Racing Wheels for Indycar 2005

Esodess · Post by **Esodess** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:16 pm

Hey guys,
I know there have been thousands of posts abuot Indycar 2005 setups. What I would like to know is what type of steering wheels our members are using. I'm just using the controller right now and think that I can squeeze out 2 or 3 MPH just by switching to a wheel.

Thanks,
Esodess

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:26 pm

Esodess:

Welcome to DSP.

Honestly, I think most guys in here just use the Controller S or original Xbox controller in this game. It's easier than you think to hold a smooth, steady line with the controller in this game.

Best of luck. Hopefully someone will reply with some wheel recommendations for you.

Hope to see you racing online with us soon.

Take care,
PK

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 5:40 pm

Well, the main problem all the wheels available are crap for Xbox. The PS2 has some decent ones.

I'm enjoying Richard Burns Rally, but people with the ps2 version and a wheel have noted that it's considerably easier to control. I may just wait until the PC version comes out and use my logitech force feedback wheel.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Thu Jul 08, 2004 10:54 pm

I'm seeking an XBox steering wheel solution, but the outlook sounds bleak. Can someone tell me though... does the Mad Katz MC2 XBox wheel have a communicator port?

I have the Griffin Advanced Racing Wheel, which came free as a promotional offer with my XBox. It just flat out sux because of its design and construction. The MC2 is the only XBox wheel I've heard some degree of positive feedback on from a few users.

laurenskye · Post by **laurenskye** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 6:32 am

I have the Cobra. I have only used it on PGR 2 but it has worked great with that. No Com. Port though.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 11:26 am

The XBox-only MC2 has a communicator port; I used it in TOCA quite a bit.

The problem I have is that it randomly disconnects all on its own, and you have to hit start again to re-establish connection. Imagine doing that at 220mph in Indycar...it ends your race in a hurry. The MC2 universal I bought doesn't have that problem, but it doesn't have a communicator port.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 12:57 pm

TCrouch wrote:The XBox-only MC2 has a communicator port; I used it in TOCA quite a bit.

The problem I have is that it randomly disconnects all on its own, and you have to hit start again to re-establish connection.

Is this true with all the racing games you've tried it with Terry?

Imagine doing that at 220mph in Indycar...it ends your race in a hurry.

I get strange disconnects with Indycar 2005 using the S controller... maybe about 10% of the time. Is what you're seeing more frequent than that?

The MC2 universal I bought doesn't have that problem, but it doesn't have a communicator port.

Isn't that strange? Definitely sounds like something funky going on with the communicator port.

Has Mad Katz commented on this?

Lemme ask you something though... do you see a marked quality improvement in steering wheel performance in Indycar 2005 over all others on the XBox? I'm trying to determine if they've really made a step toward getting somewhere with this.

spooky157 · Post by **spooky157** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:11 pm

I haven't experienced the disconnects that Terry's talking about but I've heard from several people that this was indeed an issue. I bought the XBox MC2 about a month ago and it's been my controller of choice for TOCA ever since. Keeping in mind I hadn't played a racing game with a wheel since "Turbo" on my Colecovision but this wheel is more than solid. There's decent spring tension in the wheel that sorta acts as the poor man's force feedback. IMO, it works even better with ICS than TOCA. The vibration feedback in ICS gives you an even better feel for the cars.

Is it worth the $60? I think so. However, word has it that Microsoft is working on a true force feedback wheel to be released in conjunction with the upcoming Forza Motorsport.

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:43 pm

Disconnected in every game I played, some worse than others.

In ICS it seemed to be like once a lap.

koebner69 · Post by **koebner69** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 4:58 pm

If you play without vibration on,the Xbox specific MC2 won't disconnect randomly-but it's a sucky tradeoff to have to make.

J_Cauthen · Post by **J_Cauthen** » Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:17 pm

Thanks for all the good skinny Terry, Spooky, and Koebner.

Spooky,

I had not heard that Microsoft was rumored to be making a true force feedback wheel in time for the Forza release. I may be able to hold off buying if that's the case.

So you're not getting disconnects with vibration enabled, yet Terry is. Perhaps there are different revs of this wheel and the later ones are not prone to the disconnect?

You've pre-empted another question I was going to pose - the MC2 gives useful vibration feedback eh? That's another plus in my book. I've seen the MC2 advertised somewhere for $49.95; is that going to be hard to beat?

TCrouch · Post by **TCrouch** » Sat Jul 10, 2004 2:19 am

koebner69 wrote:If you play without vibration on,the Xbox specific MC2 won't disconnect randomly-but it's a sucky tradeoff to have to make.

Not true. I turn it off and still have it disconnect. I heard that rumor and tried it, didn't fix it. It's just some crappy problem with the old batch I guess.