The purpose of the creation of the website hotas.gr is the gathering as well as the creation of information regarding computer peripherals whose use is for any kind of simulators but mostly for flight simulators. Their cost varies from a few euros up to some thousands euros. The investment that someone will make on these things depends on the feeling he wants to have playing a simulator gamer on the computer and also on his available money.

These peripherals can be categorized as follows:

The classic joystick: It started as a simple one (back on the pac-man age) and became very sophisticated (with feedback and programmable options).

HOTAS joystick: These controllers are constituted by two parts, the classic joystick and the throttle. Both parts usually have lot of programmable buttons and rotors thus enhancing the possibilities of the player and making him less dependable on the keyboard. 

Yokes:  Joysticks mainly made for civilian aircrafts. We can also find them for fighter aircrafts mainly as reproductions of historical ones (i.e. P-38)

Rudder Pedals: In general they are combined with one of the above joysticks. They simulate the rudder controls of the aircraft and the brakes on the ground wheels. They can be found as simple rudder pedals but also with enhanced capabilities (i.e. brake control etc)

Track IR: A device that replaced the traditional hat. It is based on the player’s head movement to look in the different views from inside the plane. It gave more freedom of movement to the player since he is no longer forced to push any buttons in order for him to switch to different views from inside the plane.

The fore mentioned devices can be placed a little above the average amount of peripheral devices that one must have in order to play computer simulator games. Thus a simple joystick can perform the basic functions needed for these games, the above devices, without them being considered as excessive costs, give the player a more enhanced feeling of the game. Of course the devices that someone can buy or even manufacture himself are not solely those mentioned above. Today’s technology gives the possibility to anyone to build even a whole aircraft cockpit or a race car’s cockpit. In such a construction all of the real plane’s instruments can be installed and be of use, by using the appropriate machines one can even given the feeling of movement to these cockpits.

There are many websites and forums regarding the presentation of these peripherals, their modifications and their enhancements and the mutual support of their users. In this website we will try to gather all this info but also to create new info about them such us:

• User’s reviews on these peripherals so anyone can read them and decide before making a new buy.
• Possible problems during their use but also suggested solutions
•  Enhancements and modifications.
•   Software support (drivers – profiles)
• Spare parts

There will be a try to be in Greek and avoiding, if possible, difficult technical terms.

The user of this website in order to gain access to all the site’s services will have to be registered to hotas.gr. The registration is simple and no crucial personal data are requested. Before the registration the new member must have read and agreed to the Terms of Use of this website.
The registration is free and the registered members will have the ability to publish articles, news, to be part of the public conversations and also to download/upload freeware files regarding joysticks and other computer peripherals.