Microsoft Force feedback Wheel release date

According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be released on Oct 29th. http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? Dave DmndDave >According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be >released on Oct 29th. >http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

Try here: http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/sidewinder/wheel/default.htm -- If you want to reply to me in person, please replace nospam with swipnet in my address. Best regards, Richard David G Fisher skrev i meddelandet >The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice >recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some >info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? >Dave >DmndDave >>According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be >>released on Oct 29th. >>http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

Go to [link lost in import] There is also some stuff on *** sites about it. I had the chance to play Monster truck madness two with the wheel. It was pretty good and comfortable, but I didn't get to really use it because it was at E3 and there were more people waiting to use it.

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>The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice >recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some >info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? >Dave >DmndDave >>According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be >>released on Oct 29th. >>http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

I can't say much about it, but the wheel is awesome! I actually re-loaded CPR and had a blast with it. It rules for MTM2 and Motocross Madness. The feedback is incredible. Still working on it with N2. Works great for GPL. -/- Walk Walker

There's some info on sidewinder's page.But if you really want to get some very detailed info,get the 3.0 drivers for the FF sidewinder joystick.It's a complete set of drivers for all microsoft FF devices including the not yet released wheel.On it, you can check all its features and help files. Rafael

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> The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice > recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some > info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? > Dave > DmndDave > >According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be > >released on Oct 29th. > >http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

How's about here! http://www.microsoft.com/sidewinder/

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>The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice >recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some >info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? >Dave >DmndDave >>According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be >>released on Oct 29th. >>http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

I've been using it since June. Actually, I have been 'indirectly' involved with the FF wheel since it was an idea in someone's head. It has an adjustable latch that should allow it to connect to most table/desk tops. Six buttons on the front for your thumbs. Two paddles in the back for shifters. One center hidden button (where a horn would be) to enable/disable force feedback. Accelerator and brake pedals. Gripes: The accelerator/brake assembly is fairly light. I begged them to fill the empty spaces with 'ballast to add weight. Fortunately, this is a minor complaint for me because of the angle of the pedals, you don't end up pushing the assembly across the floor. Driving with the hands in the 3:00 - 9:00 position I have experienced two problems. It is possible to get your thumb caught during an extreme turn. It only happens once or twice and then you keep your thumb out of the way. Also during an extreme turn, shifting takes some concentration as paddles become a little more difficult to reach. Not a biggie, but it will happen to you. DOS games must be run in Win95/98 for the wheel to work. Likes: QUIET FAN!!!! All buttons are fully programmable except for the FF enable/disable button. It is very easy to switch from F1RS to TOCA button setups or any other setups. Force Feedback is fun, but not overdone. Comfortable feel. Accelerator/brake can be setup as a single axis or double axis depending on your needs. Works with everything that I have tested. On the last day of testing I tried Nascar Racing 2. It didn't work. The calibration screen was jumping everywhere. I got with one of the driver writers and he tweaked the portion of the driver that works with DOS games. It now works, but I don't know if the corrected DOS driver made it onto the CD. If it didn't, it should be available for download. The developer told me that Papyrus was trying to optimize their access to the game port. It is digital. Basically, if they want to know what the status of the wheels and pedals are, the driver asks and gets immediate results. With an analog wheel, the capacitors have to be charged, then a loop is entered while you wait for the capacitors to discharge. Not efficient use of the CPU. Game that I have played it on: N2 - great!! Obviously no force feedback. TOCA - a lot of fun. The force feedback is really fun. CPR - a lot of fun, also. I begged the developers to make a separate gas/brake axes, but this game only uses a single axis. Despite that, the force feedback is great. Like TOCA, when you hit the edge of the track, you know it. Also, I have no problem driving a straight line or following the line I want through a turn. F1RS - great, but I never get any force feedback. Other than that, no problem. GPL - great, but no force feedback. Also, no other problems. ICR2 - great, no FF. ICR2 (Win95) - great, no FF NHRA - of course the pedals don't work.... :-) MTM2 - OK, I haven't really used it on this, but I know it works. -Paul

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>The whole page is about the Combat Flight Sim (awesome) and the voice >recognition with Encarta 99. Nothing about the wheel. Where can I get some >info about the wheel and it's features? Anyone able to fill me in? >Dave >DmndDave >>According to their web site the Sidewinder Force Feedback wheel will be >>released on Oct 29th. >>http://www.microsoft.com/magazine/confidential/default.htm

>I've been using it since June. Actually, I have been 'indirectly' involved >with the FF wheel since it was an idea in someone's head. >Works with everything that I have tested> You say it works but how does it work? Do you feel the handling of the car like when the car pushes does it get light or does it just bump and jerk with the road changes and crashing? Whats the point of using it with F1RS if there is no force feedback? This must be a GPL demo that you tried right? What about NFS2 or NFS3? Does it only have FF with Microsoft titles? I have been waiting for a FF wheel that can give real car handling feedback like the arcade game Harddrive'n but haven't seen any yet. Does this wheel even come close? DSR#74 :-)