rec.autos.simulators

> I'm seriously considering buying one of these, and I'd appreciate some
> feedback from anyone that has already taken the plunge.
...

> After having purchased one, would you recommend it to a friend?  Or do
> you wish you had bought something else?

>>1) Optical/Digital accuracy.  I have owned joysticks from just about
>>every manufacturer, and the dead-on/never-drift accuracy of the
>>Sidewinder 3D Pro makes it my favorite stick.

>Then you will love this aspect of the MS wheel.

>>2) Force Feedback.  If even some of the claims are true, I think I
>>want this feature on my next wheel.

>It's well done for what it is, but I'm not a big FF nut.

>>3) F'n tired of Thrustmaster.  I owned a T2, and then a Nascar Pro
>>from this company.  Even though their support was top notch, I found
>>myself in contact with them WAY WAY WAY too often.  Also, neither TM
>>product got along with Win95 very well.

>I had the same experience with my T2 (broken springs all the time). Time
>will tell with the MS wheel, but it doesn't *seem* like the kind of product
>that will have as many problems as the T2. And naturally, the MS wheel
>integrates with W95 and DirectInput perfectly.

>>So, before I buy ... I have some questions:

>>How do you like its feel when using it with non-force-feedback driving
>>games?

>Good, but it takes some getting used it. You can set it for self-centering
>(where FF provides turning resistance, making the wheel want to return to
>center -- my setting) or non-self-centering (FF off) where you can move the
>wheel to any position and it will stay there.

>>How is it while using the force feedback?

>Fun with MTM2. With GPL and other sims, I just use the FF to return the
>wheel to center (turning resistance, see above).

>>Have you found a racing game that uses the feedback to simulate a
>>loose wheel when entering a skid/slide?

>No. I wish GPL did, but that may be beyond the current state of FF
>technology.

>>Is the wheel dead-on-accurate, like my Sidewinder Joystick?

>Yes.

>>After having purchased one, would you recommend it to a friend?  Or do
>>you wish you had bought something else?

>I'm happy with it. It feels different than the T2 and so takes some getting
>used to. But I'm acclimated now and consider it a good purchase. See more
>detailed comments in my other post tonight in this newsgroup. (Sorry, but
>I'm too tired now to repeat them -- gotta get some sleep).

>Jim

>I think it's great. The wheel itself is very well designed.  They fixed the
>Force Feedback stuff from the joystick so the fan doesn't turn on unless it
>needs to (at least that's what I think - it certainly isn't on most of the
>time). I LOVE the paddles for shifting.  Grip and thumb grips are
excellent.
>The mounting system is nice and easy.  No calibration. Force feedback is
>cool, but the games (cart precision racing specifically) needs to improve
the
>algorithms now so that you can feel push & looseness, plus the feel of

> > I'm seriously considering buying one of these, and I'd appreciate some
> > feedback from anyone that has already taken the plunge.

> I got it on Friday, and spent the weekend using racing with my brother (2
> computers, his with my old T2) and nephews.

> I think it's great. The wheel itself is very well designed.  They fixed the
> Force Feedback stuff from the joystick so the fan doesn't turn on unless it
> needs to (at least that's what I think - it certainly isn't on most of the
> time).  I LOVE the paddles for shifting.  Grip and thumb grips are excellent.
> The mounting system is nice and easy.  No calibration.  Force feedback is
> cool, but the games (cart precision racing specifically) needs to improve the
> algorithms now so that you can feel push & looseness, plus the feel of losing
> grip.  But that's just a software thing - it has nothing to do with the
> wheel.

> Overall - a good buy.

>    Yep. You're totally right. The wheel itself is a great piece of
hardware
>capable of great feedback. Just use the "test forces" to see what it can
do.
>Unfortuantely, the games that are around at the moment absolutely suck in
the way
>they support it. Monster Truck Madness 2 is the only game I found that was
really
>enhanced by the Force Feedback. Motorcross Madness, Cart, and Monaco GP,
all had
>VERY minor feedback effects.
>    It all a software (the games) problem, that should hopefully be sorted
in the
>new batch coming!