Drifting with HKS Racing Controller

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Duo64

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xDuo64x
Hi there,

I know that there are threads with reviews and such about the controller mentioned in the title already in the other sections of the GTP forums. I would like to know however if anybody uses this for mainly drifting and how well it performs as well as pros/cons for it. On a related note, would also like to know if the wheel section can be adjusted to different angles as opposed to the 45 degrees from bottom left to top right...

For those that aren't sure what I'm talking about, check this link:
https://eagl3.com/product/view/hks_racing_controller
 
I wanna try one of those things out pretty bad. They look really neat..while I already have a DFGT, they might be great for more arcadey racers that don't have the greatest wheel functionality.
 
I have 1 and love it... I also have a DFGT, so I speak from the point of using all 3 types of controllers.

You can't rotate the steering wheel away from the 45 position, but honestly... there's no need. They nailed the positioning. I know it seems like it should go straight across to be literally, "left and right" but once you get your hands on the controller you'll see that it feels completely natural at the angle they have it.

I have a DFGT and love it... but it can be a pain in the ass to set up in the living room, the wife can sometimes complain, so I find the HKS controller to be a great middle ground... far better than a normal DS3 in terms of functionality. I have noticed that the analog controls aren't quite fully analog... the pedals aren't quite as sensitive as they should be... meaning I have the pedal only pressed 50% but its giving the game 100% throttle.

The only change I made to the button layout, was to configure R2 as e-brake...i leave it that way all the time, so I can go from grip to drift racing seamlessly.
 
Great info, thanks! One thing I have been reading though about your issue is that you need to swap/remap your X and [] with L2 R2 and then switch to NFS mode for the pedal's analog function to work properly, not sure if thats the issue you are having with the analog sensitivity issue...if it is, let me know how that works for you!

TSLRich
I have 1 and love it... I also have a DFGT, so I speak from the point of using all 3 types of controllers.

You can't rotate the steering wheel away from the 45 position, but honestly... there's no need. They nailed the positioning. I know it seems like it should go straight across to be literally, "left and right" but once you get your hands on the controller you'll see that it feels completely natural at the angle they have it.

I have a DFGT and love it... but it can be a pain in the ass to set up in the living room, the wife can sometimes complain, so I find the HKS controller to be a great middle ground... far better than a normal DS3 in terms of functionality. I have noticed that the analog controls aren't quite fully analog... the pedals aren't quite as sensitive as they should be... meaning I have the pedal only pressed 50% but its giving the game 100% throttle.

The only change I made to the button layout, was to configure R2 as e-brake...i leave it that way all the time, so I can go from grip to drift racing seamlessly.
Click to expand...
 
Lmao not to bash or anything but i think its a waste of money.
If you want sensible gas and brake then turn your gas and brake to L2 and R2.
Thats what I use.
 
Duo64
Great info, thanks! One thing I have been reading though about your issue is that you need to swap/remap your X and [] with L2 R2 and then switch to NFS mode for the pedal's analog function to work properly, not sure if thats the issue you are having with the analog sensitivity issue...if it is, let me know how that works for you!
Click to expand...

Hmmm... perhaps. I'll give it a try, but I don't think that's the case. I can currently get intermediate values of throttle and brake input, it just isn't 100% correct. If it was showing a purely digital input, it would be 100% or 0.

SteezMachine
Lmao not to bash or anything but i think its a waste of money.
If you want sensible gas and brake then turn your gas and brake to L2 and R2.
Thats what I use.
Click to expand...

Glad your laughing your ass off... I'm LMAO at the fact that you think L2 and R2 represent an adequate feeling or pressure. I'm holding both controllers in my hand presently and I can tell you that the triggers on the DS3 don't have the same pressure sensitive as the pedals on the HKS controller, they might as well be analog. Additionally, their answer for steering is entirely better than the DS3.. it eliminates all of the sloppiness that comes from extra movement of the joystick.
 
TSLRich
Hmmm... perhaps. I'll give it a try, but I don't think that's the case. I can currently get intermediate values of throttle and brake input, it just isn't 100% correct. If it was showing a purely digital input, it would be 100% or 0.



Glad your laughing your ass off... I'm LMAO at the fact that you think L2 and R2 represent an adequate feeling or pressure. I'm holding both controllers in my hand presently and I can tell you that the triggers on the DS3 don't have the same pressure sensitive as the pedals on the HKS controller, they might as well be analog. Additionally, their answer for steering is entirely better than the DS3.. it eliminates all of the sloppiness that comes from extra movement of the joystick.
Click to expand...

But then again, stop blaming it on materialistic things.
It doesn't matter what you use, its the driver in the end.
 
Actually, the face buttons have been analog (pressure sensitive) since PS2. So you do notice some sort of analog feel on them, they just dont have the same analog range of the sticks or L2/R2...heres the post of where I've read about this:

scope72 from GTP forums, in this
thread:

"The throttle/break control is pretty good as well. Here is the key, don't use the "GT" set up (button/switch on the back of the controller). GT5's software recognizes very little throttle/Break control on the "X" and "[]". So, I thought the controller sucked pretty hard at first, because GT5 would give me "Full Throttle" when barely pressing the "X". In fact, the controller has a digital number on the front and it will tell you how much you are pushing the "X". And stupidly, GT5 was reading my 27% pressure on "X" as "Full Throttle".

So, I was all over the road. But, then I had an idea. Go to the menu and set Accelerate/Brake to R2/L2. GT5 will recognize a full range (100%) on those buttons. And because the Controller (thank god) has a switch on the back that switches the "X" and "[]" to L2/R2, I was able to have full Analog control over Gas/Brake."

TSLRich
Hmmm... perhaps. I'll give it a try, but I don't think that's the case. I can currently get intermediate values of throttle and brake input, it just isn't 100% correct. If it was showing a purely digital input, it would be 100% or 0.



Glad your laughing your ass off... I'm LMAO at the fact that you think L2 and R2 represent an adequate feeling or pressure. I'm holding both controllers in my hand presently and I can tell you that the triggers on the DS3 don't have the same pressure sensitive as the pedals on the HKS controller, they might as well be analog. Additionally, their answer for steering is entirely better than the DS3.. it eliminates all of the sloppiness that comes from extra movement of the joystick.
Click to expand...
 
Duo64
Actually, the face buttons have been analog (pressure sensitive) since PS2. So you do notice some sort of analog feel on them, they just dont have the same analog range of the sticks or L2/R2...heres the post of where I've read about this:

scope72 from GTP forums, in this
thread:

"The throttle/break control is pretty good as well. Here is the key, don't use the "GT" set up (button/switch on the back of the controller). GT5's software recognizes very little throttle/Break control on the "X" and "[]". So, I thought the controller sucked pretty hard at first, because GT5 would give me "Full Throttle" when barely pressing the "X". In fact, the controller has a digital number on the front and it will tell you how much you are pushing the "X". And stupidly, GT5 was reading my 27% pressure on "X" as "Full Throttle".

So, I was all over the road. But, then I had an idea. Go to the menu and set Accelerate/Brake to R2/L2. GT5 will recognize a full range (100%) on those buttons. And because the Controller (thank god) has a switch on the back that switches the "X" and "[]" to L2/R2, I was able to have full Analog control over Gas/Brake."
Click to expand...

Yea... i just found that thread and I'll be switching tomorrow morning to give it a try.
 
Ok... so made the button switch this morning and it is definitely improved... WOW!.. its a takes a bit getting used to menu navigation with the R2 button but the game control is much better.
 
So how good is the throttle/brake control? Can you easily hit 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 with out thinking about it. I have the extensions for the r2/l2 buttons and they work pretty good, but I have to say this controller looks interesting for drifting. Can you still use the left stick for steering? I don't know if I'd like that other steering method. Please let me know asap as my girlfriend is bugging the hell out of me for what my x-mas gift will be.
 
Sounds great! Can't wait to get my own, but cant seem to find them anywhere in hong kong in stores...and to the above poster, I have also read that you can use the stick...some ppl actually chose to do that as they don't like the wheel thing too much...

As for what to tell your gf to get you, G27 would be the better choice :sly::sly:

TSLRich
Ok... so made the button switch this morning and it is definitely improved... WOW!.. its a takes a bit getting used to menu navigation with the R2 button but the game control is much better.
Click to expand...
 
andrez004
So how good is the throttle/brake control? Can you easily hit 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 with out thinking about it. I have the extensions for the r2/l2 buttons and they work pretty good, but I have to say this controller looks interesting for drifting. Can you still use the left stick for steering? I don't know if I'd like that other steering method. Please let me know asap as my girlfriend is bugging the hell out of me for what my x-mas gift will be.
Click to expand...

yes... you can use the stick just like a normal controller. Personally, I find the wheel better.. it took about an hour to get used to it, but I'm really enjoying it now.
 
TSLRich
Ok... so made the button switch this morning and it is definitely improved... WOW!.. its a takes a bit getting used to menu navigation with the R2 button but the game control is much better.
Click to expand...

Lmao and you were telling me it wasn't good ? 👎
 
has anyone noticed that the "wheel doesn't register 100% left or right. like when the car is crossed up and im using the wheel it will not recover in the same situation as the analog stick. its like the wheel is only good for 90% of left and right. it makes it almost impossible to drift.
 
fail wagon
has anyone noticed that the "wheel doesn't register 100% left or right. like when the car is crossed up and im using the wheel it will not recover in the same situation as the analog stick. its like the wheel is only good for 90% of left and right. it makes it almost impossible to drift.
Click to expand...

No... I have not noticed this at all.... in fact I've saved myself from some impossible spots, spots where I thought i was gone.
 
I've been looking at this ever since theyve announced it.. Kinda lame with the HKS badging all over the place but i think I'm gonna try it out. The 'wheel' on this thing sounds like a good idea, and since I use the right analog for gas/brake, it'd be nice to left foot brake. My middle fingers don't translate that well to triggers

Edited because of stupid iPhone autocorrect
 
albertyouwrong
I've been looking at this ever since theyve announced it.. Kinda lame with the HKS badging all over the place but i think I'm gonna try it out. The 'wheel' on this thing sounds like a good idea, and since I use the right analog for gas/brake, it'd be nice to left foot brake. My middle fingers don't translate that well to triggers

Edited because of stupid iPhone autocorrect
Click to expand...

Yea.. the pedals are pretty nice. I'd definitely recommend the button switch fix that was listed earlier in this thread, very nice. The only other swap I made was to put the e-brake on R2, so I could e-brake easily for drifting.
 
Santa is bringing me one....Bless that overly rotund, chocolate chip cookie eating, reindeer accosting man :)
 
I may have to look into this controller, it looks like a good substitute when you dont feel like using a wheel.
 

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