Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro Game Pad ( A17-00001 )

by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004Z729
• Item model number: A17-00001
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,390 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

From the manufacturer

Ready for something revolutionary? How about a game controller that enables you to control the game activity by simply tilting it in the direction you want to move. Nothing controls movement within today's 3-D action games better than the fluid motion of the SideWinder Freestyle Pro. Sit, stand, weave, and bob your way to victory - the SideWinder Freestyle Pro translates your body English into game movements for the ultimate immersive experience.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Game Pad!, November 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro Game Pad ( A17-00001 ) (Personal Computers)

This is a must-have for true gamers! And MotorCross Madness (included) is a great game! The motion-sensors let's you move in the game by just moving the game pad, so you don't have to get your nails ruind by clicking on buttons. This is the best game controller I ever had!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It does work on win xp, September 2, 2005

By 

ivarbt "ivarbt" (Norway) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro Game Pad ( A17-00001 ) (Personal Computers)

It is not true that this doesnt work under Win xp. Mine works just fine. infact it works better on win xp than on any other OS

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not very good anymore, March 10, 2004

By 

Mark R. Thomas (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro Game Pad ( A17-00001 ) (Personal Computers)

The good: I've had this gamepad for a couple years now and it still works like new. It's solidly built. The game that comes with it (Motocross Madness) is fun, and a good demonstration of the tilt control.

The bad: It doesn't work in the game port under Windows XP. The driver software doesn't work under Windows XP. You can still use it in the USB port, but without driver software you cannot calibrate the tilt control. Not that it matters, because the tilt control is less useful than you would think. It's too easy to go from full left to full right, making car-racing games an exercise in zig-zagging. In fact, Motocross Madness is the only game I've found in which you can reliably use the tilt mode, so I basically keep tilt mode off. Also, the direction pad feels cumbersome. It's really hard to go from left to right without putting any up or down in between. In some games, it makes you want to revert to the keyboard.

Summary: built well, but for XP there are tons of better choices.