Product: Force Feedback 2
Company: Microsoft
Website: http://www.microsoft.com/sidewinder
Estimated Street Price: $109.00
Review By: Julien JAY

Introduction

Microsoft has recently unveiled to the world the successor of the best selling joystick worldwide, the SideWinder Force Feedback Pro introduced on the market in 1996. The new model, named SideWinder Force Feedback 2 has the hard task to succeed a model that has sold millions. After years of waiting the new Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback 2 joystick is at last here and Microsoft hardware fans won't be disappointed. If this new joystick doesn't feature any revolutionary enhancements, the improvements it brings are more than enjoyable and justify the cost of the hardware upgrade.

First Look

Microsoft engineers clearly worked on the design and usability of the joystick as well as on some practical aspects. If its predecessor had a separated enormous power supply, now the Force Feedback 2 has included it in its base so your room won't be cluttered by tons of AC power adapters. If you carefully watch the new Force Feedback 2 device you'll realize that the built-in fan of the previous model has been removed, which is good since it makes the device more silent! Thankfully the unit doesn't warm too much without it. The Force Feedback 2 now uses a USB connection for fast game play and easy setup.

Microsoft Force Feedback 2, click to enlarge (Picture (c) Julien JAY 2000)

 

Design, Setup, Force -->