Editing Microsoft SideWinder (section)

{{short description|Digital video game controllers}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2008}}
[[File:MS Sidewinder logo.png|thumb|Original Microsoft Sidewinder logo]]
'''Microsoft SideWinder''' is a former brand name for a family of [[video gaming]] peripherals developed by [[Microsoft]] for [[Personal computer|PC]]s. It was initially marketed from 1995<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft Hardware 25th Anniversary|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/4/b/8/4b8b3a0c-1d6f-46be-9bd1-e30a208d67e7/Hardware%20Timeline.pdf|publisher=Download.microsoft.com|access-date=19 October 2014}}</ref> to 2003 consisting of [[game controller]]s, then again from 2007 until the early 2010s with gaming [[Computer mouse|mice]] and keyboards.
[[File:Ms sidewinder.jpg|thumb|First-generation Microsoft SideWinder gamepad]]

The term "SideWinder" describes many types of Microsoft's PC game controllers including [[joystick]]s, [[gamepad]]s and [[steering wheel]]s. Several types of joysticks were made, including the Force Feedback 2, the 3D Pro, and the regular SideWinder joystick. Also, several types of gamepads were made, such as the original [[game port]] version, a [[plug-and-play]] game port version, and the [[USB]] version. Steering wheels are the Precision Racing Wheel and the Force Feedback Wheel variants which include throttle and brake pedals. The family also includes some more exotic devices such as the SideWinder Game Voice system and the SideWinder Strategic Commander.

The SideWinder family of products was discontinued by Microsoft in 2003, citing poor sales.<ref>{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Ian|title=Game over for Microsoft PC gear|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/technology/game-over-for-microsoft-pc-gear/article1164131/|publisher=The Globe and Mail|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> The company since re-entered the gaming hardware market, attempting to design a standardized gamepad for [[Windows Vista]] with both the [[Xbox 360 Components And Accessories#Controllers|wired Xbox 360 controller]] and the [[Xbox 360 Components And Accessories#Wireless Gaming Receiver|Wireless Gaming Receiver]] that allows the use of the wireless Xbox 360 controller on a PC. In August 2007, Microsoft announced they were relaunching the SideWinder line of gaming peripherals, starting with the SideWinder Mouse. The mouse was given an MSRP of $80 and a launch date of October 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=Microsoft SideWinder Mouse For Gamers Announced|date=22 August 2007 |url=http://www.ecoustics.com/products/microsoft-sidewinder-mouse-gamers/|publisher=Ecoustics.com|access-date=2015-11-11}}</ref>