Microsoft Sidewinder Freestyle Pro Game Pad ( A17-00001 )

Other products by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004Z729
• Item model number: A17-00001
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• 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.

Product Description

Someday, you'll be able to have your every body motion detected by camera and transferred to a character or vehicle in a game, for total intuitive control. Until then, though, there's Microsoft's Freestyle Pro, an advanced gamepad with motion-sensing technology.Use the Freestyle Pro in joystick mode with motion-sensing on, and it responds to your hand and body movement, allowing for precision and freedom of movement simply by tilting the controller in different directions. Or switch off motion-sensing, and use the Freestyle Pro as a gamepad for greater speed and harder play. And if you're just that good, use both modes simultaneously for ultimate precision and freedom in your gaming experience! The Sidewinder Freestyle Pro is highly customizable, allowing you to fine-tune its sensitivity along each axis of movement and program game actions to hot-buttons. You can even save customized settings to game profiles, so you don't have to re-program the gamepad when you switch games. The Sidewinder Freestyle Pro uses either a standard gameport or a USB port, so it's sure to be compatible with the system you have now and the ones you'll have in the future. Microsoft Motocross Madness is included in the package, a perfect way to get started freestyling with your new gamepad.

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 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

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)

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.