Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad Pro

Other products by Microsoft

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005NIMC
• Item model number: C18-00018
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

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  #36 in	Video Games > PC Games > Hardware > Controllers > Gamepads
  #54 in	Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Game Hardware > Controllers > Gamepads

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 21, 2002

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

SideWinder Game Pad Pro is the latest evolution of gamepad design, color, and functionality. In addition to the classic SideWinder gamepad functionality of six buttons and two triggers, the SideWinder Game Pad Pro has revolutionized the control provided with a dual precision D-pad, which features proportional and digital control. The Digital control, similar to the SideWinder Game Pad, is unbeatable for sports and fighting games that require the fastest response. Proportional control is perfect for racing games and advanced, next-generation sports games.

Product Description

SideWinder Game Pad Pro is the next level of control for sports, action and racing games. Program your best moves to the joystick buttons, the hat switch, the trigger, the throttle wheel, handle rotation, and axis movements. For twice the functionality, use the shift button (in supported games). Optimize Precision Pro for your gaming style by programming keystrokes, keystrings, and chords to single joystick buttons. Save winning profiles to use again and share with friends. Tighten your controls by making large stick movements equal to smaller ones to fit the game you're playing. Make the most of every move by choosing whether to use the handle to rotate or move left to right in your games. USB connection means instant plug and play setup.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Iffy, November 5, 2001

By	T. Stone "wastingtape" (Honolulu, HI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've owned my Sidewinder Gamepad Pro for about 6 - 7 months. My first impressions where good. I bought it planning to play my more console type games (Bubble Bobble, Grand Theft Auto 1 & 2, etc.). The controller feels relativly comfortable in your hands, and the software is easy and very configurable. Aside from a minor stupidities in the software the inital impression was very good.

After the first month or so of use, i began to be irritated by the small bevels of plastic on the under side below the triggers and on the d-pad. After an hour or so of play, the raised bevel begans to create a small indentation in your fingers - not cool. I finally broke down one day and whipped out my pocket knife and carved them off. I polished it down a bit to a smooth finish and the controller was better than ever.

After four or five months of use however, i began to notice a very un-cool feature. At times the d-pad will randomly stick or not response. There is nothing more frustrating that fighting your way all the way to level 6 only to find that mario gets stuck on the left part of the screen because the d-pad is being stupid again. Wondering if mine was defective, i began to check around my friends. I wasn't the only one. At this point, 6 or 7 months later, my Gamepad sits with the cord wrapped around it on the shelf. It annoys me too much. It usually works, but those times that it doesn't you want to slam it into the floor. My recommendation is to look for a different, non-microsoft controller. Just my pref.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ehhhhh...well it's only 10 bucks., November 3, 2004

By	M. J. Albis (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

First off, if you have Windows XP, the software that comes with the controller won't work, so you can't really use the shift button the way it's meant to be used. It works fine other than that, but my only major problem with it is for some reason my laptop often doesn't recognize it's plugged in. It's pretty annoying, but still usable. I got it just because I wanted the cheapest functioning gamepad I could find, and I wouldn't recomment it for any purpose other than that.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars worked great at first, June 6, 2003

By A Customer

I loved this gamepad, untill It started randomly sticking, same problem that the other reviewer had. I'm debating should I buy another or not, I got about 8 months out of this before it started malfunctioning. My old gameport version ms gamepad still works after 7 years, so I dont think I got my monies worth from the gamepad pro. Too bad