Gravis G44011 Xterminator Digital Game Controller

Hardware-wise, this is a very nice gamepad that I would have loved to own fifteen years ago. I decided to try it because I find modern gamepads lacking in sufficient face buttons. As expected, it's very comfortable, my only compaint being that the start and select buttons at the top are out of reach.Unfortunately, the drivers on the disc will not install on a modern OS, and the Windows default USB game controller drivers assign many buttons incorrectly. For instance, it thinks the throttle is a second analog stick, and the small stick on the right is treated as the hat (d-pad) when obviously one would prefer the pad on the left. It also won't recognize down-left on the analog stick, for some reason.Gravis went out of business quite some time ago, so no modern drivers exist. You could try rigging it up with JoyToKey or something to remap the inputs, but there are many games I could not get it to cooperate with.I can only recommend this if you plan to use it with an old computer running Windows 95/98. Too bad!

I purchased two of these controllers back in the fall of 1997 for $35 each new. At the time few people were using USB for games, but it was no problem to daisy chain two of them together via the Gameport connectors on the back of my PC. The software for them is easy to use, though for a short time (I think in late 1999) there was a delay in getting an update for the system to work on Windows 2000. The software has long since been discontinued, but can still be found online.The software lets you completely configure the buttons (even if the original games didn't have joystick support). You can also create multiple profiles for your games, so that each game has a different setup, plus a generic setup for everything. Sometimes the software bugs out with two controllers connected though, and requires Windows to be restarted and/or the connectors checked before it will recognize the second pad. At least that was my experience...The controller itself has two analog "flippers" a throttle slider, a POV "hat" switch (a tiny one), an analog thumb "stick," digital command cross (movement pad), hot switch button (that can also just substitute as a generic action button), six main action buttons, two additional action buttons (which I like to use as "start/select" in console emulated games), plus still two more "flipper" digital buttons on the bottom. So that's over 11 buttons for you to use, meaning it will be compatible with most games. About the only games this isn't very good for are First Person Shooters made after about 1995 (when they started adding "Free Look" to the gameplay), since you'd have a cumbersome task moving and aiming at the same time while switching weapons, etc. For that you'd want a pad that has dual analog sticks on both sides of the interface, though everyone knows the best way to play such games is with a keyboard and optical mouse, anyhow!After about eight years, one of the plastic joints holding the cord to the base of one of the controllers cracked. I secured it with electrical tape, but eventually it pulled away from the controller, exposing the wires. It still works fine, but I worry about severing the cords accidentally. Additionally I spilled some liquid on one of the analog "flippers" and so it "snaps" when pressed (but still registers properly), and probably needs to be opened up and cleaned. The other controller seems as good as the day it was purchased. Since I alternate using the controllers (I bought two for 2 player games), I'd say each one has had about 3.5 years of near continuous use.The analog stick on this is not quite as good as on the Dreamcast controller, but it is still fairly good (and works the best on "four-way" type games or 3d games).The ergonomics of the controller are great. My hands don't get tired even after using these for hours of gaming.I like the way there are lots of buttons, including the familiar "six button" layout for fighting games, and all of the buttons are programmable. This is great for "old school" gamers like myself who like to use DOSBox and emulators to play old PC, arcade, and console classics. The feel of the controller is reminiscent of the Dreamcast, Playstation and so forth, but with a better feel than all of them.The only downside for modern gamers for this controller is the lack of "vibration." I always thought this was a fairly useless gimmick, but a few games have a little more novelty to them with the feature, so I guess you'll be missing out on that. However if you're like me and realize that most games don't use it, and it's not that important on a gamepad (maybe on a steering wheel or flight stick), this isn't a big con.I would highly recommend this pad for any old school gamers out there, and if you can track down the proper software, it can play any of your old games, ESPECIALLY if those games did not have a button configuration utility. Just map keystrokes, button presses, to your buttons and you're set!

this controller was way ahead of its time, but alas Gravis didnt seem to understand that their innovative controller was the best of its bunch, they didnt utilize this and build on it which is sadprosthis controller is true plug n play in its USB mode and it is recognized as a direct x controller right away without additional driverslots of buttons/switchesconsno vibration motorsthere were 2 models of this and its easy to mistake 1 for the other, one was the digital with USB support. the other was without USB supportthe pov hat is 4 digital micro switches not an analog stickoverall its still a good controller that manufacturers should take example from but don't

I bought this back in the days of Windows 98 and the controller never worked. This is before the simplicity of USB ports and I had to attach this piece of junk to the back of my computer. A lot of us don't keep the backing for our computer boxes easily accessible and this thing takes a lot of work to simply plug in, along with the screws to keep it in place. The setup cd never worked and I couldn't download any drivers from the site. This particular controller in particular had it's own complex driver that was not easily found on Gravis's site. It's amazing to see how far technology's come with the look of some simple looking Logitech controllers compared to this bulky monstrosity. I think I've finally had enough therapy to come back to a gamepad for my computer, but I just had to review this piece of crap for closure. Keep on gaming!