Wheel makes a difference in N2

Well I hope this is not stating the obvious, but after purchasing a Thrustmaster GP-1 wheel last week at CompUSA ($69-$20 instant rebate - $30 mail-in rebate + tax = $24 U.S.) I'd recomend that if you enjoy playing racing games, that a wheel makes it so much more enjoyable and defintely faster. In the last few hours that I've sat down to play Nascar 2 - Talladega, using the AI patch available on The Pits and the 98 carset, plus a borrowed setup and NO changes to my skill level, I've improved my best lap in race to 195.562 from a previous best of 193 and change. I'm sure there must be some speed left. I've also been able to win a 100% opponent strength race, where previously with the keyboard I was struggling at 97% strength. I know that the GP-1 has some short comings, but I just couldn't pass up the price even though I know I don't race much anymore. So if you keep on wondering why you can't attain those speeds that others keep posting on the newsgroupt, it could simply be your going as fast as your can with a keyboard. PI

Driving with the keyboard? Dude, welcome to analog!!

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>Well I hope this is not stating the obvious, but after purchasing a >Thrustmaster GP-1 wheel last week at CompUSA ($69-$20 instant rebate - >$30 mail-in rebate + tax = $24 U.S.) I'd recomend that if you enjoy >playing racing games, that a wheel makes it so much more enjoyable and >defintely faster. In the last few hours that I've sat down to play >Nascar 2 - Talladega, using the AI patch available on The Pits and the >98 carset, plus a borrowed setup and NO changes to my skill level, >I've improved my best lap in race to 195.562 from a previous best of >193 and change. I'm sure there must be some speed left. I've also >been able to win a 100% opponent strength race, where previously with >the keyboard I was struggling at 97% strength. I know that the GP-1 >has some short comings, but I just couldn't pass up the price even >though I know I don't race much anymore. So if you keep on wondering >why you can't attain those speeds that others keep posting on the >newsgroupt, it could simply be your going as fast as your can with a >keyboard. >PI

Yeah, but seriously, who in the world plays realistic driving simulations with a keyboard? I've been using an digital-analogue joystick for I can't remember how long now, would I benefit from buying a wheel? How much? - "If the meaning of life was printed in a book, someone would use it to keep the window open."

A person can become very good with a keyboard or joystick/gamepad if that's all they have used. But in terms of how much you would benefit from a wheel, only you can answer that question. If you take into regards a couple of factors: 1. How often you you play 2. Are you competitive with posted lap times on various web sites and newsgroups or on a online racing series 3. How much are you willing to spend on a wheel, like I posted before I picked up the GP-1 wheel for $25 (including tax etc) from CompUSA, but of course a Thompson Super Wheel is $300+. In the past I used a keyboard and tried several times to use a joystick, and I never felt comfortable and ended up abandoning the joystick for the keyboard. But a wheel in a racing game feels "natural", even though I know others will say I bought a wheel with an accelerator and break on the wheel, no one uses that except for the handicapped. Oh well suits my needs. PI