Microsoft Sidewinder
|
|
Sidewinder_gamepad.jpg
Microsoft Sidewinder is the general name given to the family of digital game controllers developed by Microsoft for PCs. Although intended only for use with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Sidewinder game controllers can also be used with Apple's Mac OS X and Linux (or any Unix with an x86 version of X11 version 2.1.xx or newer).
The Sidewinder describes two main types of Microsoft PC controllers: joysticks and gamepads. The three types of joysticks are the Force Feedback 2, the Precision 2, and the regular Sidewinder joystick. The three types of gamepads are the original game port version, a plug-and-play game port version, and the USB version.
The Sidewinder family of products has now been discontinued by Microsoft. The company hopes to design a standardised gamepad for Windows Longhorn; the wired USB variant of the Xbox 360 controller is to be compatable with home PCs.
The Sidewinder gamepad
The original Microsoft Sidewinder gamepad had a digital directional pad, seven fire buttons, two trigger buttons, and a "Mode" and "Start" button. The original gameport version had a pass-through, so additional joypads or joystics could be used without unplugging the Sidewinder. Newer USB versions of the Sidewinder gamepad have a round digital directional pad instead of the more traditional (somewhat cross-shaped) directional pad, though they lack the mode button.
External links
- Microsoft Sidewinder homepage (http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/sidewinder/)