How much of a difference does a wheel make?

Hey I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 percent. And the road courses, forget it. I use my keyboard to steer (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am I just simply a crappy driver? I'd like to know how many people use there keyboard to steer, and can you do it effectively? Also, Can anyone give me any reconmendations on which one to buy also, I'm looking for something in the 100 dollar range (CDN, thats about 70 bucks give or take in US dollars), that includeds petals, and something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 months latter. Thanks in advance..

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> Hey > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a > real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 > percent. And the road courses, forget it. I use my keyboard to steer > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it > actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am > I just simply a crappy driver? I'd like to know how many people use > there keyboard to steer, and can you do it effectively? > Also, Can anyone give me any reconmendations on which one to buy > also, I'm looking for something in the 100 dollar range (CDN, thats > about 70 bucks give or take in US dollars), that includeds petals, and > something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 > months latter. Thanks in advance..

I agree with the other guys. The wheel makes all the difference in the world. I too like the Thrustmaster GP-1. It's a great wheel for the price, and you will not be able to believe how much faster you are after about the first five minutes. Good prices on the GP-1, I have bought two at the local Costco for under fifty bucks US. Such a deal <ggg.> All the best, Mike -- Michael S. Davis Creative Media-Works Computer/Audio/Video Convergence "from Creative minds spring Creative solutions." http://www.creativemedia-works.com

The Wheel makes a big difference! Once you use one, anything else is toylike! I have walking difficulties, therefore I prefer the Thrustmaster GP-1 with paddles behind the wheel to control gas & brake. Thrustmaster makes several wheel, Thomas (TSW) makes several very highly rated combos. I think their address is www.tsw.com. This NG is pretty good about helping newbies so you'll get other helpful ideas ! Tim

A steering wheel will make a **BIG DIFFERENCE**! Your lap time will be significantly reduced. Go for the TM GP1 or T2, and if you are really serious about racing sims go for the TM Nascar Pro. Practice with your new wheel in ICR2 or Nascar2. And buy the awesome F1 Racing Simulation and enjoy the best racing experience ever made to the PC. For me, I'll upgrade my old GP1 to either the T2 or the Pro wheel. The accel/brake levers on the GP1 don't cut it anymore in F1RS.

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> Hey > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a > real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 > percent. And the road courses, forget it. I use my keyboard to steer > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it > actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am > I just simply a crappy driver? I'd like to know how many people use > there keyboard to steer, and can you do it effectively? > Also, Can anyone give me any reconmendations on which one to buy > also, I'm looking for something in the 100 dollar range (CDN, thats > about 70 bucks give or take in US dollars), that includeds petals, and > something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 > months latter. Thanks in advance..

For $80 you can get a Thrustmaster T2 - that would be a great starter wheel. Not sure if it will improve your times, but I can't drive at all on a keyboard. It's definitely a lot more fun with the wheel--but be prepared for the wife and kids to ridicule you... my roommates call it my Fisher-Price wheel. Tom Anderson

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> For $80 you can get a Thrustmaster T2 - that would be a great starter > wheel. > Not sure if it will improve your times, but I can't drive at all on a > keyboard. > It's definitely a lot more fun with the wheel--but be prepared for the wife > and > kids to ridicule you... my roommates call it my Fisher-Price wheel. > Tom Anderson

CompUSA has the T2 for $49.99 and the Nascar Pro for $89.99, both are after rebate prices.

>I use my keyboard to steer > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? You can spend another $50 on yet another game, or you can spend the money on tools to increase the enjoyment of all your games. Maybe enough to get your money's worth out of those $50 expenditures hereafter ;) - Matt

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> Hey > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a > real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 > percent. And the road courses, forget it. I use my keyboard to steer > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it > actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am > I just simply a crappy driver? I'd like to know how many people use > there keyboard to steer, and can you do it effectively? > Also, Can anyone give me any reconmendations on which one to buy > also, I'm looking for something in the 100 dollar range (CDN, thats > about 70 bucks give or take in US dollars), that includeds petals, and > something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 > months latter. Thanks in advance..

Is there a difference between night and day? Get yourself a wheel and begin your real sim racing career :)

> Hey > I use my keyboard to steer > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it > actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am > I just simply a crappy driver? Is your sirname Flintstone????

Check out ActLabs' Force RS wheel. It has force feedback, with an F1 style shifter, along with pedals for $99. You can use it for your PlayStation as well, with a different cartridge. http://www.actlab.com/gamegear/ That's the one I'm waiting for. It should be available real soon. -- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Coming soon, everything you wanted to know about the classic *** movie, Valley Girl". [link lost in import] Remove the "spam-jammer" to reply Peace, love and Monkeemobiles, Galley

Just go get a wheel, any TM product will do (make sur eth store has a return policy though you may need it) A keyboard is a digital device, by that I mean its either on or off - the key is either pressed or not - A wheel on the other hand is an analog device, it allows fine degrees of control, you can acceralrate gently of rapidly you can brake a little or a lot. With the keyboard, you are either braking all the way or not at all, accelerating all the way or not at all. Try this tommorow on your drive to work - hit the gas to the floor to accelerate then let up when you need to and keep this up to maintain a speed, likewise the brakes. then you will appriecitate what a wheel will do for you. edk

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> > Hey > > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love > > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a > > real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 > > percent. And the road courses, forget it. I use my keyboard to steer > > (never got the hang of the jotstick). Does a wheel make that much of > > a difference, or is it just another un-needed computer toy? Does it > > actully shave time of your laps and make road courses drivible, or am > > I just simply a crappy driver? I'd like to know how many people use > > there keyboard to steer, and can you do it effectively? > > Also, Can anyone give me any reconmendations on which one to buy > > also, I'm looking for something in the 100 dollar range (CDN, thats > > about 70 bucks give or take in US dollars), that includeds petals, and > > something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 > > months latter. Thanks in advance.. > Is there a difference between night and day? Get yourself a wheel and > begin your real sim racing career :)

Another alternative is the UltraRacer PC controller. It looks like a remote control car radio unit. The quality is not bad and they are very inexpensive 29.95 at Comp USA.

> Check out ActLabs' Force RS wheel. It has force feedback, with an F1 style > shifter, along with pedals for $99. You can use it for your PlayStation as > well, with a different cartridge. > http://www.actlab.com/gamegear/ > That's the one I'm waiting for. It should be available real soon. Yeah, right! That's what they told me almost a year ago...available real soon (TM). l8er ronny -- Toys'R'Us '99: "So, would you like a hand gun with that action figure, kiddo?" |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

> > Hey > > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love > > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a [snip] > > something that is durableyou know, somrthing that wont break like 6 > > months latter. Thanks in advance.. > Is there a difference between night and day? Get yourself a wheel and > begin your real sim racing career :) If you would like to give it a try and maybe stick around with simracing for some months then get one of TM's toys, but if you're into serious simracing career <g> then get yourself descent wheel like TSW :) Btw. I think times are changing for simracing, I think it will become a sport soon. Just look at the amount of sponsors becoming involved in sponsoring simracing teams. It's a damn good way to advertise your product at a fair price :) Our team signed sponsorship deal last month, and there are teams getting sponsors every month. I only hope to see simracing become a recognized sport all over the world. What the heck, it's fun, it isn't dangerous, it doesn't polute (well, not much :) and a good way of advertising. There was a tournament in F1RS this weekend in Slovenia, with 1st prize as PII+Voodoo2 computer without monitor, 2nd prize was a weekend at Monaco GP, 3rd prize color ink jet printer, etc... (hehe, I've been there, it rocks.... :) So guys, get yourself a good racing equipment if you want to start your simracing career ;) Regards, Tadej Krevh TSW Monkey Grand Prix Co-manager TSW Monkey Grand Prix Technical director LFRS class B

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> Just go get a wheel, any TM product will do (make sur eth store has a return > policy though you may need it) > A keyboard is a digital device, by that I mean its either on or off - the > key is either pressed or not - > A wheel on the other hand is an analog device, it allows fine degrees of

Is it possible to acquire a TSW in the UK ? -- TMS Development Lucent Technologies. Swindon Road, Malmesbury, England, SN16 9NA.

- snipped post about joystick or wheel - Any suggestions as to which wheel pedal set to buy? I have a 4-5 year old T2 that is held together with duct tape, elastic bands and some heavy wire. Both springs broke long ago but after the warranty period was over so I never contacted Thrustmaster. But I'm sure there must be better sets available today, right? BTW how about the desk height, chair (seat?), distance to monitor, where to put the keyboard etc. Any advice or suggestions as to what helps and what doesn't? Alan

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> - snipped post about joystick or wheel - > > Is there a difference between night and day? Get yourself a wheel and > > begin your real sim racing career :) > Any suggestions as to which wheel pedal set to buy? I have a 4-5 year old > T2 that is held together with duct tape, elastic bands and some heavy wire. > Both springs broke long ago but after the warranty period was over so I > never contacted Thrustmaster. > But I'm sure there must be better sets available today, right?

Some guys may think I'm getting paid by TM or CH, but here is my recommendation: Get a TM GP1 + CH Pedals, it's relativly cheap, it's the best for F1RS and maybe GPL because you can shift gears with the wheel paddels and you can use the CH Pedals for flight sims as well. Most features for the buck, I'd say... Unless you want to spend serious amounts of money (TWS, ECCI). l8er ronny -- How to get rid of censorship in German game releases <http://www.gamesmania.com/german/maniac/freedom/freedom.htm> |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

% Any suggestions as to which wheel pedal set to buy? I have a 4-5 year old % T2 that is held together with duct tape, elastic bands and some heavy wire. % Both springs broke long ago but after the warranty period was over so I % never contacted Thrustmaster. Just a note here, even though Thrustmaster has a "fixed" warranty period, it seems they support their product for life. Unless someone has really abused their equipment (like smashing it with a bulldozer), I am unaware of Thrustmaster not sending free replacement parts or offering to repair a unit free of charge (you pay shipping). While they do sell a "rebuild kit", you can simply contact them via their website support page and they will send you free springs, pots, bungee chords, etc. to get your product working again. So if anyone out there has a TM product that isn't working up to*** give Thrustmaster a holler and get it back up snuff. [link lost in import] -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ronald Stoehr wrote Please Ronald.. Tell us how you got your CHpedals to work with F1RS !!! Argh How did you configure your Gp1+CH in Win95's controller panel (you know 4-axis, etc...) ?? I'm not the first to had some problems with the CH pedals in F1RS. For me everything works fine but it doesnt recognize the gas pedal (only accelerator). An informative post would be greatly appreciate for many people her ! I have no problems in other simulators. Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard> Good race at the Brickyard, (-o-) Official Mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. Member of the r.a.s. Ego-maniac club Excuse me for my English (I'm French speaking) Excuse me for being provocative (I'm dumb speaking) --"People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."--

What's serious amounts of money? I'll pay for a 3dfx card even though I have a 4MB millenium II, I'll pay $50-$100 for a game title, so I'll easily pay $200 for a wheel pedal set. What does TWS (Tom Walkinshaw Steering???!!) have that TM GP1 + CH pedals doesn't. Is it just a quality thing or more features or a gold and diamond studded wheel? I've also noticed that some people in this NG prefer to have the brake and throttle on their own axis. I guess this is so you can left foot brake effectively. Any store products have that feature or is it a build it yourself thing? Thanks for the info. Alan (at work)

% I've also noticed that some people in this NG prefer to have the brake and % throttle on their own axis. I guess this is so you can left foot brake % effectively. Any store products have that feature or is it a build it % yourself thing? Having the two pedals on different axis just give more complete control of braking and accelerating. When they are on the same axis, letting off the gas produces the same affect as putting on the brakes. Thrustmaster's NASCAR Pro (Formula1 Pro overseas), has pedals that can be switched as combined (all on one axis) or separate axis. -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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> Please Ronald.. Tell us how you got your CHpedals to work with F1RS !!! Argh > How did you configure your Gp1+CH in Win95's controller panel (you know > 4-axis, etc...) ?? I'm not the first to had some problems with the CH pedals > in F1RS. For me everything works fine but it doesnt recognize the gas pedal > (only accelerator). An informative post would be greatly appreciate for many > people her ! I have no problems in other simulators.

Ok, here it goes: Use user defined (4-axis, 4 buttons, Race car controller), having the CH Pedals set to car mode (switch to the left -> 2 axis), calibrate and that's it. In F1RS, at least patched to V1.05 (used only 1 joystick before), reset all controls to keyboard, then set them to the wheel, using the wheel paddles for shifting. Hope it helps ronny -- Toys'R'Us '99: "So, would you like a hand gun with that action figure, kiddo?" |\ _,,,---,,_ I want to die like my Grandfather, ZZZzz /,`.-'`' -. ;-;;,_ in his sleep. |,4- ) )-,_. ,\ ( `'-' Not like the people in his car, '---''(_/--' `-'\_) screaming their heads off!

>> > Hey >> > I've been playing racing sims since I got my computer. I really love >> > the Papy games and GP2. But, espacally in the Papy games, I have a >> > real hard time being competitvie with oppenets ratibgs over 89 >> > percent. Well, a wheel might get you up to 91%... but then, I know for a fact that one can win at 100% with a joystick- that is what I use. Biggest difference- every time you want to use the computer there is a wheel in the way! ;-) My best times ever were with a CH Pro Flight Yoke and Flight Pedals. I then went to a T2, which royally screwed up my times but which was a lot more fun. Now I use a good joystick because I am sick of having to move the wheel and the pedals, and also of having to sit "just so" to race. And while the stick sucked at first, I found that within a week I was close to my old times... and really, it was the same skills involved. Bottom line, I don't care what percentage I am racing at, I just like racing, and the stick does fine. So if you have room, get the wheel. But if you a causal racer, it just isn't worth it.