Microsoft SideWinder Game Pad USB

Other products by Microsoft

Product Details

• Item Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000069JX9
• Item model number: 486-00074
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #21 in	Video Games > PC Games > Hardware > Controllers > Gamepads
  #32 in	Electronics > Computers & Accessories > Game Hardware > Controllers > Gamepads

• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 13, 2002

Product Description

Product Description

There's no other controller like it. With its amazingly comfortable design, advanced programmability, and full-function multipad gaming, Microsoft SideWinder game pad puts you way ahead in the PC arms race. Designed to ensure lightning-fast responses in all kinds of fighting, sports, racing, and arcade-style games. Program complicated multibutton or keyboard strokes to a single button. The SideWinder is engineered for ease of use - just Plug and Play! More buttons and great feel make it the optimal control set for PC gaming.The flexibility of the SideWinder game pad will surprise you even more than that monster lurking around the corner - the game pad has 6 programmable action buttons and works with games running on the Microsoft Windows. The SideWinder provides total control and peak performance for a wide variety of games.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice and simple, December 16, 2002

By	Arman Harutyunyan (Burbank, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Many people don't like Microsoft, and there are many reasons why, but sometimes they put out a good product that makes people feel more positive about them. The Sidewinder is one of them. I needed a good controller for Grand Theft Auto 3 because playing on the keyboard was taking all the fun out of it.

After comparison shopping at local electronics stores, I found that the Sidewinder was one of the best controllers around for these reasons:
- Sturdy and solid. Won't break when you twist it and turn it.
- Very comfortable to hold because of its rounded design and light weight.
- Easy to setup. As soon as I plugged the USB into my computer, Windows automatically recognized it without any problems or need to install any drivers.
- Many games support it right off the bat. The "joystick" option appeared in all of the games that I have on the PC - GTA3, Wolfenstein, IL-2 Shturmovik, etc.
- The buttons are well placed and easy to differentiate, you won't confuse "shoot" with "jump" while playing.

I've been using it for over 6 months now, it hasn't broken, cracked or malfunctioned yet, despite all the abuse and spilled drinks I've put it trough. For the price, I think it can't be beaten.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch control with plenty of flexibility, March 14, 2003

By	D. Goodwin "Big movie fan and A/V newbie" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Sidewinder USB is comfortable, programmable, and, most importantly, it has the feel and control you need to make gaming fun. I returned the Gravis Gamepad Pro USB because of its shoddy control and calibration and exchanged it for the Microsoft Sidewinder, which has been nothing but smooth.
Its plug-and-play USB connection makes installation a no-brainer. Plug in and you're ready, which most controllers can't do nearly as well. The buttons are solid, construction is thorough, and the D-pad is accurate.

Skip the bull, and go with what works....the Sidewinder.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice feel, mediocre play control, September 22, 2002

By	Ian Stocker (CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This pad has a nice feel and molds to your hands. However, the button action is a bit stiff for my taste, and the D-pad is circular instead of cross-shaped. This design causes a lot of unwanted ducking and jumping because it is hard to press the D-pad in such a way that it only registers one direction at a time.

So overall, play control suffers a bit because you have to be more vigilant about which direction you are pressing (as opposed to cross-shaped D-pad designs), but the comfort is very good.