Introduction
Microsoft's SideWinder line of
controls has introduced some of the best game controllers
ever. The SideWinder gamepad was (and still is) my
favorite gamepad of all time. Last year, they released
the Force Feedback Pro joystick, one of the best to
date.
How does the SideWinder Force
Feedback wheel continue in this tradition? Read on
to find out.
Installation
Prior to the wheel's arrival
I made the assumption that it would be USB. I was
pretty surprised to find a standard gameport, because
Microsoft has been one of the biggest promoters of
USB. The installation was flawless.
First, plug the wheel into the
port, then plug the AC adapter into the wall... then
into the wheel, then plug the pedals into the wheel.
Next you need to mount the wheel.
Luckily Microsoft included a clamp so you don't have
to screw everything in place every single time you
want to use the wheel. You can slide it in and out
in a matter of seconds.
Finally, install the included
controller software, reboot, and you're ready to go.
No calibration is necessary.
Click to enlarge
Just to test out
the wheel's capabilities, they've included a little
demo which allows you to press the buttons and feel
the forces. There's nothing like the feeling of kicking
your own ass.
Features
This is how the wheel looks on
paper:
