Thrustmaster Dual T.16000M FCS Joystick Space Sim Pack For PC

I absolutely love this game. Having racked-up over 4,500 hours of play-time I genuinely still feel like I'm barely scratching the surface of it, as you can LITERALLY explore the entire Milky Way (so that's over 400 billion star systems). As at 20 January 2022, the entire player base have explored a mere 0.05% of the galaxy (or exactly 222,083,678 unique star systems to be precise), so there is still PLENTY to do !Is the game for everybody ? Heck no, it has a definite learning curve, and whilst the game does include a number of very good tutorials to get you started, if you can find a buddy that also plays this game and learn some additional tips and tricks from them ? You will be much better-served to venture off into the cosmos.The thing I love the most about ... MoreI absolutely love this game. Having racked-up over 4,500 hours of play-time I genuinely still feel like I'm barely scratching the surface of it, as you can LITERALLY explore the entire Milky Way (so that's over 400 billion star systems). As at 20 January 2022, the entire player base have explored a mere 0.05% of the galaxy (or exactly 222,083,678 unique star systems to be precise), so there is still PLENTY to do !Is the game for everybody ? Heck no, it has a definite learning curve, and whilst the game does include a number of very good tutorials to get you started, if you can find a buddy that also plays this game and learn some additional tips and tricks from them ? You will be much better-served to venture off into the cosmos.The thing I love the most about this game is just how open-ended it is. There is literally NO linear progression path for you to follow; no main plot to wade through to get to an end-game - it's ALL entirely optional to you, so you can become pretty much anything you'd like including a Courier, Trader, Smuggler, Thief, Assassin, Mercenary, Taxi Service, Explorer, Miner, Bounty Hunter, you name it.There's even a player group within the game whose sole purpose is to rush around the Galaxy helping people who have become stranded through lack of fuel (the "Fuel Rats"). They're basically the Guardian Angels of the game =]Even within game modes you have plenty of options. Want to play on your own (i.e. just you and the game's NPCs ?) Play in SOLO mode; want to play with just your friends and the NPCs ? Play in PRIVATE GROUP mode; want to play with everybody in the whole galaxy ? Play in OPEN mode, and you can even switch between modes as you go ! Everyone's a winner =DThe game features two DLCs - the first ("Horizons") is included now as part of the standard game so you get that with the base game. The original Elite Dangerous was a space flight game, where you could land at stations and take on missions, but you couldn't ever get out of your ship. Horizons added the ability for you to land on planets and get out in roving vehicles ("SRVs") and drive about the planet.The second expansion pack ("Odyssey") introduces an entire on-foot FPS module to the game, so you can not just get out and drive around, you can now get out and WALK around, which may not SOUND like a massive deal ? But trust me, it is. Firstly it opens-up two new career paths - the ON-FOOT MERCENARY (who undertakes FPS-style missions for pretty much most of the existing "class" (if you will) types but on-foot, so on-foot assassination missions; on-foot theft and heist missions; on-foot sabotage missions etc., and the EXOBIOLOGIST being a "class" (again, you aren't limited to picking classes, they don't exist *per se*, so this is just an indication of the type of work you enjoy/choose to do) that collects data on flora on different planets across the Milky Way, and sells them for credits.To my mind, Odyssey is becoming very much a must-have expansion for Elite Dangerous moving forward.So what is my main criticism of the game ? Space legs. The ONLY thing that frustrates me about the game is that Frontier still haven't enabled "Space Legs", which is the process of enabling you to walk onto your ship at (for example) the cargo bay, and then walking THROUGH your ship to reach your cockpit. At the moment what happens is you board your ship at the cargo bay, and you then automatically appear in the cockpit; and when you disembark from the cockpit, you automatically appear outside the ship. Again, it might seem minor, but it would MASSIVELY improve the immersion if Frontier were to embrace this.In any event, I hold Elite Dangerous very close to my heart. I ABSOLUTELY love it, and I would recommend you give it a good look to see if it's the kind of game for you !See you in space, Commander o7

A great step up

Moving up from a Logitech 3d extreme- just wasnt willing to invest in something nice at first.My understanding is that the internals of the 16000 are the same as Thrustmastmaster's higher end joysticks. There isnt any play or drift yet- both of my much cheaper 3d extreme required a dead zone on most the axes out of the box. The easily swappable left to right configuration is excellent, and the trigger and buttons feel great so far. The base also holds much better than expected with lift up or shifting being rare instead of the norm.I have large hands- I loved the original x box controller big hands- and this stick suits me well. The grips are huge but if you have small hands they might not be as easy and comfortable.Definitely worth the money. Probably going ... MoreMoving up from a Logitech 3d extreme- just wasnt willing to invest in something nice at first.My understanding is that the internals of the 16000 are the same as Thrustmastmaster's higher end joysticks. There isnt any play or drift yet- both of my much cheaper 3d extreme required a dead zone on most the axes out of the box. The easily swappable left to right configuration is excellent, and the trigger and buttons feel great so far. The base also holds much better than expected with lift up or shifting being rare instead of the norm.I have large hands- I loved the original x box controller big hands- and this stick suits me well. The grips are huge but if you have small hands they might not be as easy and comfortable.Definitely worth the money. Probably going to grab the stick and thruster set as well.

An imperfect product in an overpriced segment.

I'll try to keep this short and to the point. The entire HOTAS segment is overpriced and underwhelming, but in that less than ideal setting, this combo set is a decent value.The T.16000M flight stick has a great feel. The resistance is higher than a lot of other flight sticks, but personally I like it as it gives the stick a clear center point and requires deliberate thought and movement. The actual tracking and motion feels smooth and precise, as does the trigger. Unfortunately, the rest of the stick feels and looks rather cheap, though the overall design is ergonomic, comfortable, and the grip can be switched to accommodate left-handed pilots.The throttle feels similarly smooth and precise at first, and it's on-rails movement is unique in the segment. That ... MoreI'll try to keep this short and to the point. The entire HOTAS segment is overpriced and underwhelming, but in that less than ideal setting, this combo set is a decent value.The T.16000M flight stick has a great feel. The resistance is higher than a lot of other flight sticks, but personally I like it as it gives the stick a clear center point and requires deliberate thought and movement. The actual tracking and motion feels smooth and precise, as does the trigger. Unfortunately, the rest of the stick feels and looks rather cheap, though the overall design is ergonomic, comfortable, and the grip can be switched to accommodate left-handed pilots.The throttle feels similarly smooth and precise at first, and it's on-rails movement is unique in the segment. That said, the factory grease isn't the best, and within about two weeks the throttle was prone to sticking at certain points. Opening it up and replacing the factory grease with a better one solved this, but at $160 (up $30 from the original MSRP of $130), this shouldn't be needed. The throttle has plenty of buttons, switches, and hats, and I like both the analog stick and paddles on the front (though I wish the analog stick was positioned for use with the thumb which would be more precise).Both input separately via USB, and while additional programming software is offered by Thrustmaster, it's not needed for the majority of games. I did download and install a single driver file, but after that, no additional software was needed, and Elite: Dangerous even had a preconfigured control set up for the FCS HOTAS.My major complaint is the entire set up feels entry-level in terms of the amount of plastic used and the quality of said plastic, yet commands a decidedly premium price relative to other input devices like gaming mice and controllers. I understand the HOTAS market is completely skewed in terms of pricing, and at $160, this is technically entry-level as far as HOTAS pricing goes but it doesn't feel like a $160 product. Instead, it feels like a $99 product with an inflated market price, and the lack of mechanical switches, or denser, better feeling materials like metal or carbon fiber is a disappointment.In all, I would say this is a decent set up, and after 150 hours in Elite, I haven't had any issues other than the throttle sticking mentioned above. That said, the Z-axis twist feature built into the flight stick's grip is notorious across the internet for high failure rates, and should be mentioned.

Disappointed with this Thrustmaster product

A bit disappointed, the controllers have a sturdy feel, but as others have stated, all 3 are made out of plastic, a little less than 1/8" thick or thin depending upon which way you look at it.The rudder peddles, the width from outside left to right is 11.5", comfortable position for me when sitting, feet are 15" apart left inside of my foot to right inside. Point being I have to almost put my knees together to get my feet on the peddles, great for a kid but not so much for an adult. As with a real aircraft, and I am a pilot, you push forward on the peddles to apply the brakes. If you have the peddles right under your feet up against your chair, easy enough to do, but is rather uncomfortable to have them that close, any further away, since there are no adjustments ... MoreA bit disappointed, the controllers have a sturdy feel, but as others have stated, all 3 are made out of plastic, a little less than 1/8" thick or thin depending upon which way you look at it.The rudder peddles, the width from outside left to right is 11.5", comfortable position for me when sitting, feet are 15" apart left inside of my foot to right inside. Point being I have to almost put my knees together to get my feet on the peddles, great for a kid but not so much for an adult. As with a real aircraft, and I am a pilot, you push forward on the peddles to apply the brakes. If you have the peddles right under your feet up against your chair, easy enough to do, but is rather uncomfortable to have them that close, any further away, since there are no adjustments it is very difficult to get the peddles pushed all the way forward to apply the brakes. There is also the fact the there isn't any real tension pushing the peddles backwards or forwards to control the rudder so you can go off course or worse buy simply putting your feet on the peddles.I purchased this set to us with MS Flight Simulator 2020, when you go to controls in MSFS you can see the joystick and the throttle. When you go to the joystick settings, it shows all the buttons and a lot of axis settings, like Joystick axis, X, X-, X+, Y, Y-, Y+ and so on, problem is, its trial and error to figure out which axis goes to which joystick control. When you go to the throttle settings, it shows the same thing but instead of saying throttle axis, it says joystick. It took a long time to finally get everything setup and working the way I wanted, problem though is when I went back a few days later, I was back to square 1, even thought I saved the settings, it did not remember them.I know the manuals shows all of the button and axis settings per device, and this might be a MSFS issue, but the settings should be a little, or a lot clearer as to button and axis assignments/settings/configuration per controller, you shouldn't have to guess.Joystick seems to work ok but I do have a problem with the buttons. I have an old Logitech Extreme 3D Pro joystick, same amount of buttons and all have numbers on them, the Thrustmaster joystick does not so at quick glance finding the right button can be a challenge.I know, this review is mostly negative, and a lot if my frustration stems from not wanting to spend hours calibrating and adjusting settings hoping that the settings will be saved. I am the kind of person that if I cannot figure out the basics within the first 15 or 20 minutes, I have no use for whatever it is. Other than the rudder issue, which to me renders that device useless, if you have the time and patience to configure and set everything up give the joystick and throttle control a shot, you might have better luck than I.

Fantastic upper-low end HOTAS with QC issues

These things were made to fit with Elite Dangerous in their color choices. Tons of buttons, but I understand the criticism in reviews on physical placement of the hat switch on the top and the buttons on the base can be awkward to find your way around. I frequently have to look at it in order to know which one I am pressing, which was fine-ish with the first one I got which didn't get super bright until you floored it in one direction. Unfortunately mine developed some issues with drift and return to neutral. I kept increasing the deadzone to try and compensate, but eventually had to touch base with Thrustmaster. The service was meh, but they did replace it under warranty and send me a new joystick at no charge. Which is where I touch on the dumb lights at the base ... MoreThese things were made to fit with Elite Dangerous in their color choices. Tons of buttons, but I understand the criticism in reviews on physical placement of the hat switch on the top and the buttons on the base can be awkward to find your way around. I frequently have to look at it in order to know which one I am pressing, which was fine-ish with the first one I got which didn't get super bright until you floored it in one direction. Unfortunately mine developed some issues with drift and return to neutral. I kept increasing the deadzone to try and compensate, but eventually had to touch base with Thrustmaster. The service was meh, but they did replace it under warranty and send me a new joystick at no charge. Which is where I touch on the dumb lights at the base of the joystick... the replacement model they sent me doesn't have the issues with drift, but Thrustmaster at some point replaced the correlative lighting with a very, very bright constant light. You will find complaints about that feature all over the internet and I keep meaning to snip the wires because it's very distracting when you're playing something dark like Elite Dangerous and keep having to look right into that light to determine which base button you're ambiguously about to push. All in all very solid though, it was a massive upgrade from the T-Flight and works great with the Monstertech chair mounts, even if those will drive you to bankruptcy. Most of the buttons and trigger feel fine, but some of the hat choices on the throttle seem silly. You get used to it though.

First time using HOSAS

Great and amazing. Great quality zero issues. I used to have the pxn 2119. Those were great but I may have been a little rough because I don't know my own strength but the twist went out on them. It could have been the cheaper products as well. I should have bought the replacement warranty microcenter offers.I did buy it with this set up. There are enough buttons and the resistance feel great. I would by again even if these break. This set up or eve MN the HOTAS version is worth it.

Get yours today!

One of the BEST Flight Systems you can buy!Although, there are not many options available at the time of writing this as many of these Flight Sets are becoming more and more difficult to purchase in New or Unused conditions. Many models are being discontinued and unavailable anywhere for purchase...which leaves limited options. However, This set is a more up-to-date model in keeping up with current technology. The T.16000M FCS features 4 independent axes, including twist rudder (controlled by rotating the stick), 16 action buttons with “braille”-style physical button identification, one 8-way Point of View (PoV) hat switch and an ergonomic trigger. Its striking orange accents and backlighting bring gamers’ immersion to a whole new level.T.16000M FCS flight ... MoreOne of the BEST Flight Systems you can buy!Although, there are not many options available at the time of writing this as many of these Flight Sets are becoming more and more difficult to purchase in New or Unused conditions. Many models are being discontinued and unavailable anywhere for purchase...which leaves limited options. However, This set is a more up-to-date model in keeping up with current technology. The T.16000M FCS features 4 independent axes, including twist rudder (controlled by rotating the stick), 16 action buttons with “braille”-style physical button identification, one 8-way Point of View (PoV) hat switch and an ergonomic trigger. Its striking orange accents and backlighting bring gamers’ immersion to a whole new level.T.16000M FCS flight stickExclusive precision: H.E.A.R.T* HallEffect AccuRate Technology™! 3D (Hall Effect) magnetic sensors located on the stick (*US patent: US08471815)Precision levels 256 times greater than current systems (16-bit resolution: 16000 x 16000 values!)Magnets ensure friction-free action for razor-sharp precision that won’t decrease over timeHelical spring (0.1” / 2.8 mm in diameter) inside the stick providing firm, linear and smooth tensionFully ambidextrous joystick!3 removable components allow the joystick to be perfectly tailored for left-handed or right-handed usePiloting with a joystick in each hand is now possible in all games compatible with two joysticks16 action buttons with “braille”-style physical button identification!12 on the base and 4 on the stick + one 8-way Point of View hat switchSwitch allowing users to configure the 12 buttons located on the base in a left- or right-handed position4 independent axes, including twist rudder (controlled by rotating the stick)Ergonomic trigger for brake (civilian flight) or rapid fire (military flight, space simulation) controlMultidirectional hat switch (for panoramic view)Ergonomic design for optimum comfortWide hand rest for reduced stressWeighted base for enhanced stabilityTWCS throttleTWCS (Thrustmaster Weapon Control System) throttle: use your left hand to increase your combat speed and manage your spaceship or jet fighter.The TWCS throttle’s lower positioning compared to quadrant-based systems provides unrivalled comfort.To give simmers complete control, the TWCS throttle includes 14 buttons and one 8-way-PoV hat switch that are added to those of the joystick. In total, this provides gamers with 9 axes, 30 buttons and two 8-way PoVs – plus 3 extra axes via the optional TFRP rudder*.The TWCS throttle features 5 axes and a rear RJ12 connector offering 3 additional axes via the external optional TFRP rudder* from Thrustmaster’s flight product ecosystem.*Sold separately...Which this set includes.T.A.R.G.E.T programming software: program up to 256 buttons on the joystick (buttons merged from keyboard and mouse)Thrustmaster Advanced pRogramming Graphical EdiTor software: combine with other Thrustmaster devices (so that they are recognized as a single USB device), and load or create specific mapping profiles for each gameThis product is not distributed under license from and is in no way endorsed by Microsoft Corporation.The Thrustmaster TFRP (T.Flight Rudder Pedals)First rudder ever to feature the S.M.A.R.T (Sliding Motion Advanced Rail Track) slide rails system!Capitalizes on the brand’s 25 years of expertise and leadership.Is the device most highly requested by members of the flight sim community.S.M.A.R.T (Sliding Motion Advanced Rail Track) slide rails rudderSystem of 4 slide rails crafted of industrial-grade aluminium for perfectly smooth sliding motionSelf-centering rudder axis: the perfect balance between smoothness and resistance for re-centeringLong range of travel on rudder axis for precise maneuvers10-inch/25-centimeter footrest (12/45 shoe size) for rudder functionVersatile ergonomic design suitable for all types of flight (aerial combat, space adventure, civil flight, etc.)With the heel-rest removed, you can control the rudder using the ball of your foot, with your heel on the floorWith the heel-rest in place, you can rest 100% of your foot on the pedalLarge base and inclined design combining comfort with stabilityTwo differential brake pedalsLarge differential brake pedals: 10 inches/25 centimeters (12/45 shoe size)Rounded central pivot with central grip, on the differential brake’s axisPivot angle with a 15° range of travel: on an incline for deliberate activation, avoiding inadvertent activation when using the rudder

Great Starter/Intermediate HOTAS

Its a fantastic HOTAS, especially for beginners getting into games like DCS. Ive just gotten into it and it is amazing, it all feels great and smooth. The layout of all the buttons feel great and allows for every player to have their own mapping for controls that you can get used to. It can start out overwhelming but if you have the patience and determination to stick with it itll pay off ten fold. As far as the quality, even though its plastic it doesnt feel cheap or flimsy. Its sturdy and doesnt creak when pressure is applied to anywhere Ive tested. Overall, I think its amazing and anyone on the fence about it should take the leap especially if flight sims or HOTAS based games interest you at all.

It works as expected. Good value

I'm using this for MSFS 2020 right now and I'm pretty happy with it.I did a lot of research before spending this much money on a HOTAS and while it doesn't necessarily blow me away, I am very happy.The throttle slide isn't buttery smooth but it's certainly not bad at all. There are easy ways to improve that if you search online but it isn't bad enough for me to bother.The joystick is miles ahead of my oldschool Wingman Extreme 2 and I like it very much straight out of the box.I intended to use the paddle on the throttle for rudder control but I actually like the twist of the joystick for that. That doesn't mean the throttle isn't useful - it's covered in other controls and I use the small index finger stick for looking around a lot.If I were to buy again I ... MoreI'm using this for MSFS 2020 right now and I'm pretty happy with it.I did a lot of research before spending this much money on a HOTAS and while it doesn't necessarily blow me away, I am very happy.The throttle slide isn't buttery smooth but it's certainly not bad at all. There are easy ways to improve that if you search online but it isn't bad enough for me to bother.The joystick is miles ahead of my oldschool Wingman Extreme 2 and I like it very much straight out of the box.I intended to use the paddle on the throttle for rudder control but I actually like the twist of the joystick for that. That doesn't mean the throttle isn't useful - it's covered in other controls and I use the small index finger stick for looking around a lot.If I were to buy again I might look for something with more buttons on the stick as opposed to each side of the stick because it requires me to let go of the stick to use the right 6 buttons. But this is doesn't mean they're useless by any means - I just need to program them for commands that aren't detrimental to letting go such as menu commands. Regardless - they're WAY better than using the keyboard.I also enjoy the flexibility of each piece having its own cable - although I do wish they were a bit longer.Overall, if you are new to flying games or simulators, I would strongly consider this HOTAS. While you could get by with a joystick alone, having the combination changes and improves the experience a great deal.And B&H is great, as always.

Wandering Z-axis (twist)

Using this in a game where z-axis is common, like a space sim, the z-axis potentiometer will fail after only a few weeks or months, rendering the entire joystick useless. It is a design flaw and a known problem.You can either make a warranty claim every few months or just avoid this joystick altogether. Rather than waiting for exchange, I swapped the potentiometer with a suitable replacement from Mouser, which seems to be lasting longer.The same thing happens on the Airbus version, the only difference is that it's easier to open and reassemble that one.They should have used a magnetic or optical sensor, instead, they save a few cents with a garbage analog potentiometer.