Customer Reviews

Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you want to add more action into your games, this joystick will certainly wake up your senses and you'll enjoy your game to the full extent. It'll produce uncanny realism of multiple simulations ranging from engine idling to cannon blast so true, you'll never go back to any other "dead" joysticks. It is a must for the flight simulators and other force feedback supported games. It is worth every dollar you spend and I'm not surprised it's a #1 selling force feedback joystick.

This is one awesome joystick , Microsoft got it right with this input device. You can actually tell the differance between shooting guns and firing cannons.The eight point veiw on the hat switch helps alot when the BOGIE is on your six and you feel the bullets hit you! And it's programable so you can DO YOUR BEST MOVES with a push of a button!

I bought my FF Pro about 4 months ago and I would not play any flight sim games without it. Mine came with a 3 month free sub for Fighter Ace, a great WWII combat flight sim for the stick. I tried playing the game w/o the FF on and I couldn't do it. It helps you concentrate on the game and not the messages flashing on the screen trying to tell you what the stick already has. It helps you actually "Feel" the game to put you "deeper" into it. The programable buttons are a snap to program for any game that you want. It's just like setting a keyboard command to each button in the stick or the base. It took me a bit to learn it, but now I've got a special stick setting for all my sims. The price isn't really that bad for the Microsoft quality and the included games. I know the sub for Fighter Ace is $10/month itself. Some of the guys that I fly with have tried other sticks and swear by this one. Try it... you'll see what all the fuss is about.

While the features are good and it has a decent degree of reality in the design, Microsoft's decision not to make it compatible with their own operating system ie, Windows XP rnders it a throw away item. This is just another example of Microsoft's contempt for their trapped customer base. I notice the current model(FF2) has software to make it compatible with XP, which seems to be FF2's only real improvement. While I have limited experience with computer joysticks, as a retired fighter pilot with 4,000+ hours in various fighter, fighter bomber and attack aircraft, I would contuine to use their Joysticks if I thought they would support their own products.

I would just like to say that my experience with this stick has been excellent. Granted, I have only used 2 other sticks thus far. I honestly can not even remember how long ago I recieved this stick as a gift. I have owned it for well over 2 years and had zero problems. I originally used it on a 98 system then an XP system. XP automatically installed it as soon as it was plugged in. Also, SP2 did not affect its operation.

The base is heavy and will never leave your desk unless you are trying to flip it. The resistance and force feeback are adjustable with the bundled software over what I feel is a fairly wide range of resistance. Some have mentioned problems with the stick becoming floppy. I have had no such problems. However, it is important to note that FS2004 plays without resistance and only force feedback on my system(don't know if this is changable or not). The number of buttons has served me well in FS2004, Janes F-15, USAF, Combat Flight Sim, and CFS 2. I have also found the optical sensor to be useful. Some of the forces are unrealistic/annoying. Adjusting your grip to not activate the sensor will make life easier.

The stick itself is superbly designed for a comfortable grip. Both of my hands rest naturally in their proper positions. Also, I honestly enjoy the bulkiness of the stick. It was quickly dubbed my baby. The bulkiness and sleek black design also make for an almost intimidating stick at LAN parties as well.

I have only one complaint about this stick. I don't like the interface with the computer. It requires a large power cord that takes up a lot of room on my limited power bar in an even more limited dorm room. However, I am finally forced to retire this fine stick because a small peice of plastic in the data port on the stick broke. I feel that this is more due to it having to live on my dorm room floor as opposed to old age.

My final conclusion is that if you are not a poor college student, this is an excellent stick. I would buy another if I had the money. However, I need something for a lower price. Therefore, I will be purchasing the Logitech Wingman Force 3D.

This is a wonderful joystick to setup and use. The ease of setup is simply, plug in, install software and its ready to go. Quite a few profiles are included with the install and microsoft has a profile download area that you can download from. One catch is the profile downloads are for older programs and there are a few new profiles that do make it to the downloads area. If you want to program the joystick, its easy to set the buttons to what you want. Programming the force that goes with it is a little harder and in fact I have yet been able to figure out if/how to do just that. The program button could be made a little easier for us who want to program forcefeedback and not just the button controls. Some games have bypassed the wait for MS to come out with a profile by having the software autodetect the joystick and run the proper profile for the game, but not all games have this feature. I have, on more then one game, used a profile that came close, then programmed extra buttons for appropriate functions. All in all it is probably the best force joystick around and Mechwarrior 3 is really fun to play with forcefeedback.

Well, folks, as a college kid, I wasn't really sure if I wasready to shell out the big cash for this device, but it sure looked tempting. I got lucky; I eventually found it on a popular auction site...And oh... it's definitely been worth every penny, especially at half price. Games have an unusual new kick to them. The only drawback: my midi cable that I use for my keyboard interferes with Sidewinder, so I have to swap cables in my sound card's joystick port. But if you have a controller card or you plan to use USB, you shouldn't have that problem. Overall, it's a bit pricy for a joystick, but it's a heck of a lot of fun.

This is truly the best joystick out there! The total vibration is unbelievable and goes hand in hand with the game. What is also great is the huge assortment of buttons. It even has a shift key to double the amount. When I bought it, it came with a game called Urban Assault. I'm not sure if it still does but that game kicked! It was as if the joystick was made for the game. Other good games that worked well was Monster Truck Madness I & II, Motocross, and Rogue Spear. It should work well with all racing games but if you want the true feel get a Force Feedback wheel. But for shoot em up games and other stradegy or 1st, 3rd person it's a great piece of equipment. It plugs in through a gameport too. GET IT, ITS WELL WORTH IT!

The trident chipset in SIIG soundcards is not compatable with joysticks that cannot be switched into analog mode. Also, a cord that splits MIDI and and joystick functions like you get with your keyboard will render the force feedback inoperable. The stick must be connected directly to the port.

Force feedback does not add much to Flight simulator. If you like to keep your MIDI keyboard connected, and you do not play combat games, choose the regular sidewinder.

Since I bought this joystick 7 months ago, I wouldn't buy another but I do have a few complaints about it. The size of the base takes up a good portion of my desk and the fact that it is not compatible for use with older DOS based games(x-wing, aces over europe). I know DOS based games date me a bit but they're still plenty of fun to play without the force-feedback.

Overall I would definately recommend this joystick for modern games but I'll still keep my old analog for the dated games.