Hardware / Other hardware

Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback joystick

discussed in 32 posts, 2000-2007 · overall tone mixed

Posts per month

Key threads

Best controllers for Superbike 2001 and motorbike sims 2002-03-11 · 21 posts
Paul Jager asked which controllers worked best for EA's Superbike 2001. Most recommended a joystick, sometimes combined with pedals, while others suggested reducing wheel travel to about 180 degrees or using dual-analog gamepads. There was a side debate about how countersteering and lean are mapped in motorbike games.
Frustrated GPL driver announces he is quitting 2001-07-09 · 46 posts
Jeffrey Rowe said he had boxed up his wheels and was quitting GPL and the group because his GPL Rank handicap was not falling fast enough, despite reaching about +10 in three months. Others urged him to race online for fun, and one poster said switching to a cheap joystick had dropped his handicap dramatically. This led to a discussion of joysticks versus wheels in GPL and Superbike 2001.
Beginner advice on driving without spinning out 2007-11-13 · 29 posts
A newcomer asked how to drive sims like GPL without aids and without spinning. Replies covered weight transfer, braking before the corner and gradual throttle, practising on one simple track, and the Skip Barber book Going Faster, which several strongly recommended; Peter Gagg pointed to his old GPL guide. Later posts debated whether joysticks are faster than wheels in GPL and techniques such as driver-induced understeer.
RASCAR wheel setup and the driving aids debate 2003-05-14 · 29 posts
A new RASCAR member asked about setting up a Saitek wheel and was given linearity and split-axis tips and pointers to Tim's Daytona setup. The discussion turned to whether NR2003 driving aids such as stability control give an unfair advantage in fixed-setup leagues. Most agreed auto-clutch was harmless, Ed Solheim wanted other aids banned, and John Simmons argued they did not matter for RASCAR.
GP4 versus F1 2002 comparison and in-race saves 2002-06-24 · 23 posts
Robert Pollard compared GP4 and F1 2002 on graphics, handling and features. Some found GP4 felt on rails until aids were disabled, others found F1 2001 arcade-like, and one noted Sound Blaster hardware acceleration hurt GP4 frame rates. A side debate followed over whether in-race saving is cheating or a necessity for busy players.
GPL controller input freezing under DirectX 8 2001-01-27 · 20 posts
Jack Smash reported brief freezes of his wheel input in GPL and suspected DirectX 8. Suggestions included DX8a, unticking 'poll with interrupts', removing disconnected controllers and enabling DMA. Posters disputed a system.ini swapfile tweak, and Jack later revealed he was running Windows 2000.
Should sim fans support underachieving sequels? 2000-07-26 · 39 posts
A GPL page editor argued that sim racers should not buy disappointing titles like GP3, NASCAR 99 or NASCAR 3 just because they exist. Others countered that refusing to buy would kill the genre, as had happened to combat flight sims, and debated whether GP3's weather was truly dynamic. Much of the thread became flight-sim recommendations.

Busiest threads

Best controllers for Superbike 2001 and motorbike sims (3 posts about it)
Frustrated GPL driver announces he is quitting (2 posts about it)
Whats up with the new poor force feedback quality? (2 posts about it)
Beginner advice on driving without spinning out (1 posts about it)
MSFF Wheel drivers (1 posts about it)
Toca2, wheel and joystick? (1 posts about it)
RBR and Logi Momo brakes? (1 posts about it)
Sidewinder wheel worth picking up if cheap? (1 posts about it)
MS Sidewinder no more! (1 posts about it)
RASCAR wheel setup and the driving aids debate (1 posts about it)
MSSW Game Port and USB (1 posts about it)
MS Ff Stick + Logitech profiler : PROBS !!! (1 posts about it)
Moto GP Demo (1 posts about it)
GP4 versus F1 2002 comparison and in-race saves (1 posts about it)
Cannot Install Sidewinder Gameport Driver on XP PC (1 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Each post that discussed it was rated from −2 (very negative) to +2 (very positive).

Year	Posts	Positive	Negative	Tone
2000	9	2	4	negative (-0.22)
2001	7	1	2	mixed (+0.00)
2002	9	3	1	positive (+0.33)
2003	3	2	0	very positive (+1.33)
2004	2	0	1	negative (-0.50)
2005	1	1	0	very positive (+1.00)
2007	1	1	0	very positive (+1.00)