Thrustmaster FF Wheel anyone?

thinking about a FF wheel setup... does anyone use the TM variety - particularly via USB...If I use USB will it coexist with my ordinary MS precision joystick ? Any known problems with GP2 or GPL? Can the pedals be split to different axis? Also could someone explain to me what happens with an FF wheel in a non FF game...is the effort needed to turn the wheel just contstant from lock to lock or does does it get more difficult as you turn further (i.e. as id does with an ordinary Sprung non FF wheel. All in all is it any good? Anyone had a chance to compare it with any other FF wheels? thanks for any & al comments Iain

Iain, Nope, I don't have the TM Force GT....YET! It was supposed to show up at Electronics Boutique today, but it never did...It'll be there tomorrow. I bought the MS FF wheel last week, and it SUCKED! No DOS support (I was not expecting DOS FF, just support as a standard wheel in DOS games), a lame clamping mechanism positioned in the center of the wheel, and a pretty cheesy feel. I immediately brought that one back and placed an advanced order for the TM wheel....It wasn't released retail until yesterday, so I'm told. Here's a few relevant excerts from the relnotes.txt file that was on the drivers I downloaded...you may want to grab the drivers from the TM site and rummage through the features: - The Force GT can be connected to your computer in one of two ways: either through a standard serial port, or a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, if your system's hardware and software is set up to work with USB peripherals. As far as it peacefully coexisting with other *** devices, it should do that without a hitch. Just de-activate the FF wheel through the software when you want to use your game port. At least that's what I think I read in the help files. In a non FF game, it'll work just like a standard wheel....nothing different. I'll be able to give you more "feedback" (hehehehe) if the darn thing comes in tomorrow! Ray >thinking about a FF wheel setup... >does anyone use the TM variety - particularly via USB...If I use USB will it

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>coexist with my ordinary MS precision joystick ? >Any known problems with GP2 or GPL? Can the pedals be split to different >axis? >Also could someone explain to me what happens with an FF wheel in a non FF >game...is the effort needed to turn the wheel just contstant from lock to >lock or does does it get more difficult as you turn further (i.e. as id

does

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>with an ordinary Sprung non FF wheel. >All in all is it any good? >Anyone had a chance to compare it with any other FF wheels? >thanks for any & al comments >Iain

Hmm I found out that this won't work with Dos Games either. What I really want to do is enjoy the games I have (GP2 & GPL). ALthough GPL is a Windows effort it doesn't support FF anyway so methinks what I really ought to do is go get a good non FF wheel setup that will work in Dos and go with that....recommendations anyone? (I am in the UK).

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>Iain, >Nope, I don't have the TM Force GT....YET! It was supposed to show up at >Electronics Boutique today, but it never did...It'll be there tomorrow. I >bought the MS FF wheel last week, and it SUCKED! No DOS support (I was not >expecting DOS FF, just support as a standard wheel in DOS games), a lame >clamping mechanism positioned in the center of the wheel, and a pretty >cheesy feel. I immediately brought that one back and placed an advanced >order for the TM wheel....It wasn't released retail until yesterday, so I'm >told. Here's a few relevant excerts from the relnotes.txt file that was on >the drivers I downloaded...you may want to grab the drivers from the TM

site

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>and rummage through the features: > - The Force GT can be connected to your computer in one of two > ways: either through a standard serial port, or a Universal > Serial Bus (USB) port, if your system's hardware and software > is set up to work with USB peripherals. >As far as it peacefully coexisting with other *** devices, it should do >that without a hitch. Just de-activate the FF wheel through the software >when you want to use your game port. At least that's what I think I read

in

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>the help files. >In a non FF game, it'll work just like a standard wheel....nothing >different. >I'll be able to give you more "feedback" (hehehehe) if the darn thing comes >in tomorrow! >Ray >>thinking about a FF wheel setup... >>does anyone use the TM variety - particularly via USB...If I use USB will >it >>coexist with my ordinary MS precision joystick ? >>Any known problems with GP2 or GPL? Can the pedals be split to different >>axis? >>Also could someone explain to me what happens with an FF wheel in a non FF >>game...is the effort needed to turn the wheel just contstant from lock to >>lock or does does it get more difficult as you turn further (i.e. as id >does >>with an ordinary Sprung non FF wheel. >>All in all is it any good? >>Anyone had a chance to compare it with any other FF wheels? >>thanks for any & al comments >>Iain

The TM Force may be good as long as you don't want to play GPL.

why is that Andy? - apart from the fact that GPL doesn't do FF..... >The TM Force may be good as long as you don't want to play GPL.

Because , as is known to thrustmaster, GPL doesn't properly work with the TM force for most people. Don't know why, but thats what i've read. >why is that Andy? - apart from the fact that GPL doesn't do FF..... >>The TM Force may be good as long as you don't want to play GPL.

Never used the TM FF Wheel, however I can tell you that I have a TM T2 wheel using standard gameport, and a MS Sidewinder using USB port, and they co-exist just fine. I do have to add/remove from control panel when I want to switch. The T2 needs to be recalibrated often, but the Sidewinder only required calibration once so far. The USB input to be very accurate and responsive. I am looking forward to getting a USB wheel later this year as well. However I am not sure if all games support USB input at this time, such as Papy sims?

This is true the Thrustmaster Force GT does NOT work with GPL, in my experience anyway. It crashes GPL just after the logo screen with a fatal error in GPL.EXE. It is apparently being looked at. Andi. PS The TM Force GT works with Colin McRae Rally (but turn done the force level), TOCA and Monaco Grand prix Racing Sim (with a patch). >Because , as is known to thrustmaster, GPL doesn't properly work with the TM

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>force for most people. Don't know why, but thats what i've read. >>why is that Andy? - apart from the fact that GPL doesn't do FF..... >>>The TM Force may be good as long as you don't want to play GPL.

% Never used the TM FF Wheel, however I can tell you that I have a TM T2 wheel % using standard gameport, and a MS Sidewinder using USB port, and they % co-exist just fine. I do have to add/remove from control panel when I want % to switch. The T2 needs to be recalibrated often, but the Sidewinder only % required calibration once so far. The USB input to be very accurate and % responsive. I am looking forward to getting a USB wheel later this year as % well. However I am not sure if all games support USB input at this time, % such as Papy sims? If you are using Win95, you might find that Thrustmaster's ProPanel should help keep you from having to re-calibrate your T2 wheel when you switch back to it. ftp://208.129.210.78/pub/library/calibration/propanelv11.exe -- **************************** Michael E. Carver ************************* Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./. [- < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=