University study using GT5 - wheels vs pads (open to all)

[Stune]

Hi GTP peeps,
Those who know me well know im doing my masters degree in Computer Games Design at Staffordshire University. Currently im researching control input devices, in particular wheels vs controllers, and I wish to carry out a study in GT5. Of course most of us have some ideas which they prefer and why, but for the purpose of my experiment try to put those aside for a few mins, and be open minded about this experiment.

Requirements for experiment:

• Gran Turismo 5 game
• Any 900 degree wheel supported by the game (DFGT, DFP, G25, G27, 911 Turbo S etc)
• Playstation 3 pad controller (sixaxis or DS3) - For unofficial controllers ask first as they may have different specs)

The experiment is open to those of all ability levels as long as they have access to the 3 things listed above.


Settings: Players choice but be sure to use the same settings with both devices (for example if using ABS 1 with a pad controller also use ABS 1 with the wheel)
Tires: Players choice but be sure to use the same tires with both devices
Force feedback/ vibration settings: Players choice
View: Your choice: Be sure to use the same view with both control devices

Track and cars:
Nissan GTR (07) on High speed ring (dry)
Ferrari F40 (92) on High speed ring (dry)
Nissan GTR (07) on Eiger Nordwand short (dry)
Ferrari F40 (92) on Eiger Nordwand short (dry)
Repeat with wheel and controller

Do as few or many laps as you like, but be sure to do the same amount of laps with both control devices.
Take note of your fastest and slowest laps on all 4 combinations with each control device and post them here. Also please note how many laps you completed. Then answer the following questions.

Q1. Do you consider yourself to be a novice, intermediate or advanced player of Gran Turismo 5? Please be honest, ALL results have relevance in the study.
Q2. Which control device do you consider yourself to be most comfortable with?
Q3. Which device did you consider you were most accurate with?
Q4. Which device enabled you to be smoother?
Q5. Which device seemed the most stable?
Q5. Which device did you consider gave you the best feedback of what the car was doing?
Q6. Which device allowed you to recover from crashes the quickest?
Q7. Do you observe any other differences between the two control devices?


Remember this is open to everyone who has access to both a wheel and a pad. I'm looking for as many entries as possible. If people prefer to do this anonymously pm me your results, otherwise post them on this thread

Thanks very much.

 

[Exorcet]

Sounds interesting. However, my experience with wheels leads me to believe that having a proper stand (or table) is required for maximum performance. I think that you should at least take note of who uses a stand or not (then again, I don't imagine many people not using a stand around here).

I'll consider taking part later on.

 

[RacingManiac]

If I were to do this study I might have gone about a different way with a non-GT5 playing group, and let them start with either device and compare their progress. Since I get a feeling that for most players with 2 devices, their familiarity with one device will skew the result....

I played through GT1 and GT2 with controller. Switched to wheels in GT4 by first playing a bunch of PC racing games and if you tell me to play with the controller now I wouldn't know the first thing how to be good with it, even if I know the track, braking point and car handling characteristics I just can't put them together anymore with a game pad....

 

[retrostate]

I'm a tad busy with my own uni projects at the moment, however, studying computer games design at Swansea Met Uni, I would like to add my opinion on control methods.

In terms of what drives me in particular to play racing games, it is the ability to not only master the game, but also a physical skill and mental understanding that is transferable to a real life situation. I race with a wheel because I want to use the game to train my ability to drive cars with precision in a race environment. Other genres offer players the chance to master the gameplay element, but few offer the player the chance to then transfer that skill to reality.

Take Street fighter for an example. This is perhaps one of the game with the largest followings in terms of hard core players. They tend to progress from the standard control pad to the hand held fighting pad but then to the full arcade joystick set up. This allows them to master the game in a way that challenges them, however the skills learnt are only valid in that game environment. This is also the case with games such as World of Warcraft where some players use a mouse to click different moves on the screen whereas more advanced players tend to use custom keyboard configurations in order to get an edge.

Driving games are interesting in that, effectively, by using a racing wheel set up, you may actually be making the game harder for yourself, especially when you factor in the clutch and h-shifter, but players don't seem to mind. There is an elitism connected to it that seems to frighten other players off in the same way that the street fighter community can seem daunting to a new player. People claim that lap times are invalid due to the player using the pad to control the car, however this opinion means nothing as the game allows for the player to choose their input method.

The effectiveness of using a wheel set up is apparent by the way that professional racing drivers use computer games with a wheel to train themselves and muscle memory and reactions are a necessary skill in driving.

Anyway, not sure why I wrote this instead of my own essay, but I hope it is a useful insight into my opinion Good luck with your research, I am interested to hear more in the future in terms of what you discover.

Thanks
Will

 

[Stune]

Tbh id go about things quite differently altogether for an entirely novice study group. Don't worry too much about each individual's bias between one device over another for now. That may be a factor, but not one that i havnt already noted. Also dont worry too much about the wheel stand issue. That is one inescapable fact when evaluating its usability and doesnt compromise the study in any way

 

[JackC8]

I haven't used the DS3 controller in a racing game for a long time - I'm sure it would take a while to get used to it again, and until then I'd suck.

I'll say this though: In GT4, there was a license test where you had to take some skittish Mercedes around the Nurburgring in under 10 minutes, without ever sliding off the track. I tried that test a huge number of times, only making it to the end once or twice without doing a four-off. Then I got a wheel, and I think 2 of my first 3 attempts resulted in my finishing the course, and by about the 3rd time I passed the test.

 

[tezster]

I think you will need a very large number of responses to see any type of a pattern, either that or you may need to tighten your control (just a suggestion). People with a wheel will most likely not be skilled using a controller, and this bias will be more significant than any inherent advantages a wheel will have over a DS3 (or vice versa).

In order to have full control over the gaming environment, maybe you could setup a gaming room for your subjects to use. That way, you know for certain the setup is exactly the same for everyone.

 

[MGF97]

No offence, but I think you sould rethink your questionnaire e.g.
I am feeling more comfortable with a pad because I can drive lying on the couch but with the wheel I have to sit upright etc. (don´t think that is what you want to know).

It is also important if one is driving with manual transmission or not. That is more difficult with a pad than a wheel. Guess this is also important for the crash question.
I am only able to recover from crashes quicker with the pad because when crashing my wheel is turned and it takes me longer to find the button for reverse, when I´m driving automatic.
Well and if to use FFB is players choice, how am I to judge about the car feedback?