Name:  - Action Pad
Saitek Description:
A surge in popularity of games requiring keyboard and mouse commands presents a dilemma for gamers: How to get an edge when using a keyboard (designed in 1885 to slow typists down).
Very little has been available to help these gamers using the keyboard. Microsoft introduced the Strategic Commander, but that was only for strategy and role-playing games. But nobody offered a left-hand controller suitable for strategy and action games, until now.
For the price of a mouse, Saitek has introduced the Action Pad, designed for use along side the keyboard, a controller that performs superbly with strategy and fast action games.
Ultra-responsive, lightning fast, and featuring soft touch buttons that are as quiet as a mouse, the Action Pad does double duty for the extremely low suggested retail price of only $29.95.
Based on extensive research, Saitek identified a high level of frustration about controllers among gamers who like to play many different types of games. With that in mind, Saitek developed the Action Pad, the first left-handed controller to offer gamers a total solution to controlling keyboard and mouse. The Action Pad works equally well for strategy games such as Age of Empires and action games that require fast response such as Quake 3, Unreal and Half-Life.
The new Action Pad lets strategists program moves, select units and scroll maps. In contrast, the action gamer needs the speed, a key feature of the Saitek pad. Also compatible with Macintosh OS9, the Action Pad features USB (Universal Serial Bus) for quick and easy setup. The Action Pad comes with powerful Saitek Gaming Extensions software that allows players to create new game maneuvers to outwit the enemy.
Ergonomically designed, the Action Pad has an 8-way hat and six programmable buttons that work with the shift key to produce 38 commands. The thumb wheel adds even greater game control.
$29.95
|
11/12/2000 - A left-handed controller with a bunch of buttons, a Hat Switch, and a Throttle \ Scroll Wheel! Looked pretty kewl to me BUT I am NOT left-handed… hmmmm.
|
|
KOGGS Review Breakdown
|
81.5
|
| First Impression |
At first look \ feel, the thing is packaged nicely, -easily removable- the cord is packed neatly underneath the unit thus making it easy to store excess unwanted cord out of sight. It is not very heavy but sits on 5 rubber pads preventing it from moving around on your desktop. And with my hand resting on top of it, that baby wasn't going anywhere! My hand --left hand-- fitted perfectly on this thing! No slips no sliding, and when I took my hand off of it, I was impressed on how easily it was to re-attain hand position. But it's still left-handed. If it is supposed to replace the keyboard, why is it a left-hander! Would've been nice to have made it righty \ lefty adjustable. |
7.5
|
| Software Installation |
The Saitek Action Pad has a USB connection making it easy to install, but you must follow the instructions from the manual upon first installation or you might run into some unwanted problems. I must say, I am the type to want to plug it in, load the drivers and GO! --Not so here. You must follow the install instructions, read the manual, set up a profile for your particular game, read more of the manual -yawn!-- and if you don't remember what keys do what in the game your setting this up for, you must read more of that other game manual for the particular settings. READ READ READ!!! WHAAAAAA!!
Okay, so the whole thing really wasn't that bad, I just like complaining! :} There is a Game Profiler Wizard which allows you to download particular profiles for your favorite games from either their website or the CD itself. Overall, a bit of a learning curve here but once you understand it, setting up a profile is not that tough.
|
7.5
|
| Software Controller Interface |
The Saitek Action Pad's software recognizes the games already installed on your computer and, where possible, it automatically associates pre-written 'Profiles' to each one. So when you start up a game, Saitek's Smart Technology automatically adds the correct profile for that game. If you need to add a profile for a new game, there are over 200 of them to choose from. You just follow the Game Profiler Wizard and have one imported in from their website or from the CD itself. If you don't see your game on their list then you can set it up manually yourself. You can virtually set this thing up any way you darn well please! The programmability of any one of the buttons and the top hat is endless. I even set up the throttle wheel as a one axis mouse. Overall, as stated before, after learning how to use it, I was very happy with the end results. |
9.5
|
| Game Included |
No games included however it does ship with the profiles, DirectX 7.0a, Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0, IE 4.0, and a shareware version of Paint Shop Pro. I was a bit disappointed here. I just reformatted my machine and was hoping the CD provided a game that was all set up and ready to go! --arrrrgh! |
5.0
|
| Help Instructions |
Without the manual we'd all be left scratching our heads and then pounding our fists on our desks screaming at our monitors! The manual is very well written, easy to follow, but has no Tech Support phone numbers available. It does however point you to their web site, which contains information regarding products, configurations, links, and updates. |
9.0
|
| Comfort |
Form fitting to your left hand with all buttons and controls easily accessible. Very light weight but with the 5 rubber grip pads on the bottom and the weight of your hand, it will rarely slip away from you. Could use a bit more weight… I did say rarely :) |
9.5
|
| Construction (Quality) |
Well, I have been using the daylights out of it, and it still looks and feels like brand new! It's made of a sturdy hard plastic with the throttle wheel and the top hat covered with a layer of rubber. All the buttons are plastic, as is the base that your palm rests on so under normal use you shouldn't have any worries of it breaking. The cord coils up neatly underneath the base in a grooved, hollowed out bottom making storage neat and clean. Could have used a slice of rubber underneath the base of my palm for added comfort and stability. |
9.0
|
| Looks |
Looks like an overgrown mouse on steroids! Not bad looking at all but nothing special to look at here. |
7.5
|
| Value (price for what you get) |
The Action Pad is a great value for what you are able to do with it. If you like first person RPG's then you will love the programmability of this game pad. Add all this up, including shifted controls, you end up with what can be an unexhaustive supply of controls. |
8.0
|
| Recommend to Others |
Not much of a Frag man here but if your into those type of games I think one would highly enjoy the multitude of configurations one can make. |
9.0
|
RECOMMENDATIONS to the Vendor
KOGGS
-
A backstop for the base of your hand at the base of the Action Pad would serve to be effective if you had to extend your hand to reach it.
-
Adding a bit more weight to the base would also give a more stable feeling to it.
|
