The leader in PC joysticks has a few more controllers on the horizon
by Rob Watkins

E3 2005 - Saitek continues to make great gaming peripherals on the PC, and their new controllers are an example of how they are able to improve on previous designs. These new controllers have taken the basic design that everyone enjoyed from their previous controller and added things based on feedback from Saitek fans and other gamers.

The first of the three new controllers was the P990 Dual Analog. The layout and shape is very close to the P880 controller, still featuring programmable buttons, an 8-way d-pad, and 6 face buttons. But now Saitek has added 2 more shoulder buttons to give you 4 total as well as increased grip on the handles. They have also included an FPS button that switches the right joystick to mouse mode. So now you can seamlessly look behind you quickly, or even controller the desktop, with the push of a button. They have also added LED’s to the controller that not only make it look cool but also illuminate the buttons for night play.

Next is the improvement on the P2500 Rumble pad. The P2600 Rumble is built very much like the P990, all the buttons are in place, as well as the FPS button and increased grip. The only real difference here is the color scheme and the inclusion of rumble. So now you can get the great control and feel of the P990, but with the option of rumble in games that support it.

And finally there’s the P2900 Wireless. This controller, like the others, has the same button layout, the inclusion of the FPS button, the increased grip, and the LED’s. The color scheme is also different to set it apart from its brothers. The P2900 offers 2.4 GHz wireless RF technology, so you don’t have to be right up next to the receiver to get precise results on your button presses. You will be able to get up to 50 hours of game time on a single AA battery, and an indicator on the controller will let you know when the 50^th hour is near.

Saitek’s controller lineup looked to take their gaming support to another level. Keep an eye out for these controllers, cause they’re sure to provide quality control for a great price.