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Game Controllers Reviews
Updated June 2006
We found some of the best reviews on PC game controllers, gamepads, joysticks and steering wheels written by professional critics; many are avid gamers that take game controllers home with them for extensive testing before they write their final analysis. PC Magazine has the most recent review of steering wheels; Don Labriola reviews five wheels. We also found good roundups on joysticks and gamepads by two different reviewers at About.com. We like that these reviews cover the high end as well as the low end; not everyone needs a luxury steering wheel like the Thomas Enterprises TSW2 Cup (*est. $310). Although we found a number of useful postings on consumer-review sites (such as Epinions and Amazon.com), we sometimes had difficulty determining the neutrality of the contributors, especially when we stumbled across gamers writing reviews after only one or two test-drives. Even if a gamer means well, it can be hard to write about a game controller just out of the box. However, these write-ups can be helpful once you've narrowed your choice to a few models. The gamepad, joystick and steering wheel ratings at Amazon.com are generally more recently written and more numerous than those at Epinions. GamepadsGamepads for PCs and consoles usually resemble the controllers of systems like the Sony Playstation and Microsoft Xbox, and are best for sports games, top-down action games and sometimes even third-person action games. Of the many computer-compatible
gamepads on the market, the Logitech Rumblepad 2 Vibration Feedback Gamepad
(*est. $25)
beats the competition, and this PC
game controller gets some of the highest ratings from owners at Amazon.com.
Top-rated is reviews at PC Magazine, the Rumblepad 2
wins kudos for being a "solid" controller, able to handle sports
and action games with ease. Along with the standard buttons and directional
pad, this unit features two vibrating motors to feel hits and explosions,
dual analog sticks, a one-year warranty and is both PC and Mac compatible.
With 360-degree dual joystick
controls, the Logitech Rumblepad 2 and wireless
variations can also serve as a substitute for a joystick or steering wheel.
Neither the joystick nor the steering wheel options can match the accuracy
and feel of the hardware they imitate, but they save the gamer from having
to buy all three types of controllers. Experts at PC Magazine and users at
Amazon.com both say it's quite similar to the out-of-box PS2 controller, and
reviewers say it's extra-comfortable for long gaming sessions. Owners prefer
the cordless version, the
Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 Vibration Feedback Gamepad
(*est. $30)
since a cord doesn’t tether you. After the Rumblepad 2, reviewer opinion begins to diverge. The
Thrustmaster 2-in-1 Dual Trigger Gamepad
(*est. $20)
receives
two mentions – one positive, the other not so positive. GameSpot.com gives
it a high score, saying the unit, which plugs into both PC and PS2, is equally
good on both systems and has top-notch analog sticks. On the opposing side
is PC Magazine, who reviews the wireless version of the set. They can't get
comfortable with its ergonomics saying, "The triggers are uncomfortable
and pinch your index finger."
The
Logitech Dual Action Gamepad USB
(*est. $15)
is inexpensive, but owners contributing comments to
Amazon.com say the Logitech Rumblepad 2 is much
better and worth the extra $10. The Dual Action Gamepad is criticized mainly
for durability; many owners say it just isn't sturdy enough for intense gaming
sessions.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
There aren't an overwhelming number of reviews for game controllers, but we found the best reviews for the Logitech Rumblepad 2 and the Saitek X52 Flight Control System. The CH FighterStick (*est. $120) also gets some good reviews from owners, but it's more expensive than the Saitek and doesn't have a separate thruster controller. Advertisement
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Game Controllers Reviews |
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© 2008 ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
