I'm not sure you wish to pay these prices, but it looks like you can still get the original device (albeit used) on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-SideWinder-Strategic-Commander-Mouse-pc/dp/B00004Y6FL/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Microsoft+Strategic+Commander&qid=1616014061&sr=8-2

and maybe:

https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-E06-00001-Sidewinder-Strategic-Commander/dp/B00005U21V/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Microsoft+Strategic+Commander&qid=1616014061&sr=8-1

If you are in the U.S. and got some of that phat stimulus check money and just want it out of your bank account as soon as possible:

https://www.newegg.com/p/1PU-0159-00002?Description=SideWinder%20Commander&cm_re=SideWinder_Commander-_-9SIATG5DTV7508-_-Product&quicklink=true

I guess the closest you could find is a Nostromo: https://www.qwant.com/?q=nostromo%20gaming&t=images&client=brz-moz

Using the D-pad to move the map, and has some programmable buttons as well, but I am not sure about Linux compatibility. Still, not the same product than the Strategic Commander (I still have mine, it was great for games like Battlezone II, Sacrifice, and a lot of MMOs as well)

Quoting: TherinSI'm not sure you wish to pay these prices, but it looks like you can still get the original device (albeit used) on Amazon:

I figured as much. Might have to do a bit of digging though, because I can't remember the last time I used my SideWinder Strategic Commander, and I can't remember if it worked under Linux-based operating systems or not.

Quoting: furaxhornyxI guess the closest you could find is a Nostromo: https://www.qwant.com/?q=nostromo%20gaming&t=images&client=brz-moz

Using the D-pad to move the map, and has some programmable buttons as well, but I am not sure about Linux compatibility.

Well that looks interesting... I've never used "Razer" products, but I have seen them in person and they do seem to be well-made, so I might have to look into what their Linux support is like.

Quoting: furaxhornyxStill, not the same product than the Strategic Commander (I still have mine, it was great for games like Battlezone II, Sacrifice, and a lot of MMOs as well)

Have you used your SideWinder Strategic Commander under a modern-ish Linux-based operating system? What games did you use it for? What worked or didn't work? Was it hard to configure?

The last time I used my SideWinder Strategic Commander was many, many years ago... In fact, it may have even been as far back as when I was still using a Microsoft Windows-based operating system (i.e. Windows 8 or earlier).

But unfortunately, I no longer have my SideWinder Strategic Commander, because I threw it out (pretty sure it was damaged or something, from being carted all over Australia with my former employer)... I'd consider grabbing another one from somewhere, if it works reasonably well under Linux-based operating systems and I can find one that's actually in good condition.

Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 18 March 2021 at 10:00 am UTC

Corben78 often streams with a left hand device with a similar goal. Like a palm joystick with lots of buttons. I forgot the name, but I'm sure you can find it on his twitch profile. At least that one definitely works on Linux.

Quoting: EhvisCorben78 often streams with a left hand device with a similar goal. Like a palm joystick with lots of buttons. I forgot the name, but I'm sure you can find it on his twitch profile. At least that one definitely works on Linux.

Is this the device you're talking about?

Quoting: Cyba.Cowboy

Quoting: EhvisCorben78 often streams with a left hand device with a similar goal. Like a palm joystick with lots of buttons. I forgot the name, but I'm sure you can find it on his twitch profile. At least that one definitely works on Linux.

Is this the device you're talking about?

Yep, that looks like the one.

Quoting: Ehvis

Quoting: Cyba.Cowboy

Quoting: EhvisCorben78 often streams with a left hand device with a similar goal. Like a palm joystick with lots of buttons. I forgot the name, but I'm sure you can find it on his twitch profile. At least that one definitely works on Linux.

Is this the device you're talking about?

Yep, that looks like the one.

Strange device... But then, I suppose they said that about the SideWinder Strategic Commander once upon a time, which also looks weird - but worked wonders.

Thanks!

--

Edit:

That Corben78 talks a little about the Move Master over here... And another guy has an unboxing in English.

Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 18 March 2021 at 11:40 am UTC

Quoting: Cyba.CowboyWell that looks interesting... I've never used "Razer" products, but I have seen them in person and they do seem to be well-made, so I might have to look into what their Linux support is like.

Disclaimer: the one I owned was before Nostromo was bought by Razer. I know they changed it a bit with the branding changed, so I cannot speak for its quality (I am not a big fan of Razer).
Also, I was using Windows at the time, no idea about Linux support. Especially since you needed a program to assign each key, if I remember correctly (a bit like the Strategic Commander).

Quoting: Cyba.CowboyHave you used your SideWinder Strategic Commander under a modern-ish Linux-based operating system? What games did you use it for? What worked or didn't work? Was it hard to configure?

The last time I used my SideWinder Strategic Commander was many, many years ago... In fact, it may have even been as far back as when I was still using a Microsoft Windows-based operating system (i.e. Windows 8 or earlier).

No, I was using it under Windows XP, and then I found a drivers for Windows 7, but some assignations were not working correctly.
I will try mine under Linux, if you want, but I will not be able to do it before a couple of days.

Last edited by furaxhornyx on 19 March 2021 at 8:19 am UTC

Quoting: furaxhornyxI will try mine under Linux, if you want, but I will not be able to do it before a couple of days.

Yeah, if you don't mind... But don't spend too much time mucking around with it (unless you actually want to of course!), because I'm sure somebody out there has tried to get this working under Linux before; I will just look it up when I next get the time (pretty busy with work at the moment).

I will be almost exclusively <insert device> with Surviving Mars and 0 A.D. - so if you have either of those games, let me know how you go.

No rush though - my credit card bill is a little higher than I would like in the moment, so it's probably gonna be a couple of weeks before I can even start to look at buying something (my next purchase is gonna be one of those "ultra-wide" displays, anyway).

Last edited by Cyba.Cowboy on 19 March 2021 at 12:20 pm UTC

Well, now, if you're going to bring Razer/Nostromo items up...

I own the Belkin Nostromo n50 and n52 and the Razer Tartarus and Orbweaver Chroma. I fully endorse using them for any FPS, RPG, and MMORPG games, and they could work well with RTS games. However, MMORPGs and RTS games usually use most of the buttons on a keyboard for various things and the Belkin/Razer products don't even have half of a keyboard to work with, so you might end up needing the keyboard to activate lesser used commands.

Every one of the products is recognized by Linux out of the box (at least Ubuntu-based and PCLinuxOS distros) as the corresponding left side of a standard keyboard. The more keys they have, of course, the more of your keyboard you can emulate, as the Orbweaver has more keys than the Tartarus, which has more keys than the n52, etc.

The Razer offerings hover around $80-$130 USD (Tartarus v2 / pro) from the official website but I have found them well constructed with only a couple issues like a squeak from the d-pad and one flakey key on a heavily used Belkin version. Otherwise, fine devices!

Before Ubuntu 18.04, I used a Python program called Pystromo to remap the keys, but since I upgraded from 16.04 to 18.04 it will not output the remapped keys. I've been told it is likely a permissions problem, because Pystromo recognizes the input just fine. Since then I've been using KeyboardingMaster to remap the keys and, though the interface is confusing and it does not do macro remapping, it works great.
https://bitbucket.org/conzar/keyboarding-master/downloads/
https://sites.google.com/site/keyboardingmaster/home

I recently found a generic device remapping program with macro support and it seems to work great as well, as is not limited to just the Belkin/Razer devices. This program is under active development and the dev is quick about patches/updates.
https://github.com/sezanzeb/key-mapper
...which I found originally from this site...
https://www.linuxuprising.com/2020/12/remap-keyboard-and-mouse-buttons-on.html

I just ordered a gameboard that looks like a cross between the Logitech G13 and the Razer products and I am looking forward to trying it out with Key-mapper! The d-pad on the Razer product is crazy handy, though, and I will have to re-train my brain to function without it on this device.
https://www.newegg.com/p/379-00A5-000W6?Item=9SIASSAD217526&Description=Singlehanded%20Wired%20Gaming%20Keyboard&cm_re=Singlehanded_Wired%20Gaming%20Keyboard-_-379-00A5-000W6-_-Product

OR

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B074GXKLPQ/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

If you are interested, I can share the resulting carnage.

Last edited by TherinS on 19 March 2021 at 10:34 pm UTC