But I already have a wheel!

Hi, I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome even it made no difference to the frame rate. Bendito;

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> Hi, > I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D > representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I > noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship > 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already > have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see > another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome > even it made no difference to the frame rate.

C'mon - even Revs, one of the earliest "sim" racing games, had an on-screen representation of the steering wheel. I guess the main use (apart from decoration) was so you could see how much steering lock you had got to with the keyboard controls. In Grand Prix Legends you can turn it off if you want to - that surely is the best solution.

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> Hi, > I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D > representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I > noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship > 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already > have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see > another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome > even it made no difference to the frame rate. > Bendito;

When N3 was first being talked about and the addition of a steering wheel and arms, I was totally against it. But, after driving GPL with the steering wheel and arms, I'd rather have them. They do add to the immersion. -- ========================================= Mike Barlow of Barlow Racing? ========================================= Racing online with the help of...... Race Communications Association http://members.xoom.com/RCA/toc.html Holodyne Engineering Mystic Music (have Your !!Name/Address!! placed here)

AMEN! I really don't like the hokey "wheel and arms" in a driving sim -- there are much better uses for those precious CPU cycles. Like you, I have a wheel, hands, and arms, and I don't want to see double. In a FPS game where the hands/weapon are shown, it adds to the realism because, well, uh . . . because I DON'T have a weapon right in front of me, just below my monitor. It's a no-brainer, regardless of the genre: Simulate what I don't have, don't show me what I can already see. -- JB

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>Hi, > I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D >representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I >noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship >2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already >have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see >another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome >even it made no difference to the frame rate. >Bendito;

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> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D > representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I > noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship > 2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already > have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see > another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome > even it made no difference to the frame rate.

One and only reason: to simulate feedback through the wheel for people without FF-wheels. -- Toni Lassila

Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of the front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel graphics, and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other sims do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL. Rick

: Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of the : front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel graphics, : and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the : wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other sims : do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL. Is that really what it is? I though I had dirty pots in my joystick. Stephen

>: Exactly - the wheel in GPL will "shudder" when you get to the limit of the >: front tires' grip. Since I got my LWFF, I've turned off the wheel graphics, >: and I'm actually a bit quicker (less distraction?). But without FF, the >: wheel graphic actually provided invaluable information. Whether other sims >: do the same thing, I can't say, but it was useful in GPL. >Is that really what it is? I though I had dirty pots in my joystick. >Stephen Yes that's what it is. Opinions obviously vary, but for me I like having the arms and wheel visable in GPL even though I use a wheel. And since we have the option to turn it off in the menus it can be considered nothing but a win win option, in GPL anyway. -- Don Scurlock Vancouver,B.C.

> > I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D > > representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. > One and only reason: to simulate feedback through the wheel for people > without FF-wheels. Fair enough. Does it work? I guess the answer would depend on the game! Marko;

YES! I'll agree with that 100%. Mark >AMEN! I really don't like the hokey "wheel and arms" in a driving sim -- >there are much better uses for those precious CPU cycles. Like you, I have >a wheel, hands, and arms, and I don't want to see double. In a FPS game >where the hands/weapon are shown, it adds to the realism because, well, uh . >. . because I DON'T have a weapon right in front of me, just below my >monitor. It's a no-brainer, regardless of the genre: Simulate what I don't

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>have, don't show me what I can already see. >-- JB >>Hi, >> I'm wondering why some racing games these days have a 3D >>representation of the steering wheel and even the driver's arms. I >>noticed this specifically in the "alpha" demo of Rally Championship >>2000. What's the point? Unless you use a joystick, don't you already >>have a real steering wheel in front of you? Why would I want to see >>another one? Perhaps it's just chrome, but I would eliminate that chrome >>even it made no difference to the frame rate. >>Bendito;

The main reason for a visible wheel (and pedals IMO) is to give you visual feedback that your physical setup is working and calibrated properly at all times. Andrew McP