This was suppose to be a response/clarification to a few people out
there but I couldn't find the old threads so I figured I'd do it this
way..
Okay, I just contacted ACT Labs and not only did I learn that I'll be
getting my wheel tomorrow but I found out some stuff about DOS support.
Here's the deal:
The Regular RS uses a joy stick connection and will work in DOS and WIN
95/98 for sure... However....
THE FORCE RS is connected to a serial port only!!! Some other people
have said this and to be honest I thought they had a***loose..
"surely it must have a joystick connection?" I thought but it seems I
was confused with the regular RS. So The bottom line?
MS FF: DIGITAL, no pots, Win 95 only, not future proof
ACT Labs RS: Analog(pots), Win 95/DOS, cart future proofing
ACT Labs Force RS: Analog(pots), Win 95 Only, cart future proofing
In light of this, some may be turned off of the ACT Labs wheel since
pots will NEVER last forever no matter how much money you spend on
them(no matter what the sales people say). The MS wheels looks great,
seems to have very steady calibration, good Force feedback but some
reports of less effects in certain games, light pedals(not a major prob
but...), and not enough throw on the pedals (it was either gas or
brake... kinda personal thing anyway). Some people have really bashed
the ACT Labs wheel around calling it ***compared to the MS wheel. Now,
as much as I believe in the importance of personal opinion, perhaps they
got a defective model or something, because of the several reviews out
on the RS(s) none of those problems were ever mentioned and all the
reviews have been outstanding. I don't know yet but I think I'm going to
be happy with my ACT Labs setup... if not, I'll return it and get a full
refund. Anyway, that's the skinny on DOS support in case anyone had any
questions.
-YUBS
> THE FORCE RS is connected to a serial port only!!! Some other people
> have said this and to be honest I thought they had a***loose..
> "surely it must have a joystick connection?" I thought but it seems I
> was confused with the regular RS. So The bottom line?
> ACT Labs Force RS: Analog(pots), Win 95 Only, cart future proofing
I'm working on a modification that will allow the
Force RS to work in DOS as well. It's just a matter
of soldering a joystick connector into the right
places. Getting the steering axis into DOS is a
piece of cake - getting 4 buttons will take
a bit more work.
I'll let you know if I'm successful, and put a
how-to on my web page for those of you with a
soldering iron and some courage :)
--
------------------------------------------------------
IMPACT Motorsports
http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html
------------------------------------------------------
Well I have printout of the ForceRS spec page from about 2 weeks
ago. It clearly states "Windows 95 and DOS compatible". I checked
just now and (wouldn't you know) it has ***ing changed! It now clearly
says "Windows 95 compatible (Not DOS compatible" They were so
e***d when they re-wrote this spec page they left out the last ")". I'm
pretty close to canceling my order.
--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.
cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com
>This was suppose to be a response/clarification to a few people out
>there but I couldn't find the old threads so I figured I'd do it this
>way..
>Okay, I just contacted ACT Labs and not only did I learn that I'll be
>getting my wheel tomorrow but I found out some stuff about DOS support.
>Here's the deal:
>The Regular RS uses a joy stick connection and will work in DOS and WIN
>95/98 for sure... However....
>THE FORCE RS is connected to a serial port only!!! Some other people
>have said this and to be honest I thought they had a***loose..
>"surely it must have a joystick connection?" I thought but it seems I
>was confused with the regular RS. So The bottom line?
>MS FF: DIGITAL, no pots, Win 95 only, not future proof
>ACT Labs RS: Analog(pots), Win 95/DOS, cart future proofing
>ACT Labs Force RS: Analog(pots), Win 95 Only, cart future proofing
>In light of this, some may be turned off of the ACT Labs wheel since
>pots will NEVER last forever no matter how much money you spend on
>them(no matter what the sales people say). The MS wheels looks great,
>seems to have very steady calibration, good Force feedback but some
>reports of less effects in certain games, light pedals(not a major prob
>but...), and not enough throw on the pedals (it was either gas or
>brake... kinda personal thing anyway). Some people have really bashed
>the ACT Labs wheel around calling it ***compared to the MS wheel. Now,
>as much as I believe in the importance of personal opinion, perhaps they
>got a defective model or something, because of the several reviews out
>on the RS(s) none of those problems were ever mentioned and all the
>reviews have been outstanding. I don't know yet but I think I'm going to
>be happy with my ACT Labs setup... if not, I'll return it and get a full
>refund. Anyway, that's the skinny on DOS support in case anyone had any
>questions.
> -YUBS
Ahhhhhh.... DO NOT CANCEL THAT ORDER!!!... I got my wheel yesterday(he he he
over night shipping to Canada!) and wouldn't you know it, but thats the day
windows decides "hmmmm, nows a good time for a fatal error"... I re-installed
windows 7 or 8 times before having to do a total delete and install, but boy
did I fix him <groan> Anyway point is, now I'm rocking with my brand spanking
new wheel and all I have to say is AWESOME!!.... I'll try posting a little
bit more detailed stuff later but for now know this 1) The wheel is great, 2)
Future proof cartridge system rocks 3) Force FX are good 4) the wheel had
nothing to do with my system melt down and 5) There is tension is non-force
feed back games just in case you were wondering... 'till.... later
-YUBS
Quoted text (52 lines)
> Well I have printout of the ForceRS spec page from about 2 weeks > ago. It clearly states "Windows 95 and DOS compatible". I checked > just now and (wouldn't you know) it has ***ing changed! It now clearly > says "Windows 95 compatible (Not DOS compatible" They were so > e***d when they re-wrote this spec page they left out the last ")". I'm > pretty close to canceling my order. > -- > Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. > cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com > >This was suppose to be a response/clarification to a few people out > >there but I couldn't find the old threads so I figured I'd do it this > >way.. > >Okay, I just contacted ACT Labs and not only did I learn that I'll be > >getting my wheel tomorrow but I found out some stuff about DOS support. > >Here's the deal: > >The Regular RS uses a joy stick connection and will work in DOS and WIN > >95/98 for sure... However.... > >THE FORCE RS is connected to a serial port only!!! Some other people > >have said this and to be honest I thought they had a***loose.. > >"surely it must have a joystick connection?" I thought but it seems I > >was confused with the regular RS. So The bottom line? > >MS FF: DIGITAL, no pots, Win 95 only, not future proof > >ACT Labs RS: Analog(pots), Win 95/DOS, cart future proofing > >ACT Labs Force RS: Analog(pots), Win 95 Only, cart future proofing > >In light of this, some may be turned off of the ACT Labs wheel since > >pots will NEVER last forever no matter how much money you spend on > >them(no matter what the sales people say). The MS wheels looks great, > >seems to have very steady calibration, good Force feedback but some > >reports of less effects in certain games, light pedals(not a major prob > >but...), and not enough throw on the pedals (it was either gas or > >brake... kinda personal thing anyway). Some people have really bashed > >the ACT Labs wheel around calling it ***compared to the MS wheel. Now, > >as much as I believe in the importance of personal opinion, perhaps they > >got a defective model or something, because of the several reviews out > >on the RS(s) none of those problems were ever mentioned and all the > >reviews have been outstanding. I don't know yet but I think I'm going to > >be happy with my ACT Labs setup... if not, I'll return it and get a full > >refund. Anyway, that's the skinny on DOS support in case anyone had any > >questions. > > -YUBS>Ahhhhhh.... DO NOT CANCEL THAT ORDER!!!... I got my wheel yesterday(he he he
>over night shipping to Canada!) and wouldn't you know it, but thats the day
>windows decides "hmmmm, nows a good time for a fatal error"... I re-installed
>windows 7 or 8 times before having to do a total delete and install, but boy
>did I fix him <groan> Anyway point is, now I'm rocking with my brand spanking
>new wheel and all I have to say is AWESOME!!.... I'll try posting a little
>bit more detailed stuff later but for now know this 1) The wheel is great, 2)
>Future proof cartridge system rocks 3) Force FX are good 4) the wheel had
>nothing to do with my system melt down and 5) There is tension is non-force
>feed back games just in case you were wondering... 'till.... later
Glad you like it. Have you tried it in any DOS game like N2 or
ICR2 or GP2? About the only hope for DOS support is if it will
work in a DOS window (without exiting to DOS or rebooting).
Many Windows devices (like CDroms) will work without
DOS drivers if you run them from within Windows.
--
Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes.
cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com
Well, unfortunately I don't own any of those games (" no GP2!! isn't that a
sin?").... I have indy car 1 though... I'll see if I can dig up the
disks<shudder> and test it out however, I don't really think thats a good test
since IC1 is so old. Anyone else got their wheel in who can test it out in a dos
box(well trying to put the wheel is a DOS box may be kinda hard since as I
remember it, it's pretty small, but you know I mean)?
-YUBS
P.S. - I've been playing like crazy (NF3, GPL, F1RS, CPR) and boy once the wheel
gets a bit worked in, its smooth as silk... Haven't tried the MS FF, but you owe
it to yourself to try an ACT Labs setup(which may be kinda hard since they're
not in stores...). Anyway to be honest, I don't really care what people think,
I'm freaking happy with this wheel and I fully recomend it, can't do any more
than that right?
