Steering Wheel

[Agent 86]

Any recommendations for a good steering wheel for gaming. My last one was a cheap POS so don't mind spending a little more to get something good.

[Volodkovich]

Logitech Wingman Formula Force, ive used NNA2M's one and it rulz, ask him about it. Real nice force feedback steering wheel, OK pedals. BTW i think there like $350.

[Agent 86]

Checking ascents site the formula force looks like the goods plus 3 year warranty is pretty good.

Wingman Formula GP Steering Wheel, USB $229.46
Wingman Formula Force GP Steering Wheel, USB $259.97
Wingman MOMO Force Wheel & Pedals, USB $563.17
Sidewinder Precision Racing Wheel $223.23
Sidewinder Force Feedback Wheel, USB $341.56

[NNA2m]

Yeep, I'd recommend the Wingman Formula Force. I got mine for $400 a coupla years ago, and there not the sort of things that age quickly. :D

I don't use it much, but thats mostly because of incompatible desk design and lack of decent racing games.

I gotta get me a H-Gate shifter... :D

[Ripping]

need a new wheel too.. GP 4 next week!!:D
can you disable FF on FF wheels??

[KingJackal]

Originally posted by Ripping
can you disable FF on FF wheels??

Yes - normally it's just a button away.

For example, on the MS wheels, there is a button in the center with 'Force' imprinted on it. And that just toggles force feedback on/off...
;)

[hessian]

Tom's Hardware did a review on wheels last month,

http://www17.tomshardware.com/consumer/02q2/020524/index.html

[Ripping]

thanks hessian,
I looked at the review today.
Looks like a momo force for me...
Pity the shipping on a TSW is soooo expensive.. :( I'll have to stick with the retail lines.... until I'm old and rich. Ok.. until I'm rich...
:(

[hessian]

The Momo does look like it is made to last. If you see a good price on this wheel please post it here.

[Ripping]

how about 529 inc @ starlyte.co.nz ?

[Lycan]

GP4 SUCKS!!!!

F1 2002 kicks its butt in every area, especialy realism/feel.

I've played both and GP4 has been un-installed from my machine.

[Lycan]

Also....

http://europe.thrustmaster.com/products/d_prd.php?p=T1&fam=4

These wheels from Thrustmaster seem to be quite popular.
Rated well in Toms Hardware review also.

Personally I think FF slows ya down.

[Volodkovich]

hmm...i somehow doubt GP4 sucks...its seriously cool, ive got GP3, which rocks, and GP4 will be even better :) I havent played F1 2002, but am i right by saying its on Ps2, or another console?

[NNA2m]

Let me get this straight?
Grand Prix 4 sucks?
No offecnse, but are you stupid or something?
Saying F1 2002 "kicks its butt" is total crap. Especially in realism?
What?!?

Are you one of those people who think CS is realistic or something?

Btw. Hot damn the GP4 pit crew rocks!

[Ripping]

well I did get GP4 a week or more ago... and... well.... it sucks! (I hate saying that.. :( )
OK, graphics are OK, driving model is OK, sounds are OK...
but the bugs?? damn!
how about..
starts up to a black screen.. only way to rectify is to reinstall the game!
no response from menu's - hard boot needed
no response from ****pit menu.. hard boot needed.
crashing to desktop...
these are all problems I've had within two weeks,.. and its seems they are not uncommon probs either...

I'd prefer stickmen for the pit crew if it was a stable game.

too much work on eye candy .. to the detriment of the game... bleeeaarghhhh

[NNA2m]

...But its still more realistic than F1 2002... :D
Bwahahaha! :D

Bugs can be fixed, it's a bit harder to overhaul the entire physics engine...

[Lycan]

Haha...

U go waste your money on GP4 then, see if I give a ****...

I'll assume you guys have played both games?
If not... how the fark can you comment?

F1-2002 is by far the better game.

When I play a F1 racing game... I want a simulator not an arcade game.

F1-2002 = Simulator
GP4 = arcade.

/end of discussion.

[simjen]

Originally posted by NNA2m
Let me get this straight?
Grand Prix 4 sucks?
No offecnse, but are you stupid or something?
Saying F1 2002 "kicks its butt" is total crap. Especially in realism?
What?!?

Are you one of those people who think CS is realistic or something?

Btw. Hot damn the GP4 pit crew rocks!

Obviously the people who think GP4 is a good game are either stupid or haven't driven a car before.
Lycan is correct in stating that F12002 is the better game, in both his and my opinions.
Try looking on the rec.simulators newsgroup and ask if GP4 is any good, the guys on there will kick you around for a day or two.
They trashed it completely, these are guys that do 100% long races all day/night, with many still preferring modded versions of Grand Prix Legends (undoubtedly the finest driving physics of any game).
But it is still down to personal opinion, you have to drive with both before you can state anything.. I like the guy who states that GP4 must be good because he has GP3....WTF. GP3 wasn't that great and was a generation behind in graphics when it came out, it should have been called GP2.5!
I have never been a fan of the F1 series from EA but when I played F12002 that all changed.

Drive both and then decide for yourself which is the best...

[hessian]

What do you all think of 'F1 Racing Championship' then ?

[Volodkovich]

yea..i have Grand Prix Legends and i must say....the physics are damn awesome...its a shame about the graphics tho..:(

[NNA2m]

Gah, I haven't played either. :D

But I have got GP3, so I'm running on pure brand loyalty... :D
And PCGAMER UK reviews...

[Ripping]

yeah.. well calling GP4 an arcade is way off the mark.
I'm unimpressed with a lot of things in the game, I haven't played 'the other' game, but I'm by no measure stupid, and I've driven 10's of thousands of miles.
Take off 'ALL' the help on GP4 and see how the arcade racers go.
Sure, they have made it more accessible to inexperienced 'drivers', but they have retained everything that GP3 was is terms of the driving model (bar a few minor points) and made it a LOT more challenging to the seasoned GpX-er.

The day you can call any GP game a simulator is the day you step out of your first F1 test drive and can compare.

[simjen]

GP4 is by no means an Arcade racer... as for PCGAMER UK reviews they happen to mean squat, as I've said before speak to the true sim gamers and they will slate PCGamer for having affiliations with Geoff Crammond, something like one of the guys on the writing staff used to work with him or something.
Each to his own, GP4's an okay game but needs something extra to make it special... maybe a real working V10 strapped to the side of the PC for much needed engine effects :D

Back to wheels.. I have a Guillemot (same as thrustmaster) force feedback and love it. I race for fun and it gives nice feedback in F12002 but rather mediocre in GP4.

SimJen

[NNA2m]

What I was really saying is that if PCGAMER says it doesn't blow, its pretty unlikely to blow. :D

Hehe, but moving on...

Yeah, the main problem I seem to have with wheels (And any pherical for that matter) is that theres no real resistance when you move them. I mean, if I'm more into arcade racing than any sort of sim, and I wan't to FEEL the damn buggy/speedboat/spaceship (:D) wrenching the wheel from my grasp, not some weak ass plastic POS.
This is probly due to the fact that the Logitech Formula Force has no springs, they're just simulated by the force feedback... Which makes it feel a bit weak... :D

I would pay a lot more for something with a real kick to it, but maybe I should just buy a paddock thrasher... :D

[Ripping]

I'd agree with the comments on the FF wheels.
Just got a Logitech momo FF, and its a lovely, quality wheel, but the feedback in GP4 is rather dull... and because of the inertia of the motor, it is slow to move in chicanes, and I think probably slows me down compared to my Thrustmaster Formula T2. I may well do some back to back testing of both wheels to compare lap times, but my driving style needs to change while switching wheels. The FF needs more deliberate actions, and you need to plan your approach to corners, whereas a non FF wheel allows you to correct your line in the corner a lot quicker. Really only applies to tight corners combo's and chicanes.
FF in Nascar 2002 is by comparison, rather violent, it will just about tear the wheel from your hands trying to catch slides.

[KingJackal]

*whistles*

THEY ALL SUCK! ONLY THE REAL THING WILL DO!! NYAH!!!
:p :p

OK boys.... back to the steering wheels....
;)

I've got an MS Force Feedback wheel. I find I'm slower with it than the keyboard ( but only cos I don't use it enough cos I'm always too busy playing RTCW now :D ).

Has anybody tried any of the Hercules/Thrustmaster series? Thrustmaster seem to have been the steering wheel M45+0rZ for waaay too long, and I think they're still pretty good ( though that's from reviews - haven't seen them much here in NZ ).