Skip to main content

Hold On with Genius MetalStrike Joysticks

Hold On with Genius MetalStrike Joysticks

KYE Systems’ Genius division has rolled out a new line of MetalStrike joystick controllers for PC flight simulator games, offering new features to improve realism and help players get the most out of their on-screen flight time. The three new models are the MetalStrike 3D Joystick, the MetalStrike Pro, and the MetalStrike FF Joystick.

All three joysticks offer a turbo function for autorepeat and offer 13 programmable buttons so users can set up their controls. The joysticks also feature an eight-way “point-of-view” switch and a four-axis design (just like a real rudder) with Aileron, Elevator, Throttle, and Power controls.

In addition, the MetalStrike Pro and MetalStrike FF offer a force feedback function that lets the user feel bumps, crashes, and shots; the Pro and FF models also offer three levels of air control to keep players’ hands cool and dry during long (simulated) flights.

The MetalStrike 3D Joystick is priced at $26.99, while the MetalStrike Pro and MetalStrike FF Joystick go for $39.99 and $69.99 each.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Video game voice actors are poised for a strike after successful SAG-AFTRA vote
The Last of Us 2 Ellie Gun

Hollywood is currently in the middle of a significant actors strike, and the same could potentially happen soon in the video game industry as well. SAG-AFTRA members voted to authorize a game actors strike, setting the stage for a potential disruption in the industry if current negotiations with publishers don't go according to plan.

The SAG-AFTRA union represents actors across all entertainment mediums, but the strike that's been active since July excluded the game industry. The game industry's separate contract with the actors' union is almost up, so SAG-AFTRA is in the heat of negotiations with companies like Activision Blizzard, Take-Two Interactive, and WB Games to create a better contract for its workers. If those negotiations fail, video game actors can go on strike to disrupt the game industry for failing to adequately meet their demands. A strike like that needs to be authorized by a majority of the union's members, though; thankfully for SAG-AFTRA, internal support was overwhelming.
A total of 34,687 SAG-AFTRA members cast ballots in a vote to authorize a strike, and 98.32% of them supported a strike authorization, according to a SAG-AFTRA press release. This doesn't mean video game actors are now on strike, just that they're willing to go on one if negotiations fail. SAG-AFTRA says these game studios "have refused to offer acceptable terms on some of the issues most critical to our members, including wages that keep up with inflation, protections around exploitative uses of artificial intelligence, and basic safety precautions," which is why a strike was organized.
SAG-AFTRA and these video game companies are in bargaining sessions between today and September 28, so we'll soon see what impact this successful strike authorization vote will have on the video game industry. 

Read more
We played 4 upcoming Konami games, including Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection
Solid Snake and Raiden hold weapons in Metal Gear Solid 2.

Once upon a time, Konami was one of the most dominant third-party video game publishers out there. The company had a long era of dominance, with franchises like Castlevania and Metal Gear Solid making it a household name. That would change a bit in the mid-2010s, as the publisher went through a major restructure that saw the company parting ways with one of its highest-profile studios, Kojima Productions. Despite that, Konami has remained plenty busy -- especially as of late.

Last week, Digital Trends got to see that first-hand when we attended a Konami press event highlighting four of its upcoming games. That list included high-profile games like Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 and Super Bomberman R 2, as well as smaller publishing projects like Super Crazy Rhythm Castle and CYGNI: All Guns Blazing. We went hands-on with each game in the varied line-up, giving us a better sense of how Konami's video game efforts are evolving.
Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1

Read more
A new Enforcement Strike System will punish toxic Xbox players
Xbox Series S placed on a white table with the controller just in front of it

Harassment is unfortunately all too common in the online gaming space, but Microsoft has introduced a new "Enforcement Strike System" on Xbox today to combat player toxicity.
This new strike system, which Dave McCarthy, vice president of player services, detailed in a new Xbox Wire post, is meant to give players a clearer picture of what violations are being enforced by Xbox and give more severe punishments for the worst actions. "The strike system is designed to further empower players to engage positively and appropriately on Xbox and with the community," McCarthy explains.
After a report against a player is reviewed by the Xbox Safety Team, that team can assign a number of strikes to the account accused of a violation. Things like using profanity or cheating add one strike, while something like hate speech warrants three strikes. While users can appeal strikes and get them removed, those that stick come with suspension-related punishments that will block those Xbox features like messaging and joining party chats. The graphic below details what you need to know about the system.

Getting one or two strikes will suspend your account for just one day, but things get worse the more strikes an account gets. If some account manages to get eight strikes, they will be banned from all online activity for over a year, and all strikes will stay on the player's record for at least six months. 
All accounts start with zero strikes beginning today, so make sure you watch your online behavior on Xbox going forward. You are able to see any active enforcements on your Xbox account on the Xbox Support website.

Read more