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-Slipgate, PlanetQuake
Read the PQ SideKick Review

• The SideKick is a new low-cost digital footswitch game controller designed specifically for the PC games Quake and Quake II.  It consists of a pair of digital footswitches and a plug jack assembly which plugs into your computer's game port.  The plug adaptor allows a maximum of 4 footswitches to be used at a time.   

  The footswitches are designed to be used in Quake or Quake II as an accessory to the standard mouse and keyboard combination.  They can be bound to any command in the games which you want to be able to execute very quickly without removing your fingers from their keys.  Many users use the SideKick for weapon selection so that different weapons can be quickly selected during a battle.  The 2-switch SideKick can select one of two weapons, or can be setup to work in combinations to select one of several weapons. The 4-switch version can be set up to quickly select one of four weapons.  Of course, you can use the switches for any other command you want, such as jump, strafe, grapple hook, or a script macro which performs several operations..

Why do I need the SideKick©?   

• Moritz Designs has performed various tests on the SideKick, and we have found that after a short learning period, nearly every SideKick user improved their game and scored more kills when playing DeathMatch or CTF.  As many of the testers found out, you can play Quake with a nailgun or super nailgun so you can't harm yourself in close battles, and then quickly change to a rocket launcher as soon as it is needed.  Quake II has even more use for the SideKick than Quake because it has many inventory items and other options to select in addition to weapons.  The SideKick gives you more options for control and allows you to focus on winning, instead of dancing your fingers over the keyboard while someone is nailing you.  

  There are some scripts that must be run to use the SideKick which are listed here, complete with instructions.  Here are some some scripts which SideKick users have found to be useful, and are good examples of how to assign the footswitches.

What do I need to use SideKick©?   

• You must have:  
  • A PC- compatable computer (Pentium or equivalent processor highly recommended.)
  • Windows 95, 98, or NT operating system (DOS will work with certain games, but it is not tested and thus unsupported.)
  • An open game port (a dual-controller capable port is required for the 4-switch setup.)
  • A game to run, preferabley Quake or Quake II.
  • If you want to play Quake, you must have Winquake.exe (see below.)

  Recommended:  

  • An Internet connection (Real people are more fun to play!)
  • Skillz ;)

  IMPORTANT NOTE FOR QUAKE ver. 1 PLAYERS: To use the SideKick with Quake (version 1), you must use the Winquake executable (It works better under Win95 anyway, so go get it from our FTP site here, or get it here or here or here) or the Quakeworld client.  The SideKick utilizes some of the advanced game port settings that are available in this windows versions only. Also, MAKE SURE you have the correct version of winquake.. there are earlier releases floating around still, and they do not work. At the console (press ~) in the lower right-hand corner, it should say "(winquake)  1.09."  The winquake zips linked to from this page and on our ftp are the latest one.  If you use Quake II, you do not need any additional files, it works fine as-is.

How do I order?   

What Next?   

• Since it is relatively difficult to use 4 of the footswitches simultaneously, our next product in this line will be a footrest/ switch holder assembly which will allow you to rest your feet on a crossmember and rotate each of your feet forward OR backward to switch the footswitches.  This product will allow you to switch all 4 switches quickly without having to change your foot from one switch to another.  Best of all, it will be offered as an upgrade to the existing SideKick. If you wish to use 4 switches now, be sure to take a look at the tips page for the most effective ways to use them.  

        Tips and Tricks    Setup Instructions   Email Moritz Designs  

  SIDEKICK is copyrighted © 1997 by Moritz Designs.   All rights reserved.  
  QUAKE® and QUAKEII® are registered trademarks of Id Software, Inc.