So, I've been into racing games ever since I've been into games. I've always longed for the most realistic experience I can get in a racing games. There have been some extraordinary racing games that have been released in the last couple years, including SimBin's GTR, GT Legends, GTR2, and their newest RACE: The WTCC Game, along with titles like Live for Speed S2, and Richard Burns Rally.
For years, I have been waiting for a time when someone would release a PC gaming wheel that I could call perfect. ActLabs came close, when they released a pedal pod that featured 3 pedals so the third can be used as a clutch, as well as a shifter pod, that you could use with either their wheels, or add it to another wheel that you may already be using. I was determined to eventually buy these, but ActLabs soon discontinued them both, leaving your chances with the few that showed up on Ebay here and there, for almost twice their original price. But all the wheels made for a PC only had about a 240 degree turning radius, which forced either very non-linear steering, or reduced steering lock in order to get a decent fell for the game.
Well, it looks like Logitech had just come through, as they introduce the G25 Racing Wheel. I've been using Logitech's Momo Racing Wheel for the last few years as the best I've been able to find for a while. But it looks like the new G25's specs simply blow it away. The wheel features 900 degree's of rotation (close to a real car). It comes with a 3 pedal base with stainless steel pedals, positioned for proper heal 'n toe downshifting (cause I'm awesome, and can do that). And it also features a 6-speed shifter pod. It also claims to have a more powerful, smoother, precise, and most important, quieter force feedback system, which have been a draw back to the Momo Racing Wheel that I use today.
The thing that dissapoints me so far is the price, though. The Momo Racing Wheel has always retailed for about $100. With what the new G25 features, I was expecting a fair price to be $200. But nooooooo! They had to up it a notch, cause they Logitech! So it retails for about $300.
I've been holding out on a 360. I might have to get it with this wheel in March when Forza 2 is released. All three at once, think i can talk them into a discount buy?
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08:44 PM
CTFieroGT87 Member
Posts: 2520 From: Royal Oak, MI Registered: Oct 2002
I find it funny they mention the clutch placement for heel-and-toe downshifting. From my racing experience, I considered heel and toe to more involve the brake and gas pedal... and be more like "ball of right foot and right side of right foot" rather than heel and toe (but thats a different issue). Wish there was a wheel like the Thomas Superwheels for console games, I have a TSW2 I use for the realistic racing games.
I find it funny they mention the clutch placement for heel-and-toe downshifting. From my racing experience, I considered heel and toe to more involve the brake and gas pedal... and be more like "ball of right foot and right side of right foot" rather than heel and toe (but thats a different issue). Wish there was a wheel like the Thomas Superwheels for console games, I have a TSW2 I use for the realistic racing games.
You noticed that, too, huh? I've only ever seen heal and toe being used between brake and gas. Most cars have too long of a clutch throw to make doing it with the clutch feasible.
But they're gaming people, not car people, apparently.
I'm hearing it's kinda a PITA to heal/toe downshift with it. Main reason, all the pedals sit at the same height. The throttle should sit about half way through the brake travel (like most cars) to be able to do it easily. People that have it, say it is posible, but just requires some practice.
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01:01 AM
88GTNeverfinished Member
Posts: 1809 From: Pleasanton, CA Registered: Feb 2003
I thought the MS 360 wheel was crazy overpriced at $150.
I guess you'd have to be really into it. $300 for a controller to play a $60 game on a $400 console is really pushing the boundries of justifiable entertainment expense
I have a Saitek R440 force feedback that I used for a long time on PC racing games. Liked it real well. Still have it. Got a Logitech Driving Force Pro used (hardly used by kid that received it as a gift - didn't like racing games) for $50. Used that on PS2 games, then found I could use it on my PC games. Like it alot. Saw one of these steering wheel stands (link: http://www.xlstands.com/) on ebay and thought -"I can build that w/PVC tubing for $10." I did! Used 3/4" and 1" PVC. Works great. Have you tried rFactor racing yet? Have you tried any of the Mods out there for Nascar Heat, rFactor, etc. I'm into the dirt track racing stuff. Check out Slingindirt or Dirtwizard for some sprint, late model, modified, midget add-ons/mods. Check out the SLMHeat or SAS latemodel mod for Nascar Heat game. You can get the core of the Nascar Heat game (Heat Essentials) for free off the websites mentioned, and then find lots of cars, tracks, etc. that people have created. Thanks, Ray in Texas.
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03:58 AM
Pyrthian Member
Posts: 29569 From: Detroit, MI Registered: Jul 2002
Originally posted by 88GTNeverfinished: $300 and anybody even considers it?
Madness.
I thought the MS 360 wheel was crazy overpriced at $150.
I guess you'd have to be really into it. $300 for a controller to play a $60 game on a $400 console is really pushing the boundries of justifiable entertainment expense
well, it is cheaper than buying an old Fiero, and buying track time. but - boy oh boy - once you do get the track time...nintendo will never be enough again.....
Earlier today I was flipping thru the Tiger Direct Catalog and saw this and thought....wow typo.
Who would possibly pay $300 for this type of thing? But now I know hehehehe.
This is not meant to be negative, I have never used them so I have no idea how good/bad they are.
the real good wheels start just under a 1000 and go way over avg 1500 for a pro quality wheel and petal set up now thats all metal semi custom built quality rig built to order some use real momo wheels from race cars
then you get the sim cockpits that go from 2500 to 5000 or more
btw GPL grand prix legends is still the best race SIM with all the up dates and add ons and pappys nastycar is the one [NASCAR 2003] to race on line
If you haven't played some of the new racing games (like the ones I mentioned in my first post), and are more of a casual racer, like most people are, and are into arcade style racing games, like all the latest Need for Speeds, then $300 is very much a rediculous price to pay for a wheel. I race in real life. There's never gonna be a racing game that's nearly as fun and exciting as the real thing. But I do want to play something as close to real life as I can when I'm not racing. And all the wheels up until now were pretty much children's toys. Finally, someone at least tried to get it right with the G25. It's not perfect, but it's the closest thing out there right now that's easily available.
I played the demo to rFactor. It seemed ok, but something drew me away, I can't remember what.
Oh yeah, and GLP, though old and outdated, is still a great game!!! Excellent sounds and physics! Isn't a new one supposed to come out sometime soon?
[This message has been edited by Zewerr (edited 01-11-2007).]
I've seen where real race car drivers in formula one, nascar and the like actually practice on PC versions. Some of the games have the physics down pat and the tracks are visually difficult to tell from a video with every bump and rut mapped out in 3D. A heck of a lot cheaper to practice on a computer where the car doesn't break, wear out real parts etc.. to help learn a specific track, then take it to the real world. I remember seeing complete cockpit enclosures for PC games with multiple screens for real big bucks.
I've seen where real race car drivers in formula one, nascar and the like actually practice on PC versions. Some of the games have the physics down pat and the tracks are visually difficult to tell from a video with every bump and rut mapped out in 3D. A heck of a lot cheaper to practice on a computer where the car doesn't break, wear out real parts etc.. to help learn a specific track, then take it to the real world. I remember seeing complete cockpit enclosures for PC games with multiple screens for real big bucks.
I remember back in '96 & '97 when the TV broadcasts were making a big deal about Jacques Villeneuve using Formula 1 simulators to learn the tracks on the Grand Prix circuit. It must have paid off - he put the '96 Williams on the pole in his first ever Formula 1 race.
I've seen where real race car drivers in formula one, nascar and the like actually practice on PC versions. Some of the games have the physics down pat and the tracks are visually difficult to tell from a video with every bump and rut mapped out in 3D. A heck of a lot cheaper to practice on a computer where the car doesn't break, wear out real parts etc.. to help learn a specific track, then take it to the real world. I remember seeing complete cockpit enclosures for PC games with multiple screens for real big bucks.
That reminds me of Circuit de Catalunya while playing GTR. There's always this damn bump just before turn 11 that always sent me spinning if I didn't hit it right. Very annoying! Then out comes GTR2. SAME DAMN BUMP!!!!!!!!!! I HATE THAT THING!!!!! But it shows the realism that they're puting into games now!
