Difference between revisions of "Gravis GamePad"

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[[Image:Gravis PC GamePad - Controller.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The Gravis PC GamePad.]]
 
[[Image:Gravis PC GamePad - Controller.jpg|thumb|256x256px|The Gravis PC GamePad.]]
  
The '''Gravis GamePad''' is a video game controller created by [[Advanced Gravis Computer Technology]] and released in 1991. It has an 8-way D-pad, 4 buttons, an optional joystick attachment that screws into the D-pad, a switch to make the gamepad left-handed, and a switch to use four buttons or two buttons and two turbo buttons. It was originally made for PC-compatible computers and used a DA-15 connector, but additional versions were made for the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and [[Macintosh]], and the design was re-purposed for the [[Phillips CD-i]]. A later design was made called the [[Gravis GamePad Pro]].
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The '''Gravis GamePad''' is a [[video game controller]] created by [[Advanced Gravis Computer Technology]] and released in 1991. It has an 8-way D-pad, 4 buttons, an optional joystick attachment which screws into the D-pad, a switch to make the gamepad left-handed, and a switch to use four buttons or two buttons and two turbo buttons. It was originally made for PC-compatible computers, but additional versions were made for the [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], and [[Macintosh Classic|Macintosh]], and the design was re-purposed for the [[CDI 910]]. A later design was made called the [[Gravis GamePad Pro]].
  
The original PC release included a shareware copy of ''[[Commander Keen: Marooned On Mars]]'' while a later PC release included a shareware copy of ''[[Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle]]'', slightly modified to make better use of the Gravis GamePad.
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The PC version has a male DA-15 connector while the Mac, Amiga, and Atari ST versions have a DE-9 female connector.
  
==Status==
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The original PC release included a shareware copy of ''[[Commander Keen: Marooned on Mars]]'' while a later PC release included a shareware copy of ''[[Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle]]'', slightly modified to make better use of the Gravis GamePad.
I bought the PC version of this gamepad at [[Babbages]] around 1992, and my version came with ''Secret of the Oracle'' on 3.5" floppy disk. I no longer have either.
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==Personal==
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I bought the PC version of this gamepad at [[Babbages]] around 1992, and my version came with ''Secret of the Oracle'' on 3.5" floppy disk, but I no longer have either. I guess my GamePad broke at some point (probably by me throwing it), because I have a memory of going to the store to buy a replacement GamePad (and being upsold to the [[Gravis GamePad Pro]]).
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I used to own a Gravis GamePad, but no longer do. At some point I must have broke it and thrown it out or lost it.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
* This was one of the first PC gamepads made to support four buttons, most PC controllers only had two.
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* This was one of the first PC gamepads made to support four buttons; most PC controllers of the time only had two.
* For the few games specifically designed to work with the gamepad, like the included copy of ''Secret of the Oracle'', it's much better to use than the keyboard or traditional two-button joysticks.
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* For the few games specifically designed to work with the gamepad, like the included copy of ''Secret of the Oracle'', it's vastly superior to the traditional two-button joystick, or, shudder, the keyboard.
 
* The ability to switch to a left-handed gamepad was a very cool feature, though, I don't know if left-handed people actually use it.
 
* The ability to switch to a left-handed gamepad was a very cool feature, though, I don't know if left-handed people actually use it.
 
* The turbo switch is really nice, although it only works in two-button mode.
 
* The turbo switch is really nice, although it only works in two-button mode.
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===Bad===
 
===Bad===
 
* The D-pad is pretty awful. You often find your character moving at an angle when you're trying to move in a straight path.
 
* The D-pad is pretty awful. You often find your character moving at an angle when you're trying to move in a straight path.
* Very few games took advantage of the extra two buttons.
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* Since 4-buttons weren't standard, very few new games took advantage of the extra two buttons, and even fewer older games were patched to take advantage of it.
 
* The detachable joystick is awkward to use, so it's usually left off. Unfortunately, this leaves an open hole in the D-pad which is uncomfortable on your thumb.
 
* The detachable joystick is awkward to use, so it's usually left off. Unfortunately, this leaves an open hole in the D-pad which is uncomfortable on your thumb.
  
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Gravis PC GamePad - Box - Front.jpg|The front of the box.
 
Gravis PC GamePad - Box - Front.jpg|The front of the box.
 
Gravis PC GamePad - Box - Back.jpg|The back of the box.
 
Gravis PC GamePad - Box - Back.jpg|The back of the box.
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Gravis PC GamePad - Controller.jpg|The controller.
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Gravis PC GamePad - Box - Front - Revisions.jpg|Later revisions to the box design.
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Gravis Mac GamePad - Box - Front.jpg|The front of the Mac box.
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Gravis Mac GamePad - Box - Front - Revision.jpg|Later Mac box revision.
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Gravis GamePad - Box - Front.jpg|The front of the Amiga/Atari ST box.
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Gravis Gamepad - Manual - Amiga-Atari.pdf|Manual - Amiga/Atari ST.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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==Download==
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This contains the v2.1 utilities with ''Secret of the Oracle''.
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* [[Media:Gravis Utilities v2.1.zip|Download]] ([[:File:Gravis Utilities v2.1.zip|Info]]) - Version 2.1.
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
This is a table of games known to have direct support for the Gravis PC GamePad. For a more complete list, see [http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,26 MobyGames].
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This is a table of games that are important to me which have direct support for the Gravis PC GamePad. For a more complete list, see [http://www.mobygames.com/attribute/sheet/attributeId,26 MobyGames].
  
 
{| class="wikitable" |
 
{| class="wikitable" |
! Game
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! Game !! Notes
! Notes
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle]]'' || id released a special version.
 
| ''[[Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle]]'' || id released a special version.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| ''[[Jazz Jackrabbit]]'' ||  
 
| ''[[Jazz Jackrabbit]]'' ||  
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|-
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| ''[[Spear of Destiny]]'' ||
 +
|-
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| ''[[Terminal Velocity]]'' ||
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|-
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| ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' ||
 
|}
 
|}
  

Latest revision as of 16:43, 25 September 2023

The Gravis PC GamePad.

The Gravis GamePad is a video game controller created by Advanced Gravis Computer Technology and released in 1991. It has an 8-way D-pad, 4 buttons, an optional joystick attachment which screws into the D-pad, a switch to make the gamepad left-handed, and a switch to use four buttons or two buttons and two turbo buttons. It was originally made for PC-compatible computers, but additional versions were made for the Amiga, Atari ST, and Macintosh, and the design was re-purposed for the CDI 910. A later design was made called the Gravis GamePad Pro.

The PC version has a male DA-15 connector while the Mac, Amiga, and Atari ST versions have a DE-9 female connector.

The original PC release included a shareware copy of Commander Keen: Marooned on Mars while a later PC release included a shareware copy of Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle, slightly modified to make better use of the Gravis GamePad.

Personal

I bought the PC version of this gamepad at Babbages around 1992, and my version came with Secret of the Oracle on 3.5" floppy disk, but I no longer have either. I guess my GamePad broke at some point (probably by me throwing it), because I have a memory of going to the store to buy a replacement GamePad (and being upsold to the Gravis GamePad Pro).

I used to own a Gravis GamePad, but no longer do. At some point I must have broke it and thrown it out or lost it.

Review

Good

  • This was one of the first PC gamepads made to support four buttons; most PC controllers of the time only had two.
  • For the few games specifically designed to work with the gamepad, like the included copy of Secret of the Oracle, it's vastly superior to the traditional two-button joystick, or, shudder, the keyboard.
  • The ability to switch to a left-handed gamepad was a very cool feature, though, I don't know if left-handed people actually use it.
  • The turbo switch is really nice, although it only works in two-button mode.

Bad

  • The D-pad is pretty awful. You often find your character moving at an angle when you're trying to move in a straight path.
  • Since 4-buttons weren't standard, very few new games took advantage of the extra two buttons, and even fewer older games were patched to take advantage of it.
  • The detachable joystick is awkward to use, so it's usually left off. Unfortunately, this leaves an open hole in the D-pad which is uncomfortable on your thumb.

Ugly

  • While no one individual flaw ruins the device, all its minor flaws make it a pretty bad product.

Media

Download

This contains the v2.1 utilities with Secret of the Oracle.

Games

This is a table of games that are important to me which have direct support for the Gravis PC GamePad. For a more complete list, see MobyGames.

Game Notes
Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle id released a special version.
Jazz Jackrabbit
Spear of Destiny
Terminal Velocity
Wolfenstein 3D

Links

Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-MobyGames.png