Logitech G-25 racing wheel -- "great" price

[shmokes]

Everybody wants one.  It's the king of all racing wheels and it's compatible with PC, PS2 and PS3 out of the box.  Anyway, it's MSRP $300, Amazon $260, but there's a coupon code for $100-off at Logitech's site right now, good till 11/5.  $200 is still expensive, but it's a good discount for anybody who's been on the fence.

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/wheels/devices/131

Coupon code: logi_g25_1030

Free shipping, btw.

[versapak]

It's the king of all racing wheels

Nah, that is the Fanatec Turbo S.

If you don't have a 360 though, then the G25 is a great wheel and that is indeed a great price.

[shmokes]

I hadn't ever seen that wheel before.  It looks nice (though I only browsed over the product page) -- which, by the way, revealed that it is compatible with PS3 and PC as well as 360. 

[pinballjim]

Outside of the arcades, have they ever come up with a wheel that can spin around on its own or is the force feedback still just a vibrating controller?

[versapak]

Outside of the arcades, have they ever come up with a wheel that can spin around on its own or is the force feedback still just a vibrating controller?

Wow...

Force feedback wheels have been around outside of the arcades for a loooong time now, and they are definitely more than just vibrating.

The wheel spin itself is indeed controlled by a motor, and I'd say you get a better than arcade experience with some of these wheels.

[pinballjim]

Heh, sorry, I haven't bought any since the Dreamcast days. 

 

[versapak]

Heh, sorry, I haven't bought any since the Dreamcast days. 

 

They were even around back then , though only on the PC, and certainly not the quality of wheels you get today.

[drventure]

Have any of the driving games gotten beyond the stock FF effects (road vibration, bumps, etc).

I have a game called Powerslide from back in 1998.

It had the best FF implementation I've seen, ever. All effects were calculated based on what was actually happening to the tires. You could really feel the difference between landing a jump twisted to the right and landing one twisted to the left. Amazing game really, especially considering it's vintage 1998.

For a while there, about once every 6 months or so, I'd pick up a new driving game (PC based, don't have a console), to try out the "state of the art". I was continually so disappointed, I quit buying driving games.

Doesn't help that I can't stand most "track" based games. Nascar and Indy don't do it for me. I'm more of a RAC kinda guy.

[ahofle]

I hate my MS XBOX360 wheel.  For that matter, I don't like force feedback wheels in general.  It's just not anything like driving a real car to me.  The variable resistance when you are taking a corner or losing grip is good in theory, but it just doesn't feel right.  Are the more expensive wheels that much better?  I mean I was getting gold on every track in Forza and Dirt with the gamepad, then I hook this thing up and I am close to last, constantly fish tailing back and forth like I'm suddenly on ice, etc.  I'm sure with a few dozen hours of retraining I could get back to the same level, but I don't have the time or motivation.  You would think using a real wheel would instantly make the driving games easier to play than a half inch analog thumbstick.  

(where's the grumpy old man icon?)  

[drventure]

 

Funny, I have exactly the opposite experience. I generally play racing sims on a FF wheel, and when I try them on a gamepad, I suck so bad, it's not even funny.

The thing about wheels is they are no where near actual strength. I read an interview with one of the engineers on the original Sidewinder FF wheel team at one point a long time ago (wish I could find that article), but he made a comment that the forces represented by the wheel, at default are WELL below the actual forces a real car would generate. Powerslide has an option to adjust the amount of force generated. You can dial it from -10 (no force) to 0 (normal force), to +10 (about 4 times the FF normal forces) and even that, according to the powerslide docs, is about 1/10'th the actual force you'd feel driving.

I crank powerslide to 10 and play for about 10 minutes and my arms ache, but it's a good ache!

What I've noticed is that people tend to try to use a FF wheel like an arcade control, instead of a real car wheel, and in any decent sim, that'll have you all over the road in no time.

But, like I said, I stink with the game pads, so....

As far as the wheels go, I've had an original Sidewinder, and a logitech, both older models. I'm in the market for a new one, but I'm seriously considering a driving cab, so if I go that route, I may be looking at one of those high end models that uses hydraulics or some wacky stuff like that!

And that VR projection dome system looks utterly fantastic

[ahofle]

I'm certainly no expert, and I know some of the more realistic racing sims (like GTR2 on the PC) are designed with wheels in mind, but it seems like some of these games are designed to be played with a gamepad and have wheel support thrown in as an afterthought.  In Dirt for example, I found myself doing better by slamming the wheel full left or right (basically what you do with a gamepad) instead of trying to do what a normal driver would do and make smaller adjustments.  It just doesn't seem right to turn that hard with a wheel.
What racing sims do you play/recommend?

[versapak]

I'm certainly no expert, and I know some of the more realistic racing sims (like GTR2 on the PC) are designed with wheels in mind, but it seems like some of these games are designed to be played with a gamepad and have wheel support thrown in as an afterthought.  In Dirt for example, I found myself doing better by slamming the wheel full left or right (basically what you do with a gamepad) instead of trying to do what a normal driver would do and make smaller adjustments.  It just doesn't seem right to turn that hard with a wheel.
What racing sims do you play/recommend?

The Fanatec Turbo S wheel has what is called "drift mode". It takes the normal resistance off of the wheel, so you can easily throw it left and right for games like Burnout and Dirt.

There is no way I'd ever play a racing game without a wheel anymore. It adds immensely to the immersion factor, and I find that I control much better with a wheel than with a gamepad. Most people will initially control better with a gamepad, until they grow accustom to the a wheel.

I'd say that no it isn't 100% realistic, and you will feel representative forces through the wheel that you would normally feel through other areas of a real car, but it is FAR more real than a gamepad, which negates any argument of realism being a factor. They are also becoming more and more realistic with every generation. If you haven't tried a force feedback wheel for several years then you haven't tried a force feedback wheel as they are today. I won't have my Turbo S until tomorrow, but all reviews/previews have stated that it has some of the smoothest most realistic feedback ever.

The real argument is whether you are big into racers or not. If you are then a wheel is a must. If you aren't then in no way should you waste the money.



 

[drventure]

Keeping in mind it's been a while since I've tried any, my list is:

PowerSlide (Awesome FF effects, sound etc, and for an 1998 game, the graphics are pretty damn amazing, even now)

Mobil Rally Championship (Pretty good all around, but the FF is nowhere near as good as PS)
Rally Trophy (a decent rally game, ff is lacking)

Need for speed carbon (ff not great, but it's a fun game, good graphics)

Italian Job (not terribly realistic, but it is a +really+ fun game).


I've tried a few F1 and Nascar type games and couldn't get into them, so I haven't checked any of them out in a while

The NFS series is still going, but they seem to be getting more and more into the arcade racer genre that simulation, so I've been less and less impressed (though the graphics ARE nice!)

I've wanted to check out the Collin McCrea Rally series, and the GTR series, but, well, I got sidetracked with building a cab and haven't gotten back into the racing stuff in a while.

But I'm seriously considering my next project to be a race cab (much to my wife's chagrin)  

[ahofle]

I'd say that no it isn't 100% realistic, and you will feel representative forces through the wheel that you would normally feel through other areas of a real car, but it is FAR more real than a gamepad, which negates any argument of realism being a factor. They are also becoming more and more realistic with every generation. If you haven't tried a force feedback wheel for several years then you haven't tried a force feedback wheel as they are today. I won't have my Turbo S until tomorrow, but all reviews/previews have stated that it has some of the smoothest most realistic feedback ever.

The real argument is whether you are big into racers or not. If you are then a wheel is a must. If you aren't then in no way should you waste the money.

Well the large selection of racing games was probably the main reason I got an Xbox360.  I'm not too fond of the Microsoft wheel that I have though.  That feature of the Fanatec where you can remove the resistance actually sounds useful for the casual racers like Burnout/Dirt.  I don't think I can justify spending that much on the Turbo S though.

[drventure]

Wow, and those fanatec wheels don't come with the pedals right? Pedals are separate?

Ouch, that'd make for one pricey driving rig.

But they are nice!

[versapak]

Wow, and those fanatec wheels don't come with the pedals right? Pedals are separate?

Ouch, that'd make for one pricey driving rig.

But they are nice!

No, they come with pedals.

For the Turbo S, which is the 360/PS3/PC wheel, there are 3 variations. You can buy the Pure Edition, which is the wheel without any pedals or shifters (you still have the paddle shifters on the wheel), but with an adapter to use your existing MS 360 pedals or Logitech G25 pedals. There is also the regular edition, which comes with the gated and sequential shifters and pedals with clutch. Then there is the Clubsport Edition, which is the same as the regular edition, but it comes with all aluminum pedals with a load cell brake pedal and vibration feedback.


It is a pricey wheel for sure though. Regardless of the package you choose.

[drventure]

Ah, well, that's a little better anyway.

Good to know the Clubsport comes with everything for 500$. I was thinking that way out of line for just a wheel!

[TOK]

Ah, well, that's a little better anyway.

Good to know the Clubsport comes with everything for 500$. I was thinking that way out of line for just a wheel!

Hard to believe, but thats pretty much the low end of the market for serious sim controls. You can triple that price easily.


http://ecci6000.com/consumerhome.htm

[drventure]

Wow. That's nuts. 1300$

But, damn that'd be a nice rig!

Bookmarking that in my "Win the lottery" list 

[shmokes]

If that $1300 wheel is the one I'm thinking of, it doesn't even have any force feedback effects.  It's just quality parts.

[drventure]

Well, i looked over the site, and yes, I couldn't find a mention of force feedback.

Now taking that wheel back off my lottery list 

[patrickl]

Nah, that is the Fanatec Turbo S.

That looks cool yes.

It even comes with "genuine ALCANTARA leather" 

[versapak]

I got my Porsche Turbo S wheel earlier today, and I have to say that this wheel is absolutely amazing. The force feedback is insanely strong, and it has a real natural smooth feel to it.

I purchased the clubsport edition, and the pedals...

 

Their quality, in what I would consider a consumer price range, is absolutely unparalleled.

Nah, that is the Fanatec Turbo S.

That looks cool yes.

It even comes with "genuine ALCANTARA leather"  

No, that is the GT3 RS wheel.

The Turbo S comes with real leather, and it is installed to the wheels at the same plant that installs it to actual BMW wheels.

The price you pay for this wheel definitely includes some worthy quality.

[drventure]

Gotta say, that Turbo S is sounding more and more like an early xmas present to myself