Steering wheel without force feedback?

  • Thread starter Radres
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Radres

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Although I think that the DFP is nice, I really don't like the force feedback steering wheels. The extra mechanics that are required to make the wheel shake reduce the wheel's sensitivity, even with force feedback off.

I've spent some time looking around at various electronics stores, but could not find a steering wheel for the PS2 that did not have force feedback. Can someone please recommend a PS2 wheel that does not have force feedback?
 
Radres
...Can someone please recommend a PS2 wheel that does not have force feedback?...
Click to expand...

Mad Catz MC2 Universal. Just remember to adjust out that stupid default center steering deadband every time you start up the PS/2. Press the "CAL" button behind the left paddle shifter and hit the D-Pad down three times. Takes three seconds. Wait for the game to fully load before you do it.

Many will flame the MC on this forum, which is populated with posters who have a quasi-religious enthusiasm for the DFP. However, if, like me, you feel Logitech's Force Feedback is completely unrealistic and makes cars difficult to control, get the MC. It is 100% compatible with GT4. Just plug it in and go.

Control with the MC is very precise and accurate. I borrowed a friend's DFP for two evenings. I turned off Active Steering and set the FF to mild. I was thoroughly used to it after about six hours of use. Going back and forth between the MC and the DFP, I was never able to match the lap times I got with the MC while using the DFP. My control was better with my cheap old MC than it was with the supposedly supreme DFP.

Logitech and PD did not get it right in their collaboration on GT4. The steering input with the DFP is too linear and "hard". The progressive, "soft" feel of the MC makes it easier to correct slides and drifts, and you end up pressing the car harder and going faster.

Another MC plus: It rests comfortably on your knees, and with no FF, you don't need a stand or table. Just sit on any sofa or chair.

(Okay, DFP cultists, flame away. I know you have to justify your $150 purchase, so have at it.)
 
hmmm, i was also looking for alternatives for GT4 and i was wondering whether to get the MC2 wheel. How many degrees does it turn? is it realistic?
 
The thing that worries me about the Mad Catz wheel is this review:

Gamespot Mad Catz review

The reviewer complains about how hard it is to line up the actions with the response on screen. I guess I should just try it and if it sucks I can return it. I do like that it works on X-Box, PS2, and PC.
 
Radres
The thing that worries me about the Mad Catz wheel is this review:

Gamespot Mad Catz review

The reviewer complains about how hard it is to line up the actions with the response on screen. I guess I should just try it and if it sucks I can return it. I do like that it works on X-Box, PS2, and PC.
Click to expand...


Yeah, I've seen that review before. There is no question in my mind that the reviewer was unaware of the stupid default deadband the MC wheel has. His description of using it corresponds exactly to what happens when you try to drive with the default deadband.

Lord knows why MC chose to have any center deadband option at all. It makes no sense. I wonder how many sales have been blown because of reviews like this, in which the reviewer didn't know you can get rid of that awful deadband in a few seconds.

Note that the adjustment doesn't "stick". You have to do it every time on startup.

(BTW, I meant D-Pad "down" to remove the deadband in my first post. Right-left adjusts the effective overall range, which you can adjust from about 200 degrees clear down to about 30 or so if you like. Once again, takes only seconds to do.)
 
gam3r
hmmm, i was also looking for alternatives for GT4 and i was wondering whether to get the MC2 wheel. How many degrees does it turn? is it realistic?
Click to expand...

Its a 200-degree wheel, and you can adjust the effective range to even less if you like. You just have to do it on startup each time. Takes only seconds, though.
 
Zardoz
Yeah, I've seen that review before. There is no question in my mind that the reviewer was unaware of the stupid default deadband the MC wheel has. His description of using it corresponds exactly to what happens when you try to drive with the default deadband.
Click to expand...

What about what the reviewer said about the gas/brake pedals, that they go redline about a quarter of the way down?
 
gam3r
hmmm, i was also looking for alternatives for GT4 and i was wondering whether to get the MC2 wheel. is it realistic?
Click to expand...

My opinion is without force feedback none of the wheels are realistic.
That's like you using the wheel but you don't feel a car. :indiff:
 
Radres
I've spent some time looking around at various electronics stores, but could not find a steering wheel for the PS2 that did not have force feedback. Can someone please recommend a PS2 wheel that does not have force feedback?
Click to expand...

I also don't like FF so I just unplug my DF (not pro) wheel's power cord. Presto, no FF. And everything else still works. I'm not sure if this works with the DFP, though. Only drawback is you have to remember to plug it back in each time you power up the game or it won't do the auto config routines.
 
Radres
What about what the reviewer said about the gas/brake pedals, that they go redline about a quarter of the way down?
Click to expand...

There's a silly lighted display on the unit that seems to have nothing to do with the input of the pedals to the game itself. I think that's what he's talking about.

In use, both the brake and pedal seem to me to modulate like they should. I have very precise brake and throttle control with them. I'm able to control both braking and power very easily.
 
For those who are interested:

I went to the electronics store by me, and they did not have the Mad Catz steering wheel. However, they did have the Pelican Cobra TT . This wheel looks, feels, and works great. It comes with a lap stand to boot! Like the Mad Catz wheel, you just have to know how to configure it properly. My only gripe is that while the Mad Catz wheel works on PC, Xbox, and PS2 , this wheel only works on PS2 (connects via the control port).

So if you're looking for a non-force feedback wheel to play GT4 with, take heart, there are plenty of options out there.
 
Sorry for going off topic but I have asked this question about three times without any luck. It wasn't even posted here for some reason.

My Logitech DFP works flawlessly with GT4, but it doesn't work with GT3. Everytime I start anything, even a warm-up lap, in free run mode, the car doesnt move. It seems like the car is stuck at some sort of neutral gear. The car just sits there reving up.
 
We tried DFP with GT4, on two different PS2 units - we agree with Zardoz and lots of others. DFP doesn't make it - slow response, lots of play in the wheel, force feedback is annoying at best and usually way out of synch - anyone want to buy ours - brand new 1/2 off? Hitman

Zardoz
Mad Catz MC2 Universal. Just remember to adjust out that stupid default center steering deadband every time you start up the PS/2. Press the "CAL" button behind the left paddle shifter and hit the D-Pad down three times. Takes three seconds. Wait for the game to fully load before you do it.

Many will flame the MC on this forum, which is populated with posters who have a quasi-religious enthusiasm for the DFP. However, if, like me, you feel Logitech's Force Feedback is completely unrealistic and makes cars difficult to control, get the MC. It is 100% compatible with GT4. Just plug it in and go.

Control with the MC is very precise and accurate. I borrowed a friend's DFP for two evenings. I turned off Active Steering and set the FF to mild. I was thoroughly used to it after about six hours of use. Going back and forth between the MC and the DFP, I was never able to match the lap times I got with the MC while using the DFP. My control was better with my cheap old MC than it was with the supposedly supreme DFP.

Logitech and PD did not get it right in their collaboration on GT4. The steering input with the DFP is too linear and "hard". The progressive, "soft" feel of the MC makes it easier to correct slides and drifts, and you end up pressing the car harder and going faster.

Another MC plus: It rests comfortably on your knees, and with no FF, you don't need a stand or table. Just sit on any sofa or chair.

(Okay, DFP cultists, flame away. I know you have to justify your $150 purchase, so have at it.)
Click to expand...
 
^"slow response, lots of play in the wheel"
What do you mean by that? Not sensitive enough? *cough* 900 degrees..
 
Radres
For those who are interested:

I went to the electronics store by me, and they did not have the Mad Catz steering wheel. However, they did have the Pelican Cobra TT . This wheel looks, feels, and works great. It comes with a lap stand to boot! Like the Mad Catz wheel, you just have to know how to configure it properly. My only gripe is that while the Mad Catz wheel works on PC, Xbox, and PS2 , this wheel only works on PS2 (connects via the control port).

So if you're looking for a non-force feedback wheel to play GT4 with, take heart, there are plenty of options out there.
Click to expand...

I take back what I said about the Cobra TT. This wheel would be great, if it had more options for how to configure it. Specifically, there are two settings for how wide to make the deadzone, and both of them require you turn the wheel at least 1.5" either way before your input starts to turn the car. If you like wide deadzones, it's a great wheel; it feels realistic, the pedal response is nice, it's comfortable and easy to use. However, the abrnomally large deadzone makes it unusable compared to other wheels, like the Mad Catz 2, that allow you to adjust the deadzone tighter.
 
Lmao, my friend has a wheel with no force feedback, and only turns 180 degrees, and ever since he used my DFp he never used his wheel again. Just show how strange you are Radres. :lol: ;)
 
Does any one else own the Universal MC2 ? I plan on buying one soon i would like to like to hear what a few of you have to say about it.
 
I wore out 3 Mad Catz wheels on GT2.

They took up a lot of room in a garbage can.

The GT2 licence test with the Camaro, 2 lefts, with the walls?

Killled that wheel in a week.
 
I had the MC2 for about 2 hours before returning it. I was using it with F1 2002 so that might have had something to do with it. But I found it had a large "dead zone" in the middle where it wouldnt respond unless you really turned hard, then the car would oversteer and crash.

I did try adjusting the settings but it didnt help.
 
Damn... so im probley better off with the GT3 wheel ? I wanted something with a stickshift tho. DFP looks so rad but 150 is a bit much.
 
Radres
Although I think that the DFP is nice, I really don't like the force feedback steering wheels. The extra mechanics that are required to make the wheel shake reduce the wheel's sensitivity, even with force feedback off.

I've spent some time looking around at various electronics stores, but could not find a steering wheel for the PS2 that did not have force feedback. Can someone please recommend a PS2 wheel that does not have force feedback?
Click to expand...


I used a Mad Katz for two years on GT3... loved it. It recently gave up the goast. Now I have the DFP, like it.... For the money, the incesent rumble isn't worth the $$$$$$$.
 

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