I'm looking to buy a joystick, but of all the joysticks I found none seem to be too reliable. And the reliable ones only have Windows/Mac support, no Linux!

So I'm calling out to my fellow Linux users, what joystick do YOU use to play VO?

Not to bump, but I forgot to add I am also wondering if anyone can confirm that the Logitech Freedom 2.4 joystick works under Linux. This is one of the best reviewed joysticks I've seen, but Google returns no results of successful (or even unsuccessful) Linux installs.

I'm using a Saitek Aviator - it's very good, inexpensive and it accommodates all axes/strafes/throttle/accel etc. and flight controls with buttons to spare. No special drivers required, it's what you could call 'plug and play'.

The mode switch simply works as two ordinary buttons because the concept of the mode switch is something that the software needs to take account of - I wouldn't be massively surprised if you could just execute a cfg on mode switch, achieving the same effect or better, although I haven't tried this - I do use the toggle switches to cycle through groups, toggle fa etc..

Astounding stick for the cash, and it works just fine on ubuntu and opensuse.

I just plugged in my Saitek Cyborg evo and it worked out of the box, just had to configure it in Vendettas options.

How is your Aviator / Cyborg (respectively) setup under VO? I can't see either having enough axes or buttons for VO in Physics Mode.

You can look at the specs of the stick online, say on amazon - there's no need to wonder whether it has enough axes. You can have every axis available in the game - as far as I know - mapped to one on the aviator.

Without being particularly exhaustive - pitch and roll on y/x, yaw on stick twist ( some people might prefer roll and yaw the other way around ) throttle/accel on the throttle sticks, and strafe axes on the 'hat', plus turbo/fa/auto-aim/groups/etc on the buttons,

Depending on what you want to play, it might not be what you're looking for, but I bought a cheap PS3 gamepad to use with MAME (by a company named BigBen, never heard of them before). It was recognized without any problems by Ubuntu8.04 and it's great for VO.
You have two analog joysticks, one can be used for pitch and turn, the other one for strafing, a digital joypad (which is sadly recognized as analog by VO) on which you can set the roll function, and 11 additional buttons.
Cost of the gamepad was 29,- euros, and stuff tends to be more expensive than elsewhere here.

Pobega just make sure your new Joystick is HID compliant and it will work fine under linux. you may need to add a module to the kernel and calibration tool to your setup depending what flavor of linux you are running. VO is HID compliant so that is the key for you. As just about all the lastest digital joysticks are HID compliant you should have no problem with any of the top brands.

I enjoy using a pair of Saitek Cyborg Evos, except I busted the activate key by dropping one when I first got them so I tend to go on hunts for the darn thing on occasion.

Microsoft Force Feedback 2

What about calibration for all of these?

I'm used Thrustmaster Top Gun Afterburner - works ok with all its buttons and axes in linux 2.6.