Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Joystick

Microsoft seems to be doing a major changing of the guard with its joystick and peripheral line, going into a major second phase of production that, so far, has garnered mixed reviews. The replacement for the Sidewinder is anything but, while the optical mouse is a great addition to any gamer's (or non-gamer for that matter) home. The new Sidewinder line is about to get some confident bolstering with the addition of the new Force Feedback 2 joystick, a USB, sensitive, and very strong replacement.The Force Feedback 2 keeps the number of buttons the same as the original, but tweaks the configuration a bit, with great results. You've still got a hat and three buttons for your thumb, but this time the two smaller buttons are placed on either side, rather than packed together on the right side. The long slim button is now a curved button for the lower part of your thumb, which takes a bit to get used to, but allows you to pop off specialized button commands with very little movement. I wish the two smaller trigger buttons were a bit larger and longer, but overall it's fairly easy to lay your thumb on either side and get a grip on things. Best of all, the trigger has become a bit firmer and packs a little more punch than the original's rounded, wimpier click appeal.

The hat is also larger, making it a lot easier to navigate views than in the original stick. You may not love the real estate it takes on top of the stick, but you'll love the fact that you'll always know where it's going, instead of dealing with slight inaccuracies. Did we mention that it's eight way, as well? Program it right, and you can have it making breakfast for you while you're taking out foes in.Not only is the FF2 smaller in real estate and weight than the original joystick, but that shiny green light that pops out of the base will certainly make you feel a lot better about your life as a whole. Microsoft's got a thing about green lights, don't they? On top of the smaller size, and the green light, and the new USB connection, they've also made the A/C power internal on the joystick, meaning that you'll just have to deal with a teeny plug rather than a fat adapter. Being that I'm more than sick of accidentally kicking my adapter around my desk for months now from my multiple joysticks, this is possibly the best hardware news of the year, as far as I'm (well my feet, anyway) concerned.

The four buttons are nearly identical to the original joystick, but the throttle has been completely revamped. Plugin alliance brainworx bx_opto spl attacker maag audio eq2. It's smaller than you'd expect from a throttle, but it also means that you'll have no problem accessing the buttons without it getting in the way. It's certainly an improvement over the original dial, which while functional, definitely wasn't as logical as the more familiar throttle setup that most joystick users are familiar with.This is a force feedback joystick though, so it would be ridiculous to get into this review without spending some time talking about how you'll be jerked around, poked, prodded, and smacked by the new hardware. This is a tough beast. While the original Force Feedback was great, you always wished for just a little more oomph. And boy, does the replacement deliver.

Feb 17, 2015  3DPro32u4-10.hex (joystick was recognized as a 'Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro (USB)' and working).

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You'll be turning down the power on nearly every game you play, due to the ridiculously strong jerks and punches you'll feel in your average racing game. Was slamming my wrists around as the wheels gained and lost grip on the pavement, and went absolutely nuts when I was slammed by a competing racer. This sort of brute force, well, force means that you'll have to do a bit more tweaking that with the original joystick - but the new software gives you some easy ways to change force strength, as well as program your buttons. It's as easy and familiar as the original software, and can be accessed through your normal game controller property panel.The best thing is that while it still provides you with great reactions to explosions and gunshots, it does a much better job at simulating subtler effects, like driving on grass, or going against a current. In EA's, the bike would immediately clog down in sand like you were swishing the stick through mud. Get it back on the road, and the pressure would immediately ease off. Games in general seemed a bit more rounded in their relation of force to what's going on on the computer screen, something that makes your gaming experience all the more enjoyable in the long run.Overall, the Force Feedback 2 is a worthy successor to the original.

The size, weight, USB connection and the internal A/C power supply make this a streamlined beauty that's worth it for force junkies, even at the higher price tag that force feedback asks for.