In Pictures: Microsoft hardware successes and failures

Win: Microsoft SideWinder Joysticks (1999)

Back in 1999, Microsoft SideWinder joysticks helped create an affordable gaming experience.

"The Sidewinder series was released as a companion to the Microsoft flight simulator games, to compete in a space where guys like Saitek, Thrustmaster, and Logitech's joysticks were really expensive," says Geek.com's Russell Holly. "These joysticks were priced in between the really expensive joysticks and the lower-quality gamepads."