Microsoft SIDEWINDER FF Wheel - mini review

Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info on a FF Wheel. Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them price-match CDW and used my FB card). HARDWARE Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a joy-switch box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the switchbox or the Sidewinder. I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. SOFTWARE VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No ambient vibrations or road feedback. NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the rest before making any conclusions on this title. Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this year. I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by then there will be more FF titles available.

Nice mini-review. If you want another game with superb FF with the MS FF wheel, try CMR - it's absolutely incredible. Rehan

Mark, Good review, paralleled most of my own experiences except for the problems with GPL (think I might have uninstalled GPL before loading the wheel since I always had controller problems - before my MSFF, in general, with GPL). Personally, I don't want too much in the way of engine rumbling & such in the games due to the fact that it would probably shorten the life of the wheel inards quite a bit. I tried the Nascar Rev demo for about 30 mins & I could have sworn the wheel didn't feel as "tight" as it had before - could have been my imagination, though. Also, CPR may suck as a standalone game, but playing on the Zone can be quite fun sometimes (when VROC is quiet) I've had my wheel for about 3 months now & feel it has stood up rather well. Cheers, Randy

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> Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info on a FF > Wheel. > Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them > price-match CDW and used my FB card). > HARDWARE > Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a joy-switch > box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 > wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the > switchbox or the Sidewinder. > I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the > wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only > complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel > which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just > not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. > The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even > in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The > turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has > almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. > This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some > turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. > I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg > tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 > degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and > have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. > SOFTWARE > VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot > through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. > Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I > couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 > minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control > panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra > claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. > F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that > the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine > vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a > spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. > Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard > or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this > game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a > keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty > cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. > Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No > ambient vibrations or road feedback. > NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor > disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my > wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the > rest before making any conclusions on this title. > Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked > as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the > first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept > bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through > and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I > uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, > etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by > something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. > So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely > enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 > and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this > year. > I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the > technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel > on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or > at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. > If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good > idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better > waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by > then there will be more FF titles available.

i changed my wheel after i had installed gpl - set up a profile for it in the sidewinder software (separate pedal axis) and it works brilliantly. No forcefeedback of course butr still a nice weight to the wheel.... can't thinke what could be causing your problem.... are you using the sidewinder software with gpl. I guess you hae gpl set to direct input rather than generic -Lindsay

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>Mark, >Good review, paralleled most of my own experiences except for the >problems with GPL (think I might have uninstalled GPL before loading the >wheel since I always had controller problems - before my MSFF, in >general, with GPL). >Personally, I don't want too much in the way of engine rumbling & such >in the games due to the fact that it would probably shorten the life of >the wheel inards quite a bit. I tried the Nascar Rev demo for about 30 >mins & I could have sworn the wheel didn't feel as "tight" as it had >before - could have been my imagination, though. >Also, CPR may suck as a standalone game, but playing on the Zone can be >quite fun sometimes (when VROC is quiet) >I've had my wheel for about 3 months now & feel it has stood up rather >well. >Cheers, >Randy >> Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info

on a FF

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>> Wheel. >> Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them >> price-match CDW and used my FB card). >> HARDWARE >> Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a

joy-switch >> box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 >> wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the >> switchbox or the Sidewinder. >> I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the >> wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only >> complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel >> which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just >> not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. >> The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even >> in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The >> turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has >> almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. >> This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some >> turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. >> I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg >> tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 >> degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and >> have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. >> SOFTWARE >> VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot >> through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. >> Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I >> couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 >> minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control >> panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra >> claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. >> F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that >> the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine >> vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a >> spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. >> Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard >> or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this >> game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a >> keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty >> cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. >> Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No >> ambient vibrations or road feedback. >> NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor >> disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my >> wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the >> rest before making any conclusions on this title. >> Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked >> as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the >> first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept >> bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through >> and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I >> uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, >> etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by >> something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. >> So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely >> enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 >> and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this >> year. >> I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the >> technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel >> on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or >> at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. >> If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good >> idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better >> waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by >> then there will be more FF titles available.

yes - GPL was set to direct input - never thought to switch it - I will tonight though. Thanks for the tip....

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>i changed my wheel after i had installed gpl - set up a profile for it in >the sidewinder software (separate pedal axis) and it works brilliantly. No >forcefeedback of course butr still a nice weight to the wheel.... >can't thinke what could be causing your problem.... are you using the >sidewinder software with gpl. I guess you hae gpl set to direct input rather >than generic >-Lindsay

My MS FF wheel works fine with GPL set to DirectInput (as well as Generic). Never had a problem with GPL. I have auto-centering set to the highest value (as well as separate gas and brake axis). Brian >yes - GPL was set to direct input - never thought to switch it - I will tonight >though. Thanks for the tip....

Mark Here's how I set up my MS FF wheel for GPL. 1. Create a new profile in the Sidewinder Profile editor. 2. Leave the first page blank. 3. Click on settings for the 2nd page and set the pedals to "Separate". 4. Leave everything else the way it is. 5. Save this profile(something obvious like GPL). 6. Click the Profile Activator icon from the tool bar and set your new profile as the active profile. 7. Pull up MS Sidewinder central and click on "Sidewinder Control Panel". Go to "Properties" - this is where you set the parameters for auto-center and the spring rates. 8. With the active profile set to your new profile, go into GPL and calibrate the wheel and pedals. Now you have separate gas and brake pedals and autocentering on the wheel. Time to go racing and kick some arse! Doug >Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info on a FF

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>Wheel. >Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them >price-match CDW and used my FB card). >HARDWARE >Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a

joy-switch >box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 >wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the >switchbox or the Sidewinder. >I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the >wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only >complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel >which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just >not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. >The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even >in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The >turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has >almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. >This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some >turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. >I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg >tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 >degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and >have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. >SOFTWARE >VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot >through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. >Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I >couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 >minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control >panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra >claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. >F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that >the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine >vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a >spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. >Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard >or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this >game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a >keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty >cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. >Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No >ambient vibrations or road feedback. >NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor >disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my >wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the >rest before making any conclusions on this title. >Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked >as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the >first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept >bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through >and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I >uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, >etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by >something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. >So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely >enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 >and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this >year. >I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the >technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel >on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or >at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. >If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good >idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better >waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by >then there will be more FF titles available.

Mark, Have you got the Motorhead 2.2 patch? It's 9Mb but with my Saitek FF wheel it produces the best FF effects I've experienced so far. Graham

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> Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info on a FF > Wheel. > Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them > price-match CDW and used my FB card). > HARDWARE > Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a joy-switch > box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 > wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the > switchbox or the Sidewinder. > I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the > wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only > complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel > which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just > not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. > The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even > in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The > turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has > almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. > This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some > turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. > I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg > tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 > degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and > have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. > SOFTWARE > VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot > through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. > Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I > couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 > minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control > panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra > claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. > F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that > the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine > vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a > spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. > Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard > or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this > game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a > keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty > cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. > Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No > ambient vibrations or road feedback. > NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor > disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my > wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the > rest before making any conclusions on this title. > Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked > as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the > first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept > bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through > and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I > uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, > etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by > something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. > So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely > enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 > and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this > year. > I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the > technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel > on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or > at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. > If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good > idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better > waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by > then there will be more FF titles available.

I'll get that at once. Motorhead is becoming one of my favorite racing titles - mainly due to the accurate response. Right now everything other than VIPER and Motohead seems a bit sloppy - probably since the Nascar Pro was so TIGHT and had a 180deg turning radius while this is loose and goes well over 200deg.

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>Mark, >Have you got the Motorhead 2.2 patch? It's 9Mb but with my Saitek FF wheel it >produces the best FF effects I've experienced so far. >Graham >> Well first I'd like to thank everyone who replied to my request for info on a FF >> Wheel. >> Last night I picked up the MS Sidewinder at EB for $178.70 (made them >> price-match CDW and used my FB card). >> HARDWARE >> Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a joy-switch >> box. This was a moderate inconvience since I have 2 joys, a game pad, and 2 >> wheel/pedal combos. Now I have to crawl under my desk to plug in either the >> switchbox or the Sidewinder. >> I have to admit I did a double-take when I turned my system on and watch the >> wheel auto-center itself. Little weird when you aren't expecting it. My only >> complaints with the wheel itself are the THREE (3) cables coming off the wheel >> which have to be draped over my desk and the butterfly shifters which are just >> not quite long enough when you are really cranking hard in a turn. >> The wheel has a stiff mechanical feel/grainy feel to it when turning it - even >> in non-FF mode. It wasn't as loose or sloppy as my Nascar Pro wheel. The >> turning range was much greater than the Nascar Pro wheel. The Sidewinder has >> almost a full 180deg of lateral motion while the Nascar Pro has between 90-100. >> This is good and bad - I found I had to really crank the wheel to make some >> turns that the Nascar wheel could make with just a nudge. >> I really like the ANGLE the wheel is tilted at. The Nascar is almost at a 45deg >> tilt like driving a semi-tractor while the Sidewinder is maybe at 5 or 10 >> degrees. I can finally use my THUNDERSEAT (with the 14" sub in the base) and >> have the wheel in a driveable (and realistic) location in front of me. >> SOFTWARE >> VIPER was the first thing I tried and it was stunning. The realism factor shot >> through the roof and I was totally impressed. It's a whole new game. >> Tried GPL next (not knowing there isn't (and never will be) FF support. I >> couldn't even get through the menus with the wheel plugged in. Only after a 20 >> minute call to Sierra and disabling ALL forces and autocentering in the control >> panel was I able to play the game in standard wheel mode. BUMMER! Sierra >> claims that adding FF would eat up too many CPU cycles - I say - LET US decide. >> F1RS was next after I downloaded the v109 patch. I was a bit disappointed that >> the FF seemed to be limited to rumble strips and crashes. There was no engine >> vibration in the wheel and only a few times did the wheel actually jerk in a >> spinout. I think the FF in this game needs more work. >> Powerslide was next. I usually play these arcade racing games with a keyboard >> or my Gravis XTerminator - I had never even used my Nascar Pro wheel in this >> game. WOW - this game is hard with a wheel! I had gotten pretty good with a >> keyboard but using a wheel was like starting from scratch and the FF was pretty >> cool. Each crash and the rocky terrain was perfectly reproduced in the wheel. >> Motorhead was next and its FF was also limited to crashes or severe events. No >> ambient vibrations or road feedback. >> NFS3 was next. This was better than I had hoped but still a minor >> disappointment when the bumpy roads and the wooden bridges didn't rumble my >> wheel as much as I had hoped. I only raced a few tracks so I will have try the >> rest before making any conclusions on this title. >> Monster Truck 2 and Cart Precision came with the wheel. Cart Precision sucked >> as a standalone game and FF didn't do it any favors. I got halfway through the >> first lap when ALL the other cars got into a pile-up in turn 2 and just kept >> bumping into each other. Since I had damage off I just slammed my way through >> and did one lap. They were still ramming into each other on lap 2 so I >> uninstalled this lemon. MTM2 was pretty cool. The road effects (RR tracks, >> etc) had good FF but again - no real engine vibration as you would expect by >> something with a couple 1000 horses under the hood. >> So really VIPER and NFS3 are the only two games (that I own) that are truely >> enhanced with the FF Wheel. I am looking forward to TransAm and Interstate '82 >> and whatever the name of that new GETAWAY DRIVER game is that's coming out this >> year. >> I think FF is still pretty new to racing games and titles will get better as the >> technology matures. I'm still not sure if the Sidewinder is the best FF wheel >> on the market but it does have the Microsoft name which means that it will (or >> at least SHOULD) be supported by every FF title that ever comes out. >> If you got the $$$ and are looking for a wheel then a FF wheel may be a good >> idea. If you already have a good wheel then you would probably be better >> waiting for the next generation which will probably be better and cheaper and by >> then there will be more FF titles available.

Well, that answers one question I had :) It's probably because they don't have it fully wired, and it's not passing the Midi lines. -Larry > Installation was a breeze once I figured out that you cannot use a joy-switch > box.

Just buy the Jlink from www.quickshot.com it works with MS Wheel and any other device that uses MIDI signals. -- Kevin "Q" Quattro Research and Development Foundation Imaging www.foundation-i.com

I'll check that out. Thanks! -Larry