Rating: 
Summary: Microsoft's loose hat...
Review: First of all, this is to say this is the only controller of its kind, and very good at what it does for FPS games. But, #1, the buttons could be laid out better, and #2, the hat switch will fall off. It gets expensive always replacing the controller, so here's an easy way to fix the hat switch for good:
Once it breaks off, get yourself 4 things: a medium paper clip, a tube of superglue, wire cutters, and a pin vice (one of those tiny hand-drills, with a bit the size of the paperclip wire). Cut up the paper clip so you have three pieces each a half-inch long. Drill three holes in the hat-switch base, laid out like a triangle, and three corresponding holes in the place where it broke off. Apply superglue to the ends of the paperclip peices, and insert them into the hat switch holes, then line them up and glue it into the holes in the base. Voila! It will never break on you again, and you can enjoy your Dual Strike at least until someone comes out with something better.
Rating:
Summary: Microsoft's loose hat...
Review: First of all, this is to say this is the only controller of its kind, and very good at what it does for FPS games. But, #1, the buttons could be laid out better, and #2, the hat switch will fall off. It gets expensive always replacing the controller, so here's an easy way to fix the hat switch for good:
Once it breaks off, get yourself 4 things: a medium paper clip, a tube of superglue, wire cutters, and a pin vice (one of those tiny hand-drills, with a bit the size of the paperclip wire). Cut up the paper clip so you have three pieces each a half-inch long. Drill three holes in the hat-switch base, laid out like a triangle, and three corresponding holes in the place where it broke off. Apply superglue to the ends of the paperclip peices, and insert them into the hat switch holes, then line them up and glue it into the holes in the base. Voila! It will never break on you again, and you can enjoy your Dual Strike at least until someone comes out with something better.
Rating: 
Summary: The Right Controller for the right game...
Review: For those of you who remember a similar tilt axis namco controller for the playstation will already know that this controller was made for, Racing games. The one I bought it for was Episode 1 PODRACER, just sit back and play with an almost uncanny similarity to the actual game vehicle. Sure it takes getting used to but it is definately worth the time. It's not going to replace the keyboard and mouse for games like Quake and Unreal but I have yet to find a controller that does.The controller is great for freeing yourself from your desk to the comfort of your couch with one device to control. I have successfully configured the game to play for games like Soul Reaver, Slave Zero and Star Seige. -=j=-
Rating: 
Summary: Good While It Lasted....
Review: I agree with all of the reviews up until now. The product was GREAT for playing games like Quake 2 and other shoot 'em ups. But, the fun only lasted until the thumb directional pad fell off. After looking at how it happened, it's easy to see that it (the thumb pad) was definitely under-engineered. It's only held on by a small piece of plastic (approx. 1/8" in diameter), and it is easily broken during normal gameplay. I got more than 10 hours of use, but it definitely didn't last as long as I expected from a product from Microsoft. I have purchased other Microsoft hardware, and I'm very happy with the durability of those, just not the Dual Strike.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting Product
Review: I bought this after reading the review in MaximumPC. They were right -- you have to use this controller for about a week before you get the hang of it. I only use it with Q3A and it was frustrating at first, but now I could not imagine playing without it.
Rating:
Summary: Great controller, wish it was made better though.
Review: I found my Siderwinder:Dual Strike at a local Biglots for $10. It was and still is the best damn controller I've ever had. Though I do have a gripe about the hatswitch. I not only used my DS to play driving games like Need For Speed and Knight Rider, but I also used it for my SNES and Game Boy Advance emulation. I configured the hat to be my D-pad, this worked for a while and I was happy until the switch broke off.
Now it has a screw in it, and the up direction doesn't work anymore. I still use the controller but only to play racing games and Quake. My suggestion to Sidewinder would be to make a different version of this gaming tool but with an NES cross-type directional pad instead of the hard plastic hat. Aside from that one defect this controller kicks the crap out of any game-pad or wheel that I've ever used.
You can map any button to any key. You can use the swivel as your mouse, which is very useful in First Person Shooters. You can also use the shift key which can allow you to have two different functions for one button. Being able to map buttons to keys is great for ZSNES or any game that will let you choose which key does what.
Maybe if we sent enough emails to the Microsoft people they would remake this awesome controller.
Rating:
Summary: Versatile for several uses.
Review: I got this because I still am not happy with my other game pads and I have never been a huge fan of the mouse keyboard game playing combo. I have one of the original gravis gamepads which I have had forever which is fine for the old shoot em console type games, but I bought a Sidewinder freestyle pro in the hopes of being able to use it for 3D and racing games and stuff and it just never did it for me. I could never control it to get it to do what I wanted. This controller is different though. It really works for me. Basically the way I see it is the joint in the middle does what I was hoping the freestyle pro's motion sensor would do for me. So far I have tried it with Thief, Duke Nukem, Midtown Madness, and Need for Speed, and it works admirably on all of them. I can actually steer, shift, and use my brakes while driving down the hairpin curves in the mountains, and I can lock in a target with the bow and arrow in Thief in the blink of an eye. I didn't think it took all that long to get used to it. The joint isn't quite what it looks like though. It looks like a ball that could pivot in all directions when in actuality it is just an X and a Y axis. The fact that it looks like it can pivot, but can't is the only thing that made it hard to get used to. The ball shape is for asthetics only. I think that is actually better for me though because it makes it easier to control. Also, the freestyle pro in my opinion was big and although I read a lot of reviews of people who like it I always found it awkward even though I have pretty big hands. This pad isn't like that though. Although it actually is as big as if not bigger, it is comfortable and easy to grasp. Everything just seems to be in the right place. For me, I think this is the best gamepad I have used so far. I have no regrets buying it. I was ready to buy a steering wheel, but this was half as much and seems to be an acceptable stand in........ for now anyway.
Rating: 
Summary: BUYERS WARNING and I love it
Review: I have now owned 3 dual strikes the thumb pad is *very* poorlycrafted. The store I bought it from offered a replacement guaranteefor 4.00 so I bought it, and I'm glad Ill be getting my fourth dual strike today. Why you say because is an incredible tool...If it wasn't for the thumb pad I'd throw my mouse, keyboard and joystick out the window. Its a dream pad...If Microsoft can beef up the thumb pad they have a serious winner. If not, Ill just keep exchanging them for a year then get my money back! Thumb pad breaks off way to easily...with maybe 10 hours of game play consistently Don't buy one without a purchase extended warranty. In fact don't buy one unless you have lots of free time to keep exchanging it. END
Rating: 
Summary: Direction of the Thumb
Review: I picked up one of these controllers several months ago, just after it first came out. I used it to play UNREAL Tournament and QUAKE III Arena. I really enjoyed the ability that a direction button (left thumb) and a mouse-type trigger movement (right hand)gave to strafing. My ability to move, shoot, change weapons and generally avoid other's shots simultaneously skyrocketed. As well, the programmability of the mechanism and option to change certain features of the DUAL STRIKE in the software interface allowed me a great deal of comfort in customizing to my own playing needs. Though my overall impression was favorable, there were small, annoying problems. First, no lefties. You gotta learn right-handed triggering. I'm right handed, but I had gotten used to moving with arrow keys and a mouse, which righties use right-handed. And if I didn't shoot with the mouse, I'd shoot left-handed with the keyboard. Second, the left-handed movement button is like a joystick, you just set your thumb on it and move the thumb around. Sounds cool, and it is, because you get that 8-way movement without missing a beat. But I think the plastic they use in the manufacture of it is a little weak, or I'm super-strong. I broke the button off twice. I'm good with super-glue, so I fixed it twice. I noticed that the shaft the button is attached to is a little long, which might contribute to the problem. Third, and finally, it is a Microsoft and a USB product. That means that it will usually be first on the list of gaming devices and when you least expect it your other USB devices will stop responding , in favor of the Dual Strike. And don't forget that the targeting swivel on the right-hand is, technically, a mouse input. Yes, you will have to abandon your mouse use and just get used to using the controller exclusively. Oh, and I did have problems outside of games. I sometimes couldn't use my mouse, but I could use the DUAL STRIKE. But that can be remedied pretty easily by turning the DUAL STRIKE off in your device manager. USB makes this a breeze to turn off and on without rebooting and it still works.
Rating:
Summary: Direction of the Thumb
Review: I picked up one of these controllers several months ago, just after it first came out. I used it to play UNREAL Tournament and QUAKE III Arena. I really enjoyed the ability that a direction button (left thumb) and a mouse-type trigger movement (right hand)gave to strafing. My ability to move, shoot, change weapons and generally avoid other's shots simultaneously skyrocketed. As well, the programmability of the mechanism and option to change certain features of the DUAL STRIKE in the software interface allowed me a great deal of comfort in customizing to my own playing needs. Though my overall impression was favorable, there were small, annoying problems. First, no lefties. You gotta learn right-handed triggering. I'm right handed, but I had gotten used to moving with arrow keys and a mouse, which righties use right-handed. And if I didn't shoot with the mouse, I'd shoot left-handed with the keyboard. Second, the left-handed movement button is like a joystick, you just set your thumb on it and move the thumb around. Sounds cool, and it is, because you get that 8-way movement without missing a beat. But I think the plastic they use in the manufacture of it is a little weak, or I'm super-strong. I broke the button off twice. I'm good with super-glue, so I fixed it twice. I noticed that the shaft the button is attached to is a little long, which might contribute to the problem. Third, and finally, it is a Microsoft and a USB product. That means that it will usually be first on the list of gaming devices and when you least expect it your other USB devices will stop responding , in favor of the Dual Strike. And don't forget that the targeting swivel on the right-hand is, technically, a mouse input. Yes, you will have to abandon your mouse use and just get used to using the controller exclusively. Oh, and I did have problems outside of games. I sometimes couldn't use my mouse, but I could use the DUAL STRIKE. But that can be remedied pretty easily by turning the DUAL STRIKE off in your device manager. USB makes this a breeze to turn off and on without rebooting and it still works.
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