Customer Reviews

Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

If you're a (flight) simulator fan, this joystick is really worth the money. It is well built with a nice feel and feedback effects.

When I was shopping for force feedback joysticks I was torn between this and the Logitech "3D" model. I have to admit, the Logic had a nicer design. The stick itself had a slightly better feel and the throw on the throttle control was longer and more precise. However, I decided to go with the Microsoft model because of the positive experience I've had with their force feedback steering wheel. Just like the wheel, the construction on the joystick is very solid. I expect this will stand up to a lot of abuse.

This stick is not without it's drawbacks. First, the throttle control is a bit small. I would like something a bit bigger and with a bit more resitance. Second, the force feedback is only activated when you are fully grasping the stick. This is actually a neat feature, but can be annoying when you don't feel like "properly" holding the stick.

Wanting a controller for racing and flight sim games, I purchased the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick. The first thing I noticed is that it seems to be well made. It is quite heavy, but not too heavy to hold. The force feedback is the #1 reason anyone would buy this, and this feature varies from game to game. On some games, it felt totally unnecessary and didn't add anything to the game. On others, it complimented it nicely. The feedback response seems to be strong on this controller.

I would recommend this controller to anyone that is *really* into gaming. Otherwise, forgo the feedback and just get a regular joystick. If you play console type games or shooters, get a gamepad!

One thing to note - whatever you do - do NOT lose the CD that comes with this. It contains the drivers needed to install this joystick. Microsoft does NOT have them on its website. Windows XP will not auto-detect and install the joystick.

I have seen some of the negative reviews on how the Force feedback 2 works with Windows XP. My experience has been just the opposite. The joystick works very well with Windows XP. I followed directions and installed the software first. This took about 15 minutes, if you don't include registration. Then, I plugged the joystick into a USB connection, tested the buttons. They all worked, and then I plugged in the power. I am using it with Microsoft flight Simulator 2002, and it works perfectly every time. KUDOS TO MICROSOFT.

Overall, this is a really great joystick which offer tremendous force feedback. The buttons are well-placed, and the ergonomic feel of the grip is outstanding. Unlike many other sticks, the Sidewinder offers twisting rudder control, which is key for many flight simulators and games such as MechWarrior.

A couple of items really detract from the experience, however. I found the throttle control to be far too short and far too "touchy;" it offers very little resistance, and it's entirely too easy to blast yourself to full throttle without realizing. Also, the joystick is activated when you wrap your finger around it - there's a small beam that, when interrupted, brings the joystick online and upright. The problem here comes when I relax my grip at all - there are times when I want to stretch my fingers out in front of the stick, and then suddenly I find that the stick has gone limp. ARGH! It's also a really large piece of equipment, simply because that's how things are with force feedback right now; but it doesn't easily find space on my fairly-crowded desk.

Despite these detractions, it's still an excellent device overall. There are 7 buttons (three on the top of the stick, four on the base ahead of the throttle control,) plus the trigger and a "hat" control. It comes with good software which includes sample force feedback settings - this was the first force feedback stick I've owned, and running it through the automated feedbacks was huge fun. :-)

So, great piece of MS hardware with a few defects, only one of which I find hugely detrimental (the grip light.) Two thumbs up.

Wow!

First, I bought this for MS Flight Simulator 2002. I had been flying it for several months with the keyboard. I decided to get a joystick. One reason for choosing this one was because MS "manufactured" it--my thinking being that it should surely integrate into the game! And it does.

With the keyboard, I was happy if I could land the aircraft on the airport property! If I could get *near* the runway, I considered myself quite fortunate. Also with the keyboard, I would use autopilot with lock into the elevation to level out the plane.

Now with the joystick, I can level out the plane AND I can actually land on the runway! (I am not a real world pilot.) Being able to finesse into position is a real treat.

Structurally, I was amazed at what I got with this joystick. I am quite pleased with it.

There are one or two reviews here that mention the throttle lever. I have found no problem with it, and in fact, I find it quite easy to use. I am, however, going to redefine two buttons for the increase/decrease fuel mixture functions.

Lastly, there was also some reviews that mentioned installing the software. I am using Windows XP(h). The software would NOT install. I finally decided that XP(h) should surely have the drivers already in the computer. So I plugged in the unit. There was one little beep--announcing that new hardware was found. I clicked on the balloon window that accompanied the beep. Another beep and balloon window saying that the software was installed! From there on, it was play, play, play.

I am quite happy.

l

Although I loved this joystick for the short period of time I was able to use it, Microsoft officially stopped supporting it with the release of Windows XP. This is a poor decision by a company to no longer support their own (rather expensive) hardware. Especially when competitors, such as Logitech, continually release new drivers and software to ensure that you don't lose out on your hardware investment when a new version of the Windows operating system is released.

You'll notice a lot of reviews disputing whether or not the joystick still works with XP. I should clarify that I can still use my joystick (which is not the USB model, but the one that plugs into your soundcard's game port) for basic functionality, but the joystick's control software is no longer supported. This software allows you to create and save profiles that map the joystick's controls to various features in a game. (For example, mapping the joystick's main trigger to the "Y" key and its secondary trigger to the "X" key.) This functionality is vital to being able to use the joystick beyond its most basic use of moving in the direction you point the stick.

My advice is to pass on Microsoft's PC gaming hardware and instead buy your hardware from a company with a proven record of ensuring support for new versions of the Windows OS. I wish I had.

This joystick works great and has a very good quality and feel during gameplay, and although it is overpriced it may be worth splurging for if you love flight sims especially (Microsoft Combat Flight Sim 1 and 2, etc.). I haven't tried it with a first person game yet, I still prefer using a mouse with those.

Can you live without it? Yes, since for most games the force feedback component isn't really an essential part of the gameplay. Is it worth paying twice as much for it as the Logitech 3D force feedback joystick? I don't know, I just saw a few reviews saying the Logitech one didn't last as long.
I think the Sidewinder is worth it, ....
Other than the price, the only other con I can think of is that the force feedback is pretty strong and can wear you out after a while. I can't see a small kid using this. As others have mentioned, it does disable the force feedback if you aren't gripping the joystick, but that doesn't bother me.
Some might also consider the large size of the base as a negative, it's about 10 inches wide, but it does make it very stable. The problem is I can't put the joystick in front of my laptop, it is way off to the side, but I have gotten used to it.

This is a good joystick for casual flight sim and mech-combat games. It's fairly responsive, it has eight buttons plus an eight-way hat and a throttle. It does not have the shift button of the original MS Force Feeback Pro, but it also does away with that sticks oversized power brick.

It lacks some specialty features available on other sticks. Many games demand more buttons. For these, you may require an additional throttle or button-brick. It also lacks the extra dimensional controls of sticks such as the Gravis Xterminator, which are useful for some sims.

Overall, this stick is worth picking up if you can get it for a price in line with other force feedback sticks, but the current market has inflated its price beyond its usefulness.

I feel obliged to comment on XP support, as several others have disparaged it:
This stick works consistently without additional software on each machine I have tried it on with XP Sevice Pack 2. I don't know if there are problems without SP2, but I can't find the forums other reviewers have mentioned, so I'm inclined to think the problem has been resolved.

The problem with Windows XP and this joystick is not Windows XP. It's Microsoft hasn't seen fit to fix a software problem with the joystick. The driver/software that comes with the joy stick (that they don't support you to download the driver if you happen to lose it) has options installed in it. These options allow you to control the force feedback strength of the joy stick. However on Windows XP (using the joysticks software) you can change your force feed back strength and the first time you press the trigger button to test the force it is correct. The second time you test the force feed back strength the strength is back at max. There is no way to lower it. I go into the game and it kicks so hard I can hardly keep fire on my target. After a while this beast will wear your arm out (good motor in it) and when you get hit by another ship with full strength force feedback the whole thing goes crazy which again messes up your control. I'm disappointed because they have known about this issue for a while and have done nothing about it as I found by doing a search for Q321127. The problem could be fixed by tweaking their software and offering (us poor jokers who bought their joystick) a driver download or something but so far nada. I would have given this joystick a 5 but for the software because physically its and awesome joystick in my opinion. Also yes Windows XP does recognize this joystick with out their software but has no controls for the joystick's force feedback strength.

If you can't get this joystick to work, what you might for sure need is a new computer because the installation is so easy, It says all over that you must install software first and then plug it in but that's just nonsense since it asks you for the disk once detected anyway.

It works great and the forces are really awesome and so strong (it can be set to medium or low intensity if you want) that it can make most of the stuff on your desk to move and fall down!!, they should warn you about that!!! instead of the: install software first notice you find everywhere.

the 'hand detector' thing is missplaced since it only allows the stick to return to center and produce force feedback forces when your fingers surround the front of the stick, I think it should be in the back because sometimes when I straight my fingers to relax and then grab the front again, once activated it will cause a slight movement that can make you change your attitud/heading/etc.