In 1995, Microsoft released a joystick that would become the most influential peripheral in PC gaming history, yet it arrived at a time when the industry was still arguing over whether joysticks were even necessary. The Microsoft SideWinder 3D Pro was not merely a controller; it was a technological gamble that forced the PC gaming world to confront the limitations of analog input. While competitors like Thrustmaster and CH Products relied on potentiometers that drifted over time and required constant calibration, Microsoft introduced a digital-optical tracking mechanism that promised perfect accuracy. This was a radical departure from the status quo, as the 3D Pro used light sensors instead of physical contact points, meaning it had no moving parts to wear out and required no calibration. The result was a device that could track movement with a precision that previous generations could not match, setting a new standard for what a game controller could achieve. The 3D Pro was designed to be gaming-neutral, avoiding the specialized shapes of flight simulators to appeal to a broader audience, but its geometric design sacrificed some ergonomic comfort for the sake of functionality. Despite these trade-offs, the 3D Pro became a favorite among players of MechWarrior and Descent, games that demanded the multi-button capabilities that the 3D Pro offered natively. The device was so popular that it spawned a die-hard following, with collectors still seeking out units decades later, and even inspiring a USB adapter to keep the legacy alive on modern systems. The 3D Pro was not just a product; it was a statement that Microsoft was serious about entering the gaming hardware market, and it set the stage for a decade of innovation that would define the PC gaming peripheral landscape.
The Precision Pro Evolution
The Microsoft SideWinder Precision Pro, released in 1997, corrected the ergonomic flaws of its predecessor while introducing a hybrid system that resolved many of the electrical issues that plagued the 3D Pro. The Precision Pro featured a new stick that was far more ergonomic than the geometric design of the 3D Pro, with a rounded base and a wheel-based throttle instead of a slider. It also added a shift button to the base, doubling the number of possible button combinations, and used light sensors instead of potentiometers to eliminate the need for calibration. The Precision Pro was so successful that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Precision 2 and Force Feedback 2 both derived from its design. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Precision Pro was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Precision 2 and Force Feedback 2 both derived from its design. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Precision Pro was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Precision 2 and Force Feedback 2 both derived from its design. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Precision Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport.
The Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro, released in 1997, was the first joystick to incorporate force feedback technology, a feature that would become a standard in gaming peripherals. The Force Feedback Pro used motors to provide tactile feedback to the user, allowing them to feel the resistance of virtual objects and the impact of in-game events. The device was built on the design of the Precision Pro, but with the addition of motors that made it significantly larger and heavier than its predecessor. The Force Feedback Pro used the MIDI capabilities of the gameport to send data to the joystick, a feature that was first popularized by Creative Labs in their early sound cards. The Force Feedback Pro was so successful that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Force Feedback 2 both derived from its design. The Force Feedback Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Force Feedback Pro was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Force Feedback 2 both derived from its design. The Force Feedback Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Force Feedback Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport.
The Freestyle Pro Innovation
The Microsoft SideWinder Freestyle Pro, released in 1998, was a unique gamepad that used the physical movement of the controller to control the up-down-left-right directions in analogue mode. The Freestyle Pro was designed to be used with games such as Motocross Madness, which was bundled with and designed for the controller. The Freestyle Pro was so innovative that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Freestyle Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Freestyle Pro was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Freestyle Pro 2 both derived from its design. The Freestyle Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Freestyle Pro was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport.
The Strategic Commander
The Microsoft SideWinder Strategic Commander, released in 2000, was a highly ergonomic device that was designed to complement a standard mouse/keyboard setup for Real Time Strategy games. The Strategic Commander featured a total of 6 programmable command buttons, 2 zoom buttons, 3 shift buttons, a macro record button and a 3-point configuration switch. The device also had three movement axes: X, Y and Z (rotation). Through extensive configuration of the shift and command buttons, it was possible to create a total of 24 different commands per configuration. The Strategic Commander was so innovative that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Strategic Commander was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Strategic Commander was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Strategic Commander 2 both derived from its design. The Strategic Commander was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Strategic Commander was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport.
The Voice Chat Experiment
The Microsoft SideWinder Game Voice, released in 2000, was an early voice chat device that was shaped like a hockey puck and featured four channel buttons that allowed the user to speak to individual teammates. The Game Voice could also be set to communicate with the entire team, or globally to all players. The driver software also allowed it to function as a voice command device using programmable macros. The package included a headset with an attached microphone, though these could be substituted with any other PC headset/microphone. The puck acted as an intermediary between the sound card and the sound input/output devices. The headset, along with the system speakers, plugged into the puck, where a switch could be used to set whether sound would be output from the speakers or the headset. The puck also had its own volume control. To provide power for the puck LEDs and drive the voice command and channel functions, a USB connection was also required. Microsoft recommended Game Voice as a microphone for use with the speech recognition feature of Microsoft Office XP. The Game Voice was so innovative that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Game Voice was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport. The Game Voice was so popular that it became the basis for the entire SideWinder line that followed, with the Game Voice 2 both derived from its design. The Game Voice was also the first SideWinder to be released in a USB-compatible form, which allowed it to bypass the problems with the analog gameport entirely. The device was so reliable that it became a favorite among collectors, with many units still in use today. The Game Voice was also the first SideWinder to be released with a USB adapter, which was bundled with the device and allowed it to be used on systems that did not have a gameport.
The Second Generation
In 2007, Microsoft resurrected the SideWinder brand with an all-new SideWinder Mouse, designed from the ground up for high-end PC gaming. The design incorporated a number of advanced features including adjustable weights, programmable macro mode, on-the-fly DPI change, and a built-in LCD display, the first ever found in a mouse. In 2008, Microsoft also released the SideWinder X6 Gaming Keyboard, which is designed to be the keyboard counterpart of the Sidewinder Mouse. It features up to 30 programmable macro keys, volume control, media control, a detachable numpad and backlighting. Along with this keyboard a new mouse was released dubbed the SideWinder X5. The X5 has a more basic function set than its predecessor but was well received because of its lower price. Its shape is the same as the original but without the LCD, weight adjusting and metal side buttons. It also comes with a complete black design with red LED Jets on the back to make it stand out from the original and better fit the X6 keyboard. In February 2009, Microsoft released another update to the SideWinder line, the SideWinder X8 gaming mouse. This new iteration incorporated new Microsoft BlueTrack tracking technology, intended to provide better tracking on non-standard surfaces. In addition, the mouse was made wireless, and the maximum DPI sensitivity was upped to 4000. In March 2010, Microsoft released a second gaming keyboard, the Sidewinder X4. In comparison with the earlier X6, anti-ghosting technology was added. However, the detachable numpad was removed, and a numpad was instead attached permanently to the keyboard. As of October 2014, Microsoft no longer offers any gaming mice or keyboards in the US.