Logitech just bought Saitek / Mad Catz

[ZachariasX]

Logitech just bought Saitek / Mad Catz. Things can only get better... Here's the press release.

[Neil]

Thanks for the info Zacharkas!

[9./JG27golani79]

Hm .. maybe we can even hope for a new FFB stick - would be nice to see something new on this market.

 

I´m curious already how this will play out.

[ZachariasX]

The only thing I hope for is that we can eventually buy sticks and pedals that last longer than 1 year (like my X-52pro(s) and pedals). I hate opening them for cleaning and occasional soldering. They are made so bad, it hurts the eye.

 

[Edit: I just had to solder a cable in my rudder pedals. I'm still angry in how they design their products... But I'll get over it.]

Edited September 18, 2016 by ZachariasX

[9./JG27golani79]

Yeah, it sucks if you buy something only to find it broken after a year or so.

 

Guess I´m lucky with my pedals (combat rudder pedals) which I got back in October '14 - they are still working fine and I never had to open them yet.

Sooner or later I´ll order MFGs though.

 

With my X-55 unit I´m not so happy - it just feels kinda cheap on some parts and I have spikes on most of the rotaries and also the stick is a bit loose in the center on the roll axis (got me an old FFB2 though so I can live with that^^)

[ZachariasX]

Guess I´m lucky with my pedals (combat rudder pedals) which I got back in October '14 - they are still working fine and I never had to open them yet. Sooner or later I´ll order MFGs though.

 

Products made before Mad Cats bought Saitek work fine and often enough still work fine. But after that we got what we got. Drivers from the webpage installed on a fresh install of Win7 caused my rig to boot into bluescreen. I still don't use the Mad Cats drivers but just what windows suppies as drivers. Mad Cats drivers have generally been terminal to my OS installation.

 

Other than that, they are potentially suitable products.

Edited September 18, 2016 by ZachariasX

[=EXPEND=Tripwire]

 

[Edit: I just had to solder a cable in my rudder pedals. I'm still angry in how they design their products... But I'll get over it.]

Cable for the toe brake? Yeah, as soon as you open them up you shake your head in disbelief.

[Quax]

My FFB2 is older than 10 years now. Working like on the first day - that is quality    .... I bought the spare sticks in vain.

 

They are still on ebay for less than 100 bucks.

Edited September 18, 2016 by Quax

[ShamrockOneFive]

I've got a pre-Madcatz X-52 that about 10 years old and is still working just fine. It's *touch wood* even tougher than my old Sidewinder PP2 has been.

 

From what I hear... the newer models look the same but the quality control on them is terrible. Let's hope that Logitech can sort things out.

[Jade_Monkey]

X55 is ok but it screams cheap. The plastic feel, the loose twist, the rotaries are meh, its so light you should anchor it down.

 

Looking forward to an upgrade, after i get my MFG Crosswind in the mail at the end of October.

[BlitzPig_EL]

I've always considered Logitech equipment, from mice, to keyboards to flying equipment, to be fragile, cheaply made, plastic toys, with the exception of the old Logitech MOMO steering wheel.

I've never had any Logitech piece, other than the MOMO, last more than a year.

 

So saying that Logitech buying Saitek is a good thing seems really odd to me.

[Sokol1]

Well, the Logitech venture in HOTAS - with their FFB G-940 don't end well.

 

A "HOTAS" without competition in the market other than ancient "3in1" MSSFB2 USB (discontinued in 2003) , end refused by the market and discontinued due QC issues, caused by their  "Quest for lower manufacture costs" saving 0,0$ in mm of wires and pot' quality.

 

Will be the case that "2 bad make 1 good"? 

Edited September 18, 2016 by Sokol1

[dburne]

I've always considered Logitech equipment, from mice, to keyboards to flying equipment, to be fragile, cheaply made, plastic toys, with the exception of the old Logitech MOMO steering wheel.

I've never had any Logitech piece, other than the MOMO, last more than a year.

 

 

 

I still have my original red Momo, man I loved that wheel. Have not done any racing sims in quite some time, but I sure loved that wheel. I still have it though and am  sure it probably would still work as well as the last time I used it.

 

I do have their G19 keyboard and like it very much, has been doing well for me.

[W_Braun]

Well, the Logitech venture in HOTAS - with their FFB G-940 don't end well.

 

A "HOTAS" without competition in the market other than ancient "3in1" MSSFB2 USB (discontinued in 2003) , end refused by the market and discontinued due QC issues, caused by their  "Quest for lower manufacture costs" saving 0,0$ in mm of wires and pot' quality.

 

Will be the case that "2 bad make 1 good"? 

 

I absolutely adored my G940 but as you say, they had shitty pots and some weird wiring bound to crap out eventually. Mine did and I tried a Saitek X52Pro just to get back in there but I couldn't use it. 

 

Now sitting on my hands to find a good replacement for the G940 system.

[Marrond]

To be honest all they need to do is to release standalone throttle controller from X55-65 Saitek's designs, overhaul electronic components used (wiring and pot quality is atrocious!) and just rack up easy money. Nobody needs another joystick unless they're going FFB and even then it will probably not be worth it (be it quality or features lacking - looking at you G940...).

 

They just need to hurry before competition wakes up (upcoming standalone single-engine throttle from Thrustmaster, I assume VKB throttle will not be widely available, just like Gladiator isn't) and they're golden. Market for standalone throttle devices is still virgin, as there's only pretty ancient CH Throttle available which in itself is pretty outdated and feature lackluster. Saitek's design for X55+ is excellent (problem is horrible quality but that problem can be fixed) and exploiting it should be a nobrainer.

Edited September 20, 2016 by Marrond