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Comment by leipert | Hacker News Reader

How is Logitech “off brand”. They are well known for input devices.

Their controllers are well known for being garbage. People that take video games seriously can tell you all of the different reasons why they "feel worse" or are just less reliable than OEM. It's a $30 controller where the "standard" option is around $60. The "premium" market where they are custom made for important use cases (ie, competitive Melee tournament) can easily reach into multiple hundreds of dollars, using components like hall effect sensors instead of resistive potentiometers that will lose accuracy over time.

Most people would refuse to play a video game with this controller, let alone use it as a critical component in a vehicle. Joystick drift in a videogame is frustrating. Joystick drift in a fucking submarine is a disaster waiting to happen.

I have the wired version of the controller in the article and actually like it quite a bit, but it definitely isn't as rugged as an official Xbox controller would be. The main features I like on it are a way to switch between DirectInput and XInput modes and the ability to swap the left thumbstick and dpad.

Definitely wouldn't trust it for a submarine though.

>It's a $30 controller

Although, for some reason, it's currently sold-out everywhere.

I've been using Logitech input devices since before Sony or Microsoft ever made one.

You had a P4 mouse in 1982?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Mouse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Logitech_products

Microsoft's first controller is much older than Logitech'.

Their game controllers are low quality. For example, home and professional desktop flight simulators prefer to use VKB or Virpil joysticks instead of Logitech or Thrustmaster.

I’ve owned and used Virpil and VKB, and they’re both terrific (Virpil is just insanely over the top good, though), but I wouldn’t even think to put them in the same sentence as Logitech. And I think Logitech makes pretty good peripherals generally! But that enthusiast sim stuff is just in a different realm.

Anyway, my point is, I wouldn’t necessarily look down on a Logitech controller. Now if it were MadCatz….

And yet, the Logitech X56 is substantially more expensive than a VKB Gladiator...

The X56 can't be compared to the VKB Gladiator. The X56 is full HOTAS with split throttle and an twist axis on the stick itself. The VKB Gladiator needs to purchase an additional module for twist and VKB doesn't even have a split throttle.

Also keep in mind that the X56, X52 Pro, and X52 weren't Logitech either. Logitech bought out Saitek which was the original vendor and at least at first glance they haven't updated the designs in over a decade.

The Gladiator is a twist stick, no extra module required.

I'd rather have the more accurate Gladiator without a throttle over the terribly imprecise X56.

Huh. Gladiator is way cheaper than I remember. Would still be a bargain at twice the price.

At this point, I probably have about $900 sunk into Virpil controls. The Alpha grip and base, the Mongoose throttle and an extra control panel I just ordered. Just absolutely love the feel and functionality.

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