Gaming on computers is as popular as ever, but if you are coming from a console or you are playing a game that does not work well with a keyboard and mouse, you may find it difficult to get used to the new controls. Fortunately there are a plethora of gamepads for PCs. Logitech has been know for making great gaming devices and they have taken the gamepad to the next level, they added a cooling fan.
Features
- ChillStream technology – Helps keep your hands cool during intense gaming sessions.
- Soft rubber grips – Enjoy superior comfort and better gaming control.
- High-performance analog sticks and triggers – For enhanced speed and precision.
The feature list for this device is not very long. The biggest feature is the cooling fan . Logitech calls this ChillStream. ChillStream uses a fan and specially paced vents to direct air at your hands so that they don’t get sweaty and hot, which we all know can cause you to slip off the trigger or stick and miss your target.
The soft rubber grips also help prevent slipping. Even with slightly wet hands you can still hold on tight because the rubber does not give
way.
Design
If you have ever seen an Xbox consol gaming machine then you will immediately notice that this controller looks very similar to the Xbox controller, I am sure this in not a coincidence. The controller is very comfortable and since it looks like the Xbox controller many people automatically identify it as a gaming device.
On top is where most of the buttons and controls are. There are two analog sticks, a directional pad and 8 buttons. Each game will use these buttons and sticks differently, but analog sticks are normally used to handle in-game movement, and the buttons in the top right of the pad are the main game buttons for firing guns, jumping, selecting menus and other things. There are also two additional buttons in front of the controller for your index fingers.
Top
Front
On each handle is a vent so that the air, which is pulled in with a fan from underneath the controller, can blow on the palms of your hands. This air is suppose to keep your hands cool and dry during intense game play. The fan has two settings and they are controlled by a small button on the left of the controller. The low setting is for quiet operation and low intensity games. The high setting is just the opposite. This setting really gets the fan going and that not only causes more air to flow, but also a lot more noise to come from the controller.
Side Vents
Bottom Fan
Performance
So how does it perform when put to the test? I tried it out with two different games, Lego StarWars II and Halo for the PC. Both games worked great. I was able to map all the controls I needed to the different buttons and play the game comfortably. I am more used to a keyboard and mouse so this took a little getting used to. Also, this controller is Vista ready so you will be able to plug it into a Vista machine and not have to worry about incompatibility.
Warranty and Support
The controller comes with a one year limited warranty. In my quest to see better warranties I will say that this one is weak. I want to see companies that take pride in their products and back them up with a good warranty which shows that pride.
Conclusion
If you are into gaming and you just cannot get used to the keyboard and mouse then this is for you. If you want to play a multiplayer game like LEGO StarWars then you will need room for two people. Sharing a keyboard with someone else is not good. The solution is to get one or two controllers, and then one person uses the keyboard and the other uses the controller, or you both use controllers. As always compare prices before purchasing.
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