We really are reaching a tipping point in the experience and enjoyment factor of racing games! The technology now exists to provide realistic racing environments through the use of steering wheels with forcefeedback, LCD screens with crystal clear display and speakers delivering the right acoustics (with bass!). Naturally the right type of gaming seat is needed!). We’ve been so impressed by GranTurismo, that we’ve been looking for things to improve the experience of the game.

We love games so much hear that we just want to share our experiences so everyone can have as much fun as us.

Driving Force Wireless

Before we had the GT and G25 in the labs, we had so much fun with the Driving Force! For us, this was one of the devices that really started a revolution in gaming…. bye bye controller pads and keyboard! We had two people on a couch (sofa!) and one playing on a bean bag.

The Driving Force is wireless, and although I’m not a big fan of wireless devices for precision gaming, the Driving Force works fine. More importantly, the feedback you get from the device covers bumps on the roads, car crashes and traction loss.

This controller was primarily designed for working on your lap, and can easily be setup so it can work from a table or similar. The Driving Force also comes with Pedals, which is something that is really the missing piece when playing racing games.

On the PS3, we tested GranTurismo and Burnout – I have to say, the playability was much better on the PS3 than the PC, but at the end of the day we were testing the Driving Force – and I don’t want this review to represent that the Driving Force was deficient in any area, it worked fine on all the games.

Summary…

The Driving Force is a fantastic product, it falls short of the G25 and GT – but its less than half the price, which more than justifies it’s position (specifically being on the lap). Recommendation – dont leave home without one, seriously, this should be part of your wardrobe!

Driving Force GT

yummy. Thats my first words on this!

This is where force feedback really comes into itself, and with the full rotation it really does give you the feel of a real wheel.

The plus with this wheel is that it has a rubber coating giving it a good feel, as opposed to just a cheap piece of plastic. The realism is truly awesome. Playing racing games can get a bit out of hand if you really get into the zone, so having a gaming wheel that can take a battering is a must.

At the time the existing gaming seats we had were dismantled, so we used the DFGT at a table. Firstly, once you’ve played (sorry – experienced!) a racing game with a wheel – you can’t go back to a keyboard or joypad. Once you have experienced a gaming seat, like VisionRacer or Fanatec, sitting on a couch or at a table just doesn’t compare…. its all good. This is exactly why this product is endorsed for GT.

The wheel has been around for sometime now, and we’re glad to say it’s aged well and still current. As this product replaced the Driving Force Pro, we wont be covering that Wheel.

Summary…

Fantastic Product. I’d say its the beta version of the G25.

Logitech G25

The G25 is the next model up from the Driving Force GT. Aesthetics are everything, and I’m glad to see that the inside represents the quality goods that the packaging displays. So when you know that the pedals are made of metal (and not plastic) it gives you some idea of what to expect in the product -something that’s solid and hard-wearing. Overall experience is the real winner these days?

The really cool thing is that there is gearbox included too, which is much better than its predecessors. As expected, we still have the standard game pad controls as part of the system, so that we have extra control buttons.

The majority of people I know have previously preferred the automatic approach, although I’m knowing and seeing more people prefer the manual approach for the added realism, and the gearshift box supports 6 gears – one of which is reverse! Cool!

The traditional gated gear stick is there if you prefer the manual control than automatic, and a real bonus is the sequential control for realism.

Apparently the steering wheel is made from hand stitched leather – I can’t confirm this other than saying the wheel looks and feels as if its come straight out of a steering wheel.

We didn’t see the point in trying the G25 on a table, playing in a VisionRacer was much more fun and got the most out of the Logitech component! The real value in these components is when they’re integrated with a gaming seat, 5.1 surround sound and a good LCD. Once you’ve tasted this in action – you wont want anything else!

Closing statements…

Looking how gaming wheels evolved from pads, there’s a good chance that feedback pedals would do the same.

The G25 and Driving Force GT are top of the list in the market.

We’d go as far to say that the feedback electrics are quieter on the G25, rather than the DFGT – but hey, with 5.1 speakers rareing, who cares!

To find out more about gaming wheels, Fanatec and VisionRacer, click here for Gaming Wheels

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