Gravis PC GamePad

The Gravis PC GamePad is a budget four-button gamepad for IBM-compatible PCs, released by Advanced Gravis Computer Technology in 1999. It connects through a standard 15-pin game port and requires no special drivers, as Windows 95 includes built-in support. The pad uses a simple digital directional pad and four face buttons in primary colors, with a slide switch that toggles between standard four-button operation and a turbo mode that roughly doubles the fire rate. A small removable mini joystick handle can be screwed into the center of the D-pad, though most users found it awkward and unnecessary.

Inside, the GamePad relies on a single circuit board with touch-sensitive etched contacts rather than traditional microswitches, a design choice that keeps costs down but gives the buttons a distinctly mushy feel. The light plastic shell is held together by seven visible screws and has textured friction bumps on the sides for grip. While the body itself proves rigid and resistant to bending or table-slamming abuse, the cord is poorly secured internally, it merely bends around a plastic post with no strain relief, making it surprisingly easy to yank free from the connector. The DB-15 plug also lacks screw-in knobs, so it can be accidentally dislodged during enthusiastic play.

Priced at $24.95, the Gravis PC GamePad was an accessible entry point for gamers curious about gamepads but unwilling to spend significantly more on a joystick or fancier pad. It shipped with a multilingual manual that included clear, step-by-step Windows 95 setup instructions but came with no bundled software.