I can't speak much to your specific joystick needs. On all my "modern" systems I mainly use 8-BitDo SN30 wired gamepads. I simply prefer the feel of the old Super NES style controllers over anything else. A vast majority of the others are all console specific designs (NES, Genesis, Atari, etc.)

However, I can speak to the Rockfire RM-203, I use one on my modern Windows 10 machine and it works wonderfully! I've used it with my PC ProPad4 and Gravis PC Gamepad and they both worked just fine. I verified it works with Windows 98 or later.

I'm shocked to see them unavailable. I bought mine about a year ago and they were all over eBay and Amazon. In fact, I paid $25 for mine on Amazon at the time. Sucks to see them unavailable now. 🙁

Is self build an option for you for a gameport 2 USB adapter?

Necroware's GamePort to USB adapter for analogue and digital joysticks

How new are your "new" PCs? If you are talking 9X and/or XP you could go for a Logitech Wingman Force 3D or MS Sidewinder Force. The last flightsticks to support forceback is really the only unique thing. Everything after that is just a regular stick and software might let you map multiple devices into one, IE rudder and throttle to appear as a single device for games that can only use one input "joystick".

I also use the Rockfire with a Sidewinder 3D Pro

(I like that stick so much I have 3 of them.)

If you like CH, USB versions of all their devices (up to and including full HOTAS) are available; they actually take advantage of USB, so their input/output capabilities are superior to their gameport counterparts. If you want true force feedback (not the measly haptic rumble typical of console gamepads), the Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 is nigh-indestructible [so no worries about acquiring a used one] and I believe its DirectInput calls are adaptable to modern versions of Windows with a vintage driver download.

Errius wrote on 2025-07-28, 21:12:

I also use the Rockfire with a Sidewinder 3D Pro

(I like that stick so much I have 3 of them.)

If you use the Sidewinder 3D Pro with the Necroware Gameport Adapter mentioned above, you can use the full potential of the Sidewinder joystick, i.e. digital mode.

That's good to know thanks. Those 4 bottom buttons are currently inactive because analog mode.

maximus wrote on 2025-07-28, 17:27:

Or, potentially a device that would let me connect the gameport joysticks to USB

Bliss-Box Gamer-Pro Advanced or any of the other adapters will support any analog Gameport controller. The older Gamer-Pro/4-Play even supports the Gravis ditical stuff on the older firmware 2.0. But to make the analog stuff work, contact the Company and ask for a Game-Port cable. From what I know they are on the way to the US as of today but he can send you one of the per-samples.

i use logitech wireless ps2 controllers for everything: pc, wii, gamecube and, of course, ps1/2/3. most all ps2 > usb adapters are dinput (xinput adapters do exist) so you will need x360ce to do the xinput conversion for newer games. force-feedback is trivial to enable on the generic drivers. the logitech dongles are a bit voltage sensitive so they don't work with all adapters, but the ubiquitous blue dual adapters seem to handle voltage well. the controllers are readily available, cheap, easily repairable and use replaceable, rechargable aa batteries.

usb adapter drivers are available for all windows os's and i can even use the controllers in dos with sneskey via a parallel port adapter.

stanwebber wrote on 2025-07-30, 14:51:

usb adapters are dinput (xinput adapters do exist) so you will need x360ce to do the xinput conversion for newer games

Not with Bliss-Box stuff, all the adapter have a swtich in the back or inside to do both HID and Xinput.