Firestorm Dual Power PC Gamepad Review

2007-06-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

The Thrustmaster Firestorm Dual Power PC Gamepad is a remarkable device that renders solid feedback from computer video games that support it.

Imagine this, John Doe has just produced some major speed head into the half pipe. His board climb the wall, then into the air, John head to the top of his aerial assault and is heading to the ground and realizes the half pipe is no longer below him.

For John there is nothing to break the fall except the cold, hard, unforgiving concrete. You know it is going to hurt. John hits the ground with blood flying. You close your eyes trying to forget the mayhem of the fall but your pc gamepad in your hand won't let your forget. The pc gamepad replicates each bone-crushing bounce across the concrete with accurate vibration.

In Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (the computer video game which supplied John’s fall from space), the pc gamepad, provided an accurate account of the action. "On a college campus setting, the skateboarder gets a little off the run, and rolls through a patch of grass." The pc gamepad lets you feel the wheels bounce through the rough surface of the grass. Doing so bring a realistic feel to the game that give it more value.

The PC Gamepad will be broken down into 4 different categories: The installation, The feel of the product, Pricing, Conclusion.

The installation

The Dual Power PC Gamepad is unique in that it doesn’t require a pin-port for installation instead it uses a USB port to connect to your computer. There are no batteries to buy and the whole process of installing the PC gamepad take a few minutes.

With most USB devices you don't have to shut down your computer to install it. However Thrustmaster’s PC gamepad manual recommends it. "When you restart your system, Windows will recognize the product and install the appropriate drivers." You will still need to go into control panels/controller and add the pc gamepad to it.

The feel of the product

If there is one thing about this PC gamepad that immediately sells it, it is how great it feels in the player’s hands.

This PC gamepad looks a lot like a PlayStation controller, it has a D-Pad, two analog sticks, and the typical 4 button array at the top and the two L and R button on the top just like a PlayStation controller.

This is where Thrustmaster go smart. With PlayStation play the controller would start to slide and your hands got sweaty. With the Dual Power PC gamepad there are cutouts in the middle fingers so it will not slide.

This PC gamepad is not made of hard plastic but a rubber-simulated coating that give it a soft feel even after hour of game play.

Pricing

"The company Thrustmaster has several Firestorm PC gamepads. The Firestorm Digital PC Gamepad retails for $19.99. The Firestorm Dual Analog PC Gamepad sells for $29.99. And the Firestorm Dual Power PC Gamepad (the one tested for this review) goes for $39.99."

Conclusion

In a nutshell the Dual Power PC gamepad defiantly adds to the gaming experience.

The following test was conducted: "Jessica, a 12-year-old, was asked to play with a Microsoft Sidewinder Gamepad, and then played with the Thrustmaster. The latter won the comparison hands-down."

“I like the Firestorm Gamepad a lot because the little sticks are a lot easier to use,” she said. “All the buttons are really easy to get to, and when we play games, like the skateboarding game, it is easy to use. I like it because it vibrates, and the other ones don’t, so it makes it feel like you are hurting yourself when you crash and stuff.”

What the Thrustmaster PC gamepad did that the PlayStation gamepad doesn't is with the PS gamepad there is a constant hum, the pc gamepad produces varying degrees of vibration and time sequencing.

You can program in what buttons you use more then other buttons, rather then having to stick with a computer video game's presets.

The Dual Power PC gamepad out preformed the Microsoft Sidewinder in that it was much easier to pull off difficult tasks in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2. "The PC gamepad allowed for increased touch control, and the analog sticks made axis control of the skater incredibly easy."

"When game players launch a program, they want to have a fighting chance to succeed. If the controllers – whether they are a steering wheel, keyboard, joystick or gamepad – are awkward to use or handle badly, that can ruin the entire experience. The Thrustmaster Firestorm Dual Power PC Gamepad enhances the experience. Sure the force feedback is nice, but what shines brightest is the PC gamepad’s versatility, comfort and sensitive controls."