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The Gravis PC GamePad is a game port game controller produced by Advanced Gravis Computer Technology. It is probably the first gamepad for the IBM PC compatible on a market then dominated by joysticks. Included with the gamepad was a shareware Commander Keen game, episode 1, Marooned on Mars, which was later replaced with the shareware episode 4, Secret of the Oracle which supported all 4 buttons. The gamepad is no longer sold by Gravis.
The gamepad is similar to gamepads used by the SNES game console, although the 4 colored buttons are placed in a different configuration, the Start, Select and shoulder buttons are missing, and the shape of the controller itself differs. On the other side is a thumb-operated directional pad. In the centre of the D-pad is a hole where a small joystick can be attached. This way the gamepad can be placed on a desk and used as a more traditional joystick, although this does not work as well as simply using the regular D-pad.
Because a game port only allows for 2 buttons, but lets you connect 2 controllers using a splitter cable, the gamepad uses the 2 buttons for the unused second joystick feature to get a total of 4. This means that connecting a second gamepad, although possible, means each can only use 2 buttons. It also means games have to include support for this trick in order to make use of the 4 buttons, otherwise they will simply control any second player character available.
Both at the top and bottom of the gamepad are switches. One of them removes the normal functionality from 2 of the buttons, and turns them into autofire variants of the first 2. The other allows for left-handed operation by turning the workings of the D-pad and buttons upside down. Both switches can be used at the same time.
Variations
Later, two variations were made, called the GamePad Pro, and GamePad Pro USB, which resemble a PlayStation controller. The latter uses the USB port, and is the only original GamePad series still sold by Gravis. After that Gravis launched other series of more advanced gamepads for the Mac, the Amiga, and Atari ST as well.
The CD-i interactive multimedia CD player features a wired controller that is basically the original Gravis PC GamePad in a monochrome, grey color scheme. The Gravis logo is replaced with the Philips logo. There are only two button functions, and the switch at the bottom controls the cursor speed in menus. *
See also
External links
- Gravis Official site
- Review (Amiga/ST Version)
"Gravis PC GamePad"