cheap but decent steering wheel controller?

[artoodeeto]

Hey guys, just got several Codemasters racing games on Steam, and made the not-so-shocking discovery while attempting Grid that it's nearly impossible to control the car using the keyboard. Or at least a VERY steep learning curve.

Anyone know of a steering controller that's decent and doesn't cost an arm and a leg (ie, around fifty bucks at the most)? Force feedback isn't necessary, I just want something to make the games playable for now, and when I have more cash at some point I'll consider getting a better one...thanks!

[crenn]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826280012

That's pretty much all I could find that I myself would buy.

[BuzzKillington]

Personally, I found the racing wheel to be a pain in the ass. It's bulky and has messy wires everywhere so if you're a neat freak like me, you'll probably end up putting it away after every gaming session. I would recommend a controller. They have extensions for the thumb sticks that allow you to make much more gentle steering corrections/turns.

It's also been found that racing wheels on average take about a second off of your lap time AFTER you've gotten used to them. They definitely add to the game but if you're trying to be competitive I wouldn't recommend a wheel.

EDIT: I also found that paddle shifters take a lot of fun out of having a wheel.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

i agree... ive owned many wheels... mostly logitech ones... and ive hate all them.. for feedback... or not... the steering is never clean.... the only perk ive found with a wheel... is that there is no limit to the speed of a turn anymore.. if u snap the wheel.... ur steering goes with it... wheels r usually a big mess... but that Ferrari one is kinda hot (im a ferrari nut srry)

i would definitely recommend a controller... a 360 one perhaps... forza rocks with it.. these others games may aswell

[NightrainSrt4]

The wheel feels natural to me on sim type games like Forza, but doesn't work too well for the arcadey feeling games like Grid. The movements you have to make in the arcadey games is just too much lock to lock constantly back and forth. The speed of it all is too much for a wheel, especially one with gears and such for FFB.

That said, of the cheaper wheels, some of the logitechs are relatively nice. The cheapo off brand ones you get in like Toys R Us, just end up feeling like slop and tossed in the trash, or at the wall, lol.

[Luke122]

I've played GTR and GT legends with the Logitech MOMO Ferrari wheel and pedal set, and it was great. Forcefeedback was good, feel was really solid.

I hated having it on my desk though, so it got put away after every usage, and it was such a hassle. I finally sold it off.. and i miss it now. :(

I play Grid with a gamepad. :D

[artoodeeto]

thanks for all the advice!! I actually got through a race in Grid (using the keyboard) this weekend, and I'm pretty sure my car was faster at the end of the race due to lighter weight, which in turn was due to the amount of pieces of it that were strewn all over the track :whistler:

Let me ask this: the problem with the keyboard is the control is either on or off, there's no gradations. IE, I press the up arrow and I'm accelerating; I release it and I start slowing down. It's not possible to maintain a steady speed like you can do in a real car. I assume wheel/pedal sets overcome this little issue; do handheld controllers as well? Same thing with steering: with the keyboard, either I'm cranking the wheel over as far as it'll go, or I'm leaving it centered. No in between.
Lastly, any specific gamepad suggestions?
Thanks!!

[Luke122]

I always set my triggers to gas and brake, and since they are analog (like the sticks) you can use partial braking/gas, hold a constant speed, etc.

The pedal set on my Momo wheel was setup the same way.

[BuzzKillington]

With the 360 controller you can control your pedal pressures if you're using the triggers but the clutch is on/off (when applicable.)

I'm pretty sure all wheels are set up the same way with pedal pressures but to my knowledge only the high dollar wheels have a clutch pedal so, like the 360 controller, there will also be no feathering of the clutch.

Then like the wheel the analog sticks also allow precise steering, where with a keyboard, it's more like a 14 year old girl. Smooth turns will obviously spare you a ton of time on your lap which is why everyone at the top of the track records is using a controller.

Here's my suggestion (http://www.thebestcasescenario.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22946).

EDIT: and here's the extensions I was talking about. I Macgyver'd it and made my own out of a chapstick lid, electrical tape and a non-slip, self adhesive rubber disk. They do make a noticeable improvement on precision movements in FPS's so I'd imagine they would do the same when trying to get a record laptime. http://www.kontrolfreek.com/products-overview.asp?gclid=CMmn1sn9tqECFQEEiQod-RPECQ

[artoodeeto]

Good to know. Mainly I just want something decent for now without spending a fortune; I don't play driving games that much but it's fun to do something different (mostly what I have are FPS's). I'm probably the only guy out there who never plays against others online, so mainly I want something that'll make it fun rather than a PITB to control, and I don't really care about shaving seconds off lap times.

[LiTHiUM0XiD3]

get a 360 controller... they r great for racing... and there is a script for almost any game to adapt to the 360 controller.. like for CS and L4D and such..

[artoodeeto]

cool, thanks! I did make one discovery - part of my issue in staying on the track while using the keyboard was due to driving the lamborghini murcielago. It's pretty but its cornering STINKS compared to the other car I just tried, the porsche 911...the lambo kills everything else in a straight line though.

[Twigsoffury]

I've got a Logitech Momo Force,


kicks a@#, kicks a lot of ass if you actually care about driving simulators and driving in and of itself.

not as fine as the G25 wheel of course, that wheel is superb from what i've used out of it. Makes Drifting a piece of cake.

All this i did with a wheel.

79nOUcZh4ws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79nOUcZh4ws

HQMVjBkYOio

I'm even pretty decent on counter strike with the momo.

[artoodeeto]

I can't help but wonder if you ever actually finish a race with the car intact LOL! looks cool, I'm actually leaning toward getting a wheel. I've never been a big fan of gamepads, and a wheel seems a good way to fool myself into thinking that I really *am* driving a $500k racecar...

[Twigsoffury]

I can't help but wonder if you ever actually finish a race with the car intact LOL! looks cool, I'm actually leaning toward getting a wheel. I've never been a big fan of gamepads, and a wheel seems a good way to fool myself into thinking that I really *am* driving a $500k racecar...

hahah actually yea. I've won numerous championships and leauge races on a game called "live for speed"

http://www.lfs.net/

Thats the only game that actually matters if you win or lose. Because there aren't any CPU players, it's all legit people from around the world.

LFS is supposed to be the most accurate highly detailed physics model you can get currently. And i believe it to be about as close as you can get to driving a car without getting in a car or spending 1,000's on some elaborate set up.