.

you are right, of course (at least from the perspective of someone that wants a system as hassle free as possible) .

quote:

You should have kept your x-45 and used its microcontroller inside the FLCS. How much did the plasma2 set you back?

that was an option, but the guy wanted ~$90 for the whole setup, which, honestly, was too much. he was willing to exchage it for my x45, though, and I, wanting a better stick (since I started to loathe the x45's "spring" system and the placing of the hats and buttons on the stick), accepted. I'll still come off cheaper when I buy the plasma 2 (which totals at $US 168, cable kit, shipping, taxes and import duties included) than buying an X52, which imo is in the same pot as the x45... I mean, what good does it do to have hall effect sensors when, because of the spring system, you have a deadzone a mile wide and you have to apply more force to move the stick off-center than to keep it fully deflected?

quote:

I'm considering using my x-45 microcontroller to create a Hornet hotas with split throttle. Maybe a plasma 2 might be another option.

personally I would try to get a Soncom hotas (ie SFS throttle and Talon stick), gut out their electronics, and connect them to the plasma 2. it would be by far the most elegant solution, imho.

Thanks for all the info on possible mods. I've another question. I've purchased 3 other joysticks. 2 were for playstation and were about $5.00 each. The other (besides the FLCS/WCCMarkII/Elite RCS) is the X52 (which I thought was only from Playstation, but it looks like there's a way to make it run on PC).
Here are the ebay links to the 2 cheap PS1 sticks:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=82...ame=ADME:B:EOAB:US:6

AND

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=82...TRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1


The Thrusmaster set was also fro only 5.00 and the link is below.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=57...TRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&rd=1


I purchased the 2 Ps1 sticks thinking that I'd be able to use them on the lastest PS2 games, but niether of them worked with Ace Combat 3 or 4. So I'm basically left with scrap to use to improve something else.

Question is: Can I mod these to make them run on PS2?

Question: Can the parts from these be used in the FLSC/WCS markII to improve them.

Thanks