Picked up a Microsoft USB X box controller today at Best Buy because I heard it's supposed to be good for FS9. I would love to hook it up tomorrow, but I will ask my Flight Simulator friends here on this forum for some help.If you have one, please share with me the way you hooked it up, and how you "assigned" your buttons and the 2 hat controllers. I haven't unpacked it yet, but I'd like to see why the FS team at the show in Vegas thought it was a "cool controller" for FS. If you have one, and enjoy it, please tell me how you have it configured and how you have the controller buttons assigned. Thanks,

See this thread:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...99222&mode=fullBarry

THANKS so much for that thread. I missed it in my daily meanderings on this forum. It looks really helpful. Tomorrow morning, I will follow it's advice, and oh well, we'll see! Thanks again.

Please report back to us, and tell us what you think about using the XBox controller with FS2004. I am really curious how the throttle will work.Take care!Barry

MY REPORT:Don't do it! My XBox controller is going back to Best Buy today! First of all, going from a joystick or yoke to one of these "X generation" controllers makes the Simulation into a "Game". I've always disliked when others refer to my beloved hobby as a "game". It is not a game, but rather a sophisticated, ultimately useful, simulation....used by some of the most dedicated pilots and professionals throughout the world.OK....the throttle ALWAYS stays about half way on. Very disturbing. Then you have to HOLD the right spring loaded button in to throttle up, and you can't leave it at a particular point; you must keep pressure on it. Additionally rudder control is not available (I have a stick with a twisting capabiltiy for rudder control). Smooth movements to the left, right, up, or down, are really difficult to master. Constant attention needs to be given to the controller OR just go to Autopilot and keep your hands off the controller. My opinion is that this is not a controller designed for flight, but rather road games or just plain "games".If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask.

i simply installed XBCD and assigned buttons in fs9.http://www.redcl0ud.com/xbcd.htmleasy and effective.

"the throttle ALWAYS stays about half way on. Very disturbing. Then you have to HOLD the right spring loaded button in to throttle up, and you can't leave it at a particular point; you must keep pressure on it."-------------------I don't have an X-box controller but I have a saitek cordless P3000 gamepad I use for flight sim sometimes (other times I use the X-45 throttle / stick). On this controller, you can set up bands on an axis on one of the sticks so when the stick is in a certain range, it's like pressing a keyboard assignment. This way when you push forward, the throttle increases and when you let it spring back to centre, this is in a dead-zone and affects nothing. Not sure if the x-box controller can do that.Rudder control I have left and right on the same stick as the throttle (the other stick is elevator / aileron control). This P3000 is more sensitive than the X-45 with it's annoyingly tense centring spring (initial motion of this stick from centre is affected by the tense friction of it's design. It makes fine input annoying. Cutting ut some of that spring makes the stick feel too lose in my opinion).--------------------"My opinion is that this is not a controller designed for flight, but rather road games or just plain "games"--------------------Maybe I shouldn't mention here since I'm not using the x-box controller that controller is basically similar to mst game-pads. Personally one reason I use it is to get away from sitting in one spot. I do that doing my paintings and if I take a break and flight sim, I dont want to be stuck in a chair ina static position.So even though it might not be as real as a cockpit arrangement, it is more enjoyable than sitting at my x-45 setup.In my opinion, what people think shouldn't matter. What is important is the sensitivity of the controller and it's features and once you get used to it, it will be second nature.Obviously if someone is training to be more practiced with specific planes, then having an arrangement similar to the real-world would help. But how do joysticks at a computer desk help with that anymore than a game-pad ?Anyway, it all comes down to personal preferences.

There is something wrong with the settings on tdraggers site. The assignments you get are less than optimal.My old logitec gamepad broke so I got an XBox 360 controller. I was dissapointed with the throttle assignments so I changed it. I also assigned the rudder to the 2nd analog stick. The result is a very enjoyable setup for leisure flying. I like to loadup a simple aircraft. Have all the necessary controls mapped to the controler and fly around enjoying the scenery.Yesterday I was tempted to make a post about the weird throttle assignment by tdragger. However on studying the file on his site I came to the conclusion that the assignments on his site are different from what you eventualy get in FS. So I backed out of my post and went flying again with my new X-Box controller.I like DK's suggestion for the throttle and wil look if I can get that to work on this controller (hopefully on the 2nd analog stick). It would free up 2 extra buttons so it would come in handy.Harry