rec.autos.simulators

I am not much of  a race car driver; but I have received Grand Prix II and
NASCAR Legends.  I have tried them using the keyboard.  I do OK with GP II;
but terrible with NASCAR Legends (crash).  So, I am thinking that I need to
get some kind of controller in order to enjoy these games.

I am retired and on a tight budget; so I don't want to spend more than about
$50.  Also, I don't know that I will really get into auto racing (I play RPG
and Strategy games a lot).

What would you recommend to me that would be a step up from using the
keyboard but would make these games more fun? Gamepad, joystick, (cheap)
wheel?

I can't comment on the durability of a cheap wheel, but I have had good
results with a simple analog stick (in my case, a CH Products Mach 1 for
portability as I am a notebook user), or more recently, a nifty little
controller from Interact which is a lot like a radio control car controller.
It has a 2" diameter wheel for steering and a push-pull trigger for
accelerating and braking.  It takes some getting used to, but soon my lap
times were the same as with a wheel and pedals.  The older Interact (Racer
PC?) should be available in Wal-Marts etc. for less than 20 bucks.  The
newer force-feedback version isn't as nice.

Stephen

Well. I used to use a Thrustmaster Sprint wheel, it was great, and it
wasn't expensive. It comes with pedals which are a little too small, but
would be fine for occassional use.

--
Steven Crook-Dawkins

http://www.compgeeks.com/cgi-bin/prod_disp.asp?cat=InputDevices

Check out the above link.  I use the Logitech Wingman Formula and like it
very much.  The Guillermot wheel has FF.

Mark

A good joystick may be the way to go.  That way you have the controller for
other types of games too.  My first auto sim was TOCA and I used a MS
Sidewinder.  Just pretend you're flying a plane that doesn't climb or
descend :-) and it works well.

For a cheap (quite cheap) wheel, the Interact V3 isn't bad.  I was saving up
for a good FF wheel when my wife surprised me with the V3 for Xmas.  I
thought, if it's ***I'll return it but it turned out to be pretty good.
It's obviously cheaply built but I've had it for a year and a half and it's
still working fine.

I have a cheap wheel (Saitek R100) which I use with
my CH Pro Pedals USB.  The R100 uses the basic Windows
2 axis 4 button controller.  It does not come with any
software.

Nascar 3 and GPL accept multiple controllers.  So I set
up the wheel and the CH pro pedals.  Dirt Track Racing
supports 1 controller only.  So I have to use the cheap
pedals that came with the wheel.

The R100 inputs in a range 0 to 255 or so.  This is half of
a decent wheel (e.g. Logitech is 0 to 655).  So I feel, but
don't know for sure, like I have less control.  It is harder
to keep the car going where I want to go.  I have to do
continuous corrections.  I have played with the deadzone
and this helps to a point.  But I have less control
than when I used to use a joystick with the pedals.
Less control, but it feels more "natural" to be using a wheel.

Has anyone ever swapped out a potentiometer?  I was
thinking about getting a more precise pot and putting
it in my wheel.  Where do I get a pot which can input
a large range?  What else should I keep in mind?

Thanks

--
Doug Appleyard

"Got us a Dirt Track Date, demolition derby figure 8"
   -- Southern Culture On The Skids

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

For dirt cheap and fairly decent controller wheels, go here:

        http://www.egghead.com/category/Software_all.htm

and scroll to the bottom.  They've got the Thrustmaster Super Sport
and Charger wheels for $15.99 and $16.99 respectively.  There are
superior wheels for a lot more, but if you don't want to make a big
commitment, these are exceptionally adequate for a good price.

Regards.
Brett C. Cammack
That's Racing! Motorsports
Pompano Beach, FL

The Andretti Racing Wheel was cheap and well rated by magazines.  I have
seen it in the $40s.  Large pedals and USB connection.  It also has mostly
metal parts, so it seems tough.

Phil, it's one of those things where, if you're going to spend $50, you
might as well spend $100. So I'd say spend under $20 and get something like
the Thrustmaster Nascar Charger wheel. It's a little finicky about the game
port you plug it into, but it's surprisingly  accurate. It takes up hardly
any desk space, clamps on easily, and the gas and brake are levers mounted
on the steering column so you won't have pedals and an extra wire to kick
around. Plus, when your 5 yr. old grandchildren come over they can drive it.

--
Slot

www.slottweak.com
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