rec.autos.simulators

by **igc** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:12:22

Will using "Force Feedback" make me a better driver in a sim?

by **Brian Oste** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:52:32

I personally don't know how I could drive without it. I have used FF
since I first got N4. A few times I started to drive a race and
forgot to hit the little force button on my wheel and I could not even
begin to drive. I am sure if I had never used it I would still be
able to drive, but I really rely on the FF to tell me what the car is
doing.

Brian Oster

by **rik zeppeli** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:53:52

10-4

by **ymenar** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 07:59:52

> Will using "Force Feedback" make me a better driver in a sim?

After racing a non-ForceFeedback wheel for half a decade, and just having
switched to a FF wheel, I would say 100% : YES! if you tweak the wheel to
your own proper personal settings.

--
-- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard>
-- http://www.ymenard.8m.com/
-- This announcement is brought to you by the Shimato Dominguez
Corporation - helping America into the New World...

by **SimRace** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 08:15:08

No. It may help immerse you in the sensation of driving but it will not make
YOU better. Our league's champion gallery is about 50/50 on who used FF to
win their championships. To me it adds something else to overcome on top of
car setup, weather, and other drivers. I have had 2 FF wheels and am on my
second and last non FF wheel. This is because I love the wheel I have now
(non FF) and it has a lifetime warranty...hehe.

by **Haqsa** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 09:34:32

I love my FF wheel but I gotta agree with SimRacer, it is not necessary.
If you learn to use your eyes properly you can drive just as well with a
non-FF wheel. The key is to make sure you are looking far enough up the
track to be able to read your car's yaw rate effectively. As he said,
lots of champions race without FF. That said, I have to say that FF
makes gameplay a hell of a lot more fun (when you can get it to work
right) and I am glad I have it.

> > Will using "Force Feedback" make me a better driver in a sim?

> No. It may help immerse you in the sensation of driving but it will
not make
> YOU better. Our league's champion gallery is about 50/50 on who used
FF to
> win their championships. To me it adds something else to overcome on
top of
> car setup, weather, and other drivers. I have had 2 FF wheels and am
on my
> second and last non FF wheel. This is because I love the wheel I have
now
> (non FF) and it has a lifetime warranty...hehe.

by **Olav K. Malm** » Fri, 22 Feb 2002 17:30:01

> Will using "Force Feedback" make me a better driver in a sim?

It depends on personal preference. Many good drivers are using a
joystick.

But for me it helped a lot on consistency, since I get that little
extra input needed to understand when the car is on the limit.

--
Olav K. Malmin
remove .spam when replying

by **igc** » Sat, 23 Feb 2002 00:42:05

Thank you all for your feedback.

I get the overall feeling, that the feeling of the car *will* aide my
driving endevors. I have played NR with wheels & pedals for years and
cannot seem to get any better. I am not a consistant driver and had
imagined that FF would help. I am looking for a replacement for my old
broken down T2, any suggestions? BTW, I used to own the Pro Digital wheel
that Thrustmaster came out with, but never worked correctly on my USB port.
BTW, I'm still *waiting* for a response to three emails I sent to
Guillemot's (who bought out Thrustmaster a while back) technical support in
Jan 2000 !!!

by **b..** » Sat, 23 Feb 2002 23:39:31

You've got it right. Some very fast guys use the ability of
a joystick or a no-FF wheel to make unrealistically fast moves, but
the average driver will learn more with FF, which lets you know when
you're overdriving the car and need to be smoother.

Both the Act Labs and the Logitech MOMO are first rate FF
wheels.

by **Eldre** » Sun, 24 Feb 2002 02:24:43

>I love my FF wheel but I gotta agree with SimRacer, it is not necessary.
>If you learn to use your eyes properly you can drive just as well with a
>non-FF wheel. The key is to make sure you are looking far enough up the
>track to be able to read your car's yaw rate effectively.

I do that quite easily when I drive my real car, but I find it difficult when
I'm looking at a 2D screen. That may be what's holding me back. Any ideas how
to make it easier?

Eldred
--
Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
GPLRank - under construction...

Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you
with experience...
Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **John Pancoas** » Sun, 24 Feb 2002 04:16:35

Just have to force yourself Eldred, until it becomes habit. Easiest place
to start is in the turns; don't look where you're going/car in front of you;
look out the top of the windshield for the turn exit.
Another good way to learn, is when you're following a car, don't look at
it's rear; look at the track ahead through his windshield.

-John

> >I love my FF wheel but I gotta agree with SimRacer, it is not necessary.
> >If you learn to use your eyes properly you can drive just as well with a
> >non-FF wheel. The key is to make sure you are looking far enough up the
> >track to be able to read your car's yaw rate effectively.

> I do that quite easily when I drive my real car, but I find it difficult
when
> I'm looking at a 2D screen. That may be what's holding me back. Any
ideas how
> to make it easier?

> Eldred
> --
> Dale Earnhardt, Sr. R.I.P. 1951-2001
> Homepage - http://www.umich.edu/~epickett
> GPLRank - under construction...

> Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats
you
> with experience...
> Remove SPAM-OFF to reply.

by **Haqsa** » Sun, 24 Feb 2002 08:59:56

Umm, no. ;o) I still have a big problem making myself do that. I have
managed to do it just often enough to convince myself that it is
absolutely essential to fast, consistent lap times, with or without FF.
But I still forget frequently.

> ... The key is to make sure you are looking far enough up the
> >track to be able to read your car's yaw rate effectively.

> I do that quite easily when I drive my real car, but I find it
difficult when
> I'm looking at a 2D screen. That may be what's holding me back. Any
ideas how
> to make it easier?