Logitech G Extreme 3D Pro USB Joystick

For starters, it's cheap, functional, and durable enough, but don't expect it to be a HOTAS. I would say that anyone who is interested in using a joystick for a game like war thunder should buy this stick. To understand what I'm trying to say please realize that this is coming from someone who bought this stick for the explicit reason of starting out on a joystick. It has almost been a year since I bought it, and I want to discuss using joysticks versus the mouse before I discuss this one model. Anyone who is buying a joystick for the first time needs to understand the very different world they are entering when they do so. I don't want anyone being deceived; it is much more difficult to use a joystick than a mouse. The joystick does give you more authority over the aircraft than mouse and keyboard, which can be an obvious advantage. However, the mouse and keyboard allows you to focus on simply pointing the aircraft where you want to go and employing the weapons while the computer optimizes the control inputs. With the joystick you are the one that eases the aircraft into and out of the turn; you set the banking of the aircraft. This is not as easy as it seems at first. When you first start, your brain will want to think that all you have to do to bank the aircraft ten degrees is to hold the stick at a ten degree angle. The next thing you know the aircraft is upside down because you forgot to return the stick to neutral. Like I said, it’s a very different experience and it requires a bit of a learning curve. In fact, most people stick to flying with the mouse and keyboard because of the difficulty of transitioning, and the time it can take to start getting kills with the joystick (I still do better with the mouse than the joystick). Now, in regards to this particular product, Logitech has a reputation with me of making virtually indestructible computer peripherals. Okay, so they’re made of flimsy plastics. But they have still survived many drops and some rough handling from yours truly. Additionally I would say that the price is right for something you might buy, use a couple of times, and then never touch again. And the product gives you everything you need in order to have full authority over your aircraft. This way you can at least make an informed decision whether or not you want to use a joystick; then you can upgrade to a more expensive HOTAS system if you so choose. Durability is apparently a hit or miss proposition. I have seen many reviews saying that the neutral position will shift over time. I have not seen this. The only problem that I have seen so far is that the hat switch was unusable on Microsoft Flight. This scared me at first, but when I got the joystick to work on War Thunder (not the easiest thing to do), the hat switch worked fine. The only real gripes I have with the Extreme 3D Pro are that it isn’t a HOTAS nor will it ever be one, and that the stick is a little rough when switching roll or pitch direction. This last complaint is commonly mentioned in the reviews of every joystick I looked at below 100 dollars. This is only a problem when making very intricate maneuvers such as when dog fighting. In fact it only started to become a problem for me when I was trying to fly in War Thunder’s realistic mode, and it became a substantial issue when I tried simulator mode. CONCLUSION: this is not a stick for the simulator enthusiast. This is a starter stick, something you can buy without guilt if you decide you don’t enjoy flying with a joystick. And for those who do enjoy flying with joysticks, it is something that can be used until they can get a more complex system. This is after all nothing but a joystick with throttle axis and a few buttons. Those who like joysticks will eventually want more buttons and a better throttle, but those cost money and money causes guilt if you’re not among the joystick enthusiasts.