- Wheel controllers 3 advantages!!!
- Six Steering wheel controller recommendations!!!!
- ◇No.1 -- So much power you can't turn it!!!! Thrustmaster T150
- ◇No.2 --The Logitech G29, a classic product that changed the conventional wisdom of the Wheel.
- ◇No.3 -- If you are looking for a high-end product, the LogicoolG steering wheel controller G923
- ◇No.4 -- First, let's find out just how much fun these wheel controllers can be! PXN 180° steering controller V3IIB
- ◇No.5 -- This is us, this is wheel controller!!! now the most standard is Thrustmaster T300
- ◇No. 6 -- Thrustmaster's new middle-end version!!! thrustmaster T248
- Should I buy separate pedals? What's better?
- Comparing Fanatec ClubSport V3 Pedals and Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals！！！
- Other small tricks around the wheel controller!!
- ◇The chair is moving! →Replacing casters
- ◇Clamps are broken! →Clamp screw replacement
- ◇The clamp is even more broken！！！！ →Recoil.
- ◇The wheel still moves a little! →Replace the rubber.
- ◇The meters are hard to see! →Simhub
- ◇My computer is running too slow! →Electric duster.
- ◇The game doesn't support my wheel controller! →Use x360ce
- Summary
Wheel controllers 3 advantages!!!
A steering wheel controller is a peripheral, not a game itself. The fact that they are quite expensive makes you hesitate to buy one, doesn't it?
What are the advantages of a steering wheel over an usual controller or keyboard operation?
※for japanese これは英語で書かれている記事なのである。日本育ちなら多分以下のページの方が読みやすいだろう。
◇Advantage No. 1 - it's a lot of fun!!!
Anyway, turning the handlebars and running is just one word: fun. Of course, it is one of the joys of setting a record, but operating the car with the steering wheel and watching the scenery around you flow by is a very enjoyable task in itself.
◇Advantage No. 2 - time increases!!!
Of course, the wheel controller also improves the record.
With an analogue controller, it is too difficult to drive through high-speed corners with many subtle curves.
The reason why you always crash on high speed courses and your times are not improving is because you have a problem with the "fineness" of the controller.
👆wheels have pedals, of course. If you can use your left foot to slow down a little bit when you are going into a high-speed corner too fast and not turning, you will be able to improve your time.
◇Advantage No. 3 -It's a pretty good excercise!!!!!
Because the wheel is naturally operated by moving the whole body, it is a surprisingly good exercise. In particular, the throttle operation of the feet and legs provides exercise for the toes and other parts of the body. You can keep fit and health while playing the game.
Furthermore, recently there are many handicap controls with a function called force feedback, which will be introduced later, which makes the steering wheel heavier in response to the situation. Not only can you enjoy a realistic feeling, but your body will feel warm as you turn it as hard as you can.
Six Steering wheel controller recommendations!!!!
Have you got the benefits of a steering wheel controller?
Let's take a look at the recommended products right awaaaay!!!
◇No.1 -- So much power you can't turn it!!!! Thrustmaster T150
In conclusion, the Thrustmaster T150 is the best in terms of price and functionality. It's a little short on features for the pro gamer, but just enough for holiday fun. It also has super-strong force feedback for a realistic driving feel.
In the end, the reason I bought the t300 , a higher-end version of the t150, and now i mainly use t300 was also because the t150 was soooooo good!!!!
◇No.2 --The Logitech G29, a classic product that changed the conventional wisdom of the Wheel.
It is the easiest to use. The key point of Logitech is that the operation programme is still carefully crafted. I also use Logitech for my headphones and mouse, and I never have any trouble using them. This middle-end type is the best choice when you want to use it right away without any hassle.
The key recommendation is the force feedback. When vibration controllers first appeared in the past, we were amazed, but now it's not at that level. The feeling of turning the heavy steering wheel to change the direction of the vehicle is something I definitely want to experience while we are still alive.
◇No.3 -- If you are looking for a high-end product, the LogicoolG steering wheel controller G923
Logitech high-end type. Highly responsive and highly accurate for a much better racing experience than the middle end. Another highlight is the ease of adjusting the steering sensitivity and The LED indicators on the steering wheel show engine RPMs and other details that will surely boost your mood.
If you are a serious fan of racing games or just want the best driving experience, you should choose the best handhelds.
◇No.4 -- First, let's find out just how much fun these wheel controllers can be! PXN 180° steering controller V3IIB
Let me also introduce you to the entry type. It's not hard to see why people might be a little reluctant to spend more than 100$ on a game out of the blue. The PXN is the best controller for such people to start with.
In fact, this is the first one I bought myself.
👆Looking back, this was the first day I got hooked....
It's cheap, but perfectly compatible with PCs. I'd say it's easier to start using than the Stratomaster T150 if it's bad in that you can just plug it in and use it. There's basically no force feedback or anything like that, but there's plenty of vibration. The paddle shifters are also well equipped, making manual and sequential play easy. At the very least, the game will be more enjoyable than with an analogue controller.
The downside is that FFB is lacking, and the amount of steering wheel rotation is small (90° per side). At any rate, it's ideal for a fun-filled holiday.
◇No.5 -- This is us, this is wheel controller!!! now the most standard is Thrustmaster T300
This is an upgraded version of the T150 described above.
Which points are upgrades?
●The resolution of the steering wheel is higher and the response is more responsive.
●The settings programme is free from peculiarities.
●The wheel can be removed for easy customisation.
●The pedals are sturdier and made of metal.
●Almost all car games are supported.
●The steering wheel is also very compatible with mods such as the SimHub.
The first obvious thing to say is that the 'resolution' of the steering wheel is high. Roughly speaking, with the T150, it only reacted in 2% increments, "0%, 2%, 4%......", whereas with the T300, it was finer, "0%, 1%, 2%......". There is clearly a sense of being able to get a response.
The T300's start-up programme is also free from strange quirks: with the T150, there were times when it would sometimes not respond, or it would stop recognising without warning and I would have to reinstall or reinsert the USB cable.
👆Setting programme. you can change the amount of rudder angle (←40-1080˚ in 10˚ increments!) ) and the strength of the FFB can be changed!!!
👆 Opening. Another difference from the T150 is that the wheel is separate and can be removed.
👆 Body.
Can be customised with other wheels, sold separately.
👆Default wheel on the left, add-on on the right which is sold separately .
Furthermore, it can even be replaced with a modified steering wheel, for example, for ordinary cars, although this is not recommended by the manufacturer. This is what makes the T300 unique. (see below)
👆The installation of a wheel from the manufacturer MOMO (see below for method).
It is also different from the T150 in that the pedals included are also quite sturdy. It also comes with a clutch, so an h-shifter makes steering more enjoyable. The G29 is also a degree standard, so it is recommended that many games are compatible with it.
◇No. 6 -- Thrustmaster's new middle-end version!!! thrustmaster T248
This is another high-end type of Thrustmaster. And it is the most recent product with a launch date of 2 December 2021.
What makes it different from the T300 is that it has an LED display on the handle, which allows the user to check the RPM and feedback strength as appropriate. The T300 also has many buttons on the handle, making it very easy to use, which is also recommended.
The most important point is that, as it is the latest model, it has been perfected with the most feedback from customers and other feedback. On the other hand, it should be noted that the number of games that can be played with the newer models is reduced.
Should I buy separate pedals? What's better?
Thrustmaster sells a separate pedal called the T-LCM pedal.
-No, the pedal that comes by default (T3PA-GT pedal) is fine.
You would think. The separately sold pedals are about the same price as buying individual wheel controller, so for a long time I was hesitant to buy them because they were on my "buy later" list.
However, as soon as you are able to achieve a certain amount of time, you will feel the frustration of not being able to pedal properly. The day comes when you realise that you are clearly faster when you can adjust the so-called 'trail braking' and acceleration and deceleration more precisely.
And the default pedal (T3PA-GT), I'm not sure if it's dust or static electricity, but it sometimes seems to recognise that you've stepped on the pedal even though you haven't. Of course, you can take it apart and duster it, but if such symptoms occur, it's time to replace it in terms of your game skills.
👆 DiRT Rally 2.0 is a classic rally game. I couldn't turn these long corners in the Spanish stages at constant speed and was beginning to feel the difficulty of pedalling, when I saw a video of a good driver turning while maintaining 82 km/h while subtly opening and closing the accelerator, and finally put the T-LCM back in my cart from the 'buy later list'. It was.
👆arrived . The big box, the same size as a wheel set, undeniably made my heart flutter.
👆Opened. Comes with instructions and a spring to change the strength.
👆It is difficult to operate with the bag in place, so of course we took it out. Each pedal has a hole in it, but you can change the fastening position to make the pedal a little higher or a little sideways.
👆 Rear. The brake strength spring can be changed with a couple of minutes work.
👆Connection port. It's a bit hard to see, but you can connect to the Thrustmaster handheld from the included cable. In addition, if connected to a PC via a USB cable, pedal adjustments can be made from PC software and can also be used independently with another non-thrustmaster wheel.
●ThrustmasterT-LCMPedals
The first thing I called out when I tried it was "Yay! The first thing I called out when I tried it was "YAY!".
The common sales pitch for T-LCM pedals is that you can replace the force of the pedal with a spring. However, what I felt as a more concrete difference between the default pedal and the T-LCM pedal was the obvious difference in the recognition force and accuracy of the pedal.
The 'load cell', which electrically detects and displays force and mass, gives the feeling that it instantly reflects when the accelerator is at 80%, when it is at 90%, etc. (the default pedal is recognised by the amount of gear revolutions the pedal is depressed).
Simply put, with the default pedal, there was a feeling that the game recognised 80%, 90%, 100% and so on roughly, whereas with the T-LCM, it recognised 80%, 81%, 82% and so on in 1% increments, and this was instantaneously and clearly I was struck by the spectacular sensation that this was being conveyed to the game in a clear and instantaneous manner. This is what is called 'high resolution'.
As a result, it is possible to apply the brakes just a little, or half a brake, and so on. This allows for very precise driving manoeuvres. The game became even more interesting, not only because of the improved results in terms of time, but above all because the feeling of driving became stronger. This made the game even more interesting, thats why "YAY!!!"
cf.) What Is A Load Cell Sensor And How Does It Work? – Omega Engineering https://www.omega.com/en-us/resources/load-cells
Comparing Fanatec ClubSport V3 Pedals and Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals！！！
By the way, feeling the importance of pedals, I also bought Fanatec ClubSport V3 pedals.
This is a comparison after using both for several months.
◇Resolution and Load Cell
Regarding the resolution of both pedals, there is almost no difference between the V3 and T-LCM. Both have high resolution, allowing for precise operation. Moreover, both pedals employ load cell technology. A load cell is a sensor that converts load into an electrical signal, accurately measuring the force applied to the pedal.
By using a load cell, even if the brake pedal is not pressed deeply, the applied force is accurately conveyed. This makes it easy to apply full brakes instantly and smoothly operate light brakes. Load cell-type pedals easily convey the driver's intentions and provide a more realistic driving sensation.
◇Design and Structure
In terms of design, I feel that the Fanatec ClubSport V3 pedals excel. They feature high-quality aluminum pedal arms and a sturdy metal base, resulting in a highly refined design. On the other hand, while the T-LCM pedals are not bad, they do not match the V3 pedals in appearance and texture – Made in Germany indeed.
👆The back. It's a true Germany design where necessary materials are skillfully assembled. It feels like there's not a single unnecessary screw! However, since the greased parts are exposed, occasional maintenance is required. Lithium grease is included.
👆A vibration motor makes the pedal vibrate! However, the game must support this feature. In DiRT Rally, while the pedals are usable, they did not support vibration.
👆The back. You can connect directly to a PC from the part labeled "clubsport," and use it without a FANATEC steering wheel. All necessary cables are included.
👆Install the drivers. Adjusting the dead zone is intuitive and easy to change. If I were to be more demanding, it would have been even better if I could change the "sensitivity" settings (essentially making the initial input larger).
◇Comfort
While the T-LCM pedals do offer excellent responsiveness and fine resolution, there is an issue of foot discomfort due to the pedal form.
● Pedal Height
● Pedal Angle
● Distance Between Pedals
◦ Pedal Height
The V3 pedals have a pedal shape that is more adaptable to the driver's foot length and preference. Although the TLCM can be adjusted, it may feel a bit high.
👆 The design of the accelerator pedal's bottom surface is convenient. Sometimes you may want to step on the lower part when you get tired, right? Since the pedal isn't strangely uneven, you can step on it without moving your heel and sliding it. TLCM's pedal may get caught and require some force to press.
◦ Pedal Angle
The V3 pedals have an easy-to-adjust angle feature, allowing you to customize them according to your driving style and preference. Furthermore, the design ensures the pedal pressure doesn't change even when the angle is adjusted. This is due to the properly positioned spring.
The T-LCM pedals can also have their angle changed, but adjusting the angle may cause the pedal pressure to change slightly. The pedal spring is positioned directly where the force is applied, causing the pedal to be accurately pressed only from specific angles. In this regard, the V3 pedals offer superior comfort.
👆 Can you see how the spring is attached oddly low? This position is actually excellent. It's difficult to explain well, but when the spring is attached higher on the pedal, it becomes difficult to press if not pressed from above that position. With the TLCM, when the pedal angle is changed, it feels like the spring isn't properly engaged, making your foot more prone to fatigue.
Additionally, the rod inside the spring can be inserted deeper or moved closer, allowing you to change the length of the rod, which in turn adjusts the depth at which you press the accelerator pedal. It's hard to put into words, so please watch the video.
◇Distance between pedals
Furthermore, it's not impossible to adjust the distance between the V3 pedals. Although it's not fundamentally possible and not recommended by the manufacturer, I was able to remove the clutch by unscrewing and disassembling it, then move the brake to that position.
👆Here's a video of someone disassembling their pedals. This person is an expert who made their own pipe to fix the pedal position. While it's true that making one yourself is ideal, I was able to securely fix the pedals using the existing pipes. In other words, I left the rear side of the rod without a pipe, making it loose, and tightly packed the front side of the rod with pipes to fix it in place.
👆This image shows the back part of the pipe being forcibly brought to the front. Personally, I find this very helpful. It completely eliminates the tightness in the crotch area during play, making my legs less tired.
When you remove the clutch, using left foot braking allows the driver to keep their legs apart, enabling a more natural driving posture. If you don't use the clutch pedal, you can widen the gap between the brake and accelerator pedals, allowing for even more comfortable operation. There are some people who use a stand for their steering wheel controller that has a pole between their legs, but even then, being able to separate the accelerator and brake is convenient.
Thanks to these improvements, the Fanatec ClubSport V3 pedals are comfortable to use even for extended periods. The flexibility to accommodate various drivers' preferences is a major appeal of these pedals.
◇There are also drawbacks
However, when compared to the TLCM, there are some disadvantages. These include a higher price, not being available for purchase from places like Amazon, and requiring more maintenance. Additionally, if you are using a Thrustmaster steering wheel controller, the convenience of being able to directly connect it to the wheel is slightly better. Occasionally, there are games that don't recognize the wheel and pedals separately.
Considering such factors together might help you make a better decision.
Other small tricks around the wheel controller!!
When you work with wheel controller equipment every day, various things can break down. This section introduces maintenance methods for such emergency situations.
※the products presented this section are from the Japanese Amazon. I am sure there are similar products on Amazon in your country, so look for them.
◇The chair is moving! →Replacing casters
When you are a beginner, it may not be a problem yet, but gradually you may start to worry about the chair moving backwards when you pedal.
In particular, there is a technique called left foot braking, which involves lightly braking with the left foot while not easing off the accelerator. This technique is used to keep the engine revs low so that the car can exit a corner better, or in high speed corners where only a little braking is required.
However, the moment both feet are on the pedal, the chair moves backwards as a matter of nature, as the ass takes full responsibility for holding on to the spot. Conversely, because the chair moves, the brakes cannot be applied as much as desired.
This is why the castors need to be replaced.
●AKRacing twin wheel casters with stoppers
👆The caster was replaced. The caster can be removed simply by pulling. The diameter of the connection point is 11 mm. Basic casters tend to be implicitly standardised regardless of manufacturer. I have an Okamura (←Japanese usual chair maker) desk chair, which is perfectly normal, and I was able to use 11 mm casters. If you are unsure, take the current castors off and check with a ruler.
👆 switch stops the wheels from turning; just lowering three of the five castors will hold them in place quite stiffly. It is also significant that you can easily move the chair again when you are not playing games. This is because fully fixed casters can cause back pain.
👆In fact, I first bought one with fully fixed casters, but it was a big mistake because I couldn't easily move the chair while I was working, which doubled the strain on my back and eventually caused me to suffer from back pain. If you use your chair for other purposes as well, buy functional and durable casters from the beginning, even if they are a bit expensive, to avoid mistakes.
◇Clamps are broken! →Clamp screw replacement
When you are not using a stand for wheels, how you fix it is a very important issue. The clamps can shift during games due to force.
Of course, a clamp is fitted by default, which is fine, but if you turn the clamp too hard, the threads can be crushed. You can replace it with this clamp lever from good maker. The screws are firm and of good quality.
●TCMR10-80
The "M10" refers to the diameter of the screw (M for mm). The T300 can go with M10, but for other wheel, check the size of the screw with a ruler or something.
👆it's soooo gooood!!!!
◇The clamp is even more broken！！！！ →Recoil.
The male screw can be easily replaced in the way described above, but the female screw is not so easy.
Female screws can also be regenerated by means of recoiling. This is not a small trick, but a big one. It was quite a difficult task, which is why I wrote about it in a separate article.
👆sorry, Japanese article. But If this page which you see now is popular in foreign country, this japanese article will be also in English. so please promote my article often on Twitter etc.
● [Taiando] Recoil kit (M10 x P1.5)
◇The wheel still moves a little! →Replace the rubber.
The cause of the movement of the hankon is also related to the problem of the rubber part. In the default state, the rubber is attached with double-sided tape, so it is natural that it will come off soon. In such cases, use instant adhesive.
If the rubber is still stupid, we recommend using this sheet to rubberise the entire bottom surface.
●Hinode non-slip sheet, grey, 19cmx27.5cm, set of 4.
👆 The packaging is undeniably cheaply finished, but the product inside looks good. If this and the clamps are tight, they should be fairly immobile.
👆 The rubber with the clamp is scraped off with a design knife or similar. If you cover the holes with masking tape to prevent powder from getting inside, you are now a professional.
👆It may be a good idea to further widen the area where the rubber contacts the desk. Remove the bumps on the bottom by sanding to make it perfectly smooth.
👆Okay. Now increase the adhesive strength of the double-sided tape and
👆 stick it on and cut off the excess. But it was just about perfect with just one sheet, as if it was made for wheel controller.
◇The meters are hard to see! →Simhub
This is not really related to wheel, but the meters in car games are generally hard to see because they are located in the bottom right-hand corner.
In such cases, it is recommended to use Simhub to create a meter. A suitable HUD is distributed by the race department website.
SimHub, DIY Sim Racing Dash and Hardware – Bring Your Sim Racing Rig To Life
If you know how to make one, you can make one that allows you to see the gear, tachometer and speed clearly. I'll probably write about how to make one here soon, so check back from time to time.
👆I have been researching for over a year and have come to the point where I can make a HUD of a higher quality than the ones that are distributed anymore.
◇My computer is running too slow! →Electric duster.
When playing car games, it is the processing drop that is the most frightening. In car games, processing failures are the time drop. Especially in summer, PCs are prone to thermal runaway.
The best way is to buy a new PC, but it is not easy to buy a new PC.
The recommendation is not to buy a new PC or console, but to buy an air duster and CPU grease. The most important thing to do is to clean the PC thoroughly and replace the CPU cooler.
● Reesibi electric air duster.
👆This is super good! The airflow is sufficient and it doesn't run out like the can type, so you have to clean more often. I can even say that it has fundamentally changed my 'cleaning philosophy'. I also appreciate the attachment with a brush. Incidentally, it is also useful for removing dust from plastic modelling files.
●CPU grease MX-4/MX-5 grease
CPU grease is grease that is applied to the contact parts of the cooler and CPU. It is probably not surprising that if this dries out, the cooler will not cool down, unless you are a self-builder.
There are many different types of CPU grease on the market today, but the only difference is mainly the thermal conductivity, so basically any CPU grease can be used on any CPU. Therefore, the above products are reasonable in price and quality.
👆 Incidentally, graphic board also need to be cleaned and re-greased (but carefully, as some are difficult to disassemble).
It can be said that cleaning a PC regularly is even more important in gaming than maintaining a car. Especially when summer approaches, the graphics board is prone to high temperatures and such checks should be carried out often.
◇The game doesn't support my wheel controller! →Use x360ce
If you are using a PC, you can use the program x360ce to play any game with a wheel. Play all kinds of vehicles, from motorbike games to GTA and other FPS games, with a wheel controller!!!!!
👇For detailed instructions and how to do this, see separate article. Such as "MotoGP" series, how to play with a steering wheel, games that ONLY support gamepads???
Summary
👆T150. Some motorbike games can also be played with a wheel.
It is surprising that steering wheel games, which in the past were only available in game centres, can now be played for only a few tens of thousands of dollars. Furthermore, it is also recommended to use force feedback, which makes it harder or easier to turn the handlebars.
👆Da Vinci's notes also mention the wheel controller.
If you're on the fence, the Stratomaster T150 is the best choice for you right now, as it's a little harder to install and the price is kept low by not advertising as much.
