Two Game Pads Shake Up PC Games
We tested two force-feedback controllers that promise gaming with a kick, and found out how they feel.Joel Strauch, special to PCWorld.com
Game pads have never been as popular as joysticks and flight sticks, which have enjoyed broader appeal due to their origin in arcades. But these versatile controllers actually work well with a larger variety of games, thanks to their directional pads and buttons.
While joysticks are still the controller of choice for most flight-simulator players, game pads offer more control in action games and racers. And now, game pad makers are starting to incorporate force feedback, the reactive rumbling that adds a realistic feel to games. Another attractive trait is the $30-to-$40 price advantage that the two pads reviewed here have over many force feedback joysticks, which cost $70 to $100.
We compared the shakes and shimmies of Logitech's $29.99 WingMan RumblePad with ThrustMaster's $39.99 Firestorm Dual Power Gamepad to see which controller packs more punch.
Both pads connect to your PC via USB (neither pad needs batteries or an external power supply). The Firestorm Dual is DirectX 7.0 compatible, while the WingMan works with DirectX 6.0 or later. To use either pad you'll need at least a Pentium PC with USB ports and Windows 98 or 2000. You also need 16MB of RAM and 15MB of free hard drive space for each controller. Installation of both game pads proved simple, thanks to the USB connectors. But if you have a USB hub, make sure it has an adequate power supply so that your game pad gets enough juice. We had to plug the pads into a USB port on the PC itself and not our keyboard hub, which draws power from the PC rather than from its own power supply.
Game Pad Face-Off
The devices we tested both feature two sticks and programmable buttons that you can use to store and then launch keystrokes and cheat codes. The WingMan offers 8 of these nifty buttons, while the Firestorm has 13. The Firestorm controller also has an eight-way directional pad, two vibrating motors that don't require batteries, and two analog controls. The WingMan also includes a dual motor and a sliding throttle.
But how's the force feedback? We have to call that one a well-fought tie. The motion of each pad works well in a variety of games, from Rogue Squadron to Midtown Madness 2 to Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation. There was no discernible difference between the USB-powered dual motors in the two pads. With both devices, a crash into a TIE Fighter in Rogue Squadron elicited much stronger rumblings than the minor jolts from firing the X-Wing's lasers. The effects aren't as powerful as they'd be from a force feedback stick or wheel that uses an external power supply. But while a crash won't knock these game pads out of your hands, they both delivered a respectable shudder. Both controllers' twin analog sticks worked smoothly for steering, providing a much better racing experience than a joystick does. The WingMan RumblePad's extra sliding throttle helped in Rogue Squadron (we could just slide the accelerator up to the level we wanted and leave it there).
On aesthetics and design, the Firestorm has the edge: It offers more buttons, and its smooth contours and softer rubber-textured exterior proved more comfortable for late-night gaming marathons than did the hard plastic edges of the WingMan RumblePad.
The software for each controller lets you set up and create profiles, and preset commands are already mapped to the devices for specific games. The profiles proved easy to use on both game pads, but Logitech wins extra points for the sheer number of profiles that come with the WingMan. Logitech bundles profiles for 285 games, including first-person shooters such as Quake III and driving games such as Need For Speed: High Stakes. You can also download and import profiles from Logitech's Web site. ThrustMaster ships the Firestorm with only three profiles that are specifically designed for the device.
Until you check the sticker prices, these controllers are almost evenly matched, and both are winners for a particular type of gamer. The WingMan's $10 savings makes it more appealing for the budget-minded, but the comfort and style advantages of the Firestorm may be worth the extra cash for the dedicated gamer.