glider simulators

Joystick features that are nice to have: A "hat" for view control,
and a "throttle" control for moving the spoilers. I also like a
joystick with at least 5 or 6 buttons (so I can put flap and trim
controls on the joystick).

Optional extra for the technologically advanced: NaturalPoint
"TrackIR" (http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/). This is an infrared
camera that you put on your computer monitor. It watches a reflective
head-band or headset-clip that you wear, and uses your head movements
to let you "look around" freely.

I recommend people get comfortable with Condor first before adding
this layer of complexity and configuration - but once you get used to
it, its nice! I mean, how many times in a flight simulator have you
wished that you could just turn your head a little to keep an eye on
the runway threshold out the side of the airplane while on downwind or
turning base? This lets you do that effortlessly (and so much more).
But it does take some work to set up and fine-tune for your individual
tastes - so start with the joystick "hat" and then progress to this if
you want.

Take care,

--Noel
(PIlot and former computer-game developer)

P.S. I also recommend a wide-screen LCD monitor. Human vision is
attuned to wide peripheral vision and standard screens don't do a poor
job of matching the eye. Even a small (17" or 19") wide-screen
monitor is an improvement over a medium-sized "standard" monitor, when
it comes to simulating movement.