Manufactured By:  CH Products

Retail Price:      $30

Review Date:  7-3-99

  Color isn't the only thing brought to the table with the USB Gamepad.  Because the gamepad is a USB device it is easy to use, accurate and allows you to easily use more than one at a time.  Up to 16 USB Gamepads can be connected and used at the same time.  The only limitation is available USB ports (resolved with a hub) and support for multiple controllers from within the game.

  The gamepad is nice and large.  The "wings" are comfortable to hold and each of the buttons are easily accessible and well placed.  The gamepad has 4 trigger style buttons for your index and middle fingers, 4 face buttons in a typical gamepad layout and 2 additional buttons near the center of the gamepad (that's 10 total).  The D-pad is diamond shaped and has a nice recess to drop your thumb down into.  The only thing missing from the gamepad is proportionate D-pad control.  A proportionate D-pad detects scaled input from the pad opposed to an "all or nothing" reading of the direction.  This typically gives greater accuracy.

  The surface of the controller, the D-pad and the buttons are all a very smooth plastic.  At first I thought this may hinder its use but the USB Gamepad is designed well enough that holding onto it in the heat of competition is not an issue. 

• 8 way D-pad
• 10 buttons (4 trigger and 8 on face)
• Digital USB interface

• Sport games (FIFA Soccer, NHL 99, Madden Football, etc.)
• Action Games (Star Wars: Episode I, Tomb Raider, etc.)

  I fired up the gamepads in sports sims including FIFA- Road to the World Cup 98, NHL 99 and NHL 98.  Having more than 4 buttons was a great advantage, allowing me to use some of the more advanced moves and access options previously available through the keyboard.  All of the sports games supported the multiple controllers and allowed use of all the gamepads buttons for each controller.

  I also used the USB Gamepad for Star Wars: Phantom Menace, a game I am deeply absorbed in.  Again, the availability of 10 buttons allowed better control of actions while playing the game.  Although the D-pad is not proportional control of the characters is accurate.  I was able to complete a tough run/jump/climb sequence that had previously put me at a standstill in the game.

  The USB Gamepads were also put to work on a few other non-typical gamepad games with varied success.  First person shooters didn't play too great because of the inability to easily look and aim but then again a gamepad is not the optimal controller for this style of game.  Racing games played fairly well except where precise throttle and brake control is required.  Motocross Madness was the best performer with the gamepad.

Overall, the performance of the USB Gamepad is great.  A gamepad may not be the answer to all your gaming control needs but it does a great job where appropriate.

Setup 100% -
  I love setting up USB devices.  With the system on- Plug in the gamepad, feed the CD player the Windows 98 CD when prompted and finish by check the game controller setup to assure all is fine.  The entire process is quick and easy. 

  The CH Products USB Gamepad will be identified as a HID Game Controller: 2 axis 10 buttons in the game controller setup window.  

Note:  If you connect the Gamepad in a different USB port or connect more than one you will need to repeat the setup procedure for each port the first time the port is used.

  The CH Products website has a huge amount of information on their products, including the CH USB Gamepad.  Included on the site are drivers, an on-line store, an extensive FAQ, and detailed product information.

• USB, easy to setup and use multiple controllers
• 10 well placed buttons

• D-pad is not proportionate