Customer Reviews

Saitek P3600 Cyborg Force Rumble Pad (PP26U)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

PC gamepads aren't in much demand as most games are played with the mouse and keyboard, but for the games that come from a console origin such as Devil May Cry 4, Madden, RPGs (like FF7 for Windows), platform games (like Mario Bros), racing games, flight shooters (like Star Fox), and others, you may feel more at home with a gamepad.

This game pad is almost an exact copy of the Xbox 360 controller. It's a bit wider, which is an improvement for my hands. The back and start buttons are designed a little different. The surfaces of the analog sticks are like the original Xbox controllers. The XYAB buttons aren't translucent. And it's wired - though the wire isn't very long (4-5 ft).

The reversible cyborg module works like a charm doesn't feel loose or cheap at all. The FPS mode is extremely fun to play with - I can use the gamepad as a mouse alone if I wanted to, though I would need tweak the sensitivity. I have it setup where I just activate a controller profile and it works exactly how I like it now. The drivers work like a charm. There are no deadzone issues either.


Things I don't like about it:
- The precision mode doesn't have a dedicated button. You must program it to one of your normal buttons to gain the feature and that button will be dedicated to precision mode alone.
- The wire is too short. It's 4-5 feet long - it severely limits cable routing options.
- D-pad is shaped awkwardly. The edge is raised too much for my liking and makes precision handling hard. The Playstation's controllers have the best D-pad in my opinion.
- The profiling software doesn't auto-activate profiles. It could've been easily made automated.

All in all, a very good gamepad for the price that is a very good alternative to the more popular controllers, such as the Xbox 360 controller for Windows. Both controllers blow away everything Logitech has to offer. Search "best PC gamepad" and see what results you get. Get the 360 controller if it fits you, or get this one if it doesn't. The extra features on this aren't very polished, but if you take time to tweak them, this may actually be a better choice if you don't mind the hassle.

This pad feels good in your hands. not like the standard logitech controllers where it's all small and cramped together. this one gives your hands some space while still being able to reach the buttons and joysticks comfortably. The cord is too short for my liking but i think thats the only bad thing I can say about it. The ability to switch the d-pad and analog stick is really usefull because certain games it's easier to play with the analog on top and some are better with it on the bottom. Plus my gf likes to keep the analog on top cause she got short stubby lil fingers and that makes it easier for her to play.

Well, I purchased the cyborg rumblepad last month. shipping wasn't blazing fastm but it got here. I love this controller for my games, as others have stated it does not work out of the box, BUT it does work with "x360ce 2.0.2.156" astonishingly well (please use the compatibilty lists on google for setup with games). It's not difficult but you will need some know-how about file structures and how they work within your windows operating system. rumble on the device works with all games I have tried it with, even older ones (scarface even), it's not easy to setup but I have big hands and it fits way better than the xbox360 controller so it was worth it, feels better also. great job saitek. also note that they do have profiles on there site for games that were designed without gamepads in mind and you can also program it to work within windows itself "like xpadder or similar". best thing about this gamepad is no axis issues l.o.l., guys in the know , know what i mean. so buy this gamepad rumble alone is better than the logitech 710 (my previous gamepad). I docked 2 stars on features for false advertising though x360ce made that a memory, I still had to do it, they should give credit to those developers "even though its open source" and one star for functionality for not making it wireless with a detachable usb cable. but make no mistake this is the highest quality feeling gamepad I have ever owned (and there have been many).

I was hoping to use this controller with "Games for Windows" titles and any other games that officially only support the Xbox 360 controller. The manufacturer's description indicates "Increasingly, PC games are shipping with support for Microsoft's Xbox 360 gamepad and switching the Cyborg Rumble Pad into X-Mode configures it to work in the same way."

However, this is just simply not true. The controller is not recognized in these games, and it is useable only if you use the programming software to emulate keystrokes and mouse movements, which is worthless for anything requiring analog control. Keystroke emulation is something that ANY controller can do with some bundled or free software, so there is no reason to say this controller is any more compatible with "Games for windows" than any other.

It is a fine controller for games that natively support third party gamepads, but those are becoming rare these days, as developers just port over their xbox controls to the pc version. I have been otherwise very happy with Saitek products, but I am very disappointed with what I consider to be false advertising in regards to this gamepad.

With all these big shooters arriving on the PS3 (SOCOM, Resistance 2, Killzone 2), I've been asking around for months now if anyone knows of any 360-clone controllers that work on the PS3. Well, here it is.

[...]

If you are looking for a very good fair priced controler look no further. My previous controler was a logitech dual action. Needless to say this one is a whole lot better. I have only had this controler for a few months now, but I have used it every day. The d-pad is excellent for all type of fighting games. I can get moves off for games like street fighter every time. Unlike with dual action. Another huge advantage is the ability to change the posistion of the small stick and the d-pad. I also like the software that comes with the controler. It allows you to do just about anything you need to change on the controler to play first person shooters and like. I almost did not get this controler. It looked like it was to big to fit in my small hands, but I decided to get it anyway. It fits perfectly it feels really good in the hands.

Cons only one the area where your palms rest is made of a smooth slick plastic aloy. When I am playing for a while, my hands sweat making it difficult to hold onto.

Really good pad, works perfectly and the ability to switch the joystick around with the D-Pad is great, not to mention "cool"
Also small amount of lighting adds even more of an aesthetic desire to want this controller
Only problem could be that the wire is quite short (2 - 3 feet) and for some others the two trigger buttons might be to close to each other causing confusion at first though eventually it'll fade away
Good buy

First Off - This is a DirectInput Controller, not a Xinput. The 360 Controller and most 360-pad type controllers nowadays will be Xinput. See this Wikipedia entry for a run-down

[...]

Most DirectX9-11 games that have 360 pad support use Xinput since it is Microsoft's new standard.
In order for you to use the buttons and triggers in a way that they will behave the exact same as a 360 Controller in you will need X360CE (program that will allow you to re-map the controller). As of this review, it is here:

[...]
This is pretty straight forward, but like any homebrew program it takes some knowledge and familairity of INI files and your game directories location.

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That being said, this controller is a Great Controller. I have many older DirectInput games that will 'work' with a 360 Pad but not very well. First off, they never recognized the 360 Pad's left-right triggers, there is no rumble, and always some bothersome button mapping. Not with this baby.

The sticks have a longer throw then normal which I like for movement and the center-point for the pad is tight, no drifting. You can switch the back Right-Left triggers to act as an Axis (for throttle type control) or to Digital on-off buttons (for shooting).
Plus the Saitek software allows you to set when the triggers will respond to pulling them (have them 'click' as soon as you pull it, have it 'click' when it is pulled all the way down, or somewhere in between).
The software also allows you to re-map the inner and outer deadzone for all axis (verrrry nice).

Buttons are nice and responsive. Not mushy. The dpad has a solid feel to it and has a bit more 'give' so when you press it in, you can roll it with you thumb nicely.

The actual feel of the pad is similair to a original Xbox controller. That is, it is larger then normal. It took a while for me to get used to it, but it is not overly large. Just after being acclimated to the smaller footprint of the 360 Black controller, it will feel big.

Now off to the reason why not 5 stars:

The cord is short. By short I mean 2-3 feet max. You will need a breakout USB box or extension cable in order to plug this thing into your computer then sit back and play. Even if you plug it into the front, you will probably need the computer in your lap or sitting on top of the monitor. It is that short. Why they did this I cannot imagine. It is really, really stupid.

The FPS button on the front of the controller apparently cannot be turned off. This button allows you to switch the controller from supplying DirectInput to supplying keyboard commands (I.E. The left joystick defaults to the WASD standard movement keys, the right stick the mouse, etc).
This is a great idea and as it also has software that will allow you set you own keys, is a nice bonus.
Except I don't want the controller to do that when I hit the FPS button.
I would like the FPS button to be a toggle in their control panel so I can use it as another button or the Xbox button in some games.
Perhaps their newer software allows that, but it will not install and their tech support does not answer emails. Plus their site is, well, barren and cheap looking. That has to be deliberate since they are part of the Mad Catz orginization.

So, in the end. 4 stars. Great controller, works perfectly, feels real solid once you get used to the size, and the configuration software is quite robust (excepting the FPS Button).

Also, the rumble on it is top pier. Quite awesome.
Also Also, to any Trackmania fans out there -- it works straight out of the box and has full rumble (which is soooo sweet). That is Trackmania United/Forever and Canyons. (Trackmania is directinput).

Shout out to the 1 to 3 Shop I purchased it from here on Amazon. Quick shipping and only $21. Dirt cheap for a controller this quality.

Bats

** This is not a controller !!**
You must know these facts before buying it ..
- This is not a Xbox 360 combatible controller for Games for Windows , Altho it has the exact same build , you can redfine yer keys to make it work similar to Xbox pad.
- Games WILL NEVER DETECT THIS PAD AS A CONTROLLER ! This pad is actualy simulated keyboard , e.g: when you press the X button on the pad it will be like pressing A on keyboard , LT= Left mouse click ,etc...
- It will work with any games like if you were using a keyboard , but you need to redfine buttons in the game to suite you.
- It has only 1 meter long cable so forget about connecting it to the back of your PC if the distance is 1 meter or more between you and the rear of your PC I/O. Unless you use USB hub or a extender , or use front panel USB like I do .
- You can use this contoller to move your crusor like a mouse and have some keyboard keys , you can redfine keys the way you want.(software must be insalled to redfine keys)
- It works with both Xbox 360 and PS3 perfectly.

My thought : Good over all controller , I read about not Xbox 360 combatible game pad , but thought I will give it a shot and try it out cuz it's looks awsome ! the d-pad is more precisive than my Microsoft Xbox Controller , I do the moves better and faster than Xbox controller in Street Fighter IV Arcade. The FPS button will make you control over mouse for games that does not support games pad. The switchable layout is cool too , the Cyborg face will lit in green when using Xbox layout and Red when using PS layout . Rumble did not work as it is keyboard simulated ( no vibration for keyboard) , yes it has rumble inside and you can control the rumble force in controller panel.
I have rushed ordering it , if I did more research there is identical model that is Xbox combatible. but no FPS , I feel no regert cuz it simulate keyboard which is great for me and for non controller support games.
**Dropped 2 stars cuz :**
- Not Xbox combatible ,can't switch as gamepad or keyboard simulated.
- 1 meter cable .. We're in 21th century people now use PC as entertainment hometheater , facing the monitor and having PC under your legs is old style. This can be major , I'm setting 2 meters away from the TV , but lucky me I keep the pc close to the sofa for discs playing and front panel usb solved the issue, still can't move freely.

Used under Windows 7 64-bit no issues ( no driver needed ) Controller panel in software crushed once , but windows used compatible mode , it works fine for now, might works better in Xp and Vista ( I miss XP :( ). I hope this review answer anyone doubts.
I recommend it for advanced users only , I'm buying the xbox combatible model too :)

Update: This controller works perfectly with PS3 and Xbox360 altho it's not advertised on it's spec or box. :o

I bought this because my Xbox 360 RROD'd a couple of months ago, and when I couldn't repair it (not the stupid towel trick, google it, there are legitimate ways to TRY to fix it) I decided to just game on my computer instead of spending big bucks on something that will burn out in a year or so. Anyway, I have a nice desktop running Win 7 64 bit,8 Gb RAM, quad core processor. This controller would not work with anything I have installed. It comes with a disc with some software on it, there is a calibration routine, and that is the only thing I was able to control with it. The only upside was the manufacturer gave me a full refund, including what I spent on shipping. I requested the return through Amazon, so I give them some credit too.