Latest working kernel version: 2.6.27.15
Earliest failing kernel version: 2.6.28
Distribution: ArchLinux

Problem Description:
From version 2.6.28 on no device file is created anymore for this gamepad - rendering it useless. Latest tested version is 2.6.29-rc3-git12.

A quick web search shows some people on Ubuntu and one other ArchLinux user having the same problem with this specific gamepad.

Additional dmesg output after plugging out and plugging in again:
usb 2-1: USB disconnect, address 2
usb 2-1: new low speed USB device using uhci_hcd and address 3
usb 2-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice


Output of lsusb -v for the device on an affected kernel:
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 044f:b304 ThrustMaster, Inc. Firestorm Dual Power
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0
  bDeviceProtocol         0
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x044f ThrustMaster, Inc.
  idProduct          0xb304 Firestorm Dual Power
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           4 THRUSTMASTER
  iProduct               30 FireStorm Dual Power 2
  iSerial                 0
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength           34
    bNumInterfaces          1
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0
    bmAttributes         0xa0
      (Bus Powered)
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower              400mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         3 Human Interface Device
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 No Subclass
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 None
      iInterface              0
        HID Device Descriptor:
          bLength                 9
          bDescriptorType        33
          bcdHID               1.10
          bCountryCode           33 US
          bNumDescriptors         1
          bDescriptorType        34 Report
          wDescriptorLength     108
          Report Descriptor: (length is 108)
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Generic Desktop Controls
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x05 ] 5
                            Gamepad
            Item(Main  ): Collection, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Application
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Generic Desktop Controls
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Pointer
            Item(Main  ): Collection, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
                            Physical
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x09 ] 9
                            Buttons
            Item(Local ): Usage Minimum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Button 1 (Primary)
            Item(Local ): Usage Maximum, data= [ 0x0c ] 12
                            (null)
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x0c ] 12
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Constant Array Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
                            Generic Desktop Controls
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x39 ] 57
                            Hat Switch
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x07 ] 7
            Item(Global): Physical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Physical Maximum, data= [ 0x0e 0x01 ] 270
            Item(Global): Unit, data= [ 0x40 0x00 ] 64
                            System: None, Unit: None^4
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x04 ] 4
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x42 ] 66
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State Null_State Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x30 ] 48
                            Direction-X
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x31 ] 49
                            Direction-Y
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x80 ] 128
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x7f ] 127
            Item(Global): Physical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0x00 ] 255
            Item(Global): Unit, data= [ 0x00 0x00 ] 0
                            System: None, Unit: (None)
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x35 ] 53
                            Rotate-Z
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x36 ] 54
                            Slider
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0x00 ] 255
            Item(Main  ): Input, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xbb ] 187
                            (null)
            Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0x00 ] 255
            Item(Global): Physical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0
            Item(Global): Physical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0x00 ] 255
            Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x08 ] 8
            Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x04 ] 4
            Item(Main  ): Output, data= [ 0x02 ] 2
                            Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear
                            Preferred_State No_Null_Position Non_Volatile Bitfield
            Item(Main  ): End Collection, data=none
            Item(Main  ): End Collection, data=none
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            3
          Transfer Type            Interrupt
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0008  1x 8 bytes
        bInterval              16
Device Status:     0x0002
  (Bus Powered)
  Remote Wakeup Enabled