The video review:
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The first part of the video/intro just shows some games I've used the G940 with (rather long).
If you just want to see the G940 unit in the video, skip to 3:28
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The retail box with everything in it weighs: 15.4 lbs.
Joystick weighs: 2.64 lbs
Dual Throttle weighs: 2.2 lbs
Rudder Pedals weighs: 6.17 lbs
Games I've tried this controller with:
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IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (highly recommend! if you're going to get this controller, then you need this game; or if you already play this game a lot, then you need this HOTAS!)
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Microsoft Flight Simulator X / Acceleration*
Lock On: Modern Air Combat*
DCS: Black Shark*
Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X.FORCE FEEDBACK:
The forcefeedback will vary depending on the software; it can get really insane or seem like a wasted potential. I find the force feedback excellent and works best with "IL-2 Sturmovik 1946"; when I fire my weapon, there's a nice rumble and really feels like I'm shooting. The rumble when taking off/landing is also great in IL-2/FSX. Now, if I set the force feedback to 150% then it'll vibrate just from the engine/flying - but that makes my hands feel weird/tired. However, for "DCS Black Shark" and "Lock On", the force feedback isn't as impressive; I don't feel anything when firing missiles. If "enable centering spring" is not checked in the Logitech Profiler, the joystick for the game "Lock On" is really loose unless I encounter G-force or crash.
OTHER THOUGHTS:
- Make sure the power plug is not loose at all; I wondered why the joystick became loose and no force feedback was going... and it was that simple mistake at times.
- The throttle has buttons that are green LED. There is a zip file called "JoystickSDK" on the software folder where you can mess with the LED to also red/amber/off. Unfortunately, since the G940 has only been released recently, there's no games that can take advantage of the color changing LED to indicate status of your aircraft/etc. It would be nice if it could at least make it change colors when switching modes on the throttle (there's up to 3)
- It comes with a set of cut-out button labels (and you can try to make your own, of course) where you can put underneath the LEDs, in case you forget what the button does. It's a nice touch, but since it has "P1, P2, P3... etc" printed bold right in the center of the plastic cover, it's actually hard to read.
- The Joystick base can get quite warm.
- The power plug, throttle, pedal all connect directly to the joystick.
- The throttle/pedal tension can be adjusted
- I wish there was some sort of click/lock or indication by feel when the trim is actually being centered.
- Has directional/hat-switch buttons on the throttle and joystick! But I highly recommend getting
TrackIR! (I absolutely love that thing! It's a must for flying simulators and especially if you want to add more realism on top of this controller!)
Pros:
+ Looks and feels great; throttle and joystick handles are made out of rubber material so you'll have good grip. (although there are plastic parts that somewhat detract the overall quality)
+ Ergonomic joystick buttons (nice extra button for the pinky behind the joystick)
+ Force feedback (not your simple cheap gamepad controller vibration, but really simulates the effect).
+ Stainless steel rudder pedals
+ Throttle has a mode toggle switch button allowing more button configurations.
+ Love the dual throttle! (can also lock it to be single) - feels good in the hands.
+ Holes on the joystick/throttle for bolting it down.
Cons:
- Setting up the controls was quite a nightmare! Spent way too many hours trying to figure things out because button configurations could conflict from game or the Logitech Profiler. Don't even think you can just jump right in the cockpit and start flying with this. Would be nice to get more detailed step-by-step on properly configure things for the games (there is a PDF file included telling you how to set up correctly for FSX, Lock On, Falcon, IL-2).
- Makes this strange buzzing noise when the joystick is idle and not centered
- On old games/arcade style, it sees the HOTAS (joystick, throttle, pedal) as the same input device (ie: the X-Y axis for the joystick end up the same as the throttle). The only way for me to use the G940 with a game like H.A.W.X was to assign/emulate the keyboard buttons to the controller/assign "zones" (you can assign/trigger keys on certain positions, "zones", on the throttle if you'd like) to the throttle through the Logitech Profiler.
- Games that really fully take advantage of this HOTAS is limited (hopefully, this will change with more flying games/LED-changing support/etc.).
Although it's not perfect, overall, I give it a 5 stars because it makes flying more enjoyable (especially in IL-2) and it comes with all the essential parts to start flying/force feedback for an affordable price. I'm more of a racer and own the
Logitech G25 Racing Wheel, but now Logitech has brought a "G25" version -- well, a "G940" -- to the open skies and now I've become addicted to flying. I really hope to see more flight simulator games supporting the G940 ready-to-go; the device should only get better as time goes by with better support just like it did with the G25. The G940 should become the standard in all future games. Logitech is really taking over the gaming peripherals and setting the bar for the mass consumers. Now, I hope Logitech will give us a nice yoke add-on with this!
from Logitech:
