i just purchased a wheel over the weekend and I seem to really struggle with the wheel, so much so that I am wondering if I should just stick with it until i get used to it or just go back to the controller. i plan on purchasing Forza soon and more racing games and i would like to keep the wheel!

- What types of tables do you recommend? <tv trays are just not working for me>

- What is the 'deadzone' setting in DIRT used for?

- How do you position your pedals on the floor so that it doesn't slip? <my floor surface is smooth> Do you have both of your feet on the foot controller

- Is there a system setting where you can adjust the sensitivity for the wheel? it seems like the slightest turn...will turn a lot and I would like to minimize this.

sell it to me if you don't want it :)

I don't have this wheel, but have a few suggestions to two of your questions.

"Deadzone" is typically used to define how much "play" a wheel has before the inputs are recognized. A higher deadzone means that you can rotate the wheel left or right more before the input is recognized.

Target carries a bunch of nifty things in the Home Improvement section called "Magic Bumpers." There are two varieties of bumpers, ones that you put on feet to make them slide over smooth floors and ones that grip the surface. It's cheap and does the trick. I bought some to elevate my Xbox 360 off my equipment rack shelf, actually.

sell it to me if you don't want it :)

i definitely want to keep the wheel! its just that I can't do a good jog of driving with the wheel where i constantly crash a lot.

I don't have this wheel, but have a few suggestions to two of your questions.

"Deadzone" is typically used to define how much "play" a wheel has before the inputs are recognized. A higher deadzone means that you can rotate the wheel left or right more before the input is recognized.

Target carries a bunch of nifty things in the Home Improvement section called "Magic Bumpers." There are two varieties of bumpers, ones that you put on feet to make them slide over smooth floors and ones that grip the surface. It's cheap and does the trick. I bought some to elevate my Xbox 360 off my equipment rack shelf, actually.

thanks for the deadzone definition. i tried playing around with the setting but i wasn't sure what i was adjusting.

i was thinking about buying something similar to that but I was wondering what others were doing. i can keep the pedal portion can stay put if i keep one foot on the brake and on on the pedal

It takes awhile to get use to. I still struggle sometimes with it. However, you'll slowly realize how much more control you have with the wheel. The most important thing though is that you soon see how much more fun it is to play driving games with the wheel. I love it. You just gotta get use to it first.

I don't have the wheel either, but I used to have a different one. I think it is important to set it up to be comfortable. If you are going to be playing...competing in races for hours and hours, you won't want to keep depending on your left foot to hold the pedal station steady. When frustration sets in, or for whatever reason you get hyped and start to gun it...you'll end up fighting the pedal. Same with wheel, half the energy is keeping it steady, especially if you really get into the races (which is the point of the wheel anyway)

I used to use a 45lb dumbell as a backdrop for the pedal, and I don't remember what I did with the wheel, but I made sure it was steady, and convenient to move out of the room. I also had a cord to deal with.

Then again, fighting with the wheel could make it more immersive! Depends on how you look at things!

Are you playing with it plugged in to A/C power or not? I have a really hard time using the
wheel without the force feedback.

There is a definite learning curve to using a wheel, especially after you've used analog sticks for years. Give it time - you'll find that using the wheel is much more natural and, as others have stated, gives you much more control.

As for the pedals - I don't know what MS was thinking. Come on guys - rubber soles and carpet spikes are not optional!

I just recently got the wheel....having previously owned the Logitech wheel for GT4.....
This device destroyed my PGR3 laptimes, and I ultimately decided that PGR3 is a lousy game to play with the wheel, the joypad being far easier to use. Going back to the joypad I was back into the zone again.....

I tried it with the Forza Demo and was also unimpressed, because I wasn't getting the same feedback as I got with GT4...but I hear FOrza has wheel options that the demo does not enable. Having said that, Forza with the pad is a very sloppy exercise for me.......the wheel is a must-have item.

I'll be getting Forza this week, and giving the wheel its due......but for games like DIRT? I dont know, any game that requires you to jam the wheel to its extremes sends me to believe it'll be easier to play with the joypad, whereas a sim-type game that requires the finesse of a wheel to make microscopic corrections to your driving line without over-compensatiing (with a stick), here is where the Wheel will shine.

Are you playing with it plugged in to A/C power or not? I have a really hard time using the
wheel without the force feedback.
yep, before i purchased the wheel i read that a/c power was the only way to go

There is a definite learning curve to using a wheel, especially after you've used analog sticks for years. Give it time - you'll find that using the wheel is much more natural and, as others have stated, gives you much more control...

maybe that's what it is, i am so used to the normal controller. i have listen to some podcast, forums (xbox and forzamotorsports) and its seems like i just have to get used to the style and stick with it.

i still have to find a heavy table to mount it to because on podcast was talking about how his table moves a lot while playing and i have the same problem.

The wheel is the best for games like forza or gotham racing. Games like midnight club, burnout those games are not meant for the wheel. Its a racing wheel. Not for games with power ups and that crap. If you like straight up racing then the wheel is great. But for games with missions and those things its not that great.

i just purchased a wheel over the weekend and I seem to really struggle with the wheel, so much so that I am wondering if I should just stick with it until i get used to it or just go back to the controller. i plan on purchasing Forza soon and more racing games and i would like to keep the wheel!

- What types of tables do you recommend? <tv trays are just not working for me>

I bought one of those outdoor plastic topped tables from Wal-Mart. A card table or something similar would work well, too. Just make sure your seat puts you at a comfortable height for it and the pedals.

- How do you position your pedals on the floor so that it doesn't slip? <my floor surface is smooth> Do you have both of your feet on the foot controller

Don't real racers use both feet for the pedals? I know it goes against everyday good driving practices, but this works best for me with console wheels. I did put some velcro on the bottom of mine (carpeted floors), so it grabs the carpet and stays in place *very* well now. I think the suggestion above of some sort of grippy material would really help you.

- Is there a system setting where you can adjust the sensitivity for the wheel? it seems like the slightest turn...will turn a lot and I would like to minimize this.

This setting is entirely dependent on the game being played. If you want a real exercise in frustration with the wheel, play Test Drive Unlimited. It has virtually no resistance to keep the wheel centered, which makes driving a straight line fairly difficult. Combine this with no direct dead zone setting and you end up with a lot of lost races.

Don't real racers use both feet for the pedals? I know it goes against everyday good driving practices, but this works best for me with console wheels.

Well, Real Racers don't use both feet for gas/brake unless they're driving an automatic, which nobody does.

But in the game, I use one foot for each to speed up reaction time...

The left foot is almost exclusively used for clutch play, while the right foot is used for brake/gas....the practice of "HEEL/TOE" shifting is often used, where the heel of the foot depresses a brake to decellerate, while at the same time the toe of the foot is used to push on the accellerator to keep the revs up between shifts......

Well, Real Racers don't use both feet for gas/brake unless they're driving an automatic, which nobody does.

But in the game, I use one foot for each to speed up reaction time...

The left foot is almost exclusively used for clutch play, while the right foot is used for brake/gas....the practice of "HEEL/TOE" shifting is often used, where the heel of the foot depresses a brake to decellerate, while at the same time the toe of the foot is used to push on the accellerator to keep the revs up between shifts......

I think that you're describing 'spirited driving' not racing.

I'm going to go check my facts now (I should know better than this, check first then post, but I'm in one of those moods today...) but most racing is done with left foot on brake, right foot on gas. Race cars (and especially rally cars) tend to have their standard manual transmissions modified to sequential which I think obviates the clutch pedal.

I still have this past week's Rolex series race on my PVR, I'm going to check out some of the in car video to see how they go about shifting.

Real racersdon't use clutches anymore. All the new race cars use triptronic paddle shifters. Manual Transmission with no clutch pedal.

Real racersdon't use clutches anymore. All the new race cars use triptronic paddle shifters. Manual Transmission with no clutch pedal.
Actually, tiptronic is a modified automatic transmission with torque converters et al. They're different than the sequential manual transmissions in race cars.

Forgot something, and this is on topic. Stick with the wheel, it adds another dimension of 'fun-ness' to the game that can't be matched with the controller. And with enough practice, I'm sure that your lap times will improve. Just think, there is no way that you can modulate the brake or gas as accurately with the controller triggers as you can with the pedals.

Didn't realize they were all paddle shift now......who knew <shrug>

Actually, tiptronic is a modified automatic transmission with torque converters et al. They're different than the sequential manual transmissions in race cars.

tiptronic slush boxes blow.

direct shift gearboxes with dual clutches, now that's where it's at.

I bought one of those outdoor plastic topped tables from Wal-Mart. A card table or something similar would work well, too. Just make sure your seat puts you at a comfortable height for it and the pedals.

do you find the card tables sturdy enough?

Do a google search for Playseat Evolution. It's more affordable than most racing seats and seems to be well thought of. Center pole for the wheel may work best for those that brake with their left foot though.

tiptronic slush boxes blow.

direct shift gearboxes with dual clutches, now that's where it's at.
Absolutely.

The wheel is the best for games like forza or gotham racing. Games like midnight club, burnout those games are not meant for the wheel. Its a racing wheel. Not for games with power ups and that crap. If you like straight up racing then the wheel is great. But for games with missions and those things its not that great.

The wheel is just okay for PGR. It's made for Forza, and will be great for other racing sims. PGR falls somewhere between sim and arcade racer.

And as far as transmissions are concerned - race cars don't use tiptronic transmissions. They'd be destroyed in a heartbeat. All race transmissions are manuals, with clutches. Depending on the setup, the clutch can be a pedal or a paddle (as in F1). But, on modern race cars, the clutch only needs to be used when starting the car from a dead stop. When switching between gears, the clutch does not need to be depressed. This was even the case before sequentials - race engines have more than enough torque to keep from stalling during a shift. Clutches on race cars are actually quite small - much smaller than on a road car, since they see such little use.

One more thing - the top drivers in the world do use left foot braking. It's almost a given if you want to be successful. For day to day driving, however, all it does is ruin your brakes.

Well I have just put about an hours worth of driving with my new wheel. Forza 2 Demo, Forza 1 and Dirt demo....I don't think the Dirt demo is properly set up for the wheel. It is an option for the controller section but the game play with the wheel is horrible.

Both Forza's are fantastic with the wheel. I thought racing was fun before the wheel...now it is an absolute howl.

Here in Canada, the wheel is going for $99 with a free copy of PGR3...a great bargain IMO.

Time to go and have some more driving fun...really looking forward to picking up my copy of Forza 2 now.

I have a lot more fun with Dirt and the wheel than Forza 2, but that's just me I guess.

I have a lot more fun with Dirt and the wheel than Forza 2, but that's just me I guess.

I enjoyed both demos with the wheel. So I bought Forza and will buy Dirt as well. I am really impressed with hoiw well Dirt plays with the wheel being a tad more 'arcadey" than I expected it to be.

I have a lot more fun with Dirt and the wheel than Forza 2, but that's just me I guess.

It's me too! Nothing better than Rally!! ;)

But I also really like Forza2 and bought it today. Have yet to give it a try... little later... when the kids go to bed.

I'm a little underwhelmed by the force feedback so far... in PGR it just felt like the wheel was dead and Forza gives a little more resistance but nothing that makes me feel like this was a serious upgrade over my old Mad Catz wheel on the original Xbox.

When I put the PGR3 disc in by the time I got the tv on and started paying attention the game was going, am I supposed to install the drivers for the wheel somewhere or is this all there is?

eta: the wheel is about 5 degrees off center to the right and it is really bugging the crap out of me. Anyone know if there is a home fix for this? If not I can't justify keeping this wheel.

I'm a little underwhelmed by the force feedback so far... in PGR it just felt like the wheel was dead and Forza gives a little more resistance but nothing that makes me feel like this was a serious upgrade over my old Mad Catz wheel on the original Xbox.

When I put the PGR3 disc in by the time I got the tv on and started paying attention the game was going, am I supposed to install the drivers for the wheel somewhere or is this all there is?

eta: the wheel is about 5 degrees off center to the right and it is really bugging the crap out of me. Anyone know if there is a home fix for this? If not I can't justify keeping this wheel.

This is a common problem. The guys over at the forza forums have posted home fixes for this and other issues. Here (http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/144599.aspx)

The other alternative is keep exchanging it until you get one that works correctly.

Anyone find that the braking in Forza 2 is either "on" or "off" (with ABS turned off). Has anyone had any luck with the settings for the brake pedal in the wheel setup?

Anyone find that the braking in Forza 2 is either "on" or "off" (with ABS turned off). Has anyone had any luck with the settings for the brake pedal in the wheel setup?

The game is virtually impossible to play with ABS off, using either a wheel or a controller. Do yourself a favor - just leave it on.

To the credit of the game, though, this is accurate. The braking force on a race car is practically enough to rip your eyeballs out of their sockets, and drivers have to feather and pump the brakes manually to avoid lockups.

MPresseau,

Have you tried putting a small piece of sponge behind the brake pedal? I've seen a lot of people doing that over on the Forza forums. You can brake without ABS using the controller, but your finger is a little more easy to modulate than your foot. I think between 1/2 and 3/4 pull on the trigger (as long as you are braking in a straight line) will give you the best braking without using ABS. The problem is when you are cornering or coming over a crest then it's pretty hard not to lock up a wheel.

Thanks for the ideas.

As far as the accuracy of needing ABS, I'm not so sure. I tried just casually driving around at about 30 km/h (school zone slow) and when I softly applied my brakes with ABS turned off, my tires screamed. I wasn't driving a race car, just a VW GTI. When I get home I'll try it with the ABS on.

I would advise against ABS. Use the surround sound to your advantage. You can hear the tires lock up. Practice driving around the track with as little tire squeal as possible, not only will you be faster but also when you get in to the sim tire wear you will be able to make your tires last as long as possible. If you are having a hard time modulating the brake with the wireless wheel, you should mess with the brake pedal deadzone settings until you find a setting that is more linear to your liking. Personally, I think the default settings for the wheel are perfect. This is a sim, so use all of your senses to make the most of your experience. Now if they can come up with an aerosol spray that smells like gas and burning rubber...

Anyone find that the braking in Forza 2 is either "on" or "off" (with ABS turned off). Has anyone had any luck with the settings for the brake pedal in the wheel setup?

In the demo I didn't really have any trouble keeping the wheels rotating under hard braking, even with ABS off.

The trick is to VERY lightly press the pedal, and when you're first starting it might help to just use fast light taps instead of constant force.

I also noticed that the brake glow seems to be more realistic with ABS disabled. In some replays I've seen the front discs glowing, while the rears aren't lit up at all, while with ABS on all 4 discs turn bright orange.

The trick is to VERY lightly press the pedal, and when you're first starting it might help to just use fast light taps instead of constant force.
The tapping definitely seems to do the trick, I noticed that as well.

This is a common problem. The guys over at the forza forums have posted home fixes for this and other issues. Here (http://forums.forzamotorsport.net/forums/thread/144599.aspx)

The other alternative is keep exchanging it until you get one that works correctly.
Thank you. Considering the pain and effort of unboxing/reboxing the thing I'd rather do the fix myself. I am a little happier with the amount of FF now and judging by other posts I found on the net my wheel isn't nearly as bad as others. But this fix is exactly what I was looking for but unable to find in my searching.

eta: I've decided to take the wheel back and hope to find a working one rather than attempt the fix. I'm not going to void the warranty just to try to get a brand new wheel to work correctly no matter how minor the detail. If it was a $50 wheel I'd probably live with it but this is inexcusable for a "premium" product.

I swapped wheels today and its a huge improvement, the wheel is much closer to center and when it is turned a full turn to either side it returns just a hair to the opposite side. Now when my car gets banged up and develops a pull I can actually feel it. Also the d-pad seems to work a lot better on this one. Much, much more in line with my expectations. I also fooled around with the Dirt demo and find myself glad they didn't overdo the feedback in Forza but also see that the wheel has more feedback potential than I thought based solely on Forza.

well I had the Logitech one for GT3 on the PS2 and it never worked that well I have used a lot of wheels for games almost all there are even some only in Japan

what I have noticed is most if not all except for the older NASCAR game for the arcade the wheel never goes back to straight after you let it go like a real car would

(yes I have driven high powered race cars 500+HP before without power steering and they still do this) so why cant the wheel go back to straight after it is let go the car just continues along the same path and you have to turn the wheel back to straight

does this wheel for the 360 have the same problems?

I bought a MS wheeel last week at Fry's so if I didn't like it I could return it. I've used Thrustmaster wheels and Logitech wheels but this MS wheel sucked big time to me. I could not believe how much slop or movement there was in the wheel shaft. Maybe I just got a bad wheel or have used my Logitech wheel so much I couldn't adjust to the MS wheel but it went back for a refund.

Jim