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• HARDWARE REVIEW (Game) •

Lucas Arts makes Rogue Squadron Check price at Amazon.com

Manufacturer: Logitech Released: 9/1/2000

When my cosmopolitan brother came to town at Christmas and managed to pick up a highly sought-after Sony Playstation 2, I had my first opportunity to play games using a vibrating gamepad, and I caught the bug. I don't have that much time to play games but when I do, I appreciate every little nuance. So adding vibration feedback to a classic game like LucasArts' Rogue Squadron was an attractive proposition. A search for PC-compatible gamepads in this category led me to the WingMan RumblePad, a well-reviewed unit from Logitech. For only around $40 I snagged one at the local Staples and have never looked back.

The RumblePad has quite a surprising range of tactile feedback, from small buzzes when you fire your weapons to fairly severe shaking when you crash or explode. It also gives you the option of using an analog (smooth motion) joystick or digital "D-pad" under your left thumb, depending on your preference and the game you're playing, along with an analog stick under your right thumb for looking around in games that support "point-of-view hat" type controls. A plethora of buttons and software to assign or program them is also a bonus.

If you're looking to add a new dimension to your gaming then at this reasonable price you can't lose.