The Gravis Stinger is a serial-port gamepad designed specifically for laptop computers, where built-in pointing devices often fall short for gaming. Manufactured by Advanced Gravis Computer Technology, Ltd., it connects via a standard 9-pin female serial connector and draws power from the port, requiring no batteries. The pad itself is compact: roughly 5 inches wide, 4.5 inches deep, and an inch thick, with a 4-foot cable. It features a ball-and-socket D-pad on the left, six general-purpose buttons on the right, start and select buttons along the center, and two flipper buttons on the front edge. All buttons use rubberized contact switches for tactile feedback. Internally, the Stinger relies on standard components housed in a sturdy plastic case meant to survive travel. The Stinger can emulate a mouse, a standard gamepad D-pad, or a joystick, making it compatible with a wide range of Windows titles. It comes with setup software that allows programming up to ten button locations with keystrokes or mouse commands, and includes ready-made profiles for popular games like Quake II and Unreal. Installation is not plug-and-play: users must configure BIOS serial port settings, disable infrared support, and ensure a game port driver is present before running the installer, a process that can be daunting for non-technical users. The Stinger carries a three-year warranty and retailed for $39.99 USD.