Steering wheels?

[Demon-Seed]

Looking at act labs site I see they have some great steering wheels and I can buy em here too..do any of the cabinets have them? how hard to set up and whats needed? anyone have some info on a website with pics??


thx
Jim
PS-anyone have estimation of games could use it on? to see if its worth it...

what about light gun..same info?

[Dink]

I'm going to have to include a force feedback wheel and shifter on my project too.  This is the only pic I've found.

[u_rebelscum]

PS-anyone have estimation of games could use it on? to see if its worth it...

Works on any game with PADDLE or AD_STICK_X for the input in mame (spyhunter, most sitdowns (but not the oldest), etc).

Does not work on games with DIAL (spinner) input in mame (PolePosition, most top view track games like SuperSprint and OffRoad).

Basically, if you can play it well with an analog joystick, PC steering wheels will work great.

BTW, some games (gtmr) could be played by either type input, depending on how the dipswitch was set.  So, play the game and look at which type (DIAL vs PADDLE or AD_STICK_X) is uses to see if the wheel would work on the games you want to play, except that some games have both types.

[Sasquatch!]

Does not work on games with DIAL (spinner) input in mame (PolePosition, most top view track games like SuperSprint and OffRoad).

Huh.  <JohnnyCarson>I did not know that.</JohhnyCarson>

[Demon-Seed]

Hi,
I have my cab done..is there a wheel I could add that goes on easily and looks nice? where would us sugest..how many games actually work wtih thte wheel..like maybe the numbers of them?

[hyiu]

anyone knows about the act labs sterring wheel ?? how about that shifter ??... I'm interested in knowing how it feels and handles....How is the force feedback feel ??... any comments and other brands you guys would suggests ??

Thanks,

   

[JLR2000]

I have a PSX-USB adapter and I use a Mad Katz PSX steering wheel with shifter + pedals.  It works VERY good IMO.  The model I have (not sure right now) allows you to switch between analog/digital and you need to tweak each games analog settings, but it seems to work great for all driving games.  The only bad part is I don't have a way to mount it on my cab.....which is why I'm taking an old smaller NEOGEO cab I bought with a good arcade monitor to make a "dedicated" mame driving games cab.  This will have the steering wheel/shifter mounted on the CP + maybe a few misc buttons for FE navigation....haven't had time to actually work on it, been researching the whole windows output to and Arcade monitor issues (what vid card, jpac, etc.).  The shifter on my wheel is only a 1 up/1 down shifter, so only 2 switches.  The wheel itself has quite a few buttons, but I have noticed that 2 of them are mapped to the two pedals (I guess if you didn't want to use the pedals, they are unpluggable).  Anyway if you guys are interested I'll get the exact model #s tonight.  I think I paid @$50 for it.  The best thing about it before I decided to mount it permanently was that I could use it for PSX or MAME....hmmm anyone know how to get a PSX video signal out to an arcade monitor??

[Lilwolf]

Note.. most racing games that are emulated use a wheel that can fully rotate/spin.  These will not.

I'm not saying that you wont be able to use them (test with an analog joystick)... bit it wont be the same.

but it will be MUCH better for rave racer.  Almost worth it for one game.

btw, I got a ton (6) of wheels on ebay.  I haven't had time to hack them yet.  I can't wait for championship sprint

[Thorn]

Six wheels? I thought I was bad when I bought a set of three Indy Heat wheels recently. I plan on working on the wheels after I complete the recoil guns.

Are you going to Opti-pac 'em Lilwolf?  How many can you run at once with the optipac? I was just thinking about that deal where it senses what was moved first (I don't own one yet).  

[SirPoonga]

I ended up a few years ago winning a logitech steering wheel at a quake contest.  I use that for analog driving games.  For spinner type wheels I want to get oscars.  www.oscarcontrols.com

[Demon-Seed]

Hi,
Can someone clarify the steeriing wheel thing? I am confused now.. I thought you could buy a USB one and that was it..what are spinner ones? analoag? etc??

[Bursar]

I think they're trying to point out that there are essentially 2 types of steering wheel.

The first will turn a set amount to the left, and a set amount to the right. Most traditional driving games use this type.

The other type of wheel spins all the way round. Games like Super Sprint used this kind of wheel.

As for anything else, it's a bit beyond me at the moment  

[Minwah]

OK I think what is being said is this:

If you buy a PC (USB) steering wheel, then it will work for (MAME) games that used a 270 degree wheel - eg Spy Hunter, Road Riot's Revenge.  It will NOT work for games with a free spinning (360 degree) wheel (eg Pole Position).  These games MUST be played with a spinner (or Oscar Steering Control).

Therefore, to play ALL driving games correctly, you really need a 360 degree wheel - as this will work on 270 degree wheel games as well.  I suppose for accuracy two wheels would be best - one of each type.  I personally would just have a 360 wheel (spinner type).

It's difficult to tell the number of driving games, since games classified as using 'dial' are not all driving games (eg Arkanoid).  Similarly, not all 'stick' or 'paddle' games are driving games either.

I'm sure u_rebelscum will correct me if I'm wrong!  

[JLR2000]

I think what was being pointed out was that some Arcade games had steering wheels that turn 360 degrees, so the USB PSX type like I use doesn't "Truly" recreate the arcade experience.  I can vouch that my PSX Usb steering wheel works with Pole Position.  Is it an accurate duplication of the arcade experience? - Sounds like No. Does it work? Yes.  I just think that if you are a purist and you want the game to be 100% accurate, a USB steering wheel won't get you there...but if you wanted to be 100% accurate, you wouldn't be using MAME now, would you?

IMO the only games that would have gameplay affected would be those games that NEEDED a 360 degree turning wheel.  I'm not familiar with Super Sprint so I can't speak to that, but Pole Position, Chase HQ, Spy Hunter, etc. only require the steering wheel that goes from left to right for playability.  Hope I'm not misspeaking or confusing the issue more....

[Lilwolf]

The time that the usb ones suck is championship sprint.  Why?  Because the fun part in the arcade was spinning the wheel and stopping it at the right location.

But most of the others, the usb should do fine.  Different, but fine.  

As for my 6... I was planning on adding 3 to my cabinet... but I over bid and won everything on ebay... So I don't plan on using more then 3.  I have an optipac, but I blew it up... I received the chips and resisters to replace them... but havent' done it yet...

if I can't go that way, I will go usb mice (have a bunch for hacking).

Then analog mame allows for 4 spinners hacked to 2 mice.

[clok]

I own a Act Labs Force-RS and love it. I have compared to the Microsoft FOrcefeedback wheel, and the Thrustmaster (red, not the momo one) and would hands down recomend the Act-Labs. The wheel has a good  clamping system ( though not as easy to use as the others). The wheel has a leather like covering which feels excelent ( the Thrustmaster  rubber is nice also) the Foot pedals are the best of the bunch HANDS DOWN, they have the best weight, the others slide around.
Overall it has the best feeling construction of the 3. The feel of the force is the best also (IMHO) its the strongest of the batch, the Microsoft is 2nd, with the Thrustmaster feeling a bit light ... but the thrustmaster may be the best for precise momvent as the Force doesnt pull like th other 2. The force in the Act Labs is a bit "roguh" feeling when you get it, but from my research is the best..It feels better and better with use. I have heard the others get weaker and weaker..(but i do not know for sure). The best thing on the Act-Labs is you can use it on other systems with an Add On Card. Im very happy with mine.

here is how i would rate them after trying them all:

FORCE: 1:Act-Labs, 2:Microsoft, 3:Thrustmaster
WHEEL FEEL: 1:Act-Labs, 2:Thrustmaster, 3:Microsoft
PEDELS: 1:Act-Labs, 2:Thrustmaster, 3:Microsoft
UNIT Construstion: 1:Act-Labs, 2:Thrustmaster, 3:Micorsoft
CLAMP: 1:Microsoft, 2:Thrustmaster, 3:Act-Labs
CLAMP HOLD: 1:Act-labs, 2:Thrustmaster-Microsoft(tie)


Overall the only thing that is Iffy on the Act-Labs is the clamp, it holds great, but is just not as easy as the otehr 2, its not hard, just not as easy. The Microsoft works good has a nice clamp but to me just feels to plasticy, it works great though. The Thrustmaster was a good unit too, but the Force seemed a bit weak to me. Big seeling part for me was the ability to use it with Game Systems and my computer.

hope that helps a little

Clok

[Howard_Casto]

I plan on hacking a console wheel and making a dual wheel setup.... how i'll do it is this.....

It will be a spinner wheel, so it can spin for most of the arcade types, but you'll be able to engage a clamp that will make the centering springs clamp down on the axis.  Thus it will spin freely for most games but will spring back to center for ridge racer and similar modern racing games.  It'll be a lot of work, but once I get it done I'll post pics.

[Lilwolf]

Before you hack a $100 steering wheel.

remember that poleposition wheels are 10-30 bucks on ebay.  Then hack them the same as any trackball or spinner (mouse or optipac).

But just taking out the springs might not do much to a steering wheel since the controller might not know what to do when it turns past it's max (since it's more like a joystick then a mouse... moving a joystick past it's potentiometer might be...well... VERY bad!

[Howard_Casto]

Before you hack a $100 steering wheel.

remember that poleposition wheels are 10-30 bucks on ebay.  Then hack them the same as any trackball or spinner (mouse or optipac).

But just taking out the springs might not do much to a steering wheel since the controller might not know what to do when it turns past it's max (since it's more like a joystick then a mouse... moving a joystick past it's potentiometer might be...well... VERY bad!

ROTFLMAO there's no way in hell I would buy a 100$ steering wheel.... this is an el cheapo model left over from the n64.....  And when I said I would make it like a spinner I meant I would remove the analog control from the wheel and replace it with an optical hack.  

[Lilwolf]

since the conversation was about nice force feedback wheels... you scared me for second.

[Howard_Casto]

Actually it is force feedback... via the n64's rumble pack... i also hacked the rumble pack and added a plug so that you could plug the pack into a sub for that earth-shaking crash effect

[bhille]

As for my 6... I was planning on adding 3 to my cabinet... but I over bid and won everything on ebay... So I don't plan on using more then 3.  I have an optipac, but I blew it up... I received the chips and resisters to replace them... but havent' done it yet...

Are you interested in selling 2 or 3?  Do you have pics?

[Lilwolf]

I might... but I haven't figured out which ones I'm going to use yet.  Then the trouble with them was that I bought them for super cheap... but the shipping is more expensive...