MS Force Feedback Wheel

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels great, is well constructed, and mounts and dismounts on a desk better than any other wheel I've used. MS has nailed this one. I only hope that future racing programs will support ff....and that GPL will include it in an upcoming patch. Yes, it's pricey but once you use it you'll see why.......Electronics Boutique got them yesterday. Sells for $199.95 and comes with full versions of Cart Precision Racing and Monster Truck Maddness 2. Martyg

hey David, You're really trying to get your point across, huh? Nah, just kidding. ;-)

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>Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III >and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels >great, is well constructed, and mounts and dismounts on a desk better >than any other wheel I've used. MS has nailed this one. I only >hope that future racing programs will support ff....and that GPL will >include it in an upcoming patch. Yes, it's pricey but once you use >it you'll see why.......Electronics Boutique got them yesterday. Sells >for $199.95 and comes with full versions of Cart Precision Racing and >Monster Truck Maddness 2. > Martyg

I understand it has paddle shifters, and dual/single axis capability. I also heard you can save different configurations for different games, and also multiple user configurations using the software that comes with it. Is any/all of that true? David G Fisher DmndDave >Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >a top notch peripheral.

On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 14:17:23 -0700, "David M. Goldstein" >Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III >and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels How is the feel when there isn't and FF effects? I mean, can you use it on GPL, and does it have a smooth feel, or can you feel the gears? Thanks, Andy

Sounds ok. I believe it is a digital wheel, isn't it? Does it support DOS games, like ICR2, GP2 and NASCAR2? Remco

Yep....It's all true.....

For games that don't support FF (and those that do support it), you can turn the FF on and off by pushing a button where the horn would be. For non-FF games, this provides a little resistance like a heavy spring is connected. I prefer this for non-FF games. If you turn this off, the wheel very, very loose and easy to turn. Your option. -Paul

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>On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 14:17:23 -0700, "David M. Goldstein" >>Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >>a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III >>and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels >How is the feel when there isn't and FF effects? I mean, can you use >it on GPL, and does it have a smooth feel, or can you feel the gears? >Thanks, >Andy

I really like it with TOCA. -Paul

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>Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III >and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels >great, is well constructed, and mounts and dismounts on a desk better >than any other wheel I've used. MS has nailed this one. I only >hope that future racing programs will support ff....and that GPL will >include it in an upcoming patch. Yes, it's pricey but once you use >it you'll see why.......Electronics Boutique got them yesterday. Sells >for $199.95 and comes with full versions of Cart Precision Racing and >Monster Truck Maddness 2. > Martyg

On Mon, 12 Oct 1998 10:34:57 -0700, "-Paul" >For games that don't support FF (and those that do support it), you can turn >the FF on and off by pushing a button where the horn would be. For non-FF >games, this provides a little resistance like a heavy spring is connected. >I prefer this for non-FF games. If you turn this off, the wheel very, very >loose and easy to turn. Your option. Paul, Thanks for the info! So even if the game doesn't support FF, you still get a fair amount of resistance from the wheel. But if you push the button, you get hardly any resistance? I think I'll get it Wed, you about talked me into it. :) Thanks, Andy

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>On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 14:17:23 -0700, "David M. Goldstein" >>Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >>a top notch peripheral. It works well with CPR, MTM2, NSF III >>and any other driving sim that supports force feedback. It feels >How is the feel when there isn't and FF effects? I mean, can you use >it on GPL, and does it have a smooth feel, or can you feel the gears?

Without FF it feels like rubbish. Very loose, no tension, no real effort needed to turn the wheel. With FF it's better, but Ionly tried it with Need For Speed 3 (which is a rubbish game at BEST). Driving over cobblestone roads and corrugations produces a nice effect though. Logitech are supposed to be bringing out a FF Wheel too, which uses technology used in microsurgery (apparently) -- Nathan Wong http://www.nectar.com.au/~alfacors - Super Touring - Alfa Romeo - - V8Supercars - CART -

Damn, I was afraid of this. I don't want to swap wheels when a game doesn't support FF. What about hitting the center button like the other poster suggested? (which didn't make much sense to me, but I don't have the wheel yet) Andy

Hello I read a post your post in r.a.s. and was wondering if the MS FF wheel had any self centering. I played with one at a computer store with Need For Speed III and I wasn't impressed with the way it felt. You can definitely tell your turning gears inside the wheel. Reminds me of trying to trun the chuck of a drill that has gear reduction. Maybe they didn't have it setup properly. Are you happy with it and is it worth the money? Also if you don't mind what games have you tried it with? Thanks Jerry

The one in the store wasn't setup right. You can adjust how much tension the wheel gives you with and with out force feedback. The wheel will center itself. They probably had the one setup in the store with the tension set all the way up and that is why it felt like he was moving a drill.

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>>>How is the feel when there isn't and FF effects? I mean, can you use >>>it on GPL, and does it have a smooth feel, or can you feel the gears? >>Without FF it feels like rubbish. Very loose, no tension, no real >>effort needed to turn the wheel. With FF it's better, but Ionly tried >>it with Need For Speed 3 (which is a rubbish game at BEST). Driving >>over cobblestone roads and corrugations produces a nice effect though. >>Logitech are supposed to be bringing out a FF Wheel too, which uses >>technology used in microsurgery (apparently) >Damn, I was afraid of this. I don't want to swap wheels when a game >doesn't support FF. What about hitting the center button like the >other poster suggested? (which didn't make much sense to me, but I >don't have the wheel yet) >Andy

>Damn, I was afraid of this. I don't want to swap wheels when a game >doesn't support FF. What about hitting the center button like the >other poster suggested? (which didn't make much sense to me, but I >don't have the wheel yet) Think of it this way. If you push the FF enable button (the horn) on a game that does not support FF (Nascar 2), the wheel is equivalent to using a Thrustmaster with a self-centering wheel. There is also some resistance to turning the wheel which is attributed to the self-centering. Most people will enable this button for non-FF games as it feels natural. If you disable this button, the wheel is very, very easy to turn and does not self-center. Personally, I don't like this mode. -Paul

Ditto for me. Speaking of N2 and the MS wheel, I just picked up the latter (l really like it so far), but how do you get it to work with N2? I have not had a problem with DirectX games, but the wheel is also supposed to work with DOS games that run under W95. N2 isn't recognizing it. Any help? Jim

On Sat, 10 Oct 1998 14:18:40 -0700, "David M. Goldstein" >Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.....the new MS FF wheel is >a top notch peripheral... Glad to hear it. I'll have to try one at a store though before buying it. Can you program in effects for sims (like GPL) that don't support FF? Meaning that you could add a very slight bump in the wheel when you change gears? Though I suppose that isn't really realistic. What we really need is FF Pedals; Seat; AND Wheel. Then you'd have something. And I'd NEVER leave my home. JB Edmonton, AB, BTW: www.actlab.com/ has a pretty nice looking wheel for $69 US; and a FF version for $139? Check it out.

I tried to email the patch to you, but I don't have your email address. -Paul

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>>Think of it this way. If you push the FF enable button (the horn) on a >game >>that does not support FF (Nascar 2), the wheel is equivalent to using a >>Thrustmaster with a self-centering wheel. There is also some resistance >to >>turning the wheel which is attributed to the self-centering. Most people >>will enable this button for non-FF games as it feels natural. If you >>disable this button, the wheel is very, very easy to turn and does not >>self-center. Personally, I don't like this mode. >Ditto for me. >Speaking of N2 and the MS wheel, I just picked up the latter (l really like >it so far), but how do you get it to work with N2? I have not had a problem >with DirectX games, but the wheel is also supposed to work with DOS games >that run under W95. N2 isn't recognizing it. >Any help? >Jim

>I tried to email the patch to you, but I don't have your email address. Paul, I sent you an email with my address. Thanks! BTW, is this file publicly available somewhere (a web site or ftp site)? I figure more and more people will be looking for it as more and more MS wheels are sold. Jim