Uploaded July 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Revisiting the 1997 Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Pro joystick for PC! This started off as simple FFB stick nostalgia, showing off a few Windows 95 games, annnd ended up going down rabbit holes on gameport adapters, DirectX, patent trolls, and the quiet demise/resurrection of force feedback flight sticks.

● LGR links:
patreon.com/LazyGameReviews
twitter.com/LazyGameReviews
facebook.com/LazyGameReviews

● Links to related videos and projects:

What's Inside the SideWinder FFB Pro Joystick
youtu.be/wVMvXAtynp0

What Happened to Force Feedback Flight Sticks
youtu.be/MZRNarZ8sNE

@RedKiteRender where the above footage originally came from:
youtube.com/@RedKiteRender

Necroware Gameport to USB Adapter
github.com/necroware/gameport-adapter

FFB-Vert
iowajohnsons.com/FFBVert/FFBVert.html

VP Force Rhino FFB
https://forum.dcs.world/topic/246873-honey-i-developed-ffb-joystick-diy

00:00 Introduction to SideWinder FFB
03:05 Unboxing a 1999 SideWinder FFB Pro
05:51 Different than rumble/haptics
08:42 Installation and setup process
10:06 Control Panel forces testing
14:16 Urban Assault
17:50 Combat Flight Simulator
20:55 MechWarrior 3
23:42 Star Wars Episode 1 Racer
26:49 Game port to USB adapters, Force Feedback 2
28:41 Why aren't force feedback joysticks made anymore?
31:01 The legacy of force feedback sticks, conclusions

#LGR #retro #computer #flight #simulator