FF Games/Controllers Opinions

I've seen some discussion about Force Feedback steering controllers and current games supporting it, but I have been unable to come to a definitive conclusion on what would be the best product to buy for my current setup and the sims/arcade racers that I play. Current system is PII 450, 64mb ram, Intergraph Intense 3D(Rendition Verite), Canopus Pure 3D 12 mb Voodoo2 SLI, Diamond MX300 A3D 2.0 sound card, original TSW and Thrustmaster Nascar Pro. Sims/Arcade Racers that I currently play which I believe support FF: GPL - (FF coming in 1.1 patch?) Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 Viper Racing Sports Car GT TOCA 2 Superbike WC Midtown Madness Need for Speed III Speedbusters Powerslide Motocross Madness Monster Truck Madness 2 CPR Non FF games: Nascar 2/1999 Indycar II (CART Racing) SODA Off Road NHRA Drag Racing Burnout ABC Road to Indy GP2 Controllers I'm considering: Logitech Wingman Formula Force Interact V4 Force Feedback Racing Wheel Saitek R4 Force Feedback Wheel Microsoft SideWinder FF Wheel ACT Labs Incorporated Force RS Wheel Thrustmaster NASCAR? Force GT I would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding which wheel will give me the most compatibilty with the games mentioned above, as well as the positives/negatives/problems with individual games and controllers. Thanks in advance! Don Chapman

I've heard good reviews about a number of these systems. All I can tell you from personal experience is 1) I really like my MS Sidewinder - it is well-built, seems to have good feedback, works great in games without force feedback, and I love its pedals. 2) I wouldn't touch the Interact V4 Force Feedback Racing Wheel with a ten foot pole. It is cheaply constructed and rickety, IMO.

I'm in the same boat, except that Iv'e quite driving anything but GPL. I have been looking into this and for technical reasons don't get the ms, it has very high polling times and a number of owners report a notchy feel. I would suggest going back through the posts here from the last week or so, look for any that refer to ff wheels. Specifically from Randy Cassidy, a GPL developer for some excellent tech info. In the meantime I will cut to the chase and say this is what I'm considering. http://www.ga-sports.com/previews/shifterrs/ Good Luck, JM

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> I've seen some discussion about Force Feedback steering controllers and > current games supporting it, but I have been unable to come to a definitive > conclusion on what would be the best product to buy for my current setup and > the sims/arcade racers that I play. > Current system is PII 450, 64mb ram, Intergraph Intense 3D(Rendition > Verite), Canopus Pure 3D 12 mb Voodoo2 SLI, Diamond MX300 A3D 2.0 sound > card, original TSW and Thrustmaster Nascar Pro. > Sims/Arcade Racers that I currently play which I believe support FF: > GPL - (FF coming in 1.1 patch?) > Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2 > Viper Racing > Sports Car GT > TOCA 2 > Superbike WC > Midtown Madness > Need for Speed III > Speedbusters > Powerslide > Motocross Madness > Monster Truck Madness 2 > CPR > Non FF games: > Nascar 2/1999 > Indycar II (CART Racing) > SODA Off Road > NHRA Drag Racing > Burnout > ABC Road to Indy > GP2 > Controllers I'm considering: > Logitech Wingman Formula Force > Interact V4 Force Feedback Racing Wheel > Saitek R4 Force Feedback Wheel > Microsoft SideWinder FF Wheel > ACT Labs Incorporated Force RS Wheel > Thrustmaster NASCAR? Force GT > I would greatly appreciate any feedback regarding which wheel will give me > the most compatibilty with the games mentioned above, as well as the > positives/negatives/problems with individual games and controllers. > Thanks in advance! > Don Chapman

My Microsoft FF wheel is performing really well. It has enough buttons to map look left, right, clutch, raise arm, external view, shift up & down and the all important (for practice only :-) Shift + R. Ian

SODA Off-Road has Force Feedback :) -- -- Fran?ois Mnard <ymenard/Nas-Frank> -- NROS Nascar sanctioned Guide http://www.nros.com/ -- SimRacing Online http://www.simracing.com/ -- Official mentally retarded guy of r.a.s. -- May the Downforce be with you... "People think it must be fun to be a super genius, but they don't realise how hard it is to put up with all the idiots in the world."

>> Non FF games: >> SODA Off Road >SODA Off-Road has Force Feedback :) Will it work with the Wingman Formula Force? I thought I read that SODA uses an old API and won't work with the new wheels. I was just playing SODA the other day, and have a Wingman FF on the way. I'd love to hear it'll work! Tim

> >SODA Off-Road has Force Feedback :) > Will it work with the Wingman Formula Force? > I thought I read that SODA uses an old API and won't work with the new > wheels. Soda uses an older version of I-Force. There is a button in the controller menu labeled "Force Feedback", but when I activated it, all the wheel did was auto- center. There weren't any effects. Without the button activated, the wheel did nothing (not even autocenter). -- Pat Dotson IMPACT Motorsports http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

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> I've seen some discussion about Force Feedback steering controllers and > current games supporting it, but I have been unable to come to a definitive > conclusion on what would be the best product to buy for my current setup and > the sims/arcade racers that I play. > Current system is PII 450, 64mb ram, Intergraph Intense 3D(Rendition > Verite), Canopus Pure 3D 12 mb Voodoo2 SLI, Diamond MX300 A3D 2.0 sound > card, original TSW and Thrustmaster Nascar Pro.

I've tried the Microsoft, Saitek, and Logitech FF wheels. I also own an ACT Labs Force RS. I was initially impressed by the MS and Saitek wheels. They have the same internal components. Both have slightly smoother action than my ACT Labs wheel. After seeing the latency data for various wheels from Randy Cassidy, though, I think I'd stay away from them. BTW, the numbers for the Thrustmaster Force GT are horrible - that one shouldn't even be considered! The Logitech has by far the best latency figures. I don't notice any latency problems from my ACT Labs wheel, so I'm assuming that it has similar latency times to the Logitech (I sure wish we could get the actual value). I would go with one of these two wheels. I think there is one over-riding factor with these wheels that would make me go for the ACT Labs wheel even if I didn't already own one. The factor is the maximum force the wheel is able to produce. My perception is that the Logitech wheel produces the least force of any of the wheels out there. I believe the ACT Labs wheel produces the most. More available force allows more dynamic range for effects. I'm 100% happy with my Force RS. I think you would be very happy with a Force RS/TSW pedals combination. The upcoming availability of the RS shifter is another plus :) -- Pat Dotson IMPACT Motorsports http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

Is the Force RS a gameport, serial or USB device? Trips D. Bell on VROC > I'm 100% happy with my Force RS. I think you > would be very happy with a Force RS/TSW pedals > combination. The upcoming availability of the > RS shifter is another plus :)

>Is the Force RS a gameport, serial or USB device? I believe it is Serial with a USB adapter "on the way". -- Header address intentionally scrambled to ward off the spamming hordes. cisko [AT] ix [DOT] netcom [DOT] com

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> Is the Force RS a gameport, serial or USB device? > > I'm 100% happy with my Force RS. I think you > > would be very happy with a Force RS/TSW pedals > > combination. The upcoming availability of the > > RS shifter is another plus :)

My Force RS connects through a serial port, though I think there will be a USB cartridge coming out soon. BTW, it was nice meeting you at E3 :) For everyone else's information, Trips and I had an impromptu RAS reunion with Mike Zamocracy. I can say unequivocally that Mike does have an SCCA Solo II license. You should just get a badge holder and wear those things on your chest, Mike :) -- Pat Dotson IMPACT Motorsports http://www.impactmotorsports.com/pd.html

G'day John, er don't cut to the chase to quick as GPL doesn't support the new shifter even with GPL 1.1 Regards Phil.