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Microsoft SideWinder is a former brand name for a family of video gaming peripherals developed by Microsoft for PCs. It was initially marketed from 1995[1] to 2003 consisting of game controllers, then again from 2007 until the early 2010s with gaming mice and keyboards.
The term "SideWinder" describes many types of Microsoft's PC game controllers including joysticks, gamepads and steering wheels. Several types of joysticks were made, including the Force Feedback 2, the 3D Pro, and the regular SideWinder joystick. Also, several types of gamepads were made, such as the original game port version, a plug-and-play game port version, and the USB version. Steering wheels are the Precision Racing Wheel and the Force Feedback Wheel variants which include throttle and brake pedals. The family also includes some more exotic devices such as the SideWinder Game Voice system and the SideWinder Strategic Commander.
The SideWinder family of products was discontinued by Microsoft in 2003, citing poor sales.[2] The company since re-entered the gaming hardware market, attempting to design a standardized gamepad for Windows Vista with both the wired Xbox 360 controller and the Wireless Gaming Receiver that allows the use of the wireless Xbox 360 controller on a PC. In August 2007, Microsoft announced they were relaunching the SideWinder line of gaming peripherals, starting with the SideWinder Mouse. The mouse was given an MSRP of $80 and a launch date of October 2007.[3]
- ^ "Microsoft Hardware 25th Anniversary" (PDF). Download.microsoft.com. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ^ Johnson, Ian. "Game over for Microsoft PC gear". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
- ^ "Microsoft SideWinder Mouse For Gamers Announced". Ecoustics.com. 22 August 2007. Retrieved 2015-11-11.