how on earth do you get this joystick to work in the game. As soon as I take off, I just roll over and nose dive. Rudder responds well but not pitch or roll...
Does FF not work automatically on MSFS? What about the latest version? Also does this work for Mechwarrior 5? I read that people use to play MW 3 and 4 with FF with these joysticks.
The joystick works fine with MSFS and it's a great stick even with FF non-functional but if you want FF response you have to use the 3rd party software. I've never played MW so someone else would have to chime in about how they work with that game.
Not sure how well this shows up on video, but this was a real fight. The force required to right the plane back out of the roll is significant. Plus the stick kicks quite firmly when you hit turbulence. You can see the stick shake best on take-off but it kicks you like that quite often. An app called XP Force is required if you want to try this out. Free trial available here: www.fsmissioneditor.com/product/xpforce/
Nice video, low level flights is my way to enjoy flying in the Sim. Controllers wise, I've gone a strange route, I use my mouse and keyboard to fly, virtual joystick and my mouse becomes my stick, pretty happy that way so far. Stopped worrying about calibrations, buttons mapping and configurations, never looked back.
@@Danko05 Thanks for commenting! I've used mouse/keyboard for flight sims many times in the past and always enjoyed it, it can be a very fluid experience with a mouse stick. And I agree, that every time I have to re-do controls for a stick, I end up pulling my hair out, and I've not got that much left! Happily, even though it is 20 years old, configuration for the Sidewinder is pretty easy, it's still one of the best products Microsoft ever made.
@@bartosmar @bartosmar This is MSFS2020 and the programme I'm using to interface with the Force Feedback Joystick is called XPForce. You have to run XPForce (www.fsmissioneditor.com/product/xpforce/) before starting MSFS2020 and the programme then interprets the data from the flight surfaces and converts it into inputs for the joystick. It's not perfect, as MSFS2020 doesn't have full functionality to make the data it outputs 'real-world' accurate but it's good enough for some immersion. The sticks come up on Ebay all the time, they're not cheap but they do last for ever. Probably one of the finest peripherals ever made by Microsoft.
I’ve set this up for my system. On the ground the force feedback is amazing. Also when deploying wheels, flaps or air brake you really feel it. But I don’t feel much when in a stall or when I’m doing high angle turns… I was expecting to feel something significant. Have I set this up correctly?
Yes, you've got it set up right. MSFS isn't sending data to the stick as it doesn't have the ability to do so. XP Force jumps in and attempts to interpret whatever data it can from your inputs to the control surfaces including:- • Autopilot on/off • Autopilot yoke force • Hydraulic system existence and failure state • Number, type and location of engines • Prop disc rotation direction (for propwash) • On/off ground, and force of contact • Gear rotation speed • Gear's ability to retract and retraction state • Airbrake existence and state • Stick-shaker • Relative air velocity (for windshear, crosswinds etc.) • Estimated "normal" cruise speed • Pitch/Roll/Yaw control surface deflection • Pitch/Roll/Yaw trim settings • Flight Director/autopilot status • Artificial Stability systems and status
Experiment with increasing forces on the sliders, make sure stick shaker is on. Ultimately, it's a 'halfway-house' which better than nothing until the new generation of FF joystick are released.
It certainly does! Built like an absolute tank, hands down one of the best things Microsoft ever made - I've got two and I fully expect them to outlast me.
Absolutely, it's a bomb proof bit of kit and a great feeling joystick even if you're not using the FF features. If you see one cheap grab one! I think we're about to see a new age of FF sticks, this has just been announced and others are to follow:- mozaracing.com/flight/moza-ab9-base
Thanks for commenting! I don't have DCS yet, I've been holding off until the F- 4 Phantom is released as that is my No.1 aircraft from history. What I've heard is that DCS is a much more complex and faithful simulation than MS2020 is, and I'd imagine that modelling and tracking all those systems in DCS must cost extra FPS. While the Hawk is an amazing piece of work, none of its possible combat functions are incorporated, as combat functions and any other '16+' type stuff like crashing and explosions are banned from MSFS 2020. I guess MSFS 2020 is kind of a 'lite' flight sim that mostly wins on visuals, but it does run very nicely!
@@zenoemenhemdeslappeslang346 That's great to hear - I'll be checking out DCS as soon as the Phantom releases, good to hear it will be a smooth experience!
I wish it had the Grand Canyon! edit: The FFB2 is well covered in DCS, Flankers and props (although I haven't tried it with the Spitfire yet). The trimming and take off is fantastic from what I remember. I can't remember which planes it affects, F-15C for sure, F-16 I wouldn't have thought so. I haven't been using them (I got a spare cheap) of late as I went for a WarBrd D to replace the old Cougar gimbal. Oh yes, have not tried it with that new Su-30 mod in DCS yet. We'll see what having a 3D FFB stick does with a 3D vectoring jet :D Great mod! A utility like ForceTest in the back ground allows you to alter the friction and strength of the feedback. I think its DirectInput, so you could make it dance like baby Groot in theory or something I suppose? When its simply 'spring' centred it's lovely to use giving quite fine control. Ever since I've had it I've wanted to see what a change from the 12v motors to 24v would do for the stick in terms of finer control. It has a 10 bit resolution (vs a preferable 16) and a slightly granular feeling gimbal, but just having it centred with that extra force may give a better feeling of proprioception, almost like a force sensing stick* Downside, albeit solid feeling, lack of heavier plastic in the grip and the switches as well as less of the mentioned granular feeling.
it works for me on any game that supports controller inputs (anything that allows an axis input), i actually used it for need for speed underground 2, not even a flight game, but it supports controllers, and by extension, the sidewinder force feedback 2 tl;dr if it supports a controller then yes
Yes, I'm using Windows 11 - you do need XP Force and it's not a perfect representation of the forces - more an 'approximation' but it does provide some additional immersion.
@@lowflyingobjects Great video. How where you able to make it to work? I have bought XPforce, have win11 and still not working. Searching everywhere in forums for a solution. Did you have to download any driver for win11?
Have the same stick but its not working on win10. Its not even recognised by OS. I tried to download original driver but windows dont let me install it because of compatibility issues. May i ask what kind of driver yo used ? I have also XP force installed but the stik not recognised. I am desperate...dont know whats wrong. This stick also dont show up in device manager@@lowflyingobjects
how on earth do you get this joystick to work in the game. As soon as I take off, I just roll over and nose dive. Rudder responds well but not pitch or roll...
MSFS2020 should auto-detect the stick, you then need to go into the control config within the msfs2020 menus and do your set-up there.
Does FF not work automatically on MSFS? What about the latest version? Also does this work for Mechwarrior 5? I read that people use to play MW 3 and 4 with FF with these joysticks.
The joystick works fine with MSFS and it's a great stick even with FF non-functional but if you want FF response you have to use the 3rd party software. I've never played MW so someone else would have to chime in about how they work with that game.
Not sure how well this shows up on video, but this was a real fight. The force required to right the plane back out of the roll is significant. Plus the stick kicks quite firmly when you hit turbulence. You can see the stick shake best on take-off but it kicks you like that quite often. An app called XP Force is required if you want to try this out. Free trial available here:
www.fsmissioneditor.com/product/xpforce/
Nice video, low level flights is my way to enjoy flying in the Sim.
Controllers wise, I've gone a strange route, I use my mouse and keyboard to fly, virtual joystick and my mouse becomes my stick, pretty happy that way so far.
Stopped worrying about calibrations, buttons mapping and configurations, never looked back.
@@Danko05 Thanks for commenting! I've used mouse/keyboard for flight sims many times in the past and always enjoyed it, it can be a very fluid experience with a mouse stick. And I agree, that every time I have to re-do controls for a stick, I end up pulling my hair out, and I've not got that much left! Happily, even though it is 20 years old, configuration for the Sidewinder is pretty easy, it's still one of the best products Microsoft ever made.
@@bartosmar @bartosmar This is MSFS2020 and the programme I'm using to interface with the Force Feedback Joystick is called XPForce. You have to run XPForce (www.fsmissioneditor.com/product/xpforce/) before starting MSFS2020 and the programme then interprets the data from the flight surfaces and converts it into inputs for the joystick. It's not perfect, as MSFS2020 doesn't have full functionality to make the data it outputs 'real-world' accurate but it's good enough for some immersion. The sticks come up on Ebay all the time, they're not cheap but they do last for ever. Probably one of the finest peripherals ever made by Microsoft.
You're indeed a pilot 👍👏👏👏👏
I’ve set this up for my system. On the ground the force feedback is amazing. Also when deploying wheels, flaps or air brake you really feel it. But I don’t feel much when in a stall or when I’m doing high angle turns… I was expecting to feel something significant. Have I set this up correctly?
Yes, you've got it set up right. MSFS isn't sending data to the stick as it doesn't have the ability to do so. XP Force jumps in and attempts to interpret whatever data it can from your inputs to the control surfaces including:- • Autopilot on/off
• Autopilot yoke force
• Hydraulic system existence and failure state
• Number, type and location of engines
• Prop disc rotation direction (for propwash)
• On/off ground, and force of contact
• Gear rotation speed
• Gear's ability to retract and retraction state
• Airbrake existence and state
• Stick-shaker
• Relative air velocity (for windshear, crosswinds etc.)
• Estimated "normal" cruise speed
• Pitch/Roll/Yaw control surface deflection
• Pitch/Roll/Yaw trim settings
• Flight Director/autopilot status
• Artificial Stability systems and status
Experiment with increasing forces on the sliders, make sure stick shaker is on. Ultimately, it's a 'halfway-house' which better than nothing until the new generation of FF joystick are released.
What is the jet used in this video ?
www.justflight.com/product/hawk-t1a-advanced-trainer-microsoft-flight-simulator
Wow that thing still works?
It certainly does! Built like an absolute tank, hands down one of the best things Microsoft ever made - I've got two and I fully expect them to outlast me.
Is this stick worth getting in 2024?
Absolutely, it's a bomb proof bit of kit and a great feeling joystick even if you're not using the FF features. If you see one cheap grab one! I think we're about to see a new age of FF sticks, this has just been announced and others are to follow:- mozaracing.com/flight/moza-ab9-base
Wish DCS had this frame rate.
Thanks for commenting! I don't have DCS yet, I've been holding off until the F- 4 Phantom is released as that is my No.1 aircraft from history. What I've heard is that DCS is a much more complex and faithful simulation than MS2020 is, and I'd imagine that modelling and tracking all those systems in DCS must cost extra FPS. While the Hawk is an amazing piece of work, none of its possible combat functions are incorporated, as combat functions and any other '16+' type stuff like crashing and explosions are banned from MSFS 2020. I guess MSFS 2020 is kind of a 'lite' flight sim that mostly wins on visuals, but it does run very nicely!
With the new multithreading update I would say performance is similar as MSFS's. In singleplayer I would say it's even above MSFS.
@@zenoemenhemdeslappeslang346 That's great to hear - I'll be checking out DCS as soon as the Phantom releases, good to hear it will be a smooth experience!
I wish it had the Grand Canyon!
edit: The FFB2 is well covered in DCS, Flankers and props (although I haven't tried it with the Spitfire yet). The trimming and take off is fantastic from what I remember. I can't remember which planes it affects, F-15C for sure, F-16 I wouldn't have thought so. I haven't been using them (I got a spare cheap) of late as I went for a WarBrd D to replace the old Cougar gimbal. Oh yes, have not tried it with that new Su-30 mod in DCS yet. We'll see what having a 3D FFB stick does with a 3D vectoring jet :D Great mod!
A utility like ForceTest in the back ground allows you to alter the friction and strength of the feedback. I think its DirectInput, so you could make it dance like baby Groot in theory or something I suppose? When its simply 'spring' centred it's lovely to use giving quite fine control. Ever since I've had it I've wanted to see what a change from the 12v motors to 24v would do for the stick in terms of finer control. It has a 10 bit resolution (vs a preferable 16) and a slightly granular feeling gimbal, but just having it centred with that extra force may give a better feeling of proprioception, almost like a force sensing stick*
Downside, albeit solid feeling, lack of heavier plastic in the grip and the switches as well as less of the mentioned granular feeling.
Hi, does this work for other games other than whats listed on the site? Can it be made to rumble with x360ce?
it works for me on any game that supports controller inputs (anything that allows an axis input), i actually used it for need for speed underground 2, not even a flight game, but it supports controllers, and by extension, the sidewinder force feedback 2
tl;dr if it supports a controller then yes
This is awesome! The hick breathing sounds different than mine in MSFS , is that a custom or add on?
Cheers! It's FS Realistic that provides the extra sounds, it's very good!
I've heard the software is not compatible with windows 11, are you using windows 11?
Yes, I'm using Windows 11 - you do need XP Force and it's not a perfect representation of the forces - more an 'approximation' but it does provide some additional immersion.
@@lowflyingobjects Great video. How where you able to make it to work? I have bought XPforce, have win11 and still not working. Searching everywhere in forums for a solution. Did you have to download any driver for win11?
I had the same issue with the MSFF2 stick with Windows 11 and reverted to Windows 10.@@rodrigopea
Have the same stick but its not working on win10. Its not even recognised by OS. I tried to download original driver but windows dont let me install it because of compatibility issues. May i ask what kind of driver yo used ? I have also XP force installed but the stik not recognised. I am desperate...dont know whats wrong. This stick also dont show up in device manager@@lowflyingobjects