rec.autos.simulators

by **Ralf Grisar** » Fri, 02 Aug 1996 04:00:00

I'd like to hear from folks who've used the MS Sidewinder Pro as their
racing simulator controller. I can't justify the purchase of a steering
wheel and pedals, but I'd like to find a good joystick that will work
reasonably well with racing simulators as well as flight simulators. I'm
considering the MS Sidewinder Pro because:
* It's not terribly expensive
* It emulates both the CH Flightstick Pro & Thrustmaster 4-button sticks
* It has a "hat" switch
* It has a throttle control
* It's digital, which _someday_ will supposedly make it superior when
used with Win95 games

What do you think?

Thanks,
Ralf Grisard

by **Scott Willse** » Sun, 04 Aug 1996 04:00:00

I'm using it, and I like it a lot. However, I'm way off the pace of some
of the people who post here, so I don't know that you will want to rush
right on out and buy it because of me.

I previously had a thrustmaster and I would MUCH rather have the sidewinder
pro. It works well for IndyCar II and Need for Speed as well.

Have fun.

Scott

--

I have seen the enemy, and it
is my registry...

by **Ian/lesley Weave** » Sun, 04 Aug 1996 04:00:00

>I'd like to hear from folks who've used the MS Sidewinder Pro as their
>racing simulator controller. I can't justify the purchase of a steering
>wheel and pedals, but I'd like to find a good joystick that will work
>reasonably well with racing simulators as well as flight simulators. I'm
>considering the MS Sidewinder Pro because:
>* It's not terribly expensive
>* It emulates both the CH Flightstick Pro & Thrustmaster 4-button sticks
>* It has a "hat" switch
>* It has a throttle control
>* It's digital, which _someday_ will supposedly make it superior when
>used with Win95 games
>What do you think?
>Thanks,
>Ralf Grisard

Ihave been using Sidewinder Pro with no problems in 95. It is a great
stick, but Ido find my hand aches after a few hours.

Do not buy the Fury 3 package because the game is awful.

Ian

by **Vicsa** » Tue, 06 Aug 1996 04:00:00

Im using the pro, its very good, quick and responsive and the buttons on
the left hand side off the stick are brill for fast gear changes
go buy it

vic

by **Dave Marc** » Wed, 07 Aug 1996 04:00:00

Well I can say that I'm very happy with my MS Pro, I've been using it with
Longbow, ICR2 and GP2. I find it to be an extremely satisfactory joystick.
I especially like the CH Pro and Thrustmaster emulation mode in DOS.

by **Ralf Grisar** » Sat, 10 Aug 1996 04:00:00

> >I'd like to hear from folks who've used the MS Sidewinder Pro as their
> >racing simulator controller.

Just thought I'd post a quick summary of the responses I received to my
original posting. I heard from 7 people who are using the Sidewinder Pro with
racing sims and 1 person who's using it with a flight sim, and their opinion
is unanimous -- they all like it a lot. Reasons for liking it included its
sensitivity, smoothness, ability to emulate the CH Flightstick Pro, and
rudder control (I'm not clear how this applies to racing sims). As for me,
I'm convinced -- I'm gonna get me one [asked for it for my birthday, but
didn't get it 8-( ].

Thanks to all who responded!
Ralf Grisard

by **Brian Ronning** » Sun, 11 Aug 1996 04:00:00

I have the Sidewinder Pro and it seems to work very well for Nascar.
However, I have no baseline to compare it to. The biggest weakness
is digital responses for brake and gas....it's either all the way on
or all the way off. That makes it difficult to tap the brakes going
into corners and feather the gas coming out of corners. But I've
been told having a steering wheel doesn't necessarily add speed to
your laps, but it will be easier to handle in traffic and it makes
the longer races comfortable.

Brian

by **Blaine Be** » Mon, 12 Aug 1996 04:00:00

On Fri, 09 Aug 1996 09:01:59 -0400, Ralf Grisard

>> >I'd like to hear from folks who've used the MS Sidewinder Pro as their
>> >racing simulator controller.

>Just thought I'd post a quick summary of the responses I received to my
>original posting. I heard from 7 people who are using the Sidewinder Pro with
>racing sims and 1 person who's using it with a flight sim, and their opinion
>is unanimous -- they all like it a lot. Reasons for liking it included its
>sensitivity, smoothness, ability to emulate the CH Flightstick Pro, and
>rudder control (I'm not clear how this applies to racing sims). As for me,
>I'm convinced -- I'm gonna get me one [asked for it for my birthday, but
>didn't get it 8-( ].

>Thanks to all who responded!
>Ralf Grisard

Make sure that you find the one that includes
MECHWARRIOR 2 with it... it'll cost approx. 10-20
bucks more... but you'll save a bunch.....

Blaine Bett

by **Rook** » Wed, 21 Aug 1996 04:00:00

Uhh, hate to inform you of this, but your SideWinder isn't working in
digital mode when you play Nascar. There are only a couple of games
written with the coding to allow digital joystick and Nascar isn't one
of them. The stick automatically goes to analog when playing games
like Nascar. So don't blame digital for your lack of brake response.

by **Rich Edg** » Fri, 23 Aug 1996 04:00:00

The Sidewinder will use digital responses only in windows, and with
games designed to use it. ( ie. new win95 games )

Am I confused? I thought analog was the "all on or all off" and
digital was supposed to allow steps. Or is it that digital is supposed
to be more precise control? Either way, I love the stick because it
doesnt "drift" between calibrations like every other stick ive used.

by **Beake** » Sat, 24 Aug 1996 04:00:00

> >I have the Sidewinder Pro and it seems to work very well for Nascar.
> >However, I have no baseline to compare it to. The biggest weakness
> >is digital responses for brake and gas....it's either all the way on

> Uhh, hate to inform you of this, but your SideWinder isn't working in
> digital mode when you play Nascar. There are only a couple of games
> written with the coding to allow digital joystick and Nascar isn't one
> of them. The stick automatically goes to analog when playing games
> like Nascar. So don't blame digital for your lack of brake response.

I have trouble with IndyCar and Falcon but most of my other games are fine.
The Y axis does not calibrate properly it jumps all over the place in the
negative. Microsoft told me it was my game port but it's not. I've tried
two others.
Anyway I can get it to work by move the the stick slightly forward when
calibrating. You have to pull back the whole way to back but at least the
brakes are'nt on when I centre the stick.

Try it it might work.

by **Rob Hounsel** » Sat, 24 Aug 1996 04:00:00

> I have trouble with IndyCar and Falcon but most of my other games are fine.
> The Y axis does not calibrate properly it jumps all over the place in the
> negative. Microsoft told me it was my game port but it's not. I've tried
> two others.

I've had trouble with the SideWinder's calibration a couple of times (GP2,
MechWarriorII, etc.). However, since I re-installed the joystick and drivers
(via Win95), I've had no problems with it. I'm using a Gravis UltraSound PnP
for the gameport.

Rob
--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Rob Hounsell Bell-Northern Research |
| Cornerstone Network Controller Devel. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |

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by **Steve Garrot** » Thu, 29 Aug 1996 04:00:00

>Subject: RE: MS Sidewinder Pro Experiences?
>Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:10:08 GMT

>> >I have the Sidewinder Pro and it seems to work very well for Nascar.
>> >However, I have no baseline to compare it to. The biggest weakness
>> >is digital responses for brake and gas....it's either all the way on

Remove the Brake and Gas from the joystick. You will get better response from
the keyboard on these two options. I use the CRTL=Brake, and ALT=Gas on left
side of keyboard. This also solves the one-button-at-a-time-problem.

(All spelling errors are intentional and are there to show new
and improved ways of spelling old words. Gramatical errors are
due to too many English classes/teachers)