Xbox wheel suggestions?

[DJ_Izumi]

I'm looking to do a 6 player Outrun 2 setup for a convention.  Obviously not the arcade hardware but using a set of six networked Xbox's running Outrun 2 or Outrun 2006 (Undecided which version to use).  This would be for a convention and it'd basicly be a large competition for prizes.  The default option is to give everyone a Controller S and be like 'Good luck!'  But I'd like to go all the way.  Sure I can't give them Outrun 2 cabs to play in but I can likely scrounge up some cheap used Xbox wheels between now and March and give them some 'arcade feel'.

So I'd like some suggestions on what classic Xbox wheel model I should be hunting for.

[versapak]

The best wheel on the original Xbox was the Fanatec Speedster 3 ForceShock.


I'm not sure how easy it would be to actually find one though.

A google shipping search turned up only this one:

Fanatec Speedster 3 ForceShock.


It is the only wheel on Xbox that had any sort of force feedback, which if your going to use a wheel is the only way in my opinion. I have one and it actually works quite well with Outrun.


Before that I had the Madcatz MC2 wheel, which was probably the best wheel other than the Fanatec. It was your typical spring tension wheel that you'd usually find on consoles back then, but it had some decent settings that you could use to control deadzone and such.



.

[DJ_Izumi]

Yeah the MC2 seems to be where I'd lean.  Cost/availability.

Just to check, all Xbox wheels are just Xbox controllers, right?  So they'll work in ANY Xbox driving game?

I ran into a wall with the USB PS2 racing wheels after realizing that multiple arcade ports to PS2 supported only the DualShock and none of the Driving Force Pro series.

[versapak]

Yeah the MC2 seems to be where I'd lean.  Cost/availability.

Just to check, all Xbox wheels are just Xbox controllers, right?  So they'll work in ANY Xbox driving game?

I ran into a wall with the USB PS2 racing wheels after realizing that multiple arcade ports to PS2 supported only the DualShock and none of the Driving Force Pro series.

Yeah, you shouldn't run into any problems with compatibility.

I never actually tried to use a wheel in a non-driving game to know if it is literally just an Xbox controller, but there is no racing/driving game that they don't work with.

[DJ_Izumi]

On a side note, I'm settling on Outrun 2 over Outrun 2006.  It's WAY more true to the arcade port, has bloom where 2006 doesn't and actually falls back to attract mode when a player stops interacting with it where as 2006 just sits there and burns your screen.

Though 2006 does have the SP tracks and more cars.

[versapak]

Given the setting you'll be putting 'em in, I'd say the attract mode is probably more important, and I doubt anyone will spend enough time with the game there to feel that they need more tracks or cars.

[SNAAKE]

fanatec wheel is REALLY good. madcatz one is flimsy and my brother broke the one I had.

[versapak]

fanatec wheel is REALLY good. madcatz one is flimsy and my brother broke the one I had.

Yeah, but if you can't find them to buy, it is a moot point.

[DJ_Izumi]

Given the setting you'll be putting 'em in, I'd say the attract mode is probably more important, and I doubt anyone will spend enough time with the game there to feel that they need more tracks or cars.

In reading, the Japanese Xbox port supposively was delayed and included the SP courses.  I think I need to try hard to find a copy of that to see if it's menus are english enough.  But yeah, standard Outrun 2 would be better.  Also, Outrun 2 features 3 letter initial high scores, just like the arcade, while Outrun 2006 doesn't.  It just assigns a score to which ever lisence is logged in.

[SNAAKE]

fanatec wheel is REALLY good. madcatz one is flimsy and my brother broke the one I had.

Yeah, but if you can't find them to buy, it is a moot point.

oh I thought fanatec.com had many in stock. didnt realize it was hard to find. just checked ebay now not seeing their auctions anymore. too bad I guess. madcatz one works but its so....bootleg. might as well just wire a real arcade steering wheel instead(it shouldnt be hard at all..same as wiring an xbox controller to joysticks/buttons)

[DJ_Izumi]

oh I thought fanatec.com had many in stock. didnt realize it was hard to find. just checked ebay now not seeing their auctions anymore. too bad I guess. madcatz one works but its so....bootleg. might as well just wire a real arcade steering wheel instead(it shouldnt be hard at all..same as wiring an xbox controller to joysticks/buttons)

Construction of my own wheels is a tad overkill for my needs.  It'd be easier to just spend $20-$50 a piece and slowly round up Mad Catz wheels over several months as I find them on used sites.

[Ginsu Victim]

For the price, my Madcatz MC2 has been great. I bought it because of Outrun 2006.

[DJ_Izumi]

I've actually been testing Outrun 2 agianst Outrun 2006.  There are some noticable differences.  Outrun 2 seems to be far more true to the arcade version.  2006 is more forgiving on hitting the dirt/grass, bumping, and the difficulty settings are handled differentl.  Outrun 2 on Very Easy gives you 90 seconds but more time for each checkpoint.  2006 gives you 99 seconds but less time at check points.  I found that in Very Easy, Outrun 2 was far more forgiving few newbie players.

Outrun 2 has some bloom effects as mentioned before.  Plus attract mode and 3 letter initial scoring.

The only thing that gives 2006 the advantage is the SP courses, a few more cars and their souped up 'Outrun' models' and also having 15 course continious run options.  2006 for LAN only supports 6 players while Outrun 2 supoprts 8 even.

You'd think the games based on the same arcade game and ported primarily for the same console hardware wouldn't be so dissimilar.

Edit; Awesome, I found someone I know locally who MIGHT have a PAIR of MC2's for Xbox and will sell'em for $40 as a set.  THough they may be PS2 and not universal/xbox and also they're at his parents house since moving out and he's not 100% they wern't thrown away.  But a good, affordable lead.

2 player setups are easier anyway.  I have a stack of Xbox 'Link Cables' which are just 25" crossover cables.  A department store was selling them for $0.97 so I took every single one off the shelf, they had like 8 total.  You never know when you'll need some network cables and the price was right!

[DJ_Izumi]

I dug up one Universal MC2 already.  New revelation: I now suck at Outrun2 all over agian.

While it was so easy to flick an analog stick and the left trigger to go into drift, now I gotta move a wheel a lot more and move my feet.  Last night on 'Very Easy' I could get to goal A with 37 seconds left on the clock.  Tonight I couldn't finish stage 3 on the way to goal A.  Lot more fun though.

I think it's about what your brain has been programed to expect for control for the experience.  I saw something similar, an Xbox setup at an event with some arcade sticks and running Guilty Gear.  The people, so used to game pads, couldn't figure it out comfortably due to how alien arcade sticks are when you memorized the 'feel' of it as a game controller.  I came back later, found the arcade sticks unplugged and stock Xbox controllers plugged in in their place.