Comment 77 for bug 274203

I'm really curious why the new xorg would be considered if it broke
joysticks. Not being able to use joysticks is a HUGE problem. For most
of us, the work arounds are fine. (They don't work for me though). Since
I'm sure we're all comfortable getting under Ubuntu's hood, we wouldn't
have a problem with any work around that is invented.

However, joysticks not working out of the box when Intrepid comes out
will not be acceptable. Joe User doesn't know how to edit the xorg.conf
file to get his joystick working, and he shouldn't have to. Joysticks
have worked in every Ubuntu release and should still. Gaming is probably
one of if not the major shortcomings of Linux keeping it from mainstream
use, and by the most popular Linux distribution in the world not being
able to use joysticks properly is going to hurt the reputation of Linux
even more.

Is there any way to force the old joystick driver for all joysticks?

Please, whatever we can do to make joysticks work just like they did in
Hardy would be great. I'll help with whatever is needed. I'll test
whatever I need to and I devote as much time to this as you need, let's
please not let a huge bug like this remain in the final Intrepid release.