VKB Gladiator EVO NXT Kosmosima review

[@dcsunscripted]

Wrong correction at 19:43 - tempo period really is 500 ms (in my case) as spoken, 300 ms was the DR transition. My mistake to "correct" that non-mistake.

[@seanwarren9357]

Excellent review, friend. Thanks!

[@savethefunk]

The best VKB reviews on the verse, thank you. You are an international treasure! I really struggle with the configuration software, so obscure... but I love the stick. I keep on wanting to pick-up a STEC or Omni, but so far have not pulled the tirgger on either (pun not intended). I mostly play Star Citizen now, but used to fly a lot on IL2 and will probably one day fly on IL2 and / or DCS again, some day.

[@aapje]

Excellent review. I find it hard to imagine that the high-end bases offer a substantial improvement over this (other than the brake lever). The FFB bases seem like the true next step up.

[@dcsunscripted]

I'd need to check the action, but those bases use cams, often swappable, and this may make the feeling quite different, especially around the center. Also they often support longer extensions. Now, FFB, that's another level, I'll probably want somthing like that eventually, but I'd have to shuffle more stuff around it - because the desk standing FFB is not practical. ;-) But then we're going to serious numers, when just the base is ~800 bucks today. I'd probably first think about dedicated simpit. But until then, Gladiator must suffice.

[@aapje]

@@dcsunscripted The Moza FFB base is 600 euro, so that is about twice as much as a high-end base, but it seems way more than twice as good.

[@dcsunscripted]

@@aapje Right, I didn't check these latest prices, Rhino FFB was around 800 bucks... but Moza offers base+very interesting grip just under 800... hmmm, inetersting, indeed.

[@a5cent]

@@aapje Depends what you fly. Helicopter? Nope. They have no force feedback. Fly-by-wire planes with a side stick? Nope. They don't have force feedback either. Where it does make sense is for military aircraft, both WW2 and modern. For people focused on military aircraft, particularly if they play in DCS, then I think it's a great idea. For those who do MSFS, and actually want something that replicates the real flying experience rather than just want force feedback for the sake of it, I'm not at all convinced. In both cases a VR headset is probably more impactful though.

[@aapje]

@@a5cent Helicopter pilots love FFB, because of force trim. Otherwise they have a choice between constantly fighting the spring force, or taking out the springs, which is not realistic either. And if they take out the springs, then they need to do a lot of work to put the spring back for regular planes. But with FFB, they can change the stick behavior on the fly. And some FBW planes have force sensing, and a FFB stick can mimic that, and even mimic the differences between force sensing planes. Also, force feedback effects that are transmitted through the stick can work for any plane. Of course, this is not realistic, but a real pilot would feel a lot through G-forces and such that you won't feel when simming. Finally, I already have VR as do many others.

[@Shoniforce]

increible review. thanks

[@Czar66]

I think acquiring Track IR or any decent tracker will be a game changer for you as it was for me. I have a EVO NXT being shipped to me atm just waiting for its arrival, thank you for the details in the video about it.

[@dcsunscripted]

Actually, I use a head tracker kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4KVkqaJiMp6ntE and I really got used to it (unlike during making the linked video). I still didn't go for more serious head tracking, but after many months of playing with and without it as I felt at the moment, I virtually 100% play with it - except for rudimentary experiments or, as in this video, for video capture where it's not necessary. Without headtracking the video is much smaller (a lot of the scene is static or moves more smooth) and often easier to look at. And yes, it was a game changer for me. It just took a long time to get really used to it fully.

[@Czar66]

@@dcsunscripted Understood. The referencing of the analog hat switch as a POV hat switch got me thinking that way. It is perfect as a sensor cursor control for the Hornet, Viper and others I imagine. Thank you. Great work.

[@dcsunscripted]

@@Czar66 It is a ministick and has axes and it is quite precise technically, less so tactile. I mentioned, that the cap is quite tall and the ministick is quite soft as well. I assume it's better than no TDC but as I use the one on the STECS (which seems technologically the same, but has a different hat), I don't need to use this one. But yes, it's there and is free to use when you don't need POV. 👍

[@Vanadeo]

I keep tempting my self with this stick, but my CH combat stick (Which I have bodged it to use as left handed) is still going strong. Clunky but for fixed wing it's okay and so far the pots have no noise atm.. I could really do with some decent rudder pedals more than anything, my thrustmaster ones are horrid.

[@dcsunscripted]

If there is no big need for change it's mostly smart not to - so your hasitation is good. Horrid pedals - I assume you've got TFRP? I had those and that was a mistake. I've risked one more Thrustmaster product and bought their pendulum pedals TPR, I'm happy with those, but there are cheaper alternatives for sure.

[@Vanadeo]

@@dcsunscripted Yeah, It's been a great stick. Thems the ones, TFRP. I've tried a few things to improve the action on them to no avail. I purposely forgot how much I paid for them xD. I'll have a look at them Pendulum ones, cheers.

[@asoshkin]

I would have bought this but 40 shipping to the states is not going to happen.

[@CommandGnome]

That is the unfortunate reality of vkbs stuff, although it is still worth it.

[@albert91tgn]

Seems like you should switch that thumb hat to a simple button

[@dcsunscripted]

I still like the hat more than a button. 🙂I'm just more cautious about the bindings there. I want those 5 functions. Do you have the Kosmosima grip? Wouldn't it be great if that hat had the same press feeling/resistance as the hats on the face?

[@tver]

@@dcsunscripted Hmm.. Perhaps you can move the taller A1 “saddle”-hat cap to the C1 position, moving the grey C1 hat to the middle A3 position. This might allow the A3 “dish”-hat to work on the A1 ministick, whilst the A1 “pyramid”-hat sits on the A4 hat (like you already have done). Is it perhaps also possible to use spare hat caps from the VKB STECS Standard on the Gladiator hat stems?.. That could allow for more mix and match options between both devices.

[@dcsunscripted]

@@tver Intriguing ideas... not all working though. C1 has a smaller one-way mounting rod, like STECS 5-way hats, so you can't put anything from A1/3/4 there. STECS buttons actually have the same big 2-way mouning rod, but that rubberized button hat has too wide waist for the A1 ministick... and it's probably too low - although it feels good thanks to its rubberized top. Like it's more under control. I believe I acutally tried to mess with the cap for that C1 and tried caps from the STECS, but these are too wide and I can't move it right, it's physically blocked. So, C1 has the same mounting style as 5-way hats from STECS (narrow one-way), but STECS caps are too wide for it. A1/3/4 has the same mounting style (wider two-way) as STECS buttons from modules, or the red pinkie one. But these are not that good for hat controls. Perhaps a ministick - but then there is the problem with their wide waist.

[@tver]

@@dcsunscripted Ah that’s too bad and a slight missed opportunity in terms of modularity on VKB’s part. Even though it is much more expensive than the WinWing Ursa Minor (and has less inputs), I might still consider it, for its compact base, as a simpit sidestick. ;) However, the Winwing Orion 2 with F-16EX grip would be an enticing alternative, like you said.

[@dcsunscripted]

@@tver I still dream about better stick eventually, but I have zero buyer's remorse with this one. Or close to it. ;-) It's a really good solid stick.

[@PH-gm2qe]

Super videjko. Joystick je vyborny ale ten program je katastrofa, nijako sa neviem prinutit sa do toho zahlbat a naucit sa s tym robit.

[@dcsunscripted]

Ďakujem. 🙂Hej, ten program je trochu chaotický (kopa tabov hore/dole, flow podobne), ale dá sa. Najlepšie je začať podľa nejakého príkladu (ako z videa) a spraviť niečo konkrétne. Našťastie príkladov je na internete kopa. Ani ja to inak nepúšťam denne, často ani neviem, čo som si tam nastavil. A potom uložiť profil nie len do joysticku, ale aj na disk, to sa môže zísť.

[@PH-gm2qe]

@@dcsunscripted Snad sa k tomu niekedy dokopem. Len keby bolo viac casu. Ak mam obcas nejaku hodinku tak si radsej zalietam ako sa babrat s tymto 🙂