Introducing the VKB-Sim ‘Modern Combat Grip’ (MCG)

Could be said that for DIY nothing is "impossible", but to hook an MCG PRO grip on X-55 base will be need do a lot of work, redo their internals and will lost MCG exclusive functions like analog brake axis, analog HAT (in fact will need replace that HAT with by switch type), analog trigger (need find space and way to install switches there), because the sensors used there is VKB proprietary types and not compatible with other brands connections/firmware.

Sounds like a lot of work just to preserve a base that has shitty internals at the end of the day :music_whistling:

Because my X56 gives best helicopter control in DCS I've ever had - and I've had the X52, G940, Warthog, CH Fighterstick, VKB Gladiator and Sidewinder Precision Pro (which was suprisingly good in the Ka-50).

 

And why would it not work on this base? It's just a base.

 

Just because you don't like something doesn't mean everybody else doesn't - the X55 and X56 are very popular.

 

Also, I happen to be allergic to the kind of plastic used on the grip, so exchanging it for one with a layout I like would be a great solution. Especially given the lack of decent but affordable sticks these days.

It's not as simple as screwing the new grip on. The internals are incompatible.

Also, I had an X55, and if it gives the best control you ever had in DCS, I canonly surmise you used a trackball previously, because the X55, while eegonomically excellent, has some of the lowest build quality I've ever seen. Even the X52 was better. That washplate they use for 'centering' completely eliminates precision. It's a cheap and fancy looking, but extremely poorly made HOTAS.

This is kind of like a guy I saw a while back that blew $2k on a PC to play DCS but refused to 'cough up even more' to get a controller made in the last 15 years. He was using some antiquated device that apparently died while it sat in his attic for two decades. He said he 'couldn't afford' even the $50 for a cheap modern 'entry device'. But he could afford the $2k somehow?

Don't be cheap or ridiculous. Trying to jury rig a high end grip to a cheap base worth $50 is stupid. Either go all the way or just stick with the X55. You're not benefiting, and they aren't even remotely similar internally.

-edit

Btw, VKB have explicitly stated they aren't supporting Saitek because the build quality is too poor and it isn't worth the trouble.

-edit

Everybody is always like 'IF YOU'LL JUST DO THIS REALLY POORLY THOUGHT OUT IDEA, THINK HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'LL MAKE SELLING EXTRA UNITS' yeah no. Real world and your imagination don't sync up too well in this case.

Unrelated to above, I just checked out how the site is organised now. Much better, cuts down on potential for confusion by having people identify their base and going from there.

I had an X-55. The build quality is crap so life is limited, but the throttle ergonomics are great (better than the TMWH) and stick is decent (with the lighter strings, actually better than the TMWH)...

And that's why I'm hanging on to my X-55 throttle while I impatiently await my Gladiator Pro w/MCG. Nothing better worth spending money on out there that is well suited to anything from DCS to Star Citizen. I just hope everything continues working (except the mouse nub which never worked right). When it dies I will gladly get either a VKB or Virpl throttle.

Well then, are they starting to ship tomorrow?

When are we going to be contacted for payment, if we ordered directly from sales_en@vkb?

For reference, I've preordered a 3-pin Pro for Gunfighter Rev.A.

Well then, are they starting to ship tomorrow?

 

When are we going to be contacted for payment, if we ordered directly from sales_en@vkb?

For reference, I've preordered a 3-pin Pro for Gunfighter Rev.A.

They are supposed to charge our cards on the 15th, not sure when shipping will be.

They must be getting close, as I tried to check out cancelling on the website, that option is no longer there.

When are we going to be contacted for payment, if we ordered directly from sales_en@vkb?

That's via VKB HQ - so you might want to contact them again to learn more.

They are supposed to charge our cards on the 15th, not sure when shipping will be.

They must be getting close, as I tried to check out cancelling on the website, that option is no longer there.

For pre-orders via VKBcontrollers.com, there will be a staggered release - not all items will start shipping at the same time. VKB HQ will update me with their shipping logistics schedule later today.

PS: You should be able to cancel any pre-order so long as it it in pre-order status. Email me with your order number and I will have a look.

Unrelated to above, I just checked out how the site is organised now. Much better, cuts down on potential for confusion by having people identify their base and going from there.

Thanks for the kudos. :)

For pre-orders via VKBcontrollers.com, there will be a staggered release - not all items will start shipping at the same time. VKB HQ will update me with their shipping logistics schedule later today.

 

PS: You should be able to cancel any pre-order so long as it it in pre-order status. Email me with your order number and I will have a look.

Thanks again for your help. I was able to successfully cancel my pre-order of the MCG Pro grip. Maybe someone else will get one a little sooner.

I think I am a little overwhelmed at this time with stick options, so will stick with what I have for a while. I certainly am not in desperate need for a new one. Plus it being Christmas I could use those funds...

I will keep my new Gunfighter in the box in the meantime, and maybe revisit it sometime in 2018.

For pre-orders via VKBcontrollers.com, there will be a staggered release - not all items will start shipping at the same time. VKB HQ will update me with their shipping logistics schedule later today.

 

PS: You should be able to cancel any pre-order so long as it it in pre-order status. Email me with your order number and I will have a look.

For Gunfighter Pro's is there a shipping date? A staggered shipping scheme really doesn't give us much info. That leaves the possibility for my card to be charged and the stick to not ship for months.

Also, where are the items being shipped from?

For Gunfighter Pro's is there a shipping date?

Also, where are the items being shipped from?

We will post up an update today (probably you will read it next morning in your time belt).

NO it is not going to be yet another "wait please" update :)

Originally all devices are shipped from our manufacturing base which (surprise!) is China.

We will post up an update today (probably you will read it next morning in your time belt).

NO it is not going to be yet another "wait please" update :)

Originally all devices are shipped from our manufacturing base which (surprise!) is China.

Thanks for the update! Great communication from VKB so far this round.

Just checked the webstore, release date delayed to January 2nd 2018. Great!! Now which delay is this? I lost the count. :yawn:

Might just cancel my preorder and check back next Christmas

A note from VKB HQ: MCG's Arrival is a Fact Now

Fellow Pilots, 15 Dec has come, and here they are.

Conceived by passionate fliers, designed by seasoned experts, and spirited by immortal terracotta warriors, here comes the VKB MCG Modern Combat Grip.

It took some time to make this happen. We never enjoyed those forced delays, but neither did we waste time in waiting; instead we invested it into perfecting the whole environment the MCGs are becoming part of.

Gunfighter Mk.II

Simultaneously with the MCG, but with less hype, comes the Gunfighter Mk.II - yes, the base has undergone some usability tweaking, and received a few invisible but quite useful engineering and technological touches. All pending pre-orders, current orders, and future Gunfighter orders will - of course - receive the Mk.II.

Moreover, working on the MCG series of grips for longer than expected allowed us to give some extra thoughts to future products, such as (but not limited to!) VKB Throttle Controls and other devices. And, not to mention, the new VKB Twist Adapter that we are busy patenting now. We wouldn't have designed it at all if we hadn't had the MCG in the works.

Payments and shipments.

There are 20+ different sub-modifications of the MCG, and due to obvious technological reasons the most popular ones will be produced and shipped out first. Others will follow without any further delays or intervals between these sub-modifications.

While the devices are on their way to you we will write more detailed explanation on using the advanced functionality of the MCG grip. Please do NOT neglect these explanations - the MCG grips received functionality never before available in any joystick, and to fully enjoy it you will need to familiarize yourself with our notes and advice.

Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year from VKB HQ. We are absolutely ecstatic about finally getting it done!

Yours,

VKB-Sim Team

:thumbup:

That looks really nice, but how do i order one from europe?

My release date is Dec 26th, so when does shipping happen?

So was it pushed back again? Or was that just for the first batch being completed?

Wow... January 2nd now? That is pretty disappointing.

Oh well, back to waiting.

Oh, I just love the way you guys just jump to conclusions and can't wait to show us all how incredibly clever you are and must try and make people look stupid without even asking what they mean or intended to.

I don't mean any fancy functions or things that the full set-up here can do.

This grip is great as it is - the shape, the layout of the buttons and hats or 4 way switches. There is nothing like that on the market just now (nothing that I can find, anyway, and I've been looking all year) - put this grip onto the X55/56 base, with those buttons and hats, 4 way switches etc all connected up even as simple PTM switches at the $99 shown and it would sell well - I would bet my pension on it, because there is nothing else on the market like it at that price point.

There are so many people with slightly iffy buttons and hats on their HOTAS (X55 especially, from what I've heard, but X56 too - though mine still works like new after 10 months) who would jump at the chance to put such a grip on it.

Most of the sub £200/$230 HOTAS look and feel like toys or something from Thunderbirds and don't have much use in sims like DCS World and not all of us can afford to repeatedly shell out on top of the range gear.

So - put an X55/56 style connector on this grip, with nothing fancier than the buttons and hats etc connected up like any other joystick, and you will please many people. Including myself.

Sufficiently explained?

Oh, I just love the way you guys just jump to conclusions and can't wait to show us all how incredibly clever you are and must try and make people look stupid without even asking what they mean or intended to.

 

I don't mean any fancy functions or things that the full set-up here can do.

 

This grip is great as it is - the shape, the layout of the buttons and hats or 4 way switches. There is nothing like that on the market just now (nothing that I can find, anyway, and I've been looking all year) - put this grip onto the X55/56 base, with those buttons and hats, 4 way switches etc all connected up even as simple PTM switches at the $99 shown and it would sell well - I would bet my pension on it, because there is nothing else on the market like it at that price point.

 

There are so many people with slightly iffy buttons and hats on their HOTAS (X55 especially, from what I've heard, but X56 too - though mine still works like new after 10 months) who would jump at the chance to put such a grip on it.

 

Most of the sub £200/$230 HOTAS look and feel like toys or something from Thunderbirds and don't have much use in sims like DCS World and not all of us can afford to repeatedly shell out on top of the range gear.

 

So - put an X55/56 style connector on this grip, with nothing fancier than the buttons and hats etc connected up like any other joystick, and you will please many people. Including myself.

 

Sufficiently explained?

Who is jumping to conclusions? I am not complaining about it, I am just saying I am disappointed that I won't get to use this product as soon as I thought I would. Nothing wrong with that.

I think you are the one jumping to conclusions here.

Wow... January 2nd now? That is pretty disappointing.

 

Oh well, back to waiting.

I agree this really sucks big time, make you think twice about VKB projection dates in the future and pre ordering their products :mad: This is very disappointing, so with the holidays season coming I guess it will be late Jan. or early Feb. before we receive them, that's if no more delays surface.

So it looks like the MCG PRO 3-pin (rev b) is in stock now? And if that's what we ordered, should be shipping soon?

Hold your fire

Gentlemen,

VKBsim promised right here on these very pages that 15 December the mass production of MCG grips will begin, and we will start serving orders.

We are happy that [finally] we were able to keep this promise.

The grips are already rolling out. Those ones you can see in the picture are real grips in flesh, not computer rendering.

We did exactly what we promised. I don't think we promised that 15 Dec all grips will be ready, or did we?

Mass production is under full steam, we're packing assembled units to hand them over to the shipping agent on Monday.

Seriously, reading these messages about disappointment is something less than encouraging.

Gentlemen,

 

VKBsim promised right here on these very pages that 15 December the mass production of MCG grips will begin, and we will start serving orders.

We are happy that [finally] we were able to keep this promise.

 

The grips are already rolling out. Those ones you can see in the picture are real grips in flesh, not computer rendering.

 

We did exactly what we promised. I don't think we promised that 15 Dec all grips will be ready, or did we?

Mass production is under full steam, we're packing assembled units to hand them over to the shipping agent on Monday.

 

Seriously, reading these messages about disappointment is something less than encouraging.

The message I got in email suggests mine isn't shipping until Jan 2nd. But you say they are going to shipping agents on Monday?

It's a bit confusing...