Racing Wheel is it the key to first place?

[DarXide420]

I use a MOMO Racing wheel, (on stadium) and while I agree that the default FF settings are too stiff to play TM, they are easily adjustable through the Logitech profiler, as is the steering ratio and linearity and etc. I use a force feedback wheel weight of about 10-15%, just enough to have some resistence when you're about to lose traction, but easy enough to slap from side to side in alot less than 4 seconds, probably closer to 2.

Keep in mind I have used Xbox and 360 controllers exclusively to race anything since the original Forza came out, and only recently switched to a wheel. (6 months or so) The reason I use a wheel for every racing game I play these days is very simple. Precision.

On a gamepad, your thumb is moving about a half an inch to either side, and you have about 120-140 degrees of analog sector to work with. which is okay, but its a pretty small area, and you either have to work really hard to keep your thumb at an angle, or you do the side tap thing that's pretty much like using a keyboard, thus defeating the purpose of using an analog device in the first place.

But on my wheel, which has a relatively small (as far as wheels go) rotation of 240 degrees from lock to lock, I can turn smoother, and more precisely because there's more area on the wheels rotation covering exactly the same amount of rotation ingame as you would get with a gamepad, or flightstick. Pedals are also superior to triggers for the same reason, but it doesn't really matter that much in TM, analog pedals dont seem that important cuz theres no fear of tire slip under too much accel and no fear of locking the breaks under heavy use. but In games that include those, like F1 2012 a set of analog, full sector pedals are a real life (and tyre) saver.

Really the only drawback I've found with using a wheel is the need to fine tune the settings so much, but if you're willing to put in a little effort getting it set up properly you wont be dissapointed, and will never want to use a paddle again. I feel like most of the people complaining "Wheel too hard" just don't have it set up properly, and aren't willing to put the time in to set it up properly.

Oh, and flightsticks are for... you know... Flight? =D

[luftisbollentm2]

my wheel

i mean i do 10 - 20 times on a gamepad (right to left = 1 ) in 4 sec (just to compare) (i can go faster but iam not trying to take world record here haha ) but anyway the wheel takes more work and you need to have god physics if you are playing a slalom track for instance...
but as you sad its to move the tumb at mm thats the challenge and very hard on gamepad
and that is way i want some more options in setting up the sensitivity of my analog device and other stuff in game without no external program...
all racing game have more option like linear and stuff..not just only deadzone and sensitivity...

yes and i would like to have more gentle movement in the first mm and then it can increase to reach 100 % steer at the end - i know its possible and would be a big improvement imo

5 mm = 2 %
10 mm = 10 %
50 mm = 40%
75 mm = 100%
75 = full steer
just an example i think you got my point...

i made a screen

[isamu]

I use a MOMO Racing wheel, (on stadium) and while I agree that the default FF settings are too stiff to play TM, they are easily adjustable through the Logitech profiler, as is the steering ratio and linearity and etc. I use a force feedback wheel weight of about 10-15%, just enough to have some resistence when you're about to lose traction, but easy enough to slap from side to side in alot less than 4 seconds, probably closer to 2.

Keep in mind I have used Xbox and 360 controllers exclusively to race anything since the original Forza came out, and only recently switched to a wheel. (6 months or so) The reason I use a wheel for every racing game I play these days is very simple. Precision.

On a gamepad, your thumb is moving about a half an inch to either side, and you have about 120-140 degrees of analog sector to work with. which is okay, but its a pretty small area, and you either have to work really hard to keep your thumb at an angle, or you do the side tap thing that's pretty much like using a keyboard, thus defeating the purpose of using an analog device in the first place.

But on my wheel, which has a relatively small (as far as wheels go) rotation of 240 degrees from lock to lock, I can turn smoother, and more precisely because there's more area on the wheels rotation covering exactly the same amount of rotation ingame as you would get with a gamepad, or flightstick. Pedals are also superior to triggers for the same reason, but it doesn't really matter that much in TM, analog pedals dont seem that important cuz theres no fear of tire slip under too much accel and no fear of locking the breaks under heavy use. but In games that include those, like F1 2012 a set of analog, full sector pedals are a real life (and tyre) saver.

Really the only drawback I've found with using a wheel is the need to fine tune the settings so much, but if you're willing to put in a little effort getting it set up properly you wont be dissapointed, and will never want to use a paddle again. I feel like most of the people complaining "Wheel too hard" just don't have it set up properly, and aren't willing to put the time in to set it up properly.

Oh, and flightsticks are for... you know... Flight? =D

I appreciate you standing up for using a wheel in TM2, but the truth of the matter is, support for wheels and pedals could and should be a lot better. The "force feedback" effects are nothing of the sort, and are mere "Xbox type" tumble effects they've slapped together for the game. What's more bizarre is the fact that you can plug in a real xbox 360 controller and you won't even get rumble, which is criminal to say the least.

Furthermore, if Nadeo implemented *proper* ffb for DirectInput wheels then it would improve the experience and immersion significantly. Effects like constant, sine, sawtooth, etc are not done properly or are completely missing.

In addition, using an ffb wheel is useless due to there being no center spring force. My wheel is an ECCI 7000 and the last time I played the game many months ago, it felt sloppy and had no resistance because of lack of centering spring force. Turning the "Spring Always On" slider in Windows control panel all the way up doesn't resolve the issue because it simply doesn't supply enough force to feel any spring resistance. Besides this should come from the GAME not from Windows.

Anyway I hope they decide to put proper ffb effects in the game someday. Put in ffb effects that make you feel what the car is doing and offer some spring tension options so our wheels don't feel all loose and sloppy.

I won't get into the analog remapping and other controller problems here.

[firstdriver]

I've never tried a wheel on TM but my results certainly improved when I switched to a gamepad. Nothing fancy, just a sturdy old Playstation 1/2 controller with a cheap and cheerful Ps1/2 to PC converter. I don't get on with the analogue sticks at all but am very much at home with the buttons which, I might add, are plentiful and give you complete control not only of your driving but your chat, view etc etc. (just don't put 'respawn' or 'quit' where you might accidently hit them)

[dsi1]

I don't use a wheel with TM, but this is just due to lack of support as isamu is saying. A (properly tuned/supported) wheel is much more precise than a gamepad, even if it does require more effort (both in dev/client setup and physically while racing)

Although with how intense TM is, I'm still not sure if I would

[Smigles]

I've never tried a wheel on TM but my results certainly improved when I switched to a gamepad. Nothing fancy, just a sturdy old Playstation 1/2 controller with a cheap and cheerful Ps1/2 to PC converter. I don't get on with the analogue sticks at all but am very much at home with the buttons which, I might add, are plentiful and give you complete control not only of your driving but your chat, view etc etc. (just don't put 'respawn' or 'quit' where you might accidently hit them)

Then you miss out on the entire advantage of having a pad in the first place. It's all about the analogue steering. Long curves are just faster when you can drive them in one big turn instead of tipping a button dozends of times and therefore turn one turn into dozends of little corners.

[isamu]

I don't use a wheel with TM, but this is just due to lack of support as isamu is saying. A (properly tuned/supported) wheel is much more precise than a gamepad, even if it does require more effort (both in dev/client setup and physically while racing)

[Gradio]

My operator inputs: https://skydrive.live.com/embed?cid=EDD ... NSQS037Fho

Having spent more time with TM2 Canyon I decidedly appreciate the twilight & night color schemes over the dehydrating blazing sun color scheme.

I like the idea of having smaller increments on an analog stick at the beginning and increasing those increments towards the edges.

For those who appreciate a good wheel. What functionality should I look for? What makes a good wheel vs. a bad wheel?

I understand from what's been said here that 99% of the ppl playing use a gamepad & in general that's the Nadeo way. I'd also say that 99% of the ppl don't read this forum either.

[flidd]

99% of people use a gamepad???

I'd have thought the majority used keyboard.

Is there anyway we can start a poll to see which is the preferred controller?

[JumperJack]

that has been done many times, and i can surely say that 99% is exaggerated a lot.

out of 10 players, i think 5-6 drive with keyboard, 3-4 with gamepad, 1 with joystick and a fraction with wheel.