Playstation 2 Driving Force EX Racing Wheel Review

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(More customer reviews)Although the wheel has quirks with both the PS2 & PS3, the wheel is still definitely worth its price! With a full day of trials & errors, I was surprised that the force feedback was equally inconsistent with the PS2 and PS3. Sometimes I started the game and the wheel worked fine with force feedback; sometimes the wheel worked but the force feedback didn't; sometimes the wheel only worked for multiplayer mode but with no force feedback; and sometimes the game didn't work at all - all this for the SAME game. As you can see, quite frustrating, but when it did work, it's was SOOO awesome that I decided to experiment all day with it. I did more testing with the PS3, so I'll focus on that. For the PS2, some games do state that you must plug the USB into the top port (for older systems - for newer PS2 systems, I don't know which is the preferred port). Similarly, the PS3 has a preferred port.

THE BEST CONFIGURATION FOR THE PS3 IS: 1. plug the USB into port #3 (port #1 also works, but I had more success with #3), 2. turn on the system manually - DO NOT use the PS3 controller to turn it on! This allows for the wheel to be assigned to controller #1 - MOST driving games can not be played in single-player mode when the wheel is assigned to controller #2. Unfortunately, the wheel does not have a PS button to re-assign the wheelor quit the game. If your system was on and a controller was previously assigned to #1, then the wheel usage will be inconsistent. Therefore, it's best to plug in the USB in port #3 and turn on the system manually. This way, I was able to reliably play games with the wheel with force feedback.

GAME COMPATIBILITY: Currently, I only have 8 driving games. The most reliably were Burnout 3: Takedown and Midnight Club 2 (I would assume later games in the series would also work, but not sure about earlier games). Gran Turismo 4 and Need for Speed 2 also worked fine, but it sometimes took several attempts to start the game. Like plugging new USB devices into a computer, sometimes the drivers load correctly, sometimes they don't, so try several times. These 4 games all worked with the wheel with force feedback.
MotoGP3 and Tourist Trophy worked with the wheel, but without force feedback AND it required Pelican's PS2 USB adapter ($15) to be plugged in also. Pelican's PS2 USB adapter is worth it though 'cause it was the only way I could adjust the sensitivity of the wheel. Once the sensitivity is adjusted, it should remain the same as long as the system is on (you can change games and have the same sensitivity). However, I am not sure if the wheel returns to default sensitivity once you turn off the system.
Dirt for PS3 worked wonderfully - great force feedback and a joy to drive! However, World Rally Championship was the MOST inconsistent (even though Logitech stated that it's compatible). Sometimes it worked with the wheel, and sometimes it didn't (actually, when I got this game to work, Gran Turismo didn't work).
You can see the full list of supported games (up to end of 2005, they haven't updated the list) on Logitech's website. The manual really sucks.

As for people deciding between this wheel (EX) and the Driving Force Pro, the main difference is that the Pro has 900 degrees turn for SOME supported games (see Logitech's site). While 200 degrees turn for the EX model is arcade-like driving, 900 degrees turn is kinda overkill. Some purists say that 900 is like simulating a race car, but you can only comfortably turn the wheel 270 degrees in each direction (try it for yourself and you'll see) - therefore, 540 degrees would have been more ideal. I think this is a practical observation since several reviewers indicated that it was hard to adapt to the Pro wheel. Besides, the blue rubber of the EX model looks cool and the stick shifter of the Pro model looks bulky (EX's paddle shifter works fine). The final difference between the 2 models (besides price), is the vibration/ resistance motor. The EX model weighs in at 9 lbs, while the Pro weighs in at 15 lbs - that 67% heavier because of it's stronger motor. You may get better vibrations with the Pro model, but many reviewers complained that it was noisy. I did not find that problem with the EX wheel.

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Product Description:

Product Name: Driving Force EX
Marketing Information:
Combining industry-leading force feedback technology with a standard PlayStation2 racing wheel, the Logitech Driving Force EX gives you unprecedented control for all your driving games. The Force feedback technology provides realistic directional resistance as you encounter bumps, ridges or potholes on your way to victory lane. Even in games that don"t support Logitech force feedback, the controller port connection will keep you on the starting grid. Comfortable rubber grips, responsive gas and brake pedals, and wheel-mounted shifters round out the most complete racing wheel available. The checkered flag will be yours!Product Type: Steering Wheel
Technical Information

Connectivity Technology: Cable
Buttons & Controls: 1 x 8-way D-pad
Buttons & Controls: 4 x Action Button
Buttons & Controls: 2 x Pedal
Interfaces/Ports

Interfaces/Ports: 1 x 4-pin Type A USB

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Driver 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, the game does slow down every once and a while; but I only noticed that after I had been playing it for about 6 hours. I guess my console was tired.Everything from "Driver" is here in Driver2. Plus, when your car gets too damaged, you can hop out and "commandeer" another, fresh, vehicle from a "gracious" citizen of Havana.With the game containing 2 disks there are more cinematic scenes and a lot more game to play through. I for one love the game, and the 2 player capability should make it a title you will take out over and over again. (I haven't had the chance to bash up someone else, but the L.A. police are fine for now).

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Product Description:
America's coolest undercover cop and the crime worlds fastest getaway driver is back on the streets in Driver 2, follow up to the hugely successful Playstation game Driver. Like it's predecessor Driver 2 is an adrenalin fueled, high speed car chase through the streets of 4 cities, where you, as Tanner, infiltrate the criminal underworld, using your driving skills as well as your cunning to disrupt their plans. Take the role of racecar driver-turned-police detective Tanner Drive like a bat out of hell in four different city settings Action now takes place on foot, as well as behind the wheel One- and two-player minigames add replay value 'Film director' option lets players edit their own car-chase sequences Greatest hits version - faster load times!

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Cruis'n Review

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(More customer reviews)Anyone familiar with Midway's Cruis'n series in the arcades and the Nintendo 64 will find that Cruis'n for the Wii retains almost none of the fun gameplay elements that the previous games in the series possessed.Cruis'n bears little resemblance to the aforementioned games, as it features some incredibly dated graphics, a static interface, and above all, a barrage of technical issues.These technical issues range from long load times and a variety of bugs and glitches to be found among the boring and all-too similar race tracks that are featured here.What is also worth noting is that the Wii-mote controls aren't actually half-bad here and are pretty responsive overall, but they can't save Cruis'n from the fate that it's been given.All in all, Cruis'n may be worth a look or a rental for Wii owners looking for an arcade racer or fans of Midway's Cruis'n series, but everyone else can easily avoid it.

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Product Description:
This holiday, the arcade mega hit Cruis'n is back, exclusively for the Wii Console, with all new graphics, tracks, exotic locations and customizable licensed vehicles. Players will experience an adrenaline rush as they race opponents through iconic destinations using licensed turbo-charged cars, performing crazy stunts and catching big air. The race is fast and the tricks are insane, but the key objective always remains the same: win the race!

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Logitech Playstation 3 Driving Force Wireless Force Feedback Wheel Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this wheel at GameStop and, although the box was marked as $99 it rang up as $49.The clerk checked twice.At any rate, even at $99 this wheel is probably worth the money.For what I paid, it is a great addition to the realism of driving on the PS3.

My home system has a 42" LG LCD television connected via HDMI cable and the sound is routed through my Yamaha RX995V stereo home theater receiver and Klipsch speakers all around. Needless to say, this setup provides outstanding realism and ambiance.Now the addition of the wheel makes driving GT5P, F1 Championship Series and Grid that much more immersing.

Sure, the Driving Force GT wheel is better in some ways, but it also $100 more and has it's own flaws.I know because I originally bought the Driving Force GT thinking it would be wireless between the unit and the PS3 but not so.My PS3 is on the other side of the room and I don't really want a ton of wires laying around everywhere because my dog would be knocking things over left and right.The other problems aside from the wires with the Driving Force GT wheel are a) you need a table to attach it to and b) even with a table, you will be very uncomfortable sitting on the edge of your average couch to get close enough to the table to actually race.

The Driving Force Wireless on the other hand sits very comfortably on your lap while you sit back in your favorite chair.No wires laying across the room, although it does require a wall outlet nearby.The force feedback on this unit is surprisingly good.You will feel every bump and whack along the way.The paddles that sit behind your hands onthe wheel work effectively as accelerator and brakes, plus the L1/R1 buttons (used for shifting in GT5P) are right there under your thumbs.It took me maybe two races to get the feel down cold.

So hey, if you like to race and you think there is something better out there than the Six Axis Controller you are right, and this is it!

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Product Description:
Driving Force Wireless Force Feedback Wheel for PS3 - The LogitechDriving Force Wireless is a one-piece, force feedback racing wheel that cuts down on clutter. Easy to set up and store, it provides comfortable, lag-free control from up to 30 feet away from the console. Features include 2.4 GHz wireless technology, and an expandable lap rest, built-in gas and brake controls.

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GT Legends Review

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(More customer reviews)As you begin to delve into this discussion of Simbin's excellent new driving sim GT Legends, I feel it is only fair to make a small disclosure. I am, have always been, and will always be a gear head. You know the type. . .dirty fingernails, back issues of Road & Track lying about, a broken connecting rod hanging proudly on the wall of the garage. . .so when I saw my first driving game in an arcade in the late 70's, I was hooked.

It was an immense black cabinet, with a stick shifter and a `green-screen' monochrome CRT. It was simple, repetitive, but one of a kind, and it easily devoured a summer's worth of paper route profits. Next came Pole Position, in glorious 8 bit color ("Prepare to Qualify!"), and later when PCs became commonplace, I fell in love with Papyrus' DOS classic, IndyCar Racing. I have since driven dozens more.

And it has been an interesting ride. . .the past couple of decades have seen the masterpiece Gran Prix Legends, as well as Microsoft's unspeakable CART Precision Racing, and everything in between. The world of the virtual driver has certainly been an uneven road, as publishers struggled to find the proper balance between the realism of a true sim, and the mindless bling of a modern arcade racer.

In GT Legends, Simbin has succeeding in combining elements from both ends of the spectrum, and the result is an almost perfect driving game, which should offer something for every wheel-equipped gamer.

THE EXPERIENCE

Although GTL is not the first historical racing title, I must say that Simbin's attention to the stylistic trappings of the late 60s and early 70s goes beyond any racing game I have ever seen. In the first screen of the game, in which the player enters the name of his or her profile, these immersive details quickly take hold. In the screen shot below, check out that old school font, and the pastel blue & orange made famous by Gulf Racing! Throughout this and the various other menu screens of the game, Simbin have also added some truly raucous and trippy tunes to solidify the historical feel (I am reminded of the first time I loaded BattleField VietNam, and was greeted by Jefferson Airplane's `Go Ask Alice' - a classic moment). Granted, this kind of thing doesn't require any kind of programming genius, but it does reflect the spectacular attention to detail that Simbin lavishes on this title.

The game is modeled after FIA-GTC racing, a popular vintage racing series in Europe. Although the cars are old, the settings are not, and you night feel like you are in a bit of a time warp sitting in your 1965 Shelby GT350, while the LCD screen of the lap timer ticks away on the dash. The courses are modern as well, and you will drive on many dedicated road courses that were not in existence in the 60's, and others, such as the Nurburgring, which have been entirely reconfigured since these cars had their heyday.

Ah yes, the cars. I scarcely know where to begin. . .for someone who has traveled hours for glimpses of some of the machines represented in GTL, to see them recreated in such painstaking detail is a real treat. Check out the screenies on this page, and behold the suspension of the 914-6, the brake calipers, even the red towing eye. And when you turn on the motor, the sounds are truly awesome. From the strained whirring of the tiny Cooper inline four, to the raspy roar of the Shelby-modified Ford small block, each car has a carefully crafted sound, each unique, and each as stunning as virtual car you are sitting in. The GT40, 911RSR, Shelby Daytona Coupe, and AC Cobra are just a few of the beasts you will unleash.

Each model also has unique strengths and weaknesses, which actually reflects favorably on Simbin's choices for the cars represented in the game. Few models share handling characteristics, which creates a great variety in driving experience as you switch from car to car. In tighter courses, the underpowered Mini Cooper is dominant, sliding past the American V8 machines as their suspensions struggle through the tight bends. However, driving a Cooper on a course with any kind of long straightaway will leave you yearning for a few more cylinders as Mustangs and Corvettes blast past you like you're pulling an anchor.

Again, Simbin triumphs in its attention to detail as the old racers react in very realistic fashion. The chassis gently rocks back and forth on the starting grid as you rev your motor, and during the race, the observant driver will notice the bumper of the car in the rear view mirror dropping slightly between gears, and the back of the car in front rising under hard braking as the rear suspension unloads. If you are accustomed to driving on radial tires, as most of us are, the "vintage" bias ply rubber takes some getting used to as well. Instead of progressively breaking loose like a radial, when these old dogs let go, they let go completely, and the driver better hope for plenty of room to scrub off speed and get them hooked up again before sliding off course or into a wall. And those tires and brakes can wear out, too. You have to drive them as a limited asset, because driving hard through every corner for an entire race will leave you out of traction at the end, and too much hard braking will leave the binders faded away to nothing, usually when you need them the most.

CUP CHALLENGE

Cup challenge is the `career mode' of GT Legends, and it is the added ingredient that transforms the game from a simple update to GTR (which would have been excellent) into an instant classic. Similarly to the Need for Speed series, "Porsche Unleashed" in particular, the player must progress through a series of races to unlock faster cars and bigger courses. The cars used in these races are doled out in rough historical progression, starting with 60's GT and Touring cars, and moving on to the early 70's. For those who like to say they have "beaten" a game, this is the mode for you, but don't expect your conquest to be over in a few hours. The final contest of the 60's era includes 8 lap races on 6 road courses, one of which is Spa, where a quick lap is a little shy of 3 minutes, so completing just that part of the challenge will take almost a half an hour! Unless, of course, you go too hot into Turn One. . .then its back to the starting gate.

This is an excellent design decision, as the "Cup Challenge" is the icing on an already outstanding game. There is something very rewarding about completing a challenge, and having an opportunity to use your winnings to buy a new ride, or even be awarded a free one for your efforts. Simply driving race after race can get monotonous, and this model adds goals to the game which undoubtedly will make it more interesting to a broader audience

TUNING & A.I.

Like many games before it, GT Legends allows some fine tuning of components, as pictured in the screenie above. The options are straight forward, which is sure to disappoint some, but there are enough settings to start learning race car setup. I for one am thankful for the easy interface and simple options here - for me, a driving game is about driving, and I would prefer to leave engineering to the engineers!

Machine AI in this title is fairly solid, but like any attempt at endowing silicon with human skills and faults, it has some glitches which are easy to nitpick. There are five difficulty settings, from novice to Pro, and my first complaint is the massive gap between Amateur (the middle setting) and Semi-Pro. Notwithstanding a big crash, I found Amateur was easily dominated. I typically skipped qualifying, started last on the grid, and came in first. On Semi-Pro, I qualified in the lower 50%, and found it very difficult to crack the podium. Perhaps a "Driver Strength" setting as a percentage, as found in many games, would correct this issue.

A.I. behaviors, though, were fairly solid as I said. A.I. drivers get in one-car wrecks and wrecks with one another, and generally drive solid lines, but in the places where they didn't choose good lines, ALL the A.I. cars followed the same poor track, which was a bit odd and broke the realism a bit. Another A.I. glitch involved protection of inside passing lanes. . .sometimes your computer opponents would blithely watch as you late braked them deep into a corner to pass, and at other times they would erratically move in to cover the early apex, often running into you in the process. This was more than a little annoying, and made me wish for a virtual paddock where I could go after the race and thump the offending driver!

GRAPHICS

Graphics in this game are fairly demanding, and there were occasions when my high end rig (PIV 3.4 EE, X850XT/PE) was close to bogging down at 16x12 with AA enabled. However, GTL does provide a separate setup applet, which allows the user to switch from DX9 to DX7 rendering, which would give lower end machines the boost they need to enjoy the game.

As I have said, the level of detail in this game is fantastic. The cars are absolutely gorgeous, and if you choose the "cockpit" view while driving, you can enjoy highly detailed interiors as well. The clouds and lighting effects are top rate, and you will be amazed at the changes in light and growing shadows as the sun actually gets lower during a late afternoon race! There doesn't appear to be any bad weather racing, but there are night events with some pretty cool head and tail light effects. One word of warning though, if you insist on the console-esque level of bling found in "NFS:Most Wanted", you are bound to be disappointed. The graphics engine itself, while good at rendering what is asked of it by this title, looks a bit dated in comparison.

CONCLUSION

Simbin made some excellent choices with this title. Sure,...Read more›

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Product Description:
Feel the excitement of Golden Age of Motor Sport Racing! Experience world class racing series driving the legendary cars of the 60's and 70's.Collect and enjoy more than 90 original FIA GTC-TC team vehicles and demonstrate your driving skill on the world's most famous racetracks in this spectacular car racing simulation game.

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