3D Controller Shoot-Out
Microsoft Sidewinder Dual Strike
Spacetec SpaceOrb 360
Mad Catz Panther XL
The Contenders
Gravis Xterminator Dual Control
Price
$49.99
$59.99
$49.99
$69.99
Connection
USB
Gameport
Serial Port
Gameport or USB
# of Buttons
9
9
6
9
Hat Switch
No
2-4 way
No
1-8 way
Programmability
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Other features
D-pad
Mouse
Track Ball
Rudder Port
Control Ball
D-pad
User Created Profiles
Yes
No
No
Yes
The shoot-out includes the 4 controllers I consider contenders for competition. All rated very well in their individual reviews. Here we put them head to head, in a competition for the ultimate 3D controller. Each offers slightly different features and you final decision may be based on the features and/or compatibility with your system and the games you typically play.
For purposes of the shoot-out only Windows based games were tested. All testing was done under Windows 98 with the latest updates including DirectX 7. The only issues DirectX 7 posed (there are currently a handful of problems) was in using the USB connection with the Xterminator Dual Control. To get around this (its no fault of Gravis) I simply used the gameport connection. The following games were tested with each controller:
Quake II
Quake 3 Test
Unreal Tournament
Forsaken
Blood II
Half-Life
and for diversity-
Microsoft Midtown Madness
Microsoft Motocross Madness
Microsoft FlightSim 2000
Exact date unknown; year is the first snapshot of the page we found. Images from the original page are not reproduced.