" As a utility for those who transport their yokes around with them, it could've proven invaluable…if it had a rudder. "

      Title: ST90 Stick by Saitek

      Format: Portable PC Joystick

      Reviewing Monkey: Dungapult

      The Hype: Simple, compact, and portable, the ST90 is Saitek's new solution to both a LAN gamer's portability issues and the crampness of a typical monkey's desk.

      What This Monkey Thought...

      Features: From the moment you see the ST90 on the shelf you'll know that it's not designed to break any records or stand out as the greatest stick on the market. It's low price point and simple design will leave it in the position to easily be dwarfed by the more elaborate sticks out there. That being said, if there's one thing Saitek knows it's how to make a universally ergonomic stick. Though it's little more than a hollow plastic handle, the beveling on the ST90 and the moderate width will make it comfortable for just about any paw. Button placement is reasonable, though again not outstanding, with the only notable exception being the some-what revolutionary two button digital throttle mounted on the top of the stick, above the second two action buttons. An interesting design choice, it is both a very intriguing change (allowing the entire stick to be operated one handed) and a point of frustration since occasional accidental triggering of the two top action buttons is inevitable. 3.25 out of 5

      Performance: Certainly, in terms of options, this stick is nothing to write home about. It has a trigger, two action buttons, and a digital throttle with led setting indicator. Compared to most of the 8+ button sticks on the market, the ST90 certainly leaves you hanging. Where it shines, though, is in a very clever gimmick that composes the base of a fold out tripod which locks in place for play. This provides a very stable base during play (surprisingly so), but also allows the stick to simply fold up into a 5 inch diameter tube for storage and transport. This innovative feature makes it ideal for transportation (as in to a LAN party) and storage when not in use. Unfortunately, the lack of a rudder/twist feature means that it's use will be very limited in the games you can play with it. 3.5 out of 5

      How it Compares: All in all, the stick worked well. It's limited features meant there wasn't a lot to go wrong and Saitek's programming software is a breeze as always. The only drawback, again, is the lack of a rudder/twist so using it for any kind of simulator is just about impossible. 3 out of 5

      The Verdict:

As a flight stick the ST90 is nice, though a long way from impressive. As a utility for those who transport their yokes around with them, it could've proven invaluable…if it had a rudder.

      The Good: Compact, transportable, and functional.

      The Bad: No rudder? Who the hell makes a stick without a rudder now a-days?!?

      The Overall Ugly: Hard to beat for the $15 price, but could have been fantastic.

      What it's Worth: Market