Yeah, Freespace 2....
Damn, I miss Freelancer. I need to try and install it again.

If it is for gameport to usb, there are no out of the box solutions for that. The standard gameport/usb adapters that you can buy won't work with a Sidewinder joystick.
There is a solution if you're handy, but I won't recommend it though, you will risk blowing up your motherboard with it.

[url=http://www.grendel.koolbear.com/3dpro.htm ]http://www.grendel.koolbear.com/3dpro.htm[/url]

On the other hand you can buy a relative cheap joystick from Logitech or Thrustmaster. They aren't great but do the job and a really good joystick will set you back a lot (too much imo unless you're serious about sim flying). I also wouldn't go for a forcefeedback joystick, it's fun for a while but generally the simulated forces don't really add much to the experience and most of the time it is precision you want (getting that reticule over your target). Forcefeedback for joysticks just isn't in the same league as it is for steeringwheels. Make sure though that the joystick you get has a throttle and sticktwist (rudder) and at least one hat (preferably two).

Logitech 3D Pro

T.Flight Stick X

T.Flight Hotas X

T.16000M HALeffect joystick

ive spent $100's looking for a joystick to replace my Sidewinder... most of Saitek and Logitech.... I can with confidence highly recommend you buy nothing from either company, ever unless your life is threatened and then it better be some james bond death stunt to warrant a purchase from either company...

with that the best i ever found were the "Cyborgs" and the T.16000, Thrustmaster might not look pretty but the Axial movement is flawless...

Saitek and Logitech have "hitches" where the axis catches on something into the balljoint about 5 degrees up... sometimes its a wiggle at +5y and -5x to +5x

spend the money for a thrustmaster... you will not regret it... im a massive space sim and mechwarrior nutball... X universe, Star Wolves, Freespace, Decent, Wingcommnder, Aquanox...

i even use my joystick for the old FPS games like heritic hexen quake duke shadow and rendneck

as for mechwarrior i still use a Strategic Commander + Joystick ^_^ hell i use the SC in everything that accepts it!

Yes there is (my Sidewinder has one) but I don’t know if the converter itself is enough. After Wikipedia:
(...)
However, with the widespread introduction of USB in consumer computers shortly after the Precision Pro was released, Microsoft soon re-released the joystick in a USB-compatible form (joysticks labeled as Part No. X03-57540, Product I.D. 85791-...[3]). The revised joystick still featured a gameport connector but had additional circuitry for interfacing with USB, and was bundled with a USB converter (a DIY converter project exists). Original Precision Pros remain incompatible with this converter,[4]
(...)

Do you use XP? If yes buying old model of SB Live! would be safest and surest way to connect your Sidewinder.

EDIT: If you use Win7 you can use kx drivers for sb live and you should be fine. Just make sure you will NOT buy 'modern' SB Live! but those one of those real, old models that run on 10k1 or 10k2 chip.

Problem there tburger, is that mine isn't a Precision Pro. It's a 3D Pro. Different beast.

But still it can be connected to a PC via SB Live!.

I was excited for a bit there. A new Freelancer would be cool. I got it to work on win 7 64bit. However, I did install the mod before testing Freelancer beyond the opening screen.

I recently got a Saitek x52. It is really quite the nice joystick. Only thing you need to get use to is the amount of play in the stick!

I meant in regards to your quote from wiki about a converter/adapter.

Hmmm...the mention of old SB Live got me thinking about an old ass box I still have laying around. Found it and pulled the sound card out of it. Sure enough, it's an SB w/a gameport on it and luckily enough, it's PCI rather than AGP. There's a reason why I keep my old hardware around.

Yanked out my current soundcard and stuck that sucker into my comp. Got my Sidewinder hooked to it. However, it says, Not Connected in the Status section after doing the Add bit.

FML. /headdesk

Did you install drivers for gameport/soundcard? I don't know is Windows will detect such an ancient device connected via ancient port :-D

Actually, it did. The soundcard installed fine. The Sidewinder shows that it's "installed" in the Game Controllers section of the Control Panel. Just that it shows as Not Connected when it clearly is plugged in.

Hm....and joystick drivers?

http://www.ntcompatible.com/Microoft_Sidewinder_3D_Pro_for_WinXP_t25583.html

Did you try to use those kx Drivers?

I don't think you are understanding the problem.

The drivers for the Sidewinder are already installed through XP's Microsoft Sidewinder (Auto Detect) choice on the Game Controller menu. The problem comes from the fact that the system is seeing the joystick as Not Connected, despite it being connected.

a conflict with another peripheral ( a printer f.i. ) ?

an input/output range outside X200 and X20F? (Go to Control Panal > System > hardware > Device Manager > Sound video and games controllers > games port for creative > resources > Basic Configuration > click on I/O Range > Change settings )

a conflict with an onboard device ( usually a integrated soundcard) or with usb controller ?

Just a quick test : what happens if you define your stick as a logitech wingman for instance ?