Review: Saitek GM2 Action Pad and Mouse
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There are relatively few controllers designed specifically for first person tactical simulations. Considering that Rainbow 6/Rainbow 6 Gold alone probably outsold the entire flight simulation category in the past year or two, one would think that there would be a plethora of purpose-built game pads or other types of controllers for this genre. There are certainly many types of joysticks, throttles, and rudder pedals on the market for simmers, yet there are only a couple of controllers that could be considered dedicated first person shooter devices.
The Panther XL and Thrustmaster Fragmaster
Thrustmaster created the "Fragmaster" a while back, and it was a flop in the eyes of the community. The Fragmaster design was not a popular one, as it resembled a steering wheel more than it did anything else. It was not only difficult and un-intuitive to use, it was a complete nightmare to configure. Madcatz has their "Panther XL", which is a combination of a trackball and joystick. The Panther user uses the left sided trackball for aiming, and the right-sided joystick for movement. Most gamers use the mouse as their aiming device, and it is for the most part used on the right side of the keyboard. We've played at 100+ player lan meets, and not once have we seen a left handed player using the mouse on the left side. Needless to say, the Panther is just as un-intuitive as the Fragmaster since it reverses the sides which 99% of the players have their movement and mouse controls on.
Enter Saitek, with their new GM2 Action Pad and Mouse. The GM2 takes a somewhat different approach then its predecessors by not attempting to integrate the typical keyboard/mouse combination into a single gaming device. Instead, the folks at Saitek have been intelligent enough to realize that most gamers use their left hand for movement control while the right controls aiming via the mouse, and that the hands are about the width of the keyboard apart. The GM2 is two devices, and the ability to separately place them on the desktop in accordance with each gamer's personal preference was obviously realized as a must during development.
GM2 FeaturesThe GM2 Mouse is connected to the Action Pad, and the pad is connected to a USB port. Gamers who do not wish use GM2 mouse have the option to use their current mouse, since the GM2 doesn't deactivate any of the other mice currently connected to the PC. The GM2 Action Pad is controlled with the left hand, and it effectively replaces the keyboard.
Programming
- USB Connection
- 2 4/8 Way Hat Switches: One Mouse, One Pad
- 6 Programmable Buttons (up to 40 commands with shift key enabled)
- Programmable with Saitek Gaming Extensions
- One Thumbwheel, with selectable auto-centering
Using Saitek Gaming Extensions (SGE), the GM2 is a snap to program, yet some very powerful commands can be entered into the device. Quake players who wish to program a "rocket-jump" or "circle-strafe" type command into one of the buttons, wheels, or hats will have no trouble doing so, and there is already some custom templates available on Saitek's website. The shape and button placement of this device makes it clear that Saitek intends for most users of the GM2 to control their in game movement with the 4/8-way hat switch on the pad. We've experimented with several different configurations, and we've found that we can program the buttons surrounding the hat to a configuration that is similar to the old keyboard stalwart "W,A,S,D" or arrow keys for movement, and some people may find this a bit easier to use. That said, the hat is very precise, and a mushroom shaped insert can be attached to give a convexly shaped surface that sits about ¼ inch higher than the normal hat surface. After a few hours of using the hat, we had little trouble adapting to this new way of controlling our movement in games such as Delta Force and Rogue Spear.
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