An early Happy Birthday to Ridge Racer 7 and why I'm so HAPPY right now!!!

[isamu]

Right now I am a very Happy man!

I'd first like to give an early Happy Birthday to Ridge Racer 7. RR7 turns 10 next month(November 11th). 10 years since the launch of the PS3 and 10 years since this beautiful game came out.

You have to keep in mind one thing.....this is a game that I have been wanting to play with a good steering wheel, since it's launch ten years ago. This is the very first PS3 racing game to come out, and Namco did a very clever thing..... They snuck force feedback support into the game BEFORE it was supposed to be supported for the PS3!

Remember the whole Immersion/FFB patents controversy, prohibiting developers from implementing any kind of FFB or even rumble into their games for a while? Well, Namco said ---fudgesicle--- that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---...we're gonna put FFB in in-spite of the whole Immersion/FFB controversy! They did just that, with once catch.....it only officially works with one wheel.....the Logitech Driving Force Ex(Fx in Japan)!

That's right folks....if you try to use a Logitech DFP, DFGT, G25, G27 or any other Logitech FFB wheel with Ridge Racer 7, you're ---fouled up beyond all recognition---. The game supports only that wheel.

Thankfully, as we approach the 10th anniversary of one of my favorite racing games ever, a breakthrough has come through....something that we've truly been blessed with: An adapter that now allows you to use not just Logitech, but **ANY** PC FFB wheel on your PS3 and PS4 with ZERO lag!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's called GIMX and yes I know there's already a thread on it, but I'm testing a new prototype beta that now incorporates this feature!

http://blog.gimx.fr/




I'll start by saying that I only own a PS3, not a PS4. It took me a while to get it working because there were a few hurdles/bugs Matlo and I had to squash first. But a couple days ago it finally worked and well, it is nothing short of GLORIOUS and there is no...and I mean....ZERO lag!!!!

Matlo still has more work to do and bugs to squash, and it's still in beta phase, but make no mistake gentlemen....this is a HUGE Breakthrough!!! As an owner of a Leo Bodnar wheel, HPP PRX Pedals, and a Fanatec CSS Shifter,  I am absolutely elated that I can now use these devices on my PS3 as *ONE* "fake" Logitech G27 wheel.  To be able to play Ridge Racer 7, a game I've been DREAMING of playing with a high quality industrial FFB wheel for over 10 YEARS since the launch of the game in 2006, is a dream come true. To be able to play GT5 and GT6 with a Bodnar wheel, which delivers fantastic and lag-less FFB, is a marvel to behold!

This....







now works with this....







Just teary eyed and very very happy right now. Matlo is the real deal guys!

Oh and one more thing I'd like to mention....for those of you who do not want to go through the hassle of building your own GIMX adapter, go the GIMX website, and you'll see that Matlo explains how you can buy an improved adapter that is ALREADY assembled and is called the TIAO GBoard. I just bought two of them today because unfortunately the one that Matlo sent me broke a few hours ago(I accidentally tugged too hard on it and the USB Mini B connector got ripped away from the circuit board) so I will be GIMX-less over the next 72hrs but when the new board comes it's back to the races!!!

[Boomslang]

Pretty cool!

[lemmingDev]

For the benefit of other people trying to get this to work

GIMX is able to help you get Ridge Racer 7 working with force feedback on PS3 with another wheel
I just happened to use a Logitech G29

A few things to note:

1. GIMX firmware needs to be EMUDF.hex <-- Driving Force PS2
2. Your PS3 needs to have WebMan disabled
3. The game can't be the platinum version
   - BLUS30001-[Ridge Racer 7] works
   - BCES00009 - [Ridge Racer 7 Platinum Edition] does not work
4. The controller settings under options won't mention the wheel, but it works well

Thanks to isamu for helping out

******************************************

[isamu]

I saw your reply on the GIMX forum. Glad you got it working brother! 

Yeah it can be a bit of a guessing game getting everything set up and working properly but for a legendary game like RR7 it's MORE than worth it in my opinion. RR7, as old as it may be, is still a masterpiece. And I'm glad to see people out there like you who are still interested in playing the game all these years later.

I'm gonna try and dust off and connect my PS3 soon so hopefully I won't have any issues.

[MrThunderwing]

RR7 is such a great game, incredible that it was 1080p 60fps for a PS3 launch title. I haven't played it in ages, I could do with giving it a try right from the start all over again. Absolutely amazing soundtrack too. I wish Sony would make the recent PlayStation Plus Premium version of Ridge Racer 2 on the PS4 and PS5 a standalone download. Sucks you can only play it if you subscribe to the higher tier Premium service 

[isamu]

Yeah, we can only hope Namco comes to their senses and announces a new RR(hopefully with VR and full FFB support) at some point in our life time. I'd take a remake of RR2 PSP in a heartbeat.

[sonik]

Hi.
How the game plays with a supported wheel? It's any good?

I've tested it with a G27. The game does work with it.
Gas, Brake, Steering works, but the gameplay does not feel right, and the ffb is broken (auto center, and just some bizarre rumble effects).

I need to put back my gimx adapter. I've dismantled it when I've got a drivehub.

Edit:
I've found this on logitech's site:
https://support.logi.com/hc/en-hk/articles/360025337673--FAQ-G27-Racing-Wheel

PlayStation3 game compatibility with Logitech G25 and G27 racing wheels
Ridge Racer 7: Supports 200° rotation, Force Feedback

Plus this:
The G25 will function for PS3 games if at least one of the following conditions is met:

The game supports the Driving Force and Driving Force EX wheels
The game supports the Driving Force Pro
The game supports the G25

[isamu]

The game does not support the G25 or the G27 properly. The only wheels RR7 *OFFICIAL* supports is the Logitech Driving Force and DF EX. Even the DF Pro has issues(centering too stiff, etc). You will need to use your gimx adapter to emulate the Driving Force wheel, and then you can use the G27 or any wheel you want.

I haven't played the game on my PS3 using gimx in forever, but when I did, I played using my Leo Bodnar wheel, Heusinkveld Pedals, and Quaife H-Pattern shifter. None of these even work on the ps3 but thanks to gimx, it tricked the PS3 and RR7 into the thinking I was using a Driving Force, and the results were excellent. No centering steering issue, proper FFB and everything.

I will say however, that despite the game's ffb functioning properly on my setup, the FFB itself isn't the greatest in the world. Namco basically programmed it to deliver vibration and a few torque effects here and there. But then you have to remember this is a VERY old game and Namco isn't exactly known for their force feedback expertise lol.

[sonik]

Thanks for the reply!
I will put my gimx back to work.

Do you know what's the deal with "webman"? I do have it installed. It can cause any problem with the game?

[isamu]

Thanks for the reply!
I will put my gimx back to work.

Do you know what's the deal with "webman"? I do have it installed. It can cause any problem with the game?

"webman" ? never heard of it sorry

[sonik]

Ok no problem.

It was lemmingDev that said: "Your PS3 needs to have WebMan disabled".

[sonik]

Update:
I've got it working! Thanks for all the info shared here.

I've coded an adapter using a pico. The game detects the wheel and works as expected.
Using the 3d license version of the game and running webman. Looks like webman does not cause any problem with it.

FFB in the game is not great.
I still need to do a more serious gaming session to see if it plays better with a wheel than a dualshock.

[isamu]

Awesome dude! Glad to hear you got it werggin' 

Yeah FFB isn't the greatest, but it's FAAAR better than just using the wheel with no ffb and just the dead feeling lol.

Sonik, why don't you join us over at the Ridge Racer sub-channel in the TimeXtend discord? Lots of great RR discussion over there!

https://discord.gg/ycNsqQdM6m