Happ B-8 stick

[eds1275]

http://www.happcontrols.com/joysticks/95025100.htm



I was on a ferry the other day and they had a game using this controller. The game was meh [Air Raid: This is not a drill] but the control! Wow! It is one ugly stick, and the buttons appear to be randomly placed [that little ring finger button is surprisingly natural to use]. Are there other games out there that come with this stick standard? I am now thinking of putting one of these one my second cab [still planning the first, a spinal tap themed upright, the second to be a racing/flight control theme - maybe with a flip-up chair].

[TOK]

Its modeled after a fighter plane stick. The buttons are pretty naturally placed if you use the stick with your right hand.

[vputz]

The B8 grip is a classic; I flew with it for years on hueys and ever since we sent a couple to the boneyard have been trying to get hold of an actual B8 grip and remake it into a home controller (not only for the sentimental value--it's a darn comfortable controller and the actual for-flight grips are REALLY tough).

Unfortunately they are silly expensive, so I've considered something like the Happ.  You can get home controllers modeled after the B8; the old Thrustmaster FCS and Top Gun joysticks are slightly scaled B8s, and the Thrustmaster X-Fighter is a full-scale B8.  All three of those are typically available from ebay for a pittance since they use the old "Game Controller" interface of ages past.

With a bit (actually a fair amount) of hacking, you can use those as modern HID controllers (I've got an old Thrustmaster FCS/WCS combo set up as a HID controller through an Arduino; makes flying helicopters in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 almost bearable, even though the throttle doesn't work with their braindead control system).  So you could use those in a cab pretty easily.

I'd be curious to see your review of the Happ B8, though, in terms of sturdiness and feel; as mentioned, the actual grip is MILES away from the Thrustmaster copy, so if the Happ has the right feel I'd be sorely tempted.

[mytymaus007]

I have a B8 grip, its awsome. I use it with all Mame analog games as well as star wars but I will be getting a Yoke soon, it is good enough to get by. I also have a  trottle for all PC flight games. Airstrike 2 is another game i play with on the PC, which actually this is where i got the B8 grip out of. Paid $100 for stick and throttle. Not sure if I would of bought it for $300 +.