emugirl1994

Logitech F710 Gamepad Review

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emugirl1994

, 12-07-2011 at 06:34 PM (2575 Views)

Hello everyone, this is my first review EVER so feel free to criticize it.

Got a Logitech F710 for only $24.99 new from Amazon (I checked the price now and it's back up to $44.99, I must've gotten a fluke order). It says on the packaging that it works for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. It does work with Mac OSX, but you need to use a 3rd party application like GamePad Companion to map the controls onto the keyboard. It comes with a small CD (like the ones that came with the original R4 for mapping out controls for a DirectInput game).

My initial thoughts were that the controller is solidly built, a bit heavy, and some buttons are too clicky for my personal taste. It has the standard 4 face buttons (A, B, X, Y), 2 analog sticks, 8-way floating D-pad, 4 trigger buttons (LB, LT, RB, RT), vibration/mode buttons, start/back buttons, and this weird Logitech button in the middle. On the back of the controller in the middle of the trigger buttons is a 2-way switch for DirectInput and XInput games. I'm not familiar with the modes, but I believe DirectInput is for older games that don't support native gamepad and you can't use vibration feedback. The XInput mode is for games that support the gamepad without any additonal programming or configurations.

Since this is a wireless controller, it runs on 2 AA batteries and through a dongle that you plug into a USB port. I haven't tested the range yet, but the box says it's able to support a connection of up to 20'. And if that's not long enough, there's an included USB cable extension provided.

Played around with it for about 30 minutes using it to play Spiral Knights on Steam. Controller worked pretty good, as I didn't notice an issue with dead zones. Also played Banjo and Kazooie on SixtyForce, and the controls mapped out just fine. Although I didn't get to test the vibration feedback (I was using DirectInput), I could push the button and feel it on the controller. It's actually quite strong and matches that of a PS3 controller.

PROS:
-Build quality 10/10
-Wireless receiver is good 10/10
-Dual analog sticks didn't have big dead zones 10/10

CONS:
-Weight 7/10
-Clicky trigger buttons and floating D-pad 8/10
-No native Mac OSX support

Overall, I give this gamepad an 8/10 because of the lack of Mac drivers included and trigger buttons/floating d-pad.

Updated 12-08-2011 at 04:46 PM by emugirl1994 (Added more photos)

Tags: controller, f710, gamepad, logitech, review

Categories: Game Accessories , Latest Reviews

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Comments

PharaohsVizier - 12-07-2011 07:55 PM
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Great review! Been looking for a wireless joypad, though $45 would push it out of my budget. Mind if I ask how the delay is? I'm sort of picky about that type of thing, dead zones, not so much.

I know this will sound bad as a tip, but even if you forget something or got something wrong, don't say it explicitly. Either revise it later (ideal), ignore it, or deny it (not ideal). As a reviewer, you want to have some sort of authority, and missing something only undermines it. To show some authority in your writing, confidence is good, but even a tiny bit of arrogance will work.
emugirl1994 - 12-07-2011 11:07 PM
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Originally Posted by PharaohsVizier

Great review! Been looking for a wireless joypad, though $45 would push it out of my budget. Mind if I ask how the delay is? I'm sort of picky about that type of thing, dead zones, not so much.

I know this will sound bad as a tip, but even if you forget something or got something wrong, don't say it explicitly. Either revise it later (ideal), ignore it, or deny it (not ideal). As a reviewer, you want to have some sort of authority, and missing something only undermines it. To show some authority in your writing, confidence is good, but even a tiny bit of arrogance will work.

Thanks, PV, good to hear some feedback! I ordered it from Amazon when it was out of stock so maybe that's why the price was just $24.99? It got added to my order 2 days after I added it to my shopping cart though. As for the delay, I noticed almost none. Spiral Knights is intense because I was on a solo mission by myself and was swarmed by 8 enemies at once, and never experienced lag between me pushing the button and seeing the action on screen.

I'll revise this review so I don't leave out pictures. As for the photo quality, how do you think it is? I took them from my friend's DSi because I thought it'd turn out better than using the webcam on my MacBook.

And really random but howcome I have 7 tags on this post? I thought the max was 5 but for some reason my last 2 tags from when I made a blog post still appear. Is there any way you could delete those 2 extra because it won't let me edit the tags.
PharaohsVizier - 12-08-2011 01:04 AM
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Needless to say they could be better, but how you've set up the thumbnails rather than full pictures made me not even realize it was from a DSi.

And I've updated the tags system, you should be fine now.
emugirl1994 - 12-08-2011 02:03 AM
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I didn't even know how to add the full size image to this....I just clicked on the insert image button and uploaded each file. Surprised at the resolution the DSi has though, it said when I uploaded the images that they were in 640 x 480. That's like around 1 megapixel I believe isn't it?

Hmmm, I still can't manage to edit my tag cloud. I only see an option to edit what blog category this belongs to.
PharaohsVizier - 12-08-2011 01:58 PM
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Oh, just double click your image and it'll let you set size, allignment, etc.

Hmmm I will look into the tag cloud.
PharaohsVizier - 12-13-2011 07:31 PM
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Heh, I just nabbed one at Staples for $22.49 on clearance. I have to say it's pretty good, though is your finishing sort of cheap? The silver stuff is scratching off almost immediately after purchase.
emugirl1994 - 12-15-2011 12:02 AM
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Oh wow, good steal! Cheaper than the $24.99 I found it on Amazon for too. I haven't noticed any peeling away or scratching of my controller. I guess you got one of the bad batches of the controllers?
Shadz - 12-15-2011 06:54 AM
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I use a ps3 controller as a gamepad, once you install the drivers no issues at all