Good games for Sidewinder Pro 3D Joystick? Descent 3 config?

December 17, 2005 9:56 PM

I've just aquired a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision Pro for $1.50 US at a thrift store. It works and Windows grabbed the right drivers for it. 1) What good games are there that take advantage of the "3D" controls? 2) How do I make it work in Descent 3? I can only get the POV hat and various buttons to work - the joystick/twist portion does nothing. I'm probably being clueless as to how to configure it in Descent 3.
posted by loquacious to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

I had one of those a few years ago that I bought to use with MS Flight Simulator, which took advantage of being able to twist the joystick to control the rudder. That's really the only game I used it for, but the joystick came with a copy of MechWarrior which used it to control the view of the mech. I didn't like the mech game, but that's probably because I could never really get used to controlling it.

Sorry, no ideas about Descent 3.
posted by sanko at 10:25 PM on December 17, 2005

Most joysticks are twistable these days. All decent flight sims should let you use it as a rudder. It really makes flying the helicopters in Battlefield 2 much easier.
posted by schwa at 10:38 PM on December 17, 2005

Response by poster: I didn't know that most sticks these days have a twist function.

I picked it up 'cause it was dirt cheap and I was hoping it would work easily in Descent, or possibly other games.

Eventually I'm hoping to use it as a live audio manipulation device or interface of some sort or another. A "hardcore" PC gamer I am not.
posted by loquacious at 11:18 PM on December 17, 2005

I'll have to reinstall Descent 3 (and, um, find my Sidewinder Pro) to help you, but I'm pretty sure D3 will play well with the Precision Pro, twist and all; my Sidewinder Pro worked perfectly in every Descent game.

I'm shocked to hear there are still people playing this game. Keep the flame burning!
posted by chrominance at 2:21 AM on December 18, 2005

Also, you may want to try the tech forum at the DescentBB, another thing I'm amazed to see is still alive and well.
posted by chrominance at 2:26 AM on December 18, 2005

Motocross Madness 1 & 2 were an absolute BLAST to play with the 3d controller.
posted by neilkod at 7:55 AM on December 18, 2005

Response by poster: Update: I remembered I have an old original copy of Descent: Freespace.

It works fabulously with the Sidewinder.

Last time I tried playing that game it was with mouse and keyboard, and my video card didn't like the game too much. A few months ago I bought a (used) new computer, new video card and it's absolutely flawless.
posted by loquacious at 2:21 PM on December 23, 2005

Find a copy of Freespace 2. Freespace is a well-executed traditional space sim; FS2 is the best of the genre, hands down.
posted by chrominance at 4:26 PM on December 23, 2005