Review Game PC Buying Guide: Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick

In a fierce dog fight chills, precision and control are essential. That is why the SideWinder has been redesigned for even greater precision. With its convenient handle and an improvement in gas, this professional quality stick feels as great as his performance. Having the SideWinder on your side is like having an ace for a Sidewinder joystick wingman.Microsoft is ultimate!

Product Details

Color: Black

Brand: Microsoft

Model: 656-00105

Original language: English, French, Spanish

Features

16 programmable functions; 8 buttons plus 8-direction hat

Rotating handle gives precise rudder control

16-bit 25-MHz on-board processor delivers 100 different forces

Save and download programmed game commands into game-specific controller profiles

USB connection for plug-and-play ease

Editorial Reviews

From the Manufacturer
Experience the feel of victory. Screaming in at Mach 3, guns blazing as you wrestle with a badly damaged wing, SideWinder Force Feedback 2 puts you right in the cockpit. With a new onboard A/C power supply and optimized feedback system, you will feel every subtle force effect and have a rock-solid base to enjoy it. The SideWinder Force Feedback 2 delivers the ultimate stick to players who demand the best. With 200 force feedback-enabled games, you will feel your game.

Customer Reviews

Very nice force feedback joystick
If you're a (flight) simulator fan, this joystick is really worth the money. It is well built with a nice feel and feedback effects.

When I was shopping for force feedback joysticks I was torn between this and the Logitech "3D" model. I have to admit, the Logic had a nicer design. The stick itself had a slightly better feel and the throw on the throttle control was longer and more precise. However, I decided to go with the Microsoft model because of the positive experience I've had with their force feedback steering wheel. Just like the wheel, the construction on the joystick is very solid. I expect this will stand up to a lot of abuse.

This stick is not without it's drawbacks. First, the throttle control is a bit small. I would like something a bit bigger and with a bit more resitance. Second, the force feedback is only activated when you are fully grasping the stick. This is actually a neat feature, but can be annoying when you don't feel like "properly" holding the stick.

Expensive joystick, decent force feedback
Wanting a controller for racing and flight sim games, I purchased the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick. The first thing I noticed is that it seems to be well made. It is quite heavy, but not too heavy to hold. The force feedback is the #1 reason anyone would buy this, and this feature varies from game to game. On some games, it felt totally unnecessary and didn't add anything to the game. On others, it complimented it nicely. The feedback response seems to be strong on this controller.

I would recommend this controller to anyone that is *really* into gaming. Otherwise, forgo the feedback and just get a regular joystick. If you play console type games or shooters, get a gamepad!

One thing to note - whatever you do - do NOT lose the CD that comes with this. It contains the drivers needed to install this joystick. Microsoft does NOT have them on its website. Windows XP will not auto-detect and install the joystick.

MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 works good with Windows XP
I have seen some of the negative reviews on how the Force feedback 2 works with Windows XP. My experience has been just the opposite. The joystick works very well with Windows XP. I followed directions and installed the software first. This took about 15 minutes, if you don't include registration. Then, I plugged the joystick into a USB connection, tested the buttons. They all worked, and then I plugged in the power. I am using it with Microsoft flight Simulator 2002, and it works perfectly every time. KUDOS TO MICROSOFT.