rec.autos.simulators

I've seen some discussion about Force Feedback steering controllers and
current games supporting it, but I have been unable to come to a definitive
conclusion on what would be the best product to buy for my current setup and
the sims/arcade racers that I play.

Current system is PII 450, 64mb ram, Intergraph Intense 3D(Rendition
Verite), Canopus Pure 3D 12 mb Voodoo2 SLI, Diamond MX300 A3D 2.0 sound
card, original TSW and Thrustmaster Nascar Pro.

Sims/Arcade Racers that I currently play which I believe support FF:

GPL - (FF coming in 1.1 patch?)
Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2
Viper Racing
Sports Car GT
TOCA 2
Superbike WC
Midtown Madness
Need for Speed III
Speedbusters
Powerslide
Motocross Madness
Monster Truck Madness 2
CPR

Non FF games:
Nascar 2/1999
Indycar II (CART Racing)
SODA Off Road
NHRA Drag Racing
Burnout
ABC Road to Indy
GP2

Controllers I'm considering:

Logitech Wingman Formula Force
Interact V4 Force Feedback Racing Wheel
Saitek R4 Force Feedback Wheel
Microsoft SideWinder FF Wheel
ACT Labs Incorporated Force RS Wheel
Thrustmaster NASCAR? Force GT

I would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding which wheel will give me
the most compatibilty with the games mentioned above, as well as the
positives/negatives/problems with individual games and controllers.
Thanks in advance!

Don Chapman

I've heard good reviews about a number of these systems.  All I can tell you
from personal experience is 1) I really like my MS Sidewinder - it is
well-built, seems to have good feedback, works great in games without force
feedback, and I love its pedals.  2) I wouldn't touch the Interact V4 Force
Feedback Racing Wheel with a ten foot pole.  It is cheaply constructed and
rickety, IMO.

I'm in the same boat, except that Iv'e quite driving anything but GPL. I have
been looking into this and for technical reasons don't get the ms, it has very
high polling times and a number of owners report a notchy feel. I would suggest
going back through the posts here from the last week or so, look for any that
refer to ff wheels. Specifically from Randy Cassidy, a GPL developer for some
excellent tech info. In the meantime I will cut to the chase and say this is
what I'm considering.
 http://www.ga-sports.com/previews/shifterrs/
Good Luck, JM

My Microsoft FF wheel is performing really well. It has enough buttons to
map look left, right, clutch, raise arm, external view, shift up & down and
the all important (for practice only :-) Shift + R.

Ian

SODA Off-Road has Force Feedback :)

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard/Nas-Frank>
-- NROS Nascar sanctioned Guide http://www.nros.com/
-- SimRacing Online http://www.simracing.com/
-- Official mentally retarded guy of r.a.s.
-- May the Downforce be with you...

"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise
how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

Will it work with the Wingman Formula Force?
I thought I read that SODA uses an old API and won't work with the new
wheels.
I was just playing SODA the other day, and have a Wingman FF on the
way. I'd love to hear it'll work!

Tim

Soda uses an older version of I-Force.  There is a
button in the controller menu labeled "Force Feedback",
but when I activated it, all the wheel did was auto-
center.  There weren't any effects.  Without the
button activated, the wheel did nothing (not even
autocenter).

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

I've tried the Microsoft, Saitek, and Logitech FF
wheels.  I also own an ACT Labs Force RS.  I was
initially impressed by the MS and Saitek wheels.
They have the same internal components.  Both have
slightly smoother action than my ACT Labs wheel.
After seeing the latency data for various wheels
from Randy Cassidy, though, I think I'd stay away
from them.  BTW, the numbers for the Thrustmaster
Force GT are horrible - that one shouldn't even
be considered!

The Logitech has by far the best latency figures.
I don't notice any latency problems from my ACT
Labs wheel, so I'm assuming that it has similar
latency times to the Logitech (I sure wish we
could get the actual value).  I would go with
one of these two wheels.

I think there is one over-riding factor with
these wheels that would make me go for the ACT
Labs wheel even if I didn't already own one.
The factor is the maximum force the wheel is
able to produce.  My perception is that the
Logitech wheel produces the least force of any
of the wheels out there.  I believe the ACT
Labs wheel produces the most.  More available
force allows more dynamic range for effects.

I'm 100% happy with my Force RS.  I think you
would be very happy with a Force RS/TSW pedals
combination.  The upcoming availability of the
RS shifter is another plus :)

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

Is the Force RS a gameport, serial or USB device?

Trips
D. Bell on VROC

I believe it is Serial with a USB adapter "on the way".

--

Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.

cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

My Force RS connects through a serial port, though
I think there will be a USB cartridge coming out
soon.

BTW, it was nice meeting you at E3 :)

For everyone else's information, Trips and
I had an impromptu RAS reunion with Mike
Zamocracy.  I can say unequivocally that Mike
does have an SCCA Solo II license.  You should
just get a badge holder and wear those things
on your chest, Mike :)

--
Pat Dotson
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

G'day John, er don't cut to the chase to quick as GPL doesn't support the
new shifter even with GPL 1.1

Regards Phil.