*phew*......*wipes sweat off forehead*
Just typed up a long post over at the Bizarre forums letting Ben and Alan know that I have changed my tune regarding wanting FF in PGR3. Here's a copy of the post:
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ATTENTION BIZARRE AND ALL OTHER MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!! LISTEN TO ME VERY CAREFULLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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What I'm about to say may shock you!!!!!!!
After doing some re-thinking and pondering, I have come to the realization that having force feedback in PGR3 is
NO LONGER important to me. I am having second thoughts about the importance of FF in regards to this specific game. Let me explain:
There are two other racing games that I am planning on investing a
VERY significant amount of time in. These games are Ridge Racer 6 for Xbox 360 and OutRun: Coast 2 Coast for the Xbox 1, which has all but been offically confimed as a 2006 release.
I have been making a diligent effort to try and find out if RR6 will contain force feedback drivers, but so far I have every reason to believe that like PGR3, it will not. A steering wheel for the Xbox 360 was shown at the Namco booth at TGS by Hori. Here is a pic:
Now....judging from the size of that wheel alone, I can say with almost 100% certainty that this is a
non-FF wheel, and will work with all X360 games but with rumble only. This fact has me convinced that RR6 will not contain FF.
Then there is OutRun Coast 2 Coast. Coast 2 Coast will be coming out next year on Xbox 1. That being the case, it will most likely
not have force feedback either, just as every other Xbox 1 game(including OutRun 2)
This means we will have three of my favorite racing games...PGR3, RR6 and Coast 2 Coast without FF support. Now tell me....why would I want Bizarre to implement force feedback in PGR3, while the other two games won't have it? It would mean that I would actually have to buy
TWO steering wheels...one with FF...and one without, and swap between them everytime I want to play a different game. Doesn't make sense.
So what I've decided the best solution to be, is to go ahead and buy the ECCI Trackstar 6000GT wheel. This is a non-ff USB wheel that is nothing short of SUPERB!! Let me give you guys a list of some of the features of this mamoth beast!!
**TOP QUALITY STEERING WHEELS AND CUSTOM COVER GRAPHICS
The TRACKSTAR 6000 features a two-tone leather steering wheel 13-1/2 inches in diameter. The wheel features black perforated leather in the grip area with a white colored vinyl accent material at the top and bottom. The wheel sports an ergonomic shape with swells at the ten and two O'clock hand positions. This standard wheel provides highly balanced performance suitable for both oval track and tight lock-to-lock road course racing. Click here for more information
**FLDS - FLUID DAMPED STEERING
Standard equipment on the 6000GT and 6000GTS, ECCI's renowned Fluid Damped Steering system provides velocity sensitive steering resistance that emulates the effect of tires on pavement. Unlike many lesser driving controls, springs are not providing the primary resistance force. The result is incomparable stability, yet offering the driver the ability to make quick subtle corrections in steering line. Click here for more information
**MONOPOINT II - STEERING RESISTANCE SYSTEM
The new Monopoint II resistance system offers unsurpassed control over steering resistance characteristics. The cam and ball bearing drive provides a non-linear profile to wheel tension with a light smooth feel through center and progressive resistance towards the limits. Tuning parameters include: steering lock to lock; overall spring tension; fine adjustment of centering preload; and relative balance between spring and damping effect. Click here for more information
**STATE-OF-THE-ART SHIFT PADDLE SET
Engineered to provide quick, positive shifting function, ECCI's behind-the-wheel paddles are contoured to match the steering wheel and built to last. With unmatched durability, and the unprecedented precision of zero mechanical slop, ECCI's paddles are so advanced that many sets have been sold to "real world" racers looking to adopt a semi-automatic gear shift system. Click here for more information
**USB SUPPORT AND HIGH PRECISION ELECTRONICS
For the first time ECCI offers integrated USB control interface. Joystick port versions are still available if desired. Newly developed for the TRACKSTAR 6000, ECCI's new, high performance "racing" potentiometers offer even better control precision than previous versions. They are developed in collaboration with a major manufacturer of precision electronic components for the specific purpose of achieving ultra accurate, ultra smooth control. Our new high performance potentiometers provide the smoothest available control precision, yet retain a lengthy service life.
**NEW SECURE DESK CLAMP
The TRACKSTAR 6000 was designed to be more compact than previous ECCI systems. The unit consumes 25% less desktop space than the CDS4000. The front portion of the chassis is cantilevered nearly 4 inches forward of the desktop edge. To stay put during strenuous racing, the 6000 utilizes a new clamping mechanism that secures the steering unit to the desktop. Ultra rigid, yet shock absorbing to avoid damage to the desktop, even during the most aggressive of racing sessions.
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308399
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308398
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308397
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308396
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308395
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308393
http://forum.rscnet.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=308392
http://ecci6000.com/images/6000_11_m.jpg
As you can see, this is a no-nonsense steering wheel and is built for serious hardcore simheads! Being that I cannot stand shitty $100 plastic console wheels that break in a month after heavy use, it is only fitting that I purchase one of these puppies.
Here's a small snippet of a conversation I had with the developer of the Trackstar 6000 wheel regarding force feedback:
We have prototyped FFB wheels since 1999... only to find during testing the FLDS system was superior in quality of experience and absolute control. There will always be those who will demand FFB out of a conviction that it must be better. We have chosen to leave such products to others.
Isamu, BRD is free to "show us how its done"... but we have already "done it" and backed away for numerous reasons. I imagine they might be the same ones that have kept BRD from actually releasing their years-long-ago-promised FFB wheel. Anyone can purchase a couple of prototype sets of hardware components from Immersion at a reasonable cost. Putting a product into production given exorbitant licensing costs despite numerous unsolved problems is another matter. ECCI has been ready since 1999, when the first 4000 series was released, to incorporate FFB technology. Our rotary fluid damper was designed from the beginning to be interchangeable with a servo motor. But we have as of yet to test a FFB implementation that we believe most people would accept at a price point a minimum of 1/3 higher than our current pricing. One can buy a sub-$100 wheel and live with its flaws. But if one pays $1500 to 2000 and expects a level of performance excellence reflecting that price... one would be very disappointed. And the reasons for this are entirely out of our control.
P.S. Please do not E-mail ECCI about FFB questions. Such E-mails will not be responded to. We are too busy serving customers to argue about FFB. Please post such comments here instead and I will respond as I can.
Not saying I agree 100% with him, but he certainly has a point, given that most console games don't even contain the technology.
This is not etched in stone, but what I plan on doing, is having someone mod the Trackstar wheel to work with the 360 and Xbox 1. This way, I can use it on PC games, Xbox 1 games, and 360 games. Everything about this wheel indicates that it is FUCKING AWESOME! I have been monitoring it and it's owners on the RSC forums for a long time and ALL of them are happy campers(at $1500-$2000 you better be!)
But that's not all....just because I won't have ff in my wheel doesn't mean I won't have any tactile feedback
at all. If all goes according to plan, I will have someone take the rumble signal from all 360 and Xbox 1 games, and transfer it to the
*iVibe seat*. I will place two iVibe seats under my racing frame, so that it shakes the whole frame during any kind of rumble from the game. This would be much harder with true force feedback signals because of the type of motor that the signals drive. A rumble signal would suit the iVibe seat much more.
Anyway I say all this to say to Ben and Alan: IT'S O.K.!!!!! NEVERMIND!!!! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PUT FF IN PGR3!!! Ridge Racer 6 will most likely not have it, and I know
damn well Coast 2 Coast won't have it....so having it in PGR3 would prove more of an nuisance than a benefit.
Honestly guys....all I ask is that you code the game so that it contains a control algorithm that adapts well to analog steering control. Good analog steering support is much
MUCH more important than force feedback. Good analog steering and good analog pedal support will be enough for me!!!! O.K.??? :randr:
Oh and one last
very important thing....
Bizarre, listen to me very carefully:
please please
*********P-L-E-A-S-E*************
.....allow us to map each control function to any button we wish on our pad or wheel. This was
SADLY missing from PGR2! I do not want to get into a situation where I am stuck having the e-brake assigned to some silly out of reach button on my wheel. Instead of pre-set configurations like A, B, C, D, E, etc, please let us assign them on the fly anywhere we wish! And if you're feeling
really generous, how about allowing us to map each indivisual gear to any button we want for us manual transmission users! :mrgreen: :lol: :cheers:
Thanks in advance for listening
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Only time will tell
