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ECTS 2000
By Kurt "Froglips" Giesselman
COMBATSIM.COM European Bureau ChiefGravis:
Gravis continues with their line of entry level joysticks. The Exterminator sticks feature a ‘precision’ button. It appears to be some sort of digital smoothing which contrary to the button’s name reduces the accuracy of the stick. Rapid movements are smoothed out so, for instance, flying in narrow canyons becomes easier. In the demo I was given the ‘precision’ mode was turned off for shooting and on for flying. The MSRP for their top of the line stick (POV hat, seven buttons, Weapon Wheel, twist, and throttle) is US$39.99.
CH Products:
The final appointment of the opening day of the show was with Jon Michaels of CH Products. CH was showing their latest yoke, the three levers Flight Sim Yoke USB.
Fig. 3 New yoke has great ergonomics
The new yoke has been tested with Win9X, Win2K, and DX8. It will really facilitate hands on flying with 5 axis of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever, 20 button functions including a 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons. The yoke is compatible with USB Pro Pedals if the flight simulation supports multiple USB devices (Terminal Reality’s Fly2K and Fly!, Jeppesen’s FlitePro Version 6.2.0, Hasbro\Wayward Design’s upcoming B17 II, Microsoft’s FS2000\Professional, Cat III Systems’ Virtual Wings Pro release 1.6 have all been tested).
CH was showing the new Fighterstick USB. The final design is still being finished but the stick on display had four 8/4 way hats, four buttons, and three axis (X, Y, Z). Jon told me that CH is continuing to work on the unified USB driver that will allow any game to use any combo of a CH USB stick, throttle, or pedals.
Fig.4 Prototype CH Pro throttle
CH presented information about their new USB Pro Throttle. They brought black and white photographs of the new throttle. The throttle is at the prototype stage (although the prototype of the throttle was in California). The new Pro is planned to include a mode switch that would toggle three different button mappings (up to 87 different button presses). They are planning on adding a mini-joystick under the thumb position and a radial targeting or trim wheel under the index finger. The new throttle has been beefed up a bit, if that is possible. Jon told me that they are redesigning their software to utilize all the functionality possible in the new stick and throttle. Jon at CH Products is said to have a twelve (12!) axes HOTAS setup at his desk built on CH’s latest technology. Sure looks like their latest setup will be an incredible combo.
