rec.autos.simulators

Any thoughts from people out there?

JAB

Andrew

Ash

| I've been looking for a while and I'm torn between the Act Labs, because
of the
| thick wheel and cool available shifter, and the MadCatz Andretti, for its
| apparently super-smooth digital performance and excellent pedals.... I'll
order
| one of them one of these days....
|
| Andrew
|

|
| > I'm looking at a NON-FF wheel (cheaper/bypass wierd happenings with FF
| > effects) and don't know which way to go.  Obviously the Hyperstim system
is
| > out of the question (lovely but pricy) but I've looked at Guillimont
Ferrari
| > and Saitek ones as well as logitek wheel but which one is better?  (Also
| > looked at the Dexxa wheel but gear buttons are in a v.wierd place.)
| >
| > Any thoughts from people out there?
| >
| > JAB
|

SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel- Reviewed by Sinjin
Rated: 4 Stars

<image="title.jpg>

"All the Features Without the Force"

Over the past 5 years I have tried just about every steering wheel
controller released for the PC.  While a few have stood out above the
others, the Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel has managed to
secure a top spot in my choice of wheels whenever I install a new
driving/racing game.  You can check out <a
href=http://www.mpog.com/reviews/hardware/controls/microsoft/forcefeedback...>my
review</a> for that wheel if you are only interested in force
feedback.  If you don't care if your wheel vibrates and shakes then
continue reading.

The <a href="
http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder/devices/PreWhee...">
Microsoft SideWinder Precision Racing Wheel</a> is basically a low
budget version of their force feedback model released last year.  Now
please don't confuse "low budget" with "cheap" as this wheel is still
just as sturdy and well built as its predecessor.  Microsoft has just
removed the motor and made a few design changes to get the cost down
to a more consumer-friendly price.

The design and look of this wheel and pedal combo is identical to that
of its motor-driven force feedback cousin, but with the absence of the
motor comes a much lighter wheel chassis.  You also eliminate the
giant AC-power brick and an extra (power) cable that you have to
string up to your desktop.  A few subtle changes have been integrated
into the new 2000 model but these are mainly cosmetic.  The grainy
textured grip of last year's wheel has now been replaced by smooth
ribbed plastic.  Personally I liked the grainy feel, as the smooth
plastic tends to make my palms sweat.  The wheel hub still features
the 6 buttons, which are within easy reach, plus 2 additional flipper
buttons, which serve as your shifters (or whatever function you assign
to them).  All 8 buttons are fully programmable using the SideWinder
software.  The lack of a stick shift may be cause for concern for some
racers, but I was able to live without it.

The wheel still features the same single-lever clamping mechanism,
which allows you to lock-down or remove this wheel from your desk in
under 20 seconds.  Plus the centrally located clamp ends up between
your legs unlike most of the other wheels on the market that seem to
position their clamps exactly where your knees would like to go.

The pedals are identical to last years model and still offer smooth
motion and just the right amount of travel. They are still attached to
a lightweight base, so make sure you have something behind them to
keep them from sliding back under your desk.  Even on carpet, the
pedals can slide around when the driving gets too intense and be
careful trying to pull them back forward with your toes - the molded
plastic edges of the pedals are very sharp and can rip through socks
and/or toes if you aren't careful.

Hooking up this rig is as easy as it gets.  The wheel connects to your
computer using a standard USB cable and the pedals connect to the
wheel using a small cable with RJ45 phone connectors on each end.
Once the SideWinder software is installed your computer will detect
the wheel whenever it's plugged in and add itself to your Game Control
options in Control Panel.

There is nothing fancy about the setup screen but unlike its force
feedback cousin, you must calibrate this wheel, and this is where I
learned the true power of the Precision Racing Wheel.  This wheel
supports something known as "split axis".  Most of you racing-sim
aficionados already know what this is all about but for those who
don't it boils down to this.

<image="sidewinder1.jpg> "Configuring the split-axis"

Normally when you calibrate your X and Y-axis on a steering wheel you
will see the crosshair in the center of a box.  Moving the wheel left
or right moves the crosshair sideways and pressing the gas and brake
pedals move it up and down.  This method severely reduces your braking
and acceleration control by reducing your ratio of acceleration and
braking to half the travel-distance of the axis plus eliminating your
ability to brake while accelerating (aka trail braking).  The
Precision Racing Wheel splits the gas and brake into two unique axis's
giving you a much greater and precise level of control over both
functions plus the added ability to tap the brake while accelerating
to maintain a constant RPM while you brake around turns.

I had no pack-in titles with my review copy of this wheel so I used
the driving games I already had installed on my PC to put this wheel
through its paces.  First off was <b>Need for Speed: Porsche
Unlimited</b>.  Prior to obtaining the Precision Racing Wheel I had
been playing this game using the force feedback model, but very often
I would disable the force feedback functions making the wheel very
loose and sloppy.  The Precision Racing Wheel was extremely accurate
with little dead zone and a smooth motion and a snappy
return-to-center.  The new trail braking ability took me a few laps to
get used to but once I did I was turning record laps and breaking all
of my previous scores.

<b>Grand Prix Legends</b> was next on the agenda.  Normally I used the
<I>Madcatz Andretti Wheel</I> when playing this game but the Precision
Racing Wheel easily equaled if not exceeded the performance of that
wheel.  If you can stand to play the ultimate in realistic racing sims
without a stick shift and without force feedback then this is the
wheel for you.  The ability to tap the brake in those high-speed turns
really improved my cornering and shaved valuable seconds off my lap
times.

Finally I loaded up <b>Breakneck</b> which is part sim - part arcade
racer.  The convenient buttons on the wheel made mapping and using the
various weapons and other game commands as easy as ever.  The wheel
offered precise control over the car and once again the split-axis
pedal control added additional control that I had never realized I was
missing - especially on those dirt tracks.

You can find the Microsoft Precision Racing Wheel for anywhere from
$70-90 in stores or on the Internet.
While this may seem expensive for a non-force feedback wheel keep in
mind that their force feedback products are generally higher-priced
than the competition.  Microsoft takes hardware seriously and they
offer a quality product that can take a beating.  My SideWinder force
feedback wheel is still going strong after 18 months of heavy use and
I'm sure the Precision Racing Wheel will last even longer since there
are far less moving parts.

Only a few minor flaws keep this wheel from getting a perfect score.
If they add some weight to the pedal-base, put the texture back on the
wheel, and add a stick shift, Microsoft will have the perfect wheel.
As it stands, the Microsoft Precision Racing Wheel has made it to the
top of my non-force feedback wheel list and I anxiously await their
second-generation force feedback wheel.

System Requirments for Wheel and Software

Pentium 166 MHZ or higher processor and USB port
Microsoft Windows 98 operating system w/ DirectX 7.0a
16 MB of RAM
10 MB of available hard-disk space
Quad-speed CD-ROM drive
Super VGA, 256 color monitor
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device

On Wed, 31 May 2000 17:04:16 GMT, "Robin MacMahon"

--
                         Sincerely,
                         Mark F.

E-Mail:  darac...@crosswinds.net
ICQ:  2164331
AOL IM:  DaRacerz

SimGo, Your SimRacing Specialists!!! Web Site:
http://members.xoom.com/DaRacerz/

(SimGo Got NASCAR 3 Setups, Patches, Utilites,
 X-Treme Manager, Plus News On Upcoming NASCAR 4)

SimReview.com
http://www.simreview.com

(Your Only Need To Read Reviews About Any
Simulation Racing Game Out There!)

The unrealistic feel force feedback gives. Feels like the wheel
has a mind of its own . IMO I would not buy another FF wheel.
I also think it feels "weird "

(Don't gimme NO***in E-mail)

Mine lasted 1 month.  After waiting 6 weeks for Guilemot to handle the warranty
repair.....I got a Guillemot Ferrari back in it's place.  They said it was an
error but  that I could keep it "If I wanted to."  That was a no brainer!  I
didn't want an FF either and used it with FF off.  Has a great feel.  You can
set the tension for as stiff a feel as you want without that "bungee cord
feel."  I use it with FF on in N3 sometimes and am pleased with it there also.

I guess if you get lucky like I did the the NASCAR Pro Digital ain't a bad deal
after all.....just hope it goes to heck in a hurry and they***up in the
Great White North.....(I also lucked out having them handle the "repair"
through Guillemot as they first told me to take it back to the store.  When I
told them I bought it on-line they had me return it directly to
them....otherwise I probably would have been stuck with another NPD then
another and another....)

(Don't gimme NO***in E-mail)

% > which weird happenings are these?
% >
% The unrealistic feel force feedback gives. Feels like the wheel
% has a mind of its own . IMO I would not buy another FF wheel.
% I also think it feels "weird "

Depends on the program's activation of FF.  It's also is very dependent on
the settings one makes for the wheel.  I know that in GPL (which has
excellent FF routines), that it is possible to create settings where the
wheel does seem to have a mind of its own.  However, when set properly
(everyone will have a different perception on this) its a good thing
(once one adapts to it).  I wouldn't imagine attempting to tackle the Ring
without my FF.  I never understood, before FF, why the car behaved in
certain sections of the Ring.  If I was lucky I could compensate for it,
but it was like driving blind.  Now with FF I can feel and anticipate
the car's shifting and compensate (though I still need some luck to
accomplish an unblemished -- albeit slow -- lap at the Ring. <G>

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

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