rec.autos.simulators

> Tough question, and the answer depends on the types of games you like. Do
> you race the difficult sims, like Grand Prix Legends, or are you the type
> that enjoys a good run on NFS3? Or both?  FF will enhance the pleasure of
> most games. In some, like MTM2, you almost have to turn it off. In NFS3
its
> just plain fun, but I don't think it will help you drive. In GPL it may
make
> your laps more consistent and keep you on the track better, but I'm not
> really sure that it lowers your lap times. In Midtown Madness (believe it
or
> not) I was actually able to take 2 or 3 seconds off lap times with FF. So,
> no, FF is not a must, and yes, in some games it is possible to get a
> realistic feel.
> There isn't one best FF system. But there are a couple, complete, very
good
> ones. By complete I mean they have both paddle shifters and a stick
shifter
> and perform very well. If you want an easy to use wheel and don't want to
> bother modifying the pedals and such, the Guillemot Ferrari wheel is very
> good and it takes almost no time to get used to it. The Act Labs Force RS
> and RS Shifter combo is also very good, and actually more fun. It costs
> about $40 more, takes about a month to get used to (the wheel and the
> shifter) and also about a month for the wheel to 'break-in'. For sims like
> GPL, you'll need to spend about 2 hours doing a simple pedal modification
to
> get them to operate as smoothly as the Ferrari pedals. Also, the wheel and
> shifter adapter are high and deep, so don't plan on sitting too close to
> your monitor. The RS Shifter can be used as a gated (H-pattern) shifter
with
> games that support it, or a regular shifter. With the Act Labs pedals
> modified, both wheels work very well in all games. If you were only racing
> GPL, I'd probably say go for the Ferrari wheel. If you were only racing
> Nascar3, I'd probably say go for the Force RS. If you use the paddle
> shifters a lot, like in MGPRS2, and you drive with your hands closer to
the
> top of the wheel (not at 3 and 9 o'clock), then get the Ferrari wheel. The
> Ferrari wheel is easy to get used to right away. The Force RS and Shifter
> (even in regular shifting mode) is just plain more fun once you're used to
> it. Both wheels produce strong FF effects, and both are smooth once broken
> in, it just takes a little longer to break-in the Force RS  - 3 weeks of
> hard use and still no play in the steering shaft ;).
> A full review (Shoot-Out style) is coming. I'm just waiting for info from
> Act Labs that will impact the results.

> Slot

> > Can anyone tell me which FF system is the best available and is it
really
> > good?
> > Is FF a must and is it possible to get a realistic feel?
> > Any advice would be appreciated.
> > I AM STANDING ON THE EDGE, DO I TAKE THE JUMP?

> What kind of modification is required on the Act Labs Force RS pedals?
> I just recently bought the Force RS and Shifter and think it's a great
> wheel, but I've definitely noticed the problems with the pedals in GPL.
> If anyone could tell me how to make them operate smoother, I would greatly
> appreciate it!

> James

> > Tough question, and the answer depends on the types of games you like.
Do
> > you race the difficult sims, like Grand Prix Legends, or are you the
type
> > that enjoys a good run on NFS3? Or both?  FF will enhance the pleasure
of
> > most games. In some, like MTM2, you almost have to turn it off. In NFS3
> its
> > just plain fun, but I don't think it will help you drive. In GPL it may
> make
> > your laps more consistent and keep you on the track better, but I'm not
> > really sure that it lowers your lap times. In Midtown Madness (believe
it
> or
> > not) I was actually able to take 2 or 3 seconds off lap times with FF.
So,
> > no, FF is not a must, and yes, in some games it is possible to get a
> > realistic feel.
> > There isn't one best FF system. But there are a couple, complete, very
> good
> > ones. By complete I mean they have both paddle shifters and a stick
> shifter
> > and perform very well. If you want an easy to use wheel and don't want
to
> > bother modifying the pedals and such, the Guillemot Ferrari wheel is
very
> > good and it takes almost no time to get used to it. The Act Labs Force
RS
> > and RS Shifter combo is also very good, and actually more fun. It costs
> > about $40 more, takes about a month to get used to (the wheel and the
> > shifter) and also about a month for the wheel to 'break-in'. For sims
like
> > GPL, you'll need to spend about 2 hours doing a simple pedal
modification
> to
> > get them to operate as smoothly as the Ferrari pedals. Also, the wheel
and
> > shifter adapter are high and deep, so don't plan on sitting too close to
> > your monitor. The RS Shifter can be used as a gated (H-pattern) shifter
> with
> > games that support it, or a regular shifter. With the Act Labs pedals
> > modified, both wheels work very well in all games. If you were only
racing
> > GPL, I'd probably say go for the Ferrari wheel. If you were only racing
> > Nascar3, I'd probably say go for the Force RS. If you use the paddle
> > shifters a lot, like in MGPRS2, and you drive with your hands closer to
> the
> > top of the wheel (not at 3 and 9 o'clock), then get the Ferrari wheel.
The
> > Ferrari wheel is easy to get used to right away. The Force RS and
Shifter
> > (even in regular shifting mode) is just plain more fun once you're used
to
> > it. Both wheels produce strong FF effects, and both are smooth once
broken
> > in, it just takes a little longer to break-in the Force RS  - 3 weeks of
> > hard use and still no play in the steering shaft ;).
> > A full review (Shoot-Out style) is coming. I'm just waiting for info
from
> > Act Labs that will impact the results.

> > Slot

> > > Can anyone tell me which FF system is the best available and is it
> really
> > > good?
> > > Is FF a must and is it possible to get a realistic feel?
> > > Any advice would be appreciated.
> > > I AM STANDING ON THE EDGE, DO I TAKE THE JUMP?