Customer Reviews

Gravis Eliminator AfterShock Rumble Game Pad USB (G48031)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I've had this pad for about 2 weeks now. I ignored the bad reviews below because I've used gravis products before. The manual for this is somewhat lacking, which I think is the reason for the bad reviews. The pad didn't ship with windows xp software, so I had to download it from the gravis website...which made me a bit aprehensive. But after downloading the new software (the pad WILL NOT work without it) it's working just fine. The program can be a little confusing at first, but it's actually pretty simple.

The pad itself is top notch, the software should be of the same calibre.

I cannot really understand why one of the previous reviewers had those problems. With the Gamepad comes an installation program (Version 4.3a) and after installing you have a whole bunch of options to choose from to setup your controller. Once you figured out how to set it up right (very good manual), the controller works flawlessly in all my games without any problems. Both analog and digital controls are usable. The buttons are good to reach and the handling is better than every other controller i had before. I changed from a MS Sidewinder Pro Gamepad to this one because my thumbs hurt after only a couple of minutes playing with the MS Product. This is much better. Very ergonomic! I cannot give 5 stars though, because the "Aftershock" feature is not impressive, but i really couldn't care less about this.

There are only two things I would have to complain about in this pad. One would be that the two "percision" buttons always get in the way when i'm using the joystick(s). I accidently hit the percision button, and my controls go dull, and I have to hit it again to regain full control. The second complaint I have, is that the rumble software doesn't work with Windows 2000. I hope it works with WinXP.

Other than those two issues, I have no other problems with it. The cord is long enough, there aren't too many buttons to confuse a person while playing a game, and the 4 buttons on the top (for the index fingers) are sized so that they can be distinguished from each other only by touch.

I bought this before reading the reviews, which is unlike me. Once I saw the experiences the other buyers had had, I was nervous, but convinced myself that it would be fine. I run XP, so I downloaded the software from the Gravis site, installed everything, and tried a game. The D pad wouldn't work, despite the fact that I had downloaded the XP software. If this had been the only problem, I would have figured that I had just done something wrong, but the joysticks were awful! Half the time, I would move the joystick up, to move forward, and when I released it my character kept going forward. Not great when you're standing on the edge of a cliff. I found it impossible to get any kind of control over my game characters, not nearly enough to even consider being able to use the gamepad for games.

Another thing about the gamepad is that, although I tried it in the store, to get a feel for it, I decided rather quickly that, regardless of how it worked, it just wasn't right for my small hands (I'm female, and have exceptionally small hands). I can't call this a complaint, just a matter of personal preference.

When I viewed the "Read Me" file on this thing, and came to the section about "Known Bugs", I about had a heart attack at all of the problems this thing is "known" to have! After every single bug listed, they gave a completely lame, unsatisfactory "solution". For instance, one bug said that games often take a moment to respond to input from the controller. Their solution? "Please wait a moment after each button click, to give the game time to respond". Erm, sure; I'll just politely ask 200 Orcs to stop attacking me while Aragorn takes a moment to respond, no problem.

I'm not by any means an extremely serious gamer with unrealistically high expectations for my equipment; I just like to play sometimes, and want moderately sufficient results. This controller came nowhere near that, and I'll be returning it tomorrow morning, after only owning it for about 18 hours.

I got the Eliminator and returned it the next day...the directional pad was horrid...on the Eliminator Aftershock, however, the D Pad worked very well for platforming games and is decent for fighting games...the only real problem I have with the controller is the locationof the four buttons...they're too close to the center, and often when I'd attempt to hit the top two (buttons 3 and 4), I'd overreach and hit the precision button.

I'm running OSX.2 (jaguar) and using this for emulation purposes...

I'm a fully grown adult male and I have small hands. While I can reach every button, I cannot reach the four face buttons without streaching my hand until it cramps, not good at all. If these buttons where placed close to the edge, iit'd be perfect. If possible, try before you buy.

As long as you download the latest software at Gravis.com, one should zero problems with it.

Other then the size problem, it's an very comfortable game pad.

Well I'm on my second one now and I've given up. The D-pad has not worked correctly on either. If you don't mind that and you like spending excessive amounts of time learning their retarded software this is the controller for you. Junk.

It took me a while to find a gamepad as good as the old N64 one (with the trigger) but eventually I managed to source this fantastic pad! Within a week I had it totally set up perfectly for me. So far I've been playing through HALO with this pad, and have found it to be very responsive and precise. When playing a game, I NEVER have to avert my eyes from the screen - all the controls are exactly where they should be.

I cannot play games with the keyboard/mouse controls due to an arthritic condition - and it just FEELS too awkward anyway. It's such a pity that "certain game engines" simply do not provide a gamepad option. I think this is losing THEM a lot of custom. Many people, like myself, still prefer the superior ergonomics of gamepads, yet cannot play so many games. Surely this is WRONG! I own a top end PC, yet games like DOOM 3 etc. are unplayable with a gamepad. It's their loss.

With the Eliminator Aftershock gamepad I feel totally at one with the game (if they support it that is!). The 2 joysticks give you complete control over movement, and with the extra feature of "precision" buttons, you can make aiming extremely accurate. The pad also "feels natural" when you hold it - with the buttons placed perfectly for fast weapon changes etc.

All in all, by far the best pad on the market! Buy one!

Gravis Pads have long beaten the standards for both simplicity, and programmability, and this pad is no exception.
However with the untimely closing of Gravis, the software required for certain features (rumble) does not work with Windows7.
With so many games, not running properly in WindowsXP, it's hard having to give up the rumble feature to play certain games.

I owned an AfterShock many years ago. I was thrilled to finally find one. I am disappointed only with the fact that I can't find the drivers for it. It works fine but, without the drivers there is no rumble. This does not take away from the fact that this is still (in my opinion) one of the finest controllers ever made. Grab them while you can because they aren't made anymore and they seem to be more difficult to find. It is a good reliable controller but it is also one of the best feeling I have ever held. Great product by an extinct sompany. Gravis was where it all started. Plug it in and it works without software but you don't get rumble. Unless anyone knows of any 3rd party drivers?