I recommend the Microsoft Sidewinder and also the Gravis Joysticks.

The Gravis where very popular back in the day. The MS joysticks where also popular but where released later. The MS had a optical tracking system so they are quite precise.

EDIT: Some pics:

Early model Gravis:

Later model Gravis:

Very late model (for flight sims):

Thanks a lot. Do joysticks need a driver for "pure DOS", or do they just work?
Or, do they require a manufacturer's specificly written calibration utility, to set them up? Thanks.

Nope no driver, just need a joystick port (Sound card).

The joysticks are calibrated inside the game by following instructions.

e.g. center joystick and press enter

or

move joystick top left and pres button then move bottom right and press button

Excellent. So does that mean it's possible to buy relatively modern joysticks, and they will automatically work in good old pure DOS, for example?

No because all the modern ones are USB!

They are fine for Windows games (W98SE and later I believe) but not for DOS.

DOS joysticks come with that 15 pin connector thats on most soundcards...

USB joysticks work with DOSBox however (and very well I might add)

Ah, yes of course!
BTW, USB + Windows 98 = slow downs. Best stick with that soundcard interface, I think! 😀

What about the 9pin joysticks that go to the serial port?

F2bnp wrote:

What about the 9pin joysticks that go to the serial port?

The C64 / Amiga sticks?

Yes, they should work right? Do they need any special software?

Ehum the Amiga/C64 joysticks are not for the serial port.

h-a-l-9000 wrote:

Ehum the Amiga/C64 joysticks are not for the serial port.

No but they are 9 pin and have the same port. Can be easily confused...

As for a serial port joystick, well I have never seen one. Doesn't make a lot of sense to be honest as joysticks are analogue (using analogue resistors) on the PC and have use a parallel connection (even on C64 and Amiga)...

But yea if you know more details, feel free to share. Allways keen to hear about odd Retro bits!

The only PC I've seen having a 9pin joystick port, is the Amstrad 1512, which has the port at the back of the keyboard. And I bet it has nothing to do with 9 pin joysticks from other home computers, as if I remember well, the joystick just sends key codes.

I've always been partial to the CH Products line of sticks and controller. I've used a FlightStick Pro and a standard FlightStick for years (even on my current PC).

Other non-joysticks of notable mention that I use/have used:

CH Products Virtual Pilot Pro - for flight simming
Thrustmaster Rudder Control System pedals - for flight simming
CH Products Pro Pedals - for racing
The old 4-button Gravis Gamepads - for arcade fighting and destruction
Thrustmaster NASCAR Pro wheel and pedals - for racing

All of the above are standard gameport interface; I use my own custom wired X-Y splitter and MIDI cable combo.

Anyhow, as far as Tie and X-Wing, IIRC I used both the standard FlightStick (left hand; throttle and roll) and the FlightStick pro (right hand; all other flight controls).

Mau1wurf1977 wrote:

Early model Gravis: http://www.szenenight.de/images/fbfiles/images/joystick.jpg […]
Show full quote

Early model Gravis:

Heh, I've got one of them boogers laying around here somewhere 😀

rfnagel wrote:

Heh, I've got one of them boogers laying around here somewhere 😀

How lame... 🙄

As a retro convict, you ought to have them all 😁

Actually, there is one model missing - the bottom one without programmable buttons.

I am suprised the old Quickshot warrior 5 is still supported:
http://www.quickshot.com/gamecont.html#basic
Played TIE Fighter and the other Dos games with that, and it is still alive, suprisingly.

I also have this MS Sidewinder Precision Pro, with Gameport connector and USB adapter. A very good and affordable Joystick, it won't work in pure Dos though.

The Warrior 5 was one of my greatest workhorses. Wing Commander used to kill the centering springs every once in a while. So when the the first spring broke, you could fix it by making it a little shorter. I still have a few springs on the side that I took out of broken Quickshots to lenghten the life of others...
And since they had no throttle, you could use two on one port without interfering.

Edit: All of them got a bit of a toothpick in the autofire switch, cause it would come on accidentally far to often.

ux-3 wrote:

rfnagel wrote:

How lame... 🙄 As a retro convict, you ought to have them all 😁

🤣! Hey, but I do have the _oldest_ one of the group 🤣! 😀

(re: QuickShot) Now here's what ya need -> http://www.quickshot.com/game_controllers/mp98value.html 😀

I have a CH Flightstick for gameport gaming. Love this stick cuz it's good for lefties and righties and it feels great with regards to tension and dead zone.

For USB, I have several. Flightstick Pro USB, Logitech Wingman Rumblepad, and Xbox 360 PC gamepad.

My fave flightsim. joystick

And this:

CH Flightstick Pro

CH's Jetstick is a also a nice stick with good feel and quality