Review: The ORIGINAL Microsoft Sidewinder Joystick 

Great great grandfather at this point :D

Thank you very much!

These typically went into a joystick/midi port that was on most sound cards in the 90's. Once USB took over and became the interface standard these ports were eventually phased out

I hate it when that happens. You know when I plugged this joystick in I had already set up the Quickshot as a generic 2 axis 2 button joystick so I could just recalibrate it. But then I removed that stick as I wanted to check if there was a specific Microsoft one. Then for some reason Windows wouldnt detect my joystick again even if I put back in a generic 2 axis stick. Not sure what I did to get it to eventually detect, a couple of restarts and some plugging/replugging - but now it seems to be detected ok (I havent unplugged it). Im using Windows 98 here with a Soundblaster 16. Keep trying, Im sure you will get it working sooner or later (after pulling your hair out no doubt)

@@ByteSizeThoughts into the deep end i go

Oh I had to plug and pray to get it working on windows 98 :) No idea if it would work on Windows 10 though if it's a USB version then it should? I've plugged in all my old USB sidewinder gear and they have worked with no extra drivers

@@ByteSizeThoughts It's a gameport version with an attached, official, usb adapter. No matter what I plug it into, from my new desktop to an 8 year old laptop, it refuses to even know its there. Trying to find legacy drivers in win10 is not very helpful either :/

@@David-dz1cb hmm. Can you set it up as a generic 2 button analogue joystick?

@@ByteSizeThoughts Nope, it won't even register as existing in Windows- unless there's some way to force it.

@@David-dz1cb hmm that doesn't sound promising, possibly you have a dead one or this particular joystick doesnt work over usb

I didnt need to install any drivers for mine - just picked the 2 axis, 2 button joystick from within the control panel. See how you go, should be able to get it going on Win 98

@@ByteSizeThoughts ok but the statut is not connected 🤔

@@johnthevert6829 that happened on mine too. I did a few reboots and messed about with it a few times and then one time it was detected

After many test, I finally succeeded ! Thx bro. I can play F16 fighter now !

@@johnthevert6829 great to hear!

I dont have windows 7 unfortunately to test it, though youd have to check if you have a gameport to plug this one in but Microsoft probably grandfathered in the drivers.

@@ByteSizeThoughts it's not usb? pity

there are gameport to usb adaptors but I dont think its really worth going that far unless you have a lot of nostalgia for this joystick :D

@@ByteSizeThoughts would like a joystick for squadrons and everspace, but £150+ doesn't seem worth it either, especially when i can just use keyboard for left hand. any suggestion please?

ah for Star Wars Squadrons I use my xbox one controller as it has all the inputs mapped and has enough buttons. I have another Sidewinder joystick with force feedback and although its fun to use, it doesnt have enough buttons and trying to use the keyboard at the same time is really hard (impossible in VR too). The Xbox controller is easier (and if you dont have one they are probably cheaper to find on the second hand market)

Second comment :D