I picked up the MSFF (which I will compare to the LWFF I ordered and return
the loser) because FF is the rage since GPL 1.1. When I first fired up the
wheel I left "force feedback" and "return to center" set to high in the
sidewinder control panel and didn't change any core.ini settings. I also
had the linear slider in GPL set in the middle. Well to say I wasn't
impressed is a gross understatement. After ALL the hype I thought this
just can't be what you were all raving about. The wheel was far too stiff
and the weight and inertia effects seemed slightly delayed (out of sync) and
more detrimental than useful to driving. Discouraged, I decided to
experiment with the settings. I turned off "return to center" in the
sidewinder control panel and INCREASED max torque in the core.ini to 275
which actually reduced the forces in the game (max_steering_torque =
275.000000). This gave me the ideal blend of subtle yet useful FF, however,
the laggy response remained. I thought the culprit might be the linear
slider. I moved the linear slider completely toward linear to see if a
linear steering wheel would improve FF response. WOW! The FF felt perfect.
The FF effects were immediate, appropriate and AMAZING.
I could now feel almost every inch of the cars movement. The weight, the
inertia and the grip were all relayed through this amazing FF process. Now
you could see and FEEL the car swing left and right in perfect sync with
your input. GPL+FF=Ultimate Immersion. The tactile feedback of the wheel
is the perfect compliment to the "2D" visual and auditory data. It is the
missing 3rd dimension and certainly is a far cry from the useless gimmick I
once thought of FF. So if your experience of GPL FF isn't what you had
hoped, don't be discouraged. Experiment with the settings, since this can
make a world of difference.
Now I can't wait for the FF***pit equipped with a hydraulic seat ;-).
--
Joe Marques
