I picked up my Constellation Alpha about a year ago and it's completely transformed my flight sim experience. As somebody not all that interested in space sims the Alpha still represents one of the best values in the high end market for flight simming as it grants almost unparalleled flexibility for a variety of aircraft and use cases. The flip trigger and the 3 stage pull is by far one of the most useful features I've encountered and I often use it as an easy weapons safe/arm feature.
For those that are waiting for Star Citizen to be finished, don’t. Any flight simulator will benefit from having a nice stick, not just Star Citizen. Also the development for SC is going to be long and full of bugs. Theses sticks will last you the years and even decades SC is in development. Why wait to enjoy a solid stick in your hands and the precise movement they provide. The only regret you will have in getting the Alpha is if you wait till SC is released.
I get this take but I have no plans in playing SC until it's in a more mature state with persistence etc. I play no other flight sims. If SC takes another 2-3 years by then an even newer version of the alpha's will be out and I'll have more options to choose from.
That being said, I've had my Virpils coming up for close to a decade now for SC, and they've definitely made improvements since, improvements that'll cost more to replace my two old sticks.
@@brandofriva While I completely understand, and agree that alpha games aren’t for everyone and SC can be really buggy, depending on build/patch,… even in its current state, it is honestly the best game I have ever played and it’s only getting better
I love my dual Alphas and though tempting to upgrade to the prime I will stick with them. Virpil makes some quality products and the Alphas are some sticks that just feel right. They have so many bindings that I rarely reach for the keyboard, when I do it’s for a rare keybind or to type a message. Nice you get an Alpha you don’t need anything else, except a second Alpha for your other hand.
Awesome. It's good to know Virpil is still pushing their gear to perfection. I still haven't found the perfect bindings for my Alphas, but it's good to know they are pushing the envelope and when I am ready to upgrade there will be something new on the top tier of grips.
Just wanted to say I blame and praise you for your content. You where the first channel that I found and followed posting about Star Citizen. You were also the first ORG I join and enjoy it! Seeing how you have grow man your channel, growing your setups and sim area over the years has been awesome! I haven’t yet left from the classic t16000ms yet but the battle of going back and forth between upgrading to a silver tier stick like VKB or just saving up and going for the Gold standard with Virpil has honestly been settled. I’m going to save and just buy a Virpil. These sticks keep getting better and better! The Alpha Primes look amazing! Thank you for your videos and input personally over the years! Also thank you for your service over the many years!
Virpil made the right choice going higher end, these are the sticks I have been wanting for a few years. I wanted a metal body stick that didn't flex, especially during twist, and isn't ridiculously clunky and overbuilt like the warthog. I also like complex control schemes so all those bindings are music to my ears.
The flip trigger now being two discrete stages (and bindings) sounds awesome to me, first idea would be to bind it to Weapons Systems Offline/Online, i.e. when Flip Trigger is up, Binding 1, that's "Disable Weapons Systems/Retract Turrets/etc", and when flipped down to stage 2, it would be "Enable Weapons Systems/Deploy Turrets/etc". That would be a cool & immersive way to handle how you approach any given contact in Star Citizen for example, could lead to awesome multi-route mission design too, where NPC contacts in space would react differently to you based on whether you approached them with weapons fully active, deployed and charged, or with weapons offline. Especially when using a dual stick setup where you have no throttle base for such functionality.
I've got 2 questions concerning the Prime over the regular Alphas. First, do you know if the is thumbstick using hall effect sensors? While most people probably don't use the thumbsticks on the Alphas as much as a controller, using hall effect sensors for the stick would reduce "deadzone" drifting issues that almost any thumbstick on a controller has. Second, are the bindings the same between the left and right sticks? When I got my Alphas, my left stick had the red momentary and pyramid hat swapped with the black momentary and other 5-way compared to the right stick. Not a huge issue considering their software, but it means my button configuration might be different than others.
These are amazing and I have heard nothing but good things about them but I went with VKB's personally. Equally as good in my mind. Anyone looking to get some HOSAS should seriously consider these and VKB.
12:51 Wrong, it's not the Prime specific feature, it's just default firmaware setting. The same effect on the old Alfa grip one can achieve by adding logical BUTTON32 and set it's action to "invert". I use that for opening and closing of the cover of red button on the Mi-8 cyclic. I mean when I flip up - the cover is closed, when flip down - it's open, and then pull flip trigger - fire. So the main trigger used for comm as on the real Mi-8, not for firing.
Ahh!!! I love my two other virpil grips... do I really need a third! Edit: I have a set of alphas and deltas... I too have shelved my deltas, but I plan on gifting them to friends when SC goes into beta in 2028.
@@therocinante3443 hehe don't forget chris roberts is 54(27 May 1968 (age 54 years), Redwood City, California, United States), why do you think he is trying to get squadron 42 out before he dies. remember what the answer to life and everything was yes it was 42 . so star citizen should take 42 years before release 😁😁
Great overview, as always! I was concerned about a move to metal and the effect it would have on the bases, so I'm glad you covered that right out the gate. As far as the changes to the flip trigger...I still have yet to find a good use for them in anything. All they do is cause Mobiglas cursor issues in Star Citizen lol. I REALLY want to see a tool-free method of enabling/disabling twist though. Let me enable twist when I don't feel like pulling out my ACE Torq pedals...but then easily disable.
+BrianMP5T *VIRPIL Controls have made a more accurate prediction of the F-14 Echo RIO grip in the Constellation ALPHA PRIME.* The Action trigger is probably a more accurate emulation of the OTTO U2-318 used by aircraft manufacturers. The flip trigger was kept, which means no need to relocate the Launch trigger.
My thoughts are, I'd like to have my endgame sticks for the PU when the game is out. Who knows how many new, better sticks every company will have byt he time the PU is considered, "released". My VKBs will suffice for the entirety of alpha and beta. I'll get sticks like this in 5 years when we're out of PU beta. Hopefully. Heck, I know it's wishful thinking. Fantastic stick and review though, homie.
Ive been having the same feeling. If i came into a bunch of money things would be different, but as is id rather wait to see how stick evolution goes and maintain my mid-level hardware for a bit. I totally agree with his proposition to invest in hardware over ship pledges though.
Or you can have the best right now, and upgrade for the new best in 5 years, or maybe everyone will be dead in 5 years and will never had the chance to taste the best, YOLO ! Virpil right now !
@@Spectaden like i said, if i had the money, it'd be different. But id rather save a big as heck set of expendatures like that for if 1-my current set up fails, 2-my space sim hobby becomes a greater part of my life (so like if i got more of my friends into it and i started spending much more time in it) or 3-when i have so much money saved up i can afford to spend more on my hobbies without risking my savings
Great summary of all the differences between these and the older version! These are an upgrade over the old version for sure, but it's not a huge upgrade. I agree these will last for a long time as well. I expect these and my pedals may be the only hardware that lasts to SC full release. ;P
10:50 Well you basically can do that in the software for the regular alpha. Just copy the button and make it inverse. So it activates when the actual switch is deactivated and vice versa
@@NOOBIFIER1337 It's 1 and 2 for me in VPC Joy Tester. Flipped up it activates 1 and flipped down, it deactivates 1 and activates 2. So you can bind different functions. Not sure if the number order stays the same after you add more buttons.
I preferred virpil alpha's over VKB kosmosima gunfighter mk3's. Mainly because I had issues with the contacts between the base and grip on the VKB's. I'm very happy to see that virpil is just aiming higher and higher with their newest products, and I'll be looking for an excuse to buy these even though my current constellation alpha's suit my every need.
I’d love to see that second momentary switch changed to another 4-way hat, like an F-16 grip… lots of jets have mappings there that I have to put elsewhere and it would have a depress trigger anyway, so you still get a momentary press there
Sounds good! My biggest issue with the original Alphas is the vagueness of the 3 way hat. I'd often get accidental up and down presses when trying to press the center click. I have similar issues with the thumb hat, but not as bad. Is this addressed with the Prime? Edit: Thanks for the button number breakdown. Good to know people using Prime will still be able to use my Alpha bindings without issue.
Now that I've moved back to the US and am completing my new "office" (game room), it is finally time to invest in some great dual sticks. Looks like these are exactly what I'm looking for. Now I just need to either buy or make a new desk and figure out how I want to attach these things for the best feel.
Side note first - I was a bit confused when you were reminding folks about the original Alpha. At 1:26 while you describe the classic stick, isn't that the Alpha Prime? No biggie, just trying to keep you on your toes 😏 It doesn't surprise me about the new stick, a company has to grow. Of course I won't be upgrading, but congratz to the new buyers of the Prime, it's a sick stick, I am envious. I actually got money off my pair of Alpha's thanks to your discount code - 🤗 Another great video Noob, thanks for sharing.
I agree - if you play Flight sims, Racing, Space games, on the regular, it is totally worth investing in a quality setup. 1 piece at a time, if necessary. They will last. If you move from a Saitek or TM16000 to a Virpil? You're only going to feel foolish you didnt do it sooner.
I'm not crazy about the RGB but more importantly I think the frosted plastic looks cheap. I'd argue the MCG Ultimate looks like a higher quality stick because it doesn't look like it was made by Razer.
It's removable... I reckon there could be an opportunity to scan those and reprodue them in Carbon Fibre impregnated Nylon or similar to have an amazing feel and finish.
great review! I had CH for nearly 20 years and replaced with the Warthog HOTAS and I was wasn't happy with it. The stick movement is way too stiff and most of the switches on the throttle are not momentary which creates some issues with key mapping. I finally ordered the Constellation ALPHA Prime, Mongoose base and the MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle and am really excited for their arrival!
Going back several years, I remember that as I was following the development of SC, it was one of your stick review videos that made me finally decide to buy the game package. I literally decided to buy the game because I wanted to play with sticks. Bought a pair of TM16000m and Logitech Ex3d and then I was looking for other games where I could use them. Now after long absence due to (mainly) fps issues, I got back to SC so I can buy the Alpha Primes. I think I'm doing something backwards 😅
The binding changes you mentioned are not new, they work this way in the existing alpha, but not out of the box, it just comes down the the profile, you just need to setup another logical button press as inverted.
Great review, i love my alpha stick! I cannot see myself upgrading though, unless i decide to fly with dual stick.... Currently im using the logitech throttle which seems to work well enough for now. The Hotas setup I have works well because my left thumb on throttle is on strafe u,d,l,r with boost on my left ring finger leaving my RH open to get on target and make it rain.
The Grips look awesome. Funny story, I recently wanted to upgrade my GF stick so I changed my grip from VKB SCG GF to a MCG Ultimate, and in the time it took for it to arrive, Virpil opened its american store and now it lauched a similar grip to VKB's MCGU. Still I'm really happy with my new grip, I really like enthusiasts have more options to complete their flight/space Sim setup. Great review btw.
I have just now received my Alpha Prime sticks which I decided to get from your videos. Now I'm just waiting for my MonsterTech rig. It was a fair amount of saving, and even more waiting. But your information helped me know it was what I wanted. Thank you.
I still like the Warthog for it's clean return to center... I'm considering the Virpil for a left-hand stick... I'm currently using a Razor keypad for operation of rudder and thrusters...while I have throttle set up on the Warthog's low hat... It works fine, but not as immersive as having a dual stick setup...
14:07 Jeez, this is too true. The amount of people I see with huge store bought fleets - and still fly with mouse and keyboard - is ridiculous. I've sunk more money into SC than most, but I also have a super beefy rig and a CM3 throttle / Alpha combo, and I'll always prioritize hardware before ship JPEG's.
I really like that they removed that textured part on the side of the grip. As anyone with sticks should know, if you don't clean your sticks and leave them for a few months, you'll come back to a joystick covered in sticky residue from all the gunk & moisture that gets transfered off your hands, especially if you live in a warm climate. Excellent review as always NOOB.
I'm willing to bet that if Virpil tries to outdo itself on another model in the future, that it will (or should) be called Sigma. I'll let that name sink in a bit as you contemplate the number system for improvements. Just a random thought, thanks for the in-depth video, much appreciated. σ
I'm trying not to overload my pea-brain n this :P Sigma = 200, 18th greek letter and also is used as a sign for Summation (the capital sigma I think?). In my life as an engineer little sigma is used to present an angle (variable) or standard deviation. I'm still not sure which of those you are pointing to... or is it something else? :)
@@michaelrobinson9643 it's probably deviation. Currently there is a term known as sigma male aka giga chad. It refers to a male who "deviates" from behavioral norms and only does what they personally beleive to be worthwhile while mainly focusing on bettering themselves e.g. sigma grindset. Sigmas are considered to be superior to the alpha male and peak male existence. From a meme perspective, sigma would be the perfect successor to alpha.
I've been using my alpha sticks for a few years now and upgraded from the deltas and those were upgrades from warthogs. I've got dual sticks and a virpil cm2 throttle. I've never had any issues, ever. It caused me to purchase the nice pedal set they have and all I can say is I'll never use anything else and when someone sits on my rig they crap on how nice all the virpil stuff is. I have covered them and set them aside for months then pulled it all out again and they were still micro sensitive and dead set needing no adjustment to re-deadzone them. Are they an investment? Yep. Have I now used them in almost every sim game including farm simulator, elite dangerous, star citizen, dcs, and the list goes on, without any issues and fully loving the experience? Absolutely. Having great gear like the virpil line just makes my love for the games 10x. It's like your favorite pair of shoes or your nice shop tools, just eeks enjoyment from everywhere.
I'm just now getting the chair mounts for my Virpil joysticks...should be here in a couple of weeks. Up to now I just haven't used them much because mounting them to my corner desk has been a pain, dissuading me from using them. I still have the original T-50 joysticks with the original base (the original Noobifier dual stick Bundle), and I would love to upgrade to anything featured in this video. Having bought dual Warthogs long ago (oooo what a mistake), I can tell you that you are spot on about the weight of those things, it makes a huge difference, though the feel of the metal is awesome in hand. The weight is the primary reason I went away from them. I love that the prime comes with metal grips without sacrificing too much to weight. I would love to upgrade my grips to those, but as I'm getting by on a fixed income, upgrades are few and far between. After I get my chair mounts installed (with quick releases) I forsee more Star Citizen in my future. Having an established setup I actually want to use should help convince me to play my space games more.
the prime is on my list for this year. along with a new pc build when the 4xxx series gpu's come out. already have the delta's but the prime has me at odds with staying with my delta's
I love the futuristic/alien LEDs look of the alpha prime grip as we associate aliens with space, it makes sense for the theme. The issue I have with the design is the all black buttons for a grip that is more flashy than it's previous versions, it doesn't make sense. Personally, I would have put an LED under both buttons and made them light up like the other sections of the grip giving the impression that you are piloting a living organism.
How would you rate this in terms of repairability if it needed to be worked on? Are there user-servicable parts? Ease of disassembly? Support from Virpil with schematics for electronic repairs?
It find it odd how I can't see the lights on the side of the stick while I'm using it! (unless I for example put the R version of the stick to the left of me). Great video though. I'd been wondering what the ministick head that came with the grip was for :)
I bought some VKB NXT Evo Galdiators - Omni Left & premium Right. I must say, the upgrade from dual T1600m was immediatley noticable. The smooth cam adjustments, large number of keybindings are amazing, but what really sold it to me, was the smooth return to centre after moving a stick to its axis margin. not fighting a stick trying to return itself to centre makes for much easier aiming. And i got both of these for less than the price of one virpil.
I’m happy for you, and I agree it’s a great stick but this statement is a bit like… “I bought a Corolla, it’s so much better than my Yaris and it was half the price of an Audi RS3” … right?
My main hold off on sticks is lacking a good spot for them. I don't want to modify my desk chair. desk mounts would block me from sliding my chair in when not in use, and placing them on the desk would put my arms in an awkward spot and block off my mouse space. If there was something compact that wouldn't take over my entire workspace that would be ideal for me.
@@NOOBIFIER1337 Yea I looked into it, but the right side would be blocked by my desk's height adjustment controls, and would need to move the mount for my work headset on the left side to a less accessible position. Still would love to get a high quality stick setup someday, just don't have the desk space for it.
They look and sound sweet. Glad to see a new iteration! I was getting ready to order a set soon waiting for the NA production to fire up! Be careful, someone is gonna say these are cheating LOL.
Hey Noob. Thanks for the vid. Will be purchasing my dual primes shortly. Your thoughts on quality and longevity are exactly the way I've always thought of things and it has served me well in my nearly 54 years.
I appreciate this video is a year old but it was an extremely good review and helped my decide to go Virpil. I'm a little bit of a throttle jockey so I probably won't go dual stick but I'm not ruling it out. Some of the videos you have of running dual stick show some very smooth flying and I'm getting tempted. Thanks very much for your review and videos at large. Always great info and a joy to watch. 🙂
I'm looking at the size of the grip in comparison to the A10 or the F-16. Even the f-18. The palm part of the stick is grossly oversized. I mean without holding it myself personally, it would take a very large hand to hold that and function or cycle the actuators that are attached. Hope you follow my meaning?
Agree with the hardware comment. My only additional comment to that is, as someone who couldn't afford an Idris anyway, with a limited budget I could only upgrade to (pre-EVO base) VKB NXT Premiums (Multi-throttle on left). They'll be here for a while. They've not disappointed me yet and I've only chosen to mod the left one using their EVO Gimbal upgrade kit to have a hybrid throttle/strafe on the left hand. I have yet to do the right because I don't find an appreciable difference in feel that puts me off in anyway because it being used as a stick. Upgrading the right would be a self-birthday present but I am not pressed to do that. The only additional thing I'd want on my current grips themselves is a scroll wheel like that of the VIRPILs and they would continue to be the bargain contender to any Alpha (IMO of course). I wholly agree anyone starting out would do well to start with ANYTHING better than bargain basement or some of the other mid-grade hardware options as a non-frustrating interface experience will tend to promote continued use. Love your review. Cheers.
You comment about spending a bit of cash on something a) quality and b) REAL!!! (in this case some good quality hardware) vs buying a ship that won't come out for 2 years - that is probably one of the most practical things I have heard in ages. Also, kudos to the video - I just received my Prime (Serial # 0000014) - can't wait to start testing out the various cams and springs to really see how well I can tune this for my experience. One thing I will note - upgrading from the CM2 Mongoose, I do find that the pinky button on the prime is a bit harder to reach. I suppose I have medium sized hands, and will continue to work on the mounting as I think this affects where my hand sits and therefore how well I can reach it.
Currently have a TM WH stick and looking to get an Alpha Prime + WarBrd. My hands are pretty small - with my palm on the rest on the WH, I have to move my had to get my thumb on the store release button. But from the diagram on the Virpil site, with the palm rest adjusted up it doesn't look that different?
Absolutely love mine. Only thing that could make it 'better' for me would be an option for an extra hat instead of the thumbstick. I find myself using only one of the thumbsticks; I'm using them less and less
I appreciate how in depth this review is. I spent money on ships but flying with keyboard and mouse feels clunky and I want to try these sticks. Gotta work on upgrading my pc though first. Thanks again.
ty for your review! this made my decision clear to order a dual stick set of the Virpil Alpha Prime and the proper bases! For me its definetly time to upgrade my hardware - from TM t16k dual stick to Virpil Alpha Prime dual stick... my SC fleet is almost complete and there is no ship atm worth to pledge, so as you said, i will invest the money in new hardware :)
100g heavier is about where it is too. If that weight is low in the design it will have minimal impact. I think your remarks around mass are thoughtful and considered. Thank you. Having had my virpil's Alphas for 6 months and not had a chance to use them due to renovations... I'm immediately wishing I hadn't bought and was buying now with the Prime on the market. Having said that, getting Virpil product has been variably very challenging.
Another benefit if having good gear. - I bought a full set of virpils casting me near 1000€ but the fact I can take it with me to DCS and other games with a flight model makes them priceless for me
For "grip/hand size compatibility" for different hand sizesit would be usefull if you gave few measures of your hand. For example with thumb extended distance from its tip to other edge of palm, from tip of thumb to pinkie with fingers spread and like that. That would give at least some comparison reference for people looking into this stick. I mean "small" isn't very precise term...
@@ravennfall6034 Assuming hand proportions have far less variation than foot... Central European model shoes are pretty much two toes too narrow for my foot.
"Buy hardware first, then ships." I don't play Star Citizen, but DCS, and I agree 100%. I've so far spent over 1000€ in building my little simpit (completely DIY) and I haven't bought a single plane yet. I'm not saying I never will. Just that I'm already having SO much fun with just the Frogfoot and the community A-4 that I felt this was a better investment for now. ... and then someone gifted me the Tomcat, but that's a different story.
I love my dual Alphas, but theses Primes look even better. I wish i could get them. The castle hats are much nicer along with the side led design. Though I prefer the red button it looks cooler imo. More buttons the better even if I'm forgetting my key binds all the time as it is. Also I wasn't aware of the thumb stick cover popping off. I believe I have a later model. Great video as always noob!
I'm so glad I waited! I loved the look of the originals but I really wanted a "more premium" option. The metal and LEDs look great, but also the button quality jump seems very significant. Anyone willing to share how big their hand is and how comfortable they find the alpha? My biggest fear is not being able to comfortably reach the buttons.
i ordered mine 2 months ago and still waiting to get my virpil setup. I have contacted them and im waiting on the throttle to get to them so hopefully i only have 3 weeks at the most to wait it will be great for DCS
I tried dual t16000m sticks, they were OK but felt cheap. Upgraded to the vkb nxts and they made the t16000m feel like junk. The problem with upgrading to the virpils is it makes my entire setup look like junk, so I'm holding off on them as it's indirectly a £7k purchase
There will be always new joystick releases. There will be always improvements. But you must consider if your needs are fulfilled. I don't wanted to buy a throttle without detentions and I wanted to buy a joystick with "metal" feeling ( as it feels more real in sims). At the same time I want a unique, customization software and devices interconnection to not use 4 or 5 usb cables or hubs. Finally, after waiting some time, Virpil fulfilled all my needs so now I can consider Virpil as a my complete space sim solution.
You can make a regular Alpha work the same way the Prome appears to work via the software by changing the switch type. I have mine bound to weapons off, weapons on, fire primary from up to contact with T2. This thing looks dope though. I love the lights. But I don't think I can justify it unless something happens to my Alpha. My LS is a delta. Which I could magically transform my Alpha to a left hand and get a Prime for right. :-(
Did you get a chance to test the grip on the table top version of the base? I've read that virpil sticks are best for mounting on the side and VKB for putting on the table. Is that the case for this grip too?
Some things that i personally would want to see 1. Add a 3rd hat. I know the analog is supposed to be the 3rd hat, but i want it to be an extra thing. 2. Offset he brake lever to the left so it can be used comfortably with the pinky and not require to loosen your grip to pull. 3. less noisy and better feeling buttons( i guess this is somewhat addressed with the prime.
The ONLY thing i would change with this stick is the mini stick plastic surrounding it. It can be made better by copying the gamecube controllers notches in the plastic
As a real jet pilot and imaginary space pilot, I approve of the Alphas. Love them. Now going to get these as well.
did you get them? do you still love them?
I picked up my Constellation Alpha about a year ago and it's completely transformed my flight sim experience. As somebody not all that interested in space sims the Alpha still represents one of the best values in the high end market for flight simming as it grants almost unparalleled flexibility for a variety of aircraft and use cases.
The flip trigger and the 3 stage pull is by far one of the most useful features I've encountered and I often use it as an easy weapons safe/arm feature.
Heh, I see I'm not the only one with that idea in mind.
For those that are waiting for Star Citizen to be finished, don’t. Any flight simulator will benefit from having a nice stick, not just Star Citizen. Also the development for SC is going to be long and full of bugs. Theses sticks will last you the years and even decades SC is in development. Why wait to enjoy a solid stick in your hands and the precise movement they provide. The only regret you will have in getting the Alpha is if you wait till SC is released.
I get this take but I have no plans in playing SC until it's in a more mature state with persistence etc. I play no other flight sims. If SC takes another 2-3 years by then an even newer version of the alpha's will be out and I'll have more options to choose from.
@@brandofriva it does increase in price over time. Perhaps just get it, and play it whenever you feel there is enough to do?
That being said, I've had my Virpils coming up for close to a decade now for SC, and they've definitely made improvements since, improvements that'll cost more to replace my two old sticks.
@@brandofriva
While I completely understand, and agree that alpha games aren’t for everyone and SC can be really buggy, depending on build/patch,… even in its current state, it is honestly the best game I have ever played and it’s only getting better
Agree - Everspase 2 is so great on these sticks 👍
THANK you for pointing out the hardware vs ship purchase importance. I completely agree!!!
You bet! People need to remember priorities.
I love my dual Alphas and though tempting to upgrade to the prime I will stick with them. Virpil makes some quality products and the Alphas are some sticks that just feel right. They have so many bindings that I rarely reach for the keyboard, when I do it’s for a rare keybind or to type a message. Nice you get an Alpha you don’t need anything else, except a second Alpha for your other hand.
Awesome. It's good to know Virpil is still pushing their gear to perfection. I still haven't found the perfect bindings for my Alphas, but it's good to know they are pushing the envelope and when I am ready to upgrade there will be something new on the top tier of grips.
Just wanted to say I blame and praise you for your content. You where the first channel that I found and followed posting about Star Citizen. You were also the first ORG I join and enjoy it! Seeing how you have grow man your channel, growing your setups and sim area over the years has been awesome! I haven’t yet left from the classic t16000ms yet but the battle of going back and forth between upgrading to a silver tier stick like VKB or just saving up and going for the Gold standard with Virpil has honestly been settled. I’m going to save and just buy a Virpil. These sticks keep getting better and better! The Alpha Primes look amazing! Thank you for your videos and input personally over the years! Also thank you for your service over the many years!
Virpil made the right choice going higher end, these are the sticks I have been wanting for a few years. I wanted a metal body stick that didn't flex, especially during twist, and isn't ridiculously clunky and overbuilt like the warthog. I also like complex control schemes so all those bindings are music to my ears.
The RGB was very useful with some work. Got it tied to shield strength progressing from White to Red.
The flip trigger now being two discrete stages (and bindings) sounds awesome to me, first idea would be to bind it to Weapons Systems Offline/Online, i.e. when Flip Trigger is up, Binding 1, that's "Disable Weapons Systems/Retract Turrets/etc", and when flipped down to stage 2, it would be "Enable Weapons Systems/Deploy Turrets/etc".
That would be a cool & immersive way to handle how you approach any given contact in Star Citizen for example, could lead to awesome multi-route mission design too, where NPC contacts in space would react differently to you based on whether you approached them with weapons fully active, deployed and charged, or with weapons offline.
Especially when using a dual stick setup where you have no throttle base for such functionality.
Love the no BS gear reviews. Thanks! When do you think Virpil might expand into Flight Yokes and/or Wheels? If ever?
I've got 2 questions concerning the Prime over the regular Alphas. First, do you know if the is thumbstick using hall effect sensors? While most people probably don't use the thumbsticks on the Alphas as much as a controller, using hall effect sensors for the stick would reduce "deadzone" drifting issues that almost any thumbstick on a controller has. Second, are the bindings the same between the left and right sticks? When I got my Alphas, my left stick had the red momentary and pyramid hat swapped with the black momentary and other 5-way compared to the right stick. Not a huge issue considering their software, but it means my button configuration might be different than others.
13:52 Very well said! Fantastic video, Noob. Thank you for this!
These are amazing and I have heard nothing but good things about them but I went with VKB's personally. Equally as good in my mind. Anyone looking to get some HOSAS should seriously consider these and VKB.
12:51 Wrong, it's not the Prime specific feature, it's just default firmaware setting.
The same effect on the old Alfa grip one can achieve by adding logical BUTTON32 and set it's action to "invert".
I use that for opening and closing of the cover of red button on the Mi-8 cyclic.
I mean when I flip up - the cover is closed, when flip down - it's open, and then pull flip trigger - fire.
So the main trigger used for comm as on the real Mi-8, not for firing.
In love with Virpil products! Thanks for the review Noob! Super informative.
That top cover is a good place to add a track pad for use as in mouse mode when not flying or fighting, so your hands are never away from the sticks.
Thanks for the in-depth review of this product line.
Ahh!!! I love my two other virpil grips... do I really need a third!
Edit: I have a set of alphas and deltas... I too have shelved my deltas, but I plan on gifting them to friends when SC goes into beta in 2028.
great idea
I think you meant 2128
@@therocinante3443 hehe don't forget chris roberts is 54(27 May 1968 (age 54 years), Redwood City, California, United States), why do you think he is trying to get squadron 42 out before he dies. remember what the answer to life and everything was yes it was 42 . so star citizen should take 42 years before release 😁😁
Great overview, as always! I was concerned about a move to metal and the effect it would have on the bases, so I'm glad you covered that right out the gate.
As far as the changes to the flip trigger...I still have yet to find a good use for them in anything. All they do is cause Mobiglas cursor issues in Star Citizen lol.
I REALLY want to see a tool-free method of enabling/disabling twist though. Let me enable twist when I don't feel like pulling out my ACE Torq pedals...but then easily disable.
The tension in twist is quite good. You can rarely initiate by accident.
+BrianMP5T *VIRPIL Controls have made a more accurate prediction of the F-14 Echo RIO grip in the Constellation ALPHA PRIME.* The Action trigger is probably a more accurate emulation of the OTTO U2-318 used by aircraft manufacturers. The flip trigger was kept, which means no need to relocate the Launch trigger.
My thoughts are, I'd like to have my endgame sticks for the PU when the game is out. Who knows how many new, better sticks every company will have byt he time the PU is considered, "released". My VKBs will suffice for the entirety of alpha and beta. I'll get sticks like this in 5 years when we're out of PU beta. Hopefully. Heck, I know it's wishful thinking.
Fantastic stick and review though, homie.
Ive been having the same feeling. If i came into a bunch of money things would be different, but as is id rather wait to see how stick evolution goes and maintain my mid-level hardware for a bit. I totally agree with his proposition to invest in hardware over ship pledges though.
Or you can have the best right now, and upgrade for the new best in 5 years, or maybe everyone will be dead in 5 years and will never had the chance to taste the best, YOLO ! Virpil right now !
@@Spectaden like i said, if i had the money, it'd be different. But id rather save a big as heck set of expendatures like that for if 1-my current set up fails, 2-my space sim hobby becomes a greater part of my life (so like if i got more of my friends into it and i started spending much more time in it) or 3-when i have so much money saved up i can afford to spend more on my hobbies without risking my savings
@@ParagonFangXen of course I understand, most of this, with Virpil joysticks come big changes on the setup so it's not for everyone.
@@Spectaden true
Great summary of all the differences between these and the older version! These are an upgrade over the old version for sure, but it's not a huge upgrade. I agree these will last for a long time as well. I expect these and my pedals may be the only hardware that lasts to SC full release. ;P
10:50 Well you basically can do that in the software for the regular alpha. Just copy the button and make it inverse. So it activates when the actual switch is deactivated and vice versa
#32?
@@NOOBIFIER1337 It's 1 and 2 for me in VPC Joy Tester. Flipped up it activates 1 and flipped down, it deactivates 1 and activates 2. So you can bind different functions.
Not sure if the number order stays the same after you add more buttons.
I preferred virpil alpha's over VKB kosmosima gunfighter mk3's. Mainly because I had issues with the contacts between the base and grip on the VKB's. I'm very happy to see that virpil is just aiming higher and higher with their newest products, and I'll be looking for an excuse to buy these even though my current constellation alpha's suit my every need.
I’d love to see that second momentary switch changed to another 4-way hat, like an F-16 grip… lots of jets have mappings there that I have to put elsewhere
and it would have a depress trigger anyway, so you still get a momentary press there
Sounds good! My biggest issue with the original Alphas is the vagueness of the 3 way hat. I'd often get accidental up and down presses when trying to press the center click. I have similar issues with the thumb hat, but not as bad. Is this addressed with the Prime?
Edit: Thanks for the button number breakdown. Good to know people using Prime will still be able to use my Alpha bindings without issue.
Love your hardware reviews, I’m certainly looking forward to this one
The trigger pull really sounds like the warthog, which i love.
The flip trigger bindings is a software function from in the firmware. I have had my original Alpha set like that for nearly a year.
Now that I've moved back to the US and am completing my new "office" (game room), it is finally time to invest in some great dual sticks. Looks like these are exactly what I'm looking for. Now I just need to either buy or make a new desk and figure out how I want to attach these things for the best feel.
Side note first - I was a bit confused when you were reminding folks about the original Alpha. At 1:26 while you describe the classic stick, isn't that the Alpha Prime? No biggie, just trying to keep you on your toes 😏
It doesn't surprise me about the new stick, a company has to grow. Of course I won't be upgrading, but congratz to the new buyers of the Prime, it's a sick stick, I am envious.
I actually got money off my pair of Alpha's thanks to your discount code - 🤗
Another great video Noob, thanks for sharing.
Yes, it was new. I figured I would show the new one instead.
@@NOOBIFIER1337 I was confused as you were describing the old model while you showed the new model
, it was weird, no worries - just feed back is all
I agree - if you play Flight sims, Racing, Space games, on the regular, it is totally worth investing in a quality setup.
1 piece at a time, if necessary.
They will last.
If you move from a Saitek or TM16000 to a Virpil? You're only going to feel foolish you didnt do it sooner.
I'm not crazy about the RGB but more importantly I think the frosted plastic looks cheap. I'd argue the MCG Ultimate looks like a higher quality stick because it doesn't look like it was made by Razer.
It's removable... I reckon there could be an opportunity to scan those and reprodue them in Carbon Fibre impregnated Nylon or similar to have an amazing feel and finish.
I knew you had these, was waiting patiently for this video :)
great review! I had CH for nearly 20 years and replaced with the Warthog HOTAS and I was wasn't happy with it. The stick movement is way too stiff and most of the switches on the throttle are not momentary which creates some issues with key mapping. I finally ordered the Constellation ALPHA Prime, Mongoose base and the MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle and am really excited for their arrival!
Perfect video as always, thank you very much! Plz keep on like that!
A fantastic review. Thank you. I have my eyes on the Virpil Prime as my future sticks.
Going back several years, I remember that as I was following the development of SC, it was one of your stick review videos that made me finally decide to buy the game package. I literally decided to buy the game because I wanted to play with sticks. Bought a pair of TM16000m and Logitech Ex3d and then I was looking for other games where I could use them.
Now after long absence due to (mainly) fps issues, I got back to SC so I can buy the Alpha Primes. I think I'm doing something backwards 😅
Awesome totally awesome. Another great product. 😎🖖🏽
The binding changes you mentioned are not new, they work this way in the existing alpha, but not out of the box, it just comes down the the profile, you just need to setup another logical button press as inverted.
Ok
hi, for me, virpil' products are the best of the best ;)
Great review, i love my alpha stick! I cannot see myself upgrading though, unless i decide to fly with dual stick.... Currently im using the logitech throttle which seems to work well enough for now. The Hotas setup I have works well because my left thumb on throttle is on strafe u,d,l,r with boost on my left ring finger leaving my RH open to get on target and make it rain.
There stuff has always been amazing. Can't fault there quality
The Grips look awesome. Funny story, I recently wanted to upgrade my GF stick so I changed my grip from VKB SCG GF to a MCG Ultimate, and in the time it took for it to arrive, Virpil opened its american store and now it lauched a similar grip to VKB's MCGU. Still I'm really happy with my new grip, I really like enthusiasts have more options to complete their flight/space Sim setup. Great review btw.
Thanks for the review and insight. BTW, where did you get those grip bases to display your retired grips?
Thingsverse. They are the same as Thrustmaster
I have just now received my Alpha Prime sticks which I decided to get from your videos. Now I'm just waiting for my MonsterTech rig. It was a fair amount of saving, and even more waiting.
But your information helped me know it was what I wanted. Thank you.
that stick is so damn beautiful....
I still like the Warthog for it's clean return to center... I'm considering the Virpil for a left-hand stick... I'm currently using a Razor keypad for operation of rudder and thrusters...while I have throttle set up on the Warthog's low hat... It works fine, but not as immersive as having a dual stick setup...
Ohhh, I want these sooo much! And the desk mounts too!
14:07 Jeez, this is too true. The amount of people I see with huge store bought fleets - and still fly with mouse and keyboard - is ridiculous. I've sunk more money into SC than most, but I also have a super beefy rig and a CM3 throttle / Alpha combo, and I'll always prioritize hardware before ship JPEG's.
I really like that they removed that textured part on the side of the grip. As anyone with sticks should know, if you don't clean your sticks and leave them for a few months, you'll come back to a joystick covered in sticky residue from all the gunk & moisture that gets transfered off your hands, especially if you live in a warm climate.
Excellent review as always NOOB.
I'm willing to bet that if Virpil tries to outdo itself on another model in the future, that it will (or should) be called Sigma. I'll let that name sink in a bit as you contemplate the number system for improvements.
Just a random thought, thanks for the in-depth video, much appreciated. σ
I'm trying not to overload my pea-brain n this :P
Sigma = 200, 18th greek letter and also is used as a sign for Summation (the capital sigma I think?).
In my life as an engineer little sigma is used to present an angle (variable) or standard deviation.
I'm still not sure which of those you are pointing to... or is it something else? :)
@@michaelrobinson9643 it's probably deviation. Currently there is a term known as sigma male aka giga chad. It refers to a male who "deviates" from behavioral norms and only does what they personally beleive to be worthwhile while mainly focusing on bettering themselves e.g. sigma grindset. Sigmas are considered to be superior to the alpha male and peak male existence. From a meme perspective, sigma would be the perfect successor to alpha.
I've been using my alpha sticks for a few years now and upgraded from the deltas and those were upgrades from warthogs. I've got dual sticks and a virpil cm2 throttle. I've never had any issues, ever. It caused me to purchase the nice pedal set they have and all I can say is I'll never use anything else and when someone sits on my rig they crap on how nice all the virpil stuff is. I have covered them and set them aside for months then pulled it all out again and they were still micro sensitive and dead set needing no adjustment to re-deadzone them.
Are they an investment? Yep. Have I now used them in almost every sim game including farm simulator, elite dangerous, star citizen, dcs, and the list goes on, without any issues and fully loving the experience? Absolutely. Having great gear like the virpil line just makes my love for the games 10x. It's like your favorite pair of shoes or your nice shop tools, just eeks enjoyment from everywhere.
I'm just now getting the chair mounts for my Virpil joysticks...should be here in a couple of weeks. Up to now I just haven't used them much because mounting them to my corner desk has been a pain, dissuading me from using them. I still have the original T-50 joysticks with the original base (the original Noobifier dual stick Bundle), and I would love to upgrade to anything featured in this video. Having bought dual Warthogs long ago (oooo what a mistake), I can tell you that you are spot on about the weight of those things, it makes a huge difference, though the feel of the metal is awesome in hand. The weight is the primary reason I went away from them. I love that the prime comes with metal grips without sacrificing too much to weight. I would love to upgrade my grips to those, but as I'm getting by on a fixed income, upgrades are few and far between.
After I get my chair mounts installed (with quick releases) I forsee more Star Citizen in my future. Having an established setup I actually want to use should help convince me to play my space games more.
Excellent review! Thx!
the prime is on my list for this year. along with a new pc build when the 4xxx series gpu's come out. already have the delta's but the prime has me at odds with staying with my delta's
I love the futuristic/alien LEDs look of the alpha prime grip as we associate aliens with space, it makes sense for the theme. The issue I have with the design is the all black buttons for a grip that is more flashy than it's previous versions, it doesn't make sense. Personally, I would have put an LED under both buttons and made them light up like the other sections of the grip giving the impression that you are piloting a living organism.
How would you rate this in terms of repairability if it needed to be worked on? Are there user-servicable parts? Ease of disassembly? Support from Virpil with schematics for electronic repairs?
It’s all broken down internally as a series of daughterboards, no solder. It would be simple to repair and service
I have an alpha. Not going to upgrade but do wish these kept a more low key aesthetic.
It find it odd how I can't see the lights on the side of the stick while I'm using it! (unless I for example put the R version of the stick to the left of me). Great video though. I'd been wondering what the ministick head that came with the grip was for :)
I bought some VKB NXT Evo Galdiators - Omni Left & premium Right. I must say, the upgrade from dual T1600m was immediatley noticable. The smooth cam adjustments, large number of keybindings are amazing, but what really sold it to me, was the smooth return to centre after moving a stick to its axis margin. not fighting a stick trying to return itself to centre makes for much easier aiming. And i got both of these for less than the price of one virpil.
I’m happy for you, and I agree it’s a great stick but this statement is a bit like… “I bought a Corolla, it’s so much better than my Yaris and it was half the price of an Audi RS3” … right?
Virpil needs an XL line. I can't use their sticks because they're too small...
My main hold off on sticks is lacking a good spot for them. I don't want to modify my desk chair. desk mounts would block me from sliding my chair in when not in use, and placing them on the desk would put my arms in an awkward spot and block off my mouse space. If there was something compact that wouldn't take over my entire workspace that would be ideal for me.
Did you see the Rail? search for “ Monstertech Rail” I did a video
@@NOOBIFIER1337 Yea I looked into it, but the right side would be blocked by my desk's height adjustment controls, and would need to move the mount for my work headset on the left side to a less accessible position. Still would love to get a high quality stick setup someday, just don't have the desk space for it.
They look and sound sweet. Glad to see a new iteration! I was getting ready to order a set soon waiting for the NA production to fire up! Be careful, someone is gonna say these are cheating LOL.
Hey Noob. Thanks for the vid. Will be purchasing my dual primes shortly. Your thoughts on quality and longevity are exactly the way I've always thought of things and it has served me well in my nearly 54 years.
I appreciate this video is a year old but it was an extremely good review and helped my decide to go Virpil. I'm a little bit of a throttle jockey so I probably won't go dual stick but I'm not ruling it out. Some of the videos you have of running dual stick show some very smooth flying and I'm getting tempted. Thanks very much for your review and videos at large. Always great info and a joy to watch. 🙂
I'm looking at the size of the grip in comparison to the A10 or the F-16. Even the f-18. The palm part of the stick is grossly oversized. I mean without holding it myself personally, it would take a very large hand to hold that and function or cycle the actuators that are attached. Hope you follow my meaning?
Agree with the hardware comment. My only additional comment to that is, as someone who couldn't afford an Idris anyway, with a limited budget I could only upgrade to (pre-EVO base) VKB NXT Premiums (Multi-throttle on left). They'll be here for a while. They've not disappointed me yet and I've only chosen to mod the left one using their EVO Gimbal upgrade kit to have a hybrid throttle/strafe on the left hand. I have yet to do the right because I don't find an appreciable difference in feel that puts me off in anyway because it being used as a stick. Upgrading the right would be a self-birthday present but I am not pressed to do that. The only additional thing I'd want on my current grips themselves is a scroll wheel like that of the VIRPILs and they would continue to be the bargain contender to any Alpha (IMO of course). I wholly agree anyone starting out would do well to start with ANYTHING better than bargain basement or some of the other mid-grade hardware options as a non-frustrating interface experience will tend to promote continued use.
Love your review. Cheers.
More mass on a 200mm extension is a different experience from a direct grip attachment to the base for desktop use. Much better IMO.
You comment about spending a bit of cash on something a) quality and b) REAL!!! (in this case some good quality hardware) vs buying a ship that won't come out for 2 years - that is probably one of the most practical things I have heard in ages.
Also, kudos to the video - I just received my Prime (Serial # 0000014) - can't wait to start testing out the various cams and springs to really see how well I can tune this for my experience.
One thing I will note - upgrading from the CM2 Mongoose, I do find that the pinky button on the prime is a bit harder to reach. I suppose I have medium sized hands, and will continue to work on the mounting as I think this affects where my hand sits and therefore how well I can reach it.
Noobifier! This is the best review ive ever seen. Thank you so much man, very very informative.
Currently have a TM WH stick and looking to get an Alpha Prime + WarBrd. My hands are pretty small - with my palm on the rest on the WH, I have to move my had to get my thumb on the store release button. But from the diagram on the Virpil site, with the palm rest adjusted up it doesn't look that different?
Mine are now on order. Super excited.
My goodness this video underplayed how good these would feel for me.
Absolutely love mine. Only thing that could make it 'better' for me would be an option for an extra hat instead of the thumbstick. I find myself using only one of the thumbsticks; I'm using them less and less
I appreciate how in depth this review is. I spent money on ships but flying with keyboard and mouse feels clunky and I want to try these sticks. Gotta work on upgrading my pc though first. Thanks again.
ty for your review! this made my decision clear to order a dual stick set of the Virpil Alpha Prime and the proper bases! For me its definetly time to upgrade my hardware - from TM t16k dual stick to Virpil Alpha Prime dual stick... my SC fleet is almost complete and there is no ship atm worth to pledge, so as you said, i will invest the money in new hardware :)
Between Monstertech, Virpil, and Noobifier's reviews I am keeping DHL drivers very busy!
I love my constellation alpha prime grip :) I use it left hand. In right hand I have a force sensitive real simulator base and a warthog grip.
100g heavier is about where it is too. If that weight is low in the design it will have minimal impact. I think your remarks around mass are thoughtful and considered. Thank you.
Having had my virpil's Alphas for 6 months and not had a chance to use them due to renovations... I'm immediately wishing I hadn't bought and was buying now with the Prime on the market.
Having said that, getting Virpil product has been variably very challenging.
I appreciate you kind words. It is always a risk when buying anything, a new something comes out. It was the same when delta was replaced by alpha
Another benefit if having good gear.
- I bought a full set of virpils casting me near 1000€ but the fact I can take it with me to DCS and other games with a flight model makes them priceless for me
Very nice Noob! Those sticks all look great! Those haps and mini stick look like great features! Prime's metal body sounds super alluring 🥴
It is somewhat more satisfying to use them, but standard alpha are also solid. It comes down to taste.
For "grip/hand size compatibility" for different hand sizesit would be usefull if you gave few measures of your hand.
For example with thumb extended distance from its tip to other edge of palm, from tip of thumb to pinkie with fingers spread and like that.
That would give at least some comparison reference for people looking into this stick.
I mean "small" isn't very precise term...
glove size is a good and more accurate way to determine hand size basically you measure the width of your hand across the life line
@@ravennfall6034 Assuming hand proportions have far less variation than foot...
Central European model shoes are pretty much two toes too narrow for my foot.
Bro, after this video im going to buy this virpils. Thanks a lot. Good information for players.
"Buy hardware first, then ships." I don't play Star Citizen, but DCS, and I agree 100%. I've so far spent over 1000€ in building my little simpit (completely DIY) and I haven't bought a single plane yet.
I'm not saying I never will. Just that I'm already having SO much fun with just the Frogfoot and the community A-4 that I felt this was a better investment for now.
... and then someone gifted me the Tomcat, but that's a different story.
I love my dual Alphas, but theses Primes look even better. I wish i could get them. The castle hats are much nicer along with the side led design. Though I prefer the red button it looks cooler imo.
More buttons the better even if I'm forgetting my key binds all the time as it is.
Also I wasn't aware of the thumb stick cover popping off. I believe I have a later model.
Great video as always noob!
Thank you for doing this, and that point you made about our equipment to interact wit htthe ganme was on point!
I need to get a set of stick. My HOTAS throttle is old and worn out and doesn't stay centered at zero. That can be a pain. X52 Pro
Apply some black RTV/sealant to those screws and never have to worry about any FOD in the cockpit.
I'm so glad I waited! I loved the look of the originals but I really wanted a "more premium" option. The metal and LEDs look great, but also the button quality jump seems very significant.
Anyone willing to share how big their hand is and how comfortable they find the alpha? My biggest fear is not being able to comfortably reach the buttons.
i ordered mine 2 months ago and still waiting to get my virpil setup. I have contacted them and im waiting on the throttle to get to them so hopefully i only have 3 weeks at the most to wait it will be great for DCS
I tried dual t16000m sticks, they were OK but felt cheap. Upgraded to the vkb nxts and they made the t16000m feel like junk. The problem with upgrading to the virpils is it makes my entire setup look like junk, so I'm holding off on them as it's indirectly a £7k purchase
NXT is a good middle ground
There will be always new joystick releases. There will be always improvements. But you must consider if your needs are fulfilled. I don't wanted to buy a throttle without detentions and I wanted to buy a joystick with "metal" feeling ( as it feels more real in sims). At the same time I want a unique, customization software and devices interconnection to not use 4 or 5 usb cables or hubs. Finally, after waiting some time, Virpil fulfilled all my needs so now I can consider Virpil as a my complete space sim solution.
Your reviews are so incredibly detailed and informative my dude, much appreciated. This was super helpful.
An improve for sure, it's like a next version of Alpha, not a new joystick at all. Love it and probably get one. Nice vid!
You can make a regular Alpha work the same way the Prome appears to work via the software by changing the switch type. I have mine bound to weapons off, weapons on, fire primary from up to contact with T2.
This thing looks dope though. I love the lights. But I don't think I can justify it unless something happens to my Alpha. My LS is a delta. Which I could magically transform my Alpha to a left hand and get a Prime for right. :-(
Did you get a chance to test the grip on the table top version of the base? I've read that virpil sticks are best for mounting on the side and VKB for putting on the table. Is that the case for this grip too?
Would love to hear your thoughts on the left prime being mounted on the "VPC Flightstick Z-Extension" and how that feels for ya
It is not much different than normal Alpha. So it’s great.
Some things that i personally would want to see
1. Add a 3rd hat. I know the analog is supposed to be the 3rd hat, but i want it to be an extra thing.
2. Offset he brake lever to the left so it can be used comfortably with the pinky and not require to loosen your grip to pull.
3. less noisy and better feeling buttons( i guess this is somewhat addressed with the prime.
That would be a 4th hat, there are already three plus the mini stick. The buttons are muted because of the metal body. It’s quite a nice update TBH.
The ONLY thing i would change with this stick is the mini stick plastic surrounding it. It can be made better by copying the gamecube controllers notches in the plastic