Microsoft Hardware's Got Game: SideWinder Line is Back With a Mouse That Defines Customized Gaming Control |
| Microsoft company logo. (PRNewsFoto)
REDMOND, WA UNITED STATES | |||
SideWinder Mouse is group's first gaming mouse built in-house from the
ground up.
LEIPZIG, Germany, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today at the Games
Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Microsoft Hardware debuts the revival of
its SideWinder(TM) line with its first gaming mouse built from the ground
up -- a product that transcends the mouse category to become a customizable
gaming system.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )
The Microsoft(R) SideWinder Mouse was created to meets gamers'
individual needs, providing custom tuning tools and a design for ultimate
handling. The first mouse to wear the coveted SideWinder name, this
top-of-the-line gaming machine sets itself apart from the competition with
never-before-seen features that gamers want, uncovered during worldwide
research. Features include one-touch access to Windows Vista(R) Games
Explorer, Quick Turn -- a performance-enhancing macro that lets users check
their perimeter from wherever they are in-game -- the first-ever LCD on a
gaming mouse, and a cable anchor that doubles as an accessories storage
box.
"We're taking gaming mice to a new level with a mouse created in direct
response to gamer feedback from all over the world; it offers superior
customization and performance handling," said Bill Jukes, product marketing
manager for Microsoft Hardware. "We found that gamers are a lot like
performance car enthusiasts. They like to tweak and tune their mouse to get
it just right, and today we are giving them the tools to create a
personalized experience that lets them focus on what's important: being at
the top of their game."
The SideWinder Mouse marks the return of the popular SideWinder line of
gaming peripherals, established in 1995 and known for its top-notch PC
gaming peripherals, including game pads, joysticks and steering wheels. The
SideWinder Mouse adds to the line of PC gaming products and reinforces
Microsoft Corp.'s continued commitment to PC gamers.
Nearly 5,000 Mice in One
The SideWinder Mouse lets gamers create an individual gaming system
with tuning options that allow them to personalize their SideWinder Mouse,
including an adjustable weight tray, changeable mice feet with three
materials for glide preference, DPI control and new software features. The
SideWinder Mouse lets gamers record their own macros by tying a sequence of
actions into one press of a button. With all the features in this new
mouse, gamers can transform their mouse into nearly 5,000 different mice
from a single system.
These new features allow gamers to do the following:
-- Turn on a dime. The new Quick Turn feature -- a performance-enhancing
macro -- is built right into the software and lets users check their
perimeter at any angle from wherever they are in the game with the
click of a button.
-- Choose the perfect weight. The SideWinder Mouse has a weight cartridge
system and comes with four weights (up to 30 grams) so gamers can
customize the weight of the mouse to their preference.
-- Choose from three sets of feet to match gameplay preference. The
SideWinder Mouse ships with three sets of feet, offering varied levels
of glide depending on personal preference and the surface used.
-- Instantly switch between DPI settings. A 2,000-DPI laser engine
delivers super-fast response time, and three DPI switches behind the
scroll wheel allow gamers to toggle between low-, medium- and
high-sensitivity settings -- in-game, at any time.
The First Gaming Mouse System
The SideWinder Mouse is more than a gaming mouse -- it's a gaming
system. To complement the customizable options, this mouse has the
following three innovative features to make it the ultimate gaming package:
-- LCD. With the first LCD on a gaming mouse, gamers can easily keep
track of key gaming actions -- including their DPI and steps for
recording macros -- without being distracted from the game.
-- Cable management system. The unique cable management system offers the
feel of a wireless mouse with the connection speed of a wired mouse by
holding the extra cable and preventing it from getting caught on other
items on the desk. The cable management system doubles as a storage
compartment for extra weights and feet.
-- Quick-Launch. The new Quick-Launch button demonstrates the exceptional
way in which Microsoft ties hardware and software together. When the
Quick-Launch button is pressed from within Windows Vista, it will
bring up the Windows Vista Games Explorer so gamers can instantly see
the games available in their PC's game library.
"Great games on Windows(R) deserve great controllers, and the new
Sidewinder Mouse delivers," said Kevin Unangst, director of Games for
Windows at Microsoft. "The SideWinder Mouse is an ideal companion for every
game, from your favorite PC classics to the upcoming releases 'Crysis,'
'Hellgate: London,' 'World in Conflict' and more."
Designed for Performance Handling
The SideWinder Mouse also features a unique design with key ergonomic
elements designed to allow gamers hours of comfortable play. Features
include the following:
-- Two vertical side buttons. This side placement allows gamers to feel
exactly which button they're pressing, thereby reducing the risk of
executing the wrong command midgame.
-- A wide, detented metal scroll wheel. The wheel design helps gamers
feel each movement as they scroll, and the wide metal finish adds
elegance and control to the mouse.
-- Balanced weight. Designed for quick, balanced, comfortable precision
gaming action and painted black with a crimson-red stripe, the
SideWinder Mouse has gamers in mind from top to bottom.
Pricing and Availability
Microsoft SideWinder Mouse will be widely available in October 2007 for
an estimated retail price of $79.95 (U.S.).* The SideWinder Mouse is now
available for special pre-sale on Amazon.com and will ship in October when
the product is widely released. More information about the Microsoft
SideWinder Mouse can be found on
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/gaming/sidewinder and
http://www.siteofchampions.com.
About Microsoft Hardware
For 25 years, the Hardware group has employed innovative engineering,
cutting-edge industrial design and extensive usability testing to create
products of exceptional quality and durability that enhance the software
experience and strengthen the connection between consumers and their PC.
Microsoft Hardware leads the industry in ergonomic engineering, industrial
design, and hardware/software compatibility, offering consumers an easier,
more convenient and more enjoyable computing experience. Microsoft
IntelliMouse(R) Explorer, which was launched in 1999, earned a place on
PCWorld.com's December 2005 list of "The 50 Greatest Gadgets of the Past 50
Years" as the first mainstream optical mouse that "brought gunk-free
pointing devices" to a broad consumer base. More information about the
Hardware group is available at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize
their full potential.
* Price is U.S. estimated retail price. Actual retail price may vary.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
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