Get a grip. With four action buttons, two triggers and a D-pad, everything is within easy reach. You'll be playing for hours. Can't wait? With a dedicated USB interface, installation is as easy as sliding a key into the ignition.
One of the products that really allowed Microsoft to make a name for itself in gaming peripherals a few years back was its simple but novel SideWinder gamepad. There really wasn't a better gamepad on the market for years (and arguably still isn't). Last year, Microsoft released the SideWinder Pro gamepad, which tried to improve on the formula but actually took a few steps back by attempting too much.
Enter the SideWinder plug-and-play gamepad. While it still doesn't quite capture the innovative flavor of the original, this streamlined--and inexpensive--controller makes an excellent gaming device for simple action and sports games. Best of all, it's USB compatible, meaning it works like a console controller--plug it into your system and start playing. It also means you'll need to have at least Windows 98 (and will only be able to play Windows 98 games) to use the gamepad.
The boomerang style mirrors that of the Pro gamepad, minus the proportional control (which wasn't that great anyway), shift button, or two of the action buttons. But that still leaves the eight-way D-pad, four well-placed action buttons, and two top triggers, more than enough for the type of games to which this controller is best suited. NFL Blitz 2000 was a perfect candidate for the gamepad. We had no problems getting the device to work, and best of all, it was easy and comfortable to play for long periods of time with the contoured controller.
One quibble: the original SideWinder allowed you to daisy chain another controller into it for head-to-head gaming. While you can plug more than one USB device into your computer, this would have been an excellent tradition to continue. But minor shortcomings aside, the SideWinder plug-and-play gamepad is excellent controller for basic games. --J. Curtis
Pros:
- Simple installation
- Well designed
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Limited features
- Not daisy chainable
- Need Windows 98
Microsoft's SideWinder plug-and-play gamepad has six action buttons, two triggers, and a digital D-pad. Now, you have more realistic interaction with your Windows 95 and 98 games. This pad is perfect for sports and action games where combination moves are a must. Connect it with up to three other gamepads for head-to-head action.
The USB interface enables quick installation so you can dive right into your favorite game.
Microsoft offers a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
1 Liars!!!
DON'T BELIEVE in the 2, 3, 4 or 5 stars reviews! This gamepad is one of the worst ever! Even Atari's could be better.
Why? Why would you buy a gamepad that has a D-pad that DOESN'T work and ONLY 4 buttons?
DO NOT BUY IT! AND I MEAN IT!
2 Mostly Excellent
This is one of the most comfortable controllers I've ever held, its price is great, and it even works in MacOS 8.6 just by plugging in! Unfortunately, its direction pad is asymetric; its left side is not as good at rolling motions, which are important for fighting games, as the right side. For all other games this controller is fine, provided they only need six buttons.
3 An item for a gamer that is bored of the keyboard.
I was impressed when I plugged the GamePad USB into my computer. It proved not only to be versatile but it also proved to be impressive with it's broad capability with games aswell as some software. If it allows a reprogramming of the keys it will work with this controller.
The downside to this, is that the controller only has 6 buttons. But for most games or software preferences you have, that is all you'll need.
4 6?!
There are only four buttons and two triggers. That is NOT enough for any game! I recommend the Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad USB. It has the same Plug and Play capabilities, but with 4 more buttons. I think it is a little more expensive, but trust me it is worth it.
5 Great controller at a great price!
What's not to like? This is a lightweight fully functional 6-button USB pad for your PC and it works FLAWLESSLY! It truly is plug-and-play, no installing drivers and minimal configuration is needed. Simply plug the pad in, Windows loads the necessary drivers, go to the the gaming options under your control panel, set the controller ID to 1, and test!
The pad is made of durable plastic and all the buttons, including the D-pad have a nice, satisfying tactile click each time you press them. The D-pad is similar to the one on the XBOX standard controllers which is good news. No analog or rumble features are included, and guess what? YOU WON'T MISS THEM!
This is the PERFECT controller to use for your emulation gaming needs! MAME, SNESX, MAGIC ENGINE, etc all work FLAWLESSLY with this controller. The games play perfectly and there are no issues or lag times associated with any moves. The setup matches the SNES pad perfectly, even down to the two triggers on the back. NEO GEO games are dead on as well.
So, don't listen to the whiners who claim they need 20 buttons/rumble/and analog on their gamepads. For emulation and general PC gaming, you can do better feature and price-wise than with the MS Sidewinder pad! BUY IT TODAY!!!!
6 Great D-pad
I bought this along with the basic Logitech Precision game pad, a more feature-rich Logitech RumblePad, and a Saitek P150. The basic Logitech unit and the P150 were the cheapest, while this Sidewinder P&P and the RumblePad (with rebate) were the same price.
I was hoping to like the Logitech RumblePad the most, since it was the best deal. It had the most buttons plus 2 analog joysticks, and, of course, the force feedback. But its buttons were definitely inferior to the Saitek and MS P&P. Also, the D-pad wasn't the best either.
The Saitek P150 was nice, with the D-pad that also takes a stick. It also has 6 buttons + 2 triggers. But its D-pad was also inferior to the MS P&P's. The buttons were better than Logitech's, but not as nice as MS's P&P.
In the end, I kept the MS P&P because of the superior D-pad and buttons, albeit it needs more. Who knows, I'll probably regret it when I get a game that needs more buttons, but for now, I'll go with the gamepad that gave me the best scores. YMMV.
7 Not as bad as some say
I just recently bought this controller with my Gravis Destroyer Tilt controller for my computer. While this controller isn't as good as it could be it is still a great buy especially at it's price for what it is. Installtion is a breeze as most Plug&Play hardware is. It definitely can get the job done and has a nice, smooth feel and respone when using it but the reaction you expect from the controller is a bit iffy.
The main problem witht eh controller is it's design. Boomerang shaped much likes it's predecessor this is also horizontally angled. This mean the positioning of the D-Pad and the Buttons are off creating certain probems. Another is how microsoft programmed the triggers, while they do work properly MOST of the time as many have stated, it does go the wrong way when you want to go left. Also another problem I had found is that the 6 buttons were set up differently than most gamepads (not physically but through the wiring).
All in all though it is a good controller for it's price and will get the job done if you don'y plan on hardcore, regular gaming with it. And it is defientely not as bad as many say, although it still is a bit on the iffy side of the gampad fence. I now will list what I found as pros and cons to this gamepad:
Pros:
Easy Installation (Plug&Play)
Smooth controls
Cons:
Angling of gamepad can throw you off
D-Pad doesn't like to listen to the master
strange wiring for buttons
8 my review
this gamepad is hard to use, it is not the most user-friendly.
9 Where are the improvements?
This controller is worse than the MS Sidewinder I bought around '96. The only decent thing about it is that it uses the USB port. Much too basic for many of the games that are out there today. Probably would be good for Ms.Pac-Man or Pong. Thumbs down!!!
10 Microsoft just got worse....
I hate the stupid piece of junk.... when I play Tetris, I try and hit left, and the piece shoots down, on Fighting games, I CAN'T JUMP! And when I do, it always jumps forward... I like my Gravis better, by far
11 Doh! - Not enough buttons !!
This is potentially an excellent pad, but Microsoft have shot themselves in the foot here, because there are only 4 buttons. Why on earth they on put four buttons on such an otherwise excellent product is beyond me. The USB installation is a breeze and the D-pad is much better than the one on the Pro pad or even the original Sidewinder pad. Of course the price is unbeatable too. So - why, why, WHY did they only put 4 buttons?! I can't think of any modern games that need less than 6 at the absolute minimum. Such a shame ...
12 From Good To Bad
I bought this controller with high hopes it would solve some of my PC gaming problems. I was looking for an inexpensive, reliable gaming device to use with my racing games. I know I probably would have been better off buying a racing wheel setup in the first place, and now it looks as if I am going to have to. When I first plugged it in, it worked great. I'm used to this type of controller with racing games, so that didn't bother me. However, it did not want to run with my new NASCAR Racing 4 game, no matter what I tried. I couldn't get it to to work with Tomb Raider either, but I figured it wasn't the best controller out there for [theprice]. I was satisfied with it until the day it quit working. I don't know if I dropped it, or if it has a self-destruct mechanism that goes off after 6 months of being used. My PC won't detect it, and I know my USB ports are working. All in all, this is a good controller when it is working. The controls are smooth, and the set up is real easy, ... .
13 Works fine for us
This game pad has workd great since the day we got it. I bought it for my teens for Christmas, and they are perfectly happy with it. Of course, they don't have the new Sega or Play Station, so no, they're not really big gamers. But they know a game pad when they use one. This one is just fine for the games they play on the computer. After reading the other reviews on this, I was very skeptical about buying it, but went ahead because it seemed like just what we needed. And I was right. I don't know what the other people were expecting, but this isn't a bad product as far as I can tell.
14 Sidewinder USB
The add shows a controller with 4 buttons, the D button and two triggers. The description says it has 6 buttons, the D button and two triggers.
I ordered the Sidewinder USB and got 4 buttons which is not enough for Madden football. Someone has their wires crossed here. Be sure you know what you are getting!
15 1 Step Forward, 1 Step Back
Go to Best Buy or some other electronics store and feel this gamepad in your hands - it's the best review you could ever get.
PROS-
- still the best feeling pad in the industry - for many full-sized Americans, this gamepad is heaven on your hands.
- USB (Win98, ME, or 2000 required)
- NO SOFTWARE REQUIRED. You plug this bad boy in, and its ready to go. No downloading updates, no installation wait, no conflicts with other software, guaranteed to work with any game that supports a gamepad.
CONS-
- 4 buttons and 2 triggers. That's it, and its not a lot. If you plan on playing console ports, especially playstation games, you will need to use the keyboard as well. Know what games you will use it with beforehand, and what their requirements are.
- the stiffest D-pad I've ever used. My thumb gets tired after 2 hours. (maybe that's a good thing :) Some people report that buttons stick, but that is a one-time fluke, from what I've seen
- because of the 2 reasons above, not a good reason to trade in your original Sidewinder. In fact, I would recommend getting the original sidewinder instead of this one, if you can find it.
16 JUNK
Not only was this gamepad unresponsive, it actually had a mind of its own at times (would sometimes make wild moves when the directional pad was pressed "up" or "down"). Made game play so frustrating, I took a pair of scissors and cut the cord.
17 sooo sad, such a hi-tech looking controller...
Okay, it looks pretty.. and the bottons are all glossy.. and it's really really easy to install (just plug it in). but, UMMM.. the buttons get stuck! Mario ran off the cliff about 5 times without me even doing anything! and the running button wouldn't get unstuck when i pressed other buttons, so all i could do is watch Mario commit suicide, which made me very upset. Also, the directional pad is extremely difficult to use, and for some reason, the down button keeps getting pressed when i try to go forward. In other words, i'm returning this controller tomorrow morning. =)
18 Better than their Gamepad Pro, worse than the original
I have mixed feelings regarding this controller. To Microsoft's credit, it is better (and cheaper!) than the SideWinder Game Pad Pro USB (which looks cheap and has an awful D-pad), however they haven't recaptured the magic from the original MS Gamepad. I'd really like to see the orignal MS gamepad with a USB connector -- is that too much to ask?
The feel isn't too bad, but as a personal preference, I do *not* like the D-pad orientation. It's slightly rotated to the right, whereas the original Gamepad has the D-pad's UP position facing directly up rather than rotated.
Also -- this Gamepad has only *4* buttons (see the picture of it above, it reminds me of a PlayStation controller), not 6 like the orignal Gamepad or the Gamepad pro USB.
This Gamepad truly is plug-and-play if you're using Windows 98 or Windows 2000, since the drivers are pre-loaded on those operating systems. You simply plug it in and it works; just open the "Game Controllers" Control Panel and make sure your system sees it.
