Microsoft's Sidewinder Strategic Commander

Now, the real question... will this really help you in a game situation? Will it really replace my beloved keyboard? Personally, I use the strategic commander in situations where speed is critical and thinking isn't. The game start for most maps is basically the same. Start building villagers, get your scout moving, grab vils, build a house, find the sheep/turkeys, etc. This can be simplified to a few clicks of the strategic commander, and has helped me out for sure. Once the game gets going, however, I usually swicth back to the keyboard.

Another place that the Strategic Commander is great is in games (or even non games!) where speed is completely non critical. Take a game like Asheron's call for instance. I bound going from combat mode to normal mode and lying down to rest all in one button. I also bound zooming out the view, and then zooming back in, so I can quickly scan the area for what I'm looking for. Also, this may seem really dorky, but I even use the SC when I'm coding in C++ and Assembly for one of my classes! I have buttons set to write #define and if statements for me, as well as procedure descriptions! Are your tired of writing the a href="" tags for printing links on a webpage? You can bind anything to the commander, and the best part is that it doesn't noticeably affect performance of your programs.

There is certainly an argument AGAINST these types of devices. If they provide an advantage over others in multiplayer, is this fair? Macro devices and programs take all kinds of heat from fans and developers, especially in the MMORPG crowd, but will the strategic commander dominate the RTS world? In my opinion, it is fair. Who is going to tell space sim fans not to use joysticks? Not me. Whether it be software macro programs written by fans or hardware devices made by the game's publishers, it should be up to the game developers what is fair and what isn't. Although I don't condone the creation of programs like "trainers" or "cracks" that alter the game, I don't think it should be criminally illegal to create them (although you won't see links to anytning like that here on AOKH :). It is up to the game developer to look at what is out there, and decide whether or not their game has been negatively affected or not. The fans can agree or disagree with their support or lack thereof. In the end, sales are the final verdict passed on the decision made by the developers.

So, in short, I think the strategic commander is NOT unfair for the reasons stated above. The Strategic Commander is a handy little device for simplifying tedious tasks. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if MS releases a similar product aimed at non gamers, as this device appeals to me for a number of non gaming reasons.

System Requirements:

• Multimedia personal computer with Pentium 166 or higher processor and USB port
• Microsoft Windows® 98 operating system
• 16 MB of memory (RAM)
• 25 MB of available hard-disk space
• Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
• Super VGA, 256-color monitor
• Sound capability for instructional video
• Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or later browser software to view User Guide
• Pointing device, such as Microsoft Mouse or IntelliMouse® pointing device recommended
• rinter for profile printouts (optional)

Games immediately compatible with the Strategic Commander and their profiles:

• Age of Empires® II
• Age of Empires II: Turbo Start
• Age of Empires II: Military Age of Kings
• Alpha Centauri
• Asheron's Call® - Fighter
• Asheron's Call - Fighter Plus Magic
• Asheron's Call - War Magic
• Baldur's Gate
• Command and Conquer - Tiberian Sun Close
• Combat 3 Close
• Combat 3 - Expert
• Dungeon Keeper 2 - Keeper Mode
• Dungeon Keeper 2 - Possessed Mode
• Earth 2150
• Homeworld
• Invictus
• MechCommander™
• Metal Fatigue
• Myth 2
• Pharoah
• Populous
• SimCity 3000
• Star Trek Armada
• Star Trek Fleet Command
• Star Wars Force Commander
• Starcraft - Protoss Expert
• Starcraft - Terran Expert
• Starcraft - Zerg Expert
• Warzone 2100