Question 1

I can't tell if this is just the joystick, or the joystick and the throttle?

Accepted Answer

It is both joystick and throttle. Dude, when you get this, the weight alone will prove to you the value of this product matches its price. You honestly wont be disappointed. Also this will be a really good thing to have to play Star Citizen!

Question 2

Does this work with Windows 7?  I have a lot of old Sims that work with 7 or earlier, so thats my platform.

Accepted Answer

I don't use Windows 7, but looking in the Thrustmaster forums, I see that a lot of people use Windows 7 with their Warthog. If you use Windows 7 64 bit, there should be no problem.

Question 3

Does the Warthog's stick have a "twist" z axis?

Accepted Answer

No, it does not.  You will need a separate peripheral like rudder pedals...or maybe mapping the rudder to one of the hat buttons.

I can personally recommend either CH Pro Pedals or Saitek Pro Flight pedals.  I like the Saiteks a little more as one axis is adjustable for tension whereas the CHs are not.

Question 4

Does this system have force feedback?

Accepted Answer

Nope. For that you'll want a Microsoft FFB2.  But what the Warthog does have is one of the most sturdily built frames paired with an accurate hall sensor. However, it's purely return-to-center spring based. I've been using mine for a year and a half with no issues. I built a small extension for it and center mounted it to my chair so it has more throw and sits where a real stick should sit in relation to the pilot.

Question 5

can anyone plz tell length, width and height of both components?

Accepted Answer

Stick (including baseplate)(inches): 10 3/4 x 9 1/8 x 11 3/8 (central throttle base is roughly 4 1/2 in diameter)
Throttle (inches) : 10 3/4 x 6 x 7 3/4

Hight measurements are from bottom of foot pads to highest point.

Question 6

Is the 2960720 compatable with Windows 8.1?

Accepted Answer

Yes it is I currently use it with windows 8.1 and haven't had any problems.

Question 7

If I plug this into a powered hub should I use a USB 2 or USB 3 type? Will the HOTAS work on either one?

Accepted Answer

A powered hub is the key to making the HOTAS work correctly.  I have the WH joystick plugged directly into the computer and the throttle plugged into an external powered USB 2.0 hub and it works just fine.  If your external USB hub is not powered you are almost guaranteed to have problems with the Warthog if it is plugged into it.

Question 8

Thanks Damon and Anthony. Just worried when I pulled it out of the shipping box the display box says Windows XP,Vista, and 7. Any recommendations on foot pedal brand/models?

Accepted Answer

What's your budget? I have used the Saitek pro combat pedals for 3 years now. My only set of pedals btw. I intend to upgrade to the MFG Crosswinds within the next year. Pricing puts them at about the cost of the warthog, but the features make it worthwhile.

Question 9

What "games" can you play with it? I mean what kind of sims.

Accepted Answer

Games I have personally played with this unit:
Arma 2/3. Helicopter/jet use. Works well for controlling throttle but more controls than Arma needs.

DCS:A-10c, Flaming Cliffs various units: the majority of my playtime. A-10c automatically maps the controls and uses all of them for glorious gameplay fun. Other flyables map reasonably well depending on how you want the layout.

Strike Suit Zero: does well, but like Arma you have far more controls than you need. Unlike Arma, the excess has no place for MP/voip use.

Battlefield BC2: like the others, it works, but is largely unnecessary.

Falcon 4/BMS: Works with some tweaks. This game normally only sees one controller so some effort is needed to configure it to accept the throttle and stick. Like DCS it works really well with setup, but the old Cougar is purpose built for this game is the hog being built for DCS A-10C

I believe it also works with older wwii flight games like IL-2

Question 10

I've been looking at a HOTAS setup for a while, and I've coe across a few that I would like to have. This item is one of them but I don't believe I can justify paying $400 for it.

Can anyone help me decide if this item is worth its price point? I want something that will last for years to come, without needing to pay out for another one because it faulted in some way. I plan to play Star Citizen, mainly. I want a unit that feels solid (I don'y mind a heavy device) and will remain that way even after extensive use.

If you can suggest an alternative I'm always open for ideas! Thanks in advance everyone!

Accepted Answer

If you have the spare money, pal, I'm willing to say go for it! With that said, the weight and heft means very little. The thing is the wiring.  I never had problems with mine before I sold it, but some did have wiring issues. I actually think this may be a bit too heavy in some instances, but manageable.

Now let's talk about alternatives. I have experience with 3 HOTAS setups, including this one:

my first HOTAS:
Saitek X-52 Pro.
Sort of based on the single engined F-16 setup, with a single throttle axis for a single engine. It had a few rotary knobs that could be assigned to various axes in games, 3 paddle type switches that could give you 6 buttons/key assignments, and a 2 stage trigger(press part way for button 1, fully press for button 2), which could be convenient for the flight sim I played (DCS)

I had foot pedals, but the x-52p also had a twist axis on the stick, so I COULD have used the stick for all major flight axes.

The stick and throttle both felt comfortable in my hands, but I still needed a keyboard or the thrustmaster cougar MFD units to perform extra functions.

Saitek X-55 "Rhino".
Had more buttons, more rotaries, and a throttle set to control 2 independent engines for certain planes like the A-10C, F-15C, etc in DCS. It didn't have a twist axis, but I didn't need one. The stick had more buttons, but I felt them to be awkwardly placed, poorly sized, and cheap feeling. Those last 3 terms? Despite a few pros like twin engine control, I'd use those terms to describe the entire product. Some people love it as a cheaper alternative to Thrustmaster's unit though.

Do you need a stick with 2 engine controls? You can either use the X-52P and assign both engines as a pair to one axis( at least in DCS, you had 3 possible axes to choose. engines 1 and 2 separately, or a third axis that linked them permanently)...or if you MUST have that independent control, you can look over the x-55 unit and see if you want to risk it. YMMV..

Warthog or X-52P..

Questions & Answers