After viewing other threads, I had done

/modprobe from your /sbin directory
./modprobe gameport
./modprobe joydev
./modprobe ns558
./modprobe analog
to test your supported gamepad type in
jstest --normal /dev/input/js0

However, when I do modprobe ns558 I get

modprobe ns558
/lib/modules/2.4.20-19.9/kernel/drivers/char/joystick/ns558.o: init_module: No such device
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
/lib/modules/2.4.20-19.9/kernel/drivers/char/joystick/ns558.o: insmod /lib/modules/2.4.20-19.9/kernel/drivers/char/joystick/ns558.o failed
/lib/modules/2.4.20-19.9/kernel/drivers/char/joystick/ns558.o: insmod ns558 failed

But linux does see it as a destroyer tiltpad, it just doesn't respond.

I couldn't load ns558 either (got the same errors) however, my gamepad (its a destroyer but no tilt) works anyway...

Could the problem be with jstest? I never got the thing to work, I use something called jscalibration or jscalibrator (not in front of my machine) and so far the pad works with most games I've tried.

bump