Steering wheels...
Discussion
With GFN now(soon) to support steering wheels, I thought I dig out my very old Xbox360 wheel........Than I realised the wheel is so old there is no real way to connect it to any of the devices I have now, the best would be some kind of hack/mod that makes the wheel behave essentially like a controller so no real force feedback etc.
Looking around I think a G29 Logitech wheel to replace the Xbox360 one on the stand will work with GFN, but I will also have to get a mini PC to run GFN and Logitech hub software inorder to get forcefeed-back to work, it'll sit in the media unit where old Xbox current is. All I think the final bill will be around £300-400 depending on what I can pick up on eBay etc, but also will need a bit of faff setting up etc.
The aim is to essentially be able to play with the steering wheel in the media room, which has a projector and 5.1 surround that I can turn the volume up. I believe all the Logitech wheels are wired, so having the mini PC in the media unit will allow me to run a not too long cable that can be hidden in the media unit when not in use, the wheel will be folded and stored away in a cupboard to keep SWBO happy.....
Having not really used a steering wheel for games for the last decade, is the faff/cost worth it versus the controller?? I suspect I know the answer, but just trying to justify some man-maths before the PayPal account gets put into action
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Looking around I think a G29 Logitech wheel to replace the Xbox360 one on the stand will work with GFN, but I will also have to get a mini PC to run GFN and Logitech hub software inorder to get forcefeed-back to work, it'll sit in the media unit where old Xbox current is. All I think the final bill will be around £300-400 depending on what I can pick up on eBay etc, but also will need a bit of faff setting up etc.
The aim is to essentially be able to play with the steering wheel in the media room, which has a projector and 5.1 surround that I can turn the volume up. I believe all the Logitech wheels are wired, so having the mini PC in the media unit will allow me to run a not too long cable that can be hidden in the media unit when not in use, the wheel will be folded and stored away in a cupboard to keep SWBO happy.....
Having not really used a steering wheel for games for the last decade, is the faff/cost worth it versus the controller?? I suspect I know the answer, but just trying to justify some man-maths before the PayPal account gets put into action
. Interesting. What sort of PC do you need for GFN? I currently don’t have a PC/Laptop so getting a gaming PC past the wife might be a challenge!
As for wheels. It’s a personal thing I suppose. I first tried one many years ago on the PS2 with Gran Turismo but I didn’t gel with it. Years later I got a Thrustmaster T300 setup first for my Xbox and then my PS5.
I find they add a bit more immersion and can make the experience more fun.
It can be an arms race and there’s always something bigger better and more expensive around the corner but honestly the T300 does well for what it is and if you can find a cheap one on eBay it’s not going to break the bank
As for wheels. It’s a personal thing I suppose. I first tried one many years ago on the PS2 with Gran Turismo but I didn’t gel with it. Years later I got a Thrustmaster T300 setup first for my Xbox and then my PS5.
I find they add a bit more immersion and can make the experience more fun.
It can be an arms race and there’s always something bigger better and more expensive around the corner but honestly the T300 does well for what it is and if you can find a cheap one on eBay it’s not going to break the bank
24lemons said:
Interesting. What sort of PC do you need for GFN?
Essentially anything that can run Chrome, but on Windows and Mac there is proper Application which I think will be needed for Steering wheel support. I'm currently running GFN via Shield TV but I cannot see Android software been able to support force-feedback etc but no exact details are out yet on how GFN will support the wheel.The report from the tech demo that was done earlier this week seem to suggest it was running off a miniPC, with Logitech wheel support provided by the Logitech Game Hub. So I plan on getting a £100 ex corporate HP mini desktop off eBay -> Ethernet connection/HDMI into projector ->Wire wheel/controller
Other option is to run GFN off the old Mac with the MetaQuest 3 as the display than wired wheel, but it might be more faff than just having a dedicated mini PC in the media wall.
Sensible thing is to wait for GFN to release the wheel support and try it, who knows maybe even the Xbox Wheel might work as I do have a USB dongle for it somewhere, but I'm impatient
. Edited by gangzoom on Friday 22 August 13:04
Dave. said:
Even with a really short ping, remote playing driving sims is gonna be pretty difficult is it not?
I’ve had no issues but I’m gaming for fun not as a ‘pro’. I’ve done quite a few 30-45 min races in Le Mans Ultimate with the controller versus AI. The racing is just fun, had a quick race around Spa last night in the Lexus (easiest to drive car for me), AI set to 90%, about 4-5 laps of battling in a group for 3rd, had a good run right behind the Corvette out of Eau Rouge, but I overcooked it heading into complex just before Blanchimont and ran wide, than tried to cover off what I knew was coming. But the AI cars in Le Mans takes no prisoners so the Merc behind gave me a nudge and the Aston behind had a lovely view of me just before I ended up pointing the wrong way, 20 minutes of concentration thrown away in a split second I would love to blame latency for my bad driving, but instead I’m blaming the controller……
My impatience also got the better off me, this lot should arrive in time for the September updates to GFN is released, cannot wait. But watching YouTube videos on steering wheel setups show it’s clearly much more faff to setup than a controller but hopefully once setup, the routine of jumping in should be quite quick.
https://youtu.be/Rv1Ecz0J8vk?si=B2oIiu5y4HlUTqdT
This an interesting take on the latest press event about GFN, Nvidia is clearly getting very confident with what they can offer with this tech, BETTER experience than local physical install appears to be their push!!!
https://www.tomsguide.com/gaming/nvidia-geforce-no...
https://www.eurogamer.net/nvidias-ps5-pro-geforce-...
Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 23 August 07:50
I’m not familiar with GeForce Now but a wheel and pedal set is a must for racing sims. For something like Forza Horizon which isn’t designed to be hardcore a controller will be fine, but a wheel really is so much better in the likes of Assetto Corsa, Automobilista 2, Le Mans Ultimate, F1 25 etc.
A Logitech G920 or the like is a good entry point but a decent direct drive wheel is even more immersive
A Logitech G920 or the like is a good entry point but a decent direct drive wheel is even more immersive
I’m surprised more people on here haven’t got steering wheels setup given its PHs. The original Shield controller didn’t come with rumble so I switched it out for the later version with rumble which makes some difference, so looking forwards to the wheel.
Interms of the controller I’m getting on OK, can do 30-40 minute sessions on GT3 cars without too much issue, getting my head around virtual energy and changing ABS/TC settings during the race has taken up more getting use too!!
Interms of the controller I’m getting on OK, can do 30-40 minute sessions on GT3 cars without too much issue, getting my head around virtual energy and changing ABS/TC settings during the race has taken up more getting use too!!
G25 is done, so I either stay with Logitech and get a 920 as I have basically spare bits for it, or bite the bullet and go DD!
Trouble is I love my shifter, and they are silly money on DD wheels, but I only use it in one game.
Looking at 500 for entry level Fanatec, but there is a Chinese knock off replica almost t4ye same for 400, anyone tried them? Can't remember the brand.
Trouble is I love my shifter, and they are silly money on DD wheels, but I only use it in one game.
Looking at 500 for entry level Fanatec, but there is a Chinese knock off replica almost t4ye same for 400, anyone tried them? Can't remember the brand.
So spent Friday night faffing with the eBay purchase, the good news, the G932 fits the WheelStandpro with no issues. Folds away nicely in the cupboard and fitting the £80 ex-corporate HP pc into the mediawall was easy, including getting all software to run.
Bad news was the GeForce Now app I don't think has been updated to recognise wheel support
......but than I realised the wheel is Xbox compatible, so loaded up F1 2024 on the Xbox One and even my daughter joined in .
Only had enough time in evening for a dozen laps or so around Spa. I now understand why the 'pro' sim racer talk about these things been 'physical', the peak torque on the 932 I think is only 2NW versus 9NW on the direct drive one, even so I could feel it my arms!!
The Xbox One also really isn't a 4K capable machine despite the advertising. I've been spoilt by GFN been able to run any game max setting with no slow downs in 4K. F1 2024 on the Xbox One projected up to 100inch screen looks really disappointing. Hopefully the GeForceNow update to enable wheel support will come sooner rather than later, otherwise I'll have an excuse to upgrade the One to a S/X series.
Bad news was the GeForce Now app I don't think has been updated to recognise wheel support
......but than I realised the wheel is Xbox compatible, so loaded up F1 2024 on the Xbox One and even my daughter joined in .Only had enough time in evening for a dozen laps or so around Spa. I now understand why the 'pro' sim racer talk about these things been 'physical', the peak torque on the 932 I think is only 2NW versus 9NW on the direct drive one, even so I could feel it my arms!!
The Xbox One also really isn't a 4K capable machine despite the advertising. I've been spoilt by GFN been able to run any game max setting with no slow downs in 4K. F1 2024 on the Xbox One projected up to 100inch screen looks really disappointing. Hopefully the GeForceNow update to enable wheel support will come sooner rather than later, otherwise I'll have an excuse to upgrade the One to a S/X series
.Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 30th August 00:16
Got some decent time in this weekend with the new wheel setup (along with swapping out the old Xbox One for a series X). Ended up finding the sofa to the best position. With the projector running, and sound turned up it really does deliver a totally different experience to using just the controller. Even Project Car 2 feels great with the wheel (and looks fab) despite been 8 years old now. Infact compared to Forza (2 years old game) and F1 2024 (barely 1 years old), the in-game driving view looks hardly any different!!
I don't know why I didn't try a wheel earlier, it does feel like these days gaming can really deliver an experience at home that's as good as in any arcade or other setup!! Great news for us gamers not so good news for family time management at home.
I don't know why I didn't try a wheel earlier, it does feel like these days gaming can really deliver an experience at home that's as good as in any arcade or other setup!! Great news for us gamers not so good news for family time management at home
.Edited by gangzoom on Monday 1st September 07:36
Whatever you do, don't let the fov police see those photos 
Although I think you struggle to find a calculator that'll have that size screen, and if you sit at the "correct" distance from it, I imagine it would be pretty unbearable.
Have a search for fov calculator and see if it improves things.
Although I think you struggle to find a calculator that'll have that size screen, and if you sit at the "correct" distance from it, I imagine it would be pretty unbearable.
Have a search for fov calculator and see if it improves things.
Edited by Dave. on Monday 1st September 08:24
Dave. said:
Whatever you do, don't let the fov police see those photos
So I Googled it, I think I understand the reasoning but not sure I really know what I'm doing. Default FOV in F1 2024
FOV set to online suggestion, I note the steering wheel size perspective wise is now much more aligned. In game it did feel more immersive, but TBH I'm not that fussed
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FOV, Steering wheel or not, DiRT 2.0 is still damn hard, and it really does feel like a proper work out after doing a near 10 minute stage including some air time!!! Overall very happy with the setup, I just need NVidia now to get on with it and include wheel support in GFN!!!
It's more so you get the correct perspective (probably not the correct word) as you're driving/moving/pivoting around the axis of the car, rather than feeling like you're sat in the back seat. Helps with immersion and feels like you're more in control of the car.... apparently....
The way mine is set up, I'm quite far back from a 47in (iirc) TV, but if I set the fov "correctly", I have naff all peripheral vision so leave if at the default.
I keep toying with a V2 of my setup, but that would mean even less time using it.
On the subject of Dirt 2, I tried it for 10mins and felt pretty ill during/after, never did go back in to play with the settings to see if it made any difference.
The way mine is set up, I'm quite far back from a 47in (iirc) TV, but if I set the fov "correctly", I have naff all peripheral vision so leave if at the default.
I keep toying with a V2 of my setup, but that would mean even less time using it.
On the subject of Dirt 2, I tried it for 10mins and felt pretty ill during/after, never did go back in to play with the settings to see if it made any difference.
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