Customer Reviews

Gravis Xterminator Digital Game Pad (PC/USB Mac)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I only wish that Gravis will get it through their heads and design a new gamepad based off of this one. No gamepad has neared it's quality. I just wish these were still manufactured! :(

The reviewer directly below this review incorrectly states that the gamepad can only do 4-way directional instead of 8-way. When in fact it does both. The software for this gamepad allows you to configure both the d-pad and the analog stick to work as an 8-way or 4-way.

If anyone from Gravis is reading this, please hear me out!!

The Xterminator Digital is one cool gamepad. It could be slightly more ergonomic, but is really no less so than most gamepads on the market. The gamepad has more buttons and controls than any other gamepad I've ever seen and can be used to control anything from an arcade hockey game to a flight simulator.

It's a shame, then, that Gravis can't support it with usable software. The software is plain bad: It has a skin that doesn't fit within a 640x480 resolution screen, so if you happen to want to use it on a kiddy computer, you're out of luck. The skin is a memory hog. The control program itself runs sporadically; sometimes it will support your programmed commands within a game and sometimes it won't. The installation instructions are useless and it is a trial-and-error process to get the software to work at all. Plus, Gravis is terrible about providing updates. The original software was incompatable with DirectX 7 and it was months before a fix was available. The latest software seems to work with DirectX 8, but is still a memory hog. I've given up on Gravis and am currently looking for another gamepad.

I agree with everything said above, but the only downside is that the control stick only goes 4 dir., not the 8 dir. (U,D,L,R,UL,UR,DL,DR)

The Xterminator is by far the best 'gamepad' I've ever used.
It's the only pad I've found that includes a slider throttle (conveniently place for thumb use) an analog joystick and analog rudder controls (also placed in very convenient locations). An 8 way hat switch, a D pad and 11 more, fully programmable buttons that give it an unmatched versatility.
The ONLY gripe I can think of is that it requires a gameport connection. I bought this device many years ago when it first came into the market and didn't include a USB adapter. I dread the day I lose my gameport (be it through hardware upgrades or software like a new windows version). I bought an aftermarket adapter but haven't had much luck. It maybe just a software problem, I'm a bit TECH challenged.
In closing I'd like to say that I wish that ANY gamepad producer take a good look at this wonderful pad and consider making one like it. As long as they don't get 'cheap' with production, they would without a doubt own the market.
Simply said...it is THE BEST!

I have be thourghly impressed with this gamepad. It works with ANY game because it comes with keyboard emulation software which allows you to program each and every button on a gamepad to any key or combination of keys on the keyboard. This allows to you to use the pad with virtually any game that you may have. This saves a lot of headache because you don't have to waste time trying to configure your pad in the game...(ie. MS) to work with a particular game.

The updated Gravis Xperience software is outstanding, it loads very fast and it allows you to create gamesets on your game pad(s) to any game that you have on your computer. It even has a fairly large list of gamesets already made for you. There is also a window in the user interface that displays the picture of all gravis controllers that you have on your computer. And there is a also a larger diagram of your controller that lists every button you can program. For example on mine I have my two game pad pros (one black and one white), Xterminator Dual Shock, and of course the Xterminator Digital Game pad. And guess what? the interface actually shows the two game pad pros in their right colors!! This may seem like a minute detail, but trust me its real refreshing that there are still companies out that pay attention to every detail and try their hardest to release software with a little bugs as possible. Programming a gameset to your gamepad is as simple as point and click, everything is very detailed and it is almost impossible to not know what you are doing. Just click on the picture of the game pad you want to program, then click on each button to program a keyboard key to it. Of course you still can use the game pad as a joystick, but I perfer setting it up the way I want it set up and im sure you would agree.

The only bad things I can say I experiences with this pad are:

1) the Xperience software that comes in the box is out of date and it is VERY difficult to get it to work in all of your games. However, gravis does have the most current version on their website which is available for free download. The newer version is much better and I haven't had any problems since downloading it.

2) This is my third replacement pad because the first two seemed to develop shorts in the wires which causes Windows not to be able to recognize the controller correctly. I haven't had any problems since then so I guess I must have gotten a couple of defective ones.

conclusion: gravis in my opinion make the best controllers out there by far. No-one even comes close in the ease of use, the power it gives you and compatibility with virtually all of your games. Their software is awesome!! It was very user friendly and was developed very well. Other game pad manufactuers should take a hint from Gravis and release quality products for a change. My other 3 game pads are also Gravis and as long as Gravis continues to make excellent products, I will continue to buy from them and only them.

I like this gamepad because it gives you control of any game any way you could want it. Every button is nicely placed and can do just about anything. You also can configure the pad to act as a mouse(very handy). Also has controls that give you full presion control when you need it.

This game pad has great form and a great amount of buttons. With the analog stick and the directional pad along with so many buttons to use, this Gravis game pad is a lethal addition to almost any game you can find.