steering wheels?

[meth]

hello, im thinking of buying gp3 and a steering wheel. any recommendations? i have a few quid to spend.

cheers:)

[pob0000]

hmm, i've got a guillemot ferrari thingy. Seems kind of cool. However, it does appear to offer no forces while going in a striaght line (an Iforce thing, perhaps), and I've only played it with GPL really - all the other games seemed a bit poo.

In reality, I'd say wait for the next generation which would suffer less from lag that the current gen do. Unless, of course, you're into spending another 90 quid later on.

Its a fun toy, you'll drive like an a plonker for the fist 100 laps (well, I did), and its not like a real car.

O yeah, and I put some foam in the pedal openings to give a better feel for brake pad pressure. Otherwise it goes straight to the floor with far too much ease.

[pob0000]

ah, forgot to say that I haven't got GP3 yet. so thats just my perspective on other games and the wheel in general. I read somewhere that the forcefeedback in GP3 wasn't what it could have been - but thats only what I've read. only one way to find out for sure.

[meth]

cheers m8. im in no rush, i can always use my pad, but would you say a steering wheel is the way to go now with driving games?... im still yet to try one.

thanks again

[Choddo]

I always use a wheel for driving games these days. Once you get used to it, it's by far the best control method, although a very good joystick might be a bit more precise, it just doesn't feel right...

Chods

[Lt. Sex Machine]

I am using an F1 Sim, which I bought I think 4 or more years ago.

Needless to say it doesnt have FF, but I dont mourn that as what it has got is the best construction of any wheel I have seen, its all steal and has a leather rim (dont we all dearie ;))

I think Gameplay sell the cheaper version, which has plastic pedals and steering shaft, but to be honest I wouldnt touch that with a 20 foot barge pole as any wheel is going to take a pounding over time so a plastic one would have to be very well designed, and having used one I know the pedals are prone to snapping.




[Edited by Lt. Sex Machine on 09-08-2000 at 01:10 AM]

[Dweeb]

I've got an MS Sidewinder FF. Its probably about 90 quid now.

I really love it - its great for TOCA2, Driver, GP3, etc.

TOCA2 has cool FF effects - you can feel the steering go light as the rear tires start to lose grip, so you can correct it before you even see anything on screen. It definitely adds to the experience and, I think, makes the game easier.

When I first got it, I was a bit disappointed - it took a coupla hours to get used to it. Now I love it.

The only downside is the hassle of swapping it with your gamepad/joystick/ whatever for different games, and its a big bit of kit to put out of the way.

Get yourself to PC WOrld, Gateway or something, and try one out. Its the best way of knowing if its worth the money for you.

[meth]

cheers guys, i do like the sound of this force feedback. ill see if i can test 1 at EB.

[Cobra77]

I also have a Microsoft FF Wheel, but I have been told that the Ferrari wheel by Guillemot or Thrustmaster is the best wheel.I think the microsoft wheel is great for every game except GP3.the great thing about Ms FF is taht it turns further than any other wheel that I have tried.
It turns about 270 degrees and it has a optical system instead of resistors which gives it great precision.

I think you should choose between Ferrari & Microsoft wheel.

[meth]

ta m8, ill see if i can try that too. im not going to buy one until ive tried a few i think.

any other opinions appreciated :)

[Stickman]

The MS FF wheel should be turning up today! Yipee! I'll let you know what I think on Friday. If anyone is looking to get one of these things lemme save you some trouble -

Dabs - none, s/b in around the end of next week
Novbatech - dont stock it
Gameplay - None in stock, again s/b in next week
All the High Street stores in a 20 mile radius of where I live (deepest, darkest Essex), zilch zip nope.

Guess thats the power of GP3!

Finally got it from Scan, so if you want one for the weekend order it today get it sent for tomorrow.

tata

S

[BlackWidow]

I had the exact same problem when i wanted to buy my microsoft FF when they first came out. I also live in Essex and searched high and low and no one had one. I ended up getting it from Software first.
Yeah its a dam great wheel. I have had about 3 wheels now including the thrustmaster F1 or something. They all ended up being returned because of faults. I have had this for far longer than any of these and the build quality is superb. The only problem is that it pulls left in GP3 which can be an arse until you get use to it. Hopefully a patch sometime?
BlackWidow

[Dweeb]

But I've only found it pulls to the left right at the star -when ou're idle on the grid. The rest of the race, it seems Ok. - Am I missing something !! S**t - maybe my own car's been pulling to the left all this time and I've aclcimatised to it !

[f1racer]

Patch the MSFF bug at: http://www.f1-racer.co.uk


F1RaCeR :r2d2:

[Lee-ASG]

Get yourself a MS FF pronto and be the envy of your friends. I haven't tried any others but the MS is great. Yeah it is a hassle 2 set up but if you've sidewinder gamepad, it plugs straight into the top of that and u can switch between them using the mode button. It works great with most games ie. toca2 and driver especially but kinda sux with colin mcrae and midtown madness. Be warned that if u use it 4 rally championship be prepared 4 arms like popeye; 15-20 minute stages with ff is like digging the road with a pneumatic hammer.

[Briggerz]

ok m8 listen up!
if you play Toca2 at all, dont get the MSFF USB version.
make sure you get the gameport one.
i dont think they make them anymore but you might be able to find some shops who still stock em.

apparently USB wheels dont work with toca2 as it was released before the wheels were out.
also you cannot play online with the USB MSFF, it wont connect to the host.

i know this cos i bought one last week, but ive now taken it back and have begun my search for a gameport connector version.

hope that helps m8.

[meth]

thanks for the advice:)

no wheels of any kind at my local eb, ill try next week.
oh and at the mo i dont own any driving games, gp3 will be my 1st attempt at an f1 game on the pc.
i am quite looking forward to it

[Stickman]

Hi all - my USB MSFF wheel did turn up - see my post above - and I can confirm it is ruddy marvellous! Great for Driver, a pain to set up but once you've done it is great for GP3. I did get it to work for TOCA2 but had to turn the sensitivity right down. All in all - a fine piece of kit!

tata

S

[-reaper-]

I have used the Thrustmaster FF wheel, Microsoft Sidewinder FF wheel and the Guillemot Ferrari Racing FF wheel.

The Thrustmaster feels great in your hands and the F1 style paddles are perfect. The addidtion of the rally style gear shift lever is a major plus point in my opinion... but - the first one I bought had to be taken back because it was missing an on/off switch (got it working by jamming some metal between the exposed contacts!) and the second one I took back because the feedback was really limp.

Microsofts offering, whilst looking lovely with a 'force' button in the middle, has pathetic paddles behind the wheel and the feedback isn't all the strong.

I now have the Guillemot wheel and would recommend that one. The feedback is very good, the wheel is very comfortable and the rally style gear shift is excellent.

The only problem I have had is the F1 style gear shift paddles behind the wheel, which look great and feel good. At first.

They soon break and Guillemot are nice enough to send out replacements free of charge, as long as you don't mind fitting them yourself. The design of the paddles is naff (especially considering the rest of the wheel which is very sturdy) and lends itself to breaking, but I have modified mine so I'll never have that problem again (if anyone has already encountered this problem and is wondering what to do, mail me - addy's in me profile).

[Briggerz]

Hey Stickman you may have got it working with toca2 but you wont get the full effects with the usb.

originally posted by Dweeb
TOCA2 has cool FF effects - you can feel the steering go light as the rear tires start to lose grip, so you can correct it before you even see anything on screen. It definitely adds to the experience and, I think, makes the game easier.

with the USB MSFF you dont feel none of that, only if you go off the track and you feel the rumble strips do you feel anything.

and wait till you try to play online, you wont connect to a host and when you host the other drivers dont show up in the waiting room.

i even e-mailed codemasters who admitted that their were major problems with USB controls and toca2 cos toca was out before the MSFF USB so it wasnt tested.

[Stickman]

Ahh- I see...I thought it was just down to me never, ever, skidding (right yeah! :) ) Thanks for clearing that up. 'Tis a shame - coz its a great game, and a great wheel, pity they dont talk to each other properly :(

Tata

Stick