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Logitech introduces first Wireless Force Feedback Wheel for Wii: Speed Force (pics)

D

Dash Kappei

Not actually that important
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/172/4976&&cl=us,en


EUROPEAN and NORTH AMERICAN release date: November 7th
Suggested retail price: Europe €79, North America $99USD




Logitech's PR said:
FREMONT, Calif. — Aug. 21, 2008 — To give you a more realistic driving experience on your Wii™, Logitech (SWX: LOGN) (NASDAQ: LOGI) today announced the Logitech® Speed Force Wireless™ racing wheel – the first force feedback wheel for the popular gaming platform. Licensed by Nintendo, Logitech’s newest force feedback wheel works with Electronic Arts’ Need for Speed™ Undercover and paves the way for more force feedback racing titles on the Wii console.

“We’re excited to team up with Nintendo and Electronic Arts to bring driving realism to the Wii and Need for Speed Undercover,” said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech’s director of product marketing for gaming. “Logitech has been at the forefront of force feedback technology for more than a decade, and we’re confident that our driving platform will be an indispensable part of the racing experience on Wii as more titles that support it become available.”

“As the world’s most popular racing franchise, Need for Speed is committed to delivering players superior racing experiences,” said Larry LaPierre, Vice President at Black Box, developer of Need for Speed. “This November, Wii gamers can fully experience the thrill of the chase in Need for Speed Undercover with Logitech’s force feedback realism.”

Easy to set up and store, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless features a one-piece design that is convenient to use whether you’re sitting on your couch, arm chair or living room floor. The built-in gas and brake controls are located on the wheel itself and the expandable lap rest is easily adjusted – allowing for comfortable game play without the need to use a table or a desk. Plus, familiar Wii controls make navigating game menus a snap.

To help you minimize clutter, the Logitech Speed Force Wireless eliminates the console cable. With Logitech’s 2.4 GHz wireless technology, you can enjoy lag-free racing from up to 30 feet away from the console. To start racing, just connect the USB receiver to the Wii console, plug in the wheel’s power cord, put in Need for Speed: Undercover, adjust the lap rest to a comfortable position and wait for the race to begin. There’s no mounting or assembly involved. And when you’re ready to put it away, the USB receiver can be stowed in a convenient compartment on the bottom of the wheel.
Click to expand...

more pics thanks to www.nextgame.it


Honestly I don't know what to make of this... the jury is still out for me, waiting to see more titles supporting it and what it can really add to the games' experience, I'm not sold on the whole "missing pedals" thing, hopefully it means a fantastic build quality for the wheel itself and great force feedback since I suppose all the money went there ;)
 
G

Grayman

Member
is that a lap wheel?


"“As the world’s most popular racing franchise, Need for Speed"
NFS sold more than 50 million units in the last 10 years?

oh damn it has
 
D

DDayton

(more a nerd than a geek)
Weird... I'd think it would be CHEAPER to use the Wii Remote... or is there some weird issue with that in this case?
 
D

Dash Kappei

Not actually that important
Farnack said:
wah no pedals? How do you go forward?
Click to expand...

Instead of gears shifting (which you could do with the D-pad):

wiiwheel286.jpg


Also I'd say:

A Button to go
D-Pad/Buttons to brake

or something :)
 
A

Azure J

Member
If that really uses the motion tech within the Wii remotes, I can't see this going well for Logitech. Remember what happened to Nyko and the wireless nunchuck?

Also, am I the only one digging that SNES button layout for no real reason? :lol
 
J

Jaded Alyx

Member
AzureJericho said:
If that really uses the motion tech within the Wii remotes, I can't see this going well for Logitech. Remember what happened to Nyko and the wireless nunchuck?
Click to expand...

No, this is licensed by Nintendo.
 
D

DDayton

(more a nerd than a geek)
Jaded Alyx said:
Well for one, the Wii Remote doesn't have Force Feedback.
Click to expand...

The thing is, it SHOULD be possible to have the wheel simply use a Wii remote to transfer data between the system and the wheel... my only guess now is that Nintendo "hard coded" a variety of communication profiles in/with the remote, and the wheel would send more data than the standard profile/protocol easily allows... or at a higher frequency... or the Wii Remote doesn't do as well for receiving data.

None of that makes sense, though.
 
D

drohne

hyperbolically metafictive
hm, i wonder if i could mod this to disable the force feedback functionality, then disable all the other functionality, remove the wheel from its base, lodge the wiimote therein, and then use it as the kind of purely imaginary peripheral that discerning wii owners expect. it takes some companies time to learn to swim in the blue ocean!
 
M

miyuru

Member
drohne said:
hm, i wonder if i could mod this to disable the force feedback functionality, then disable all the other functionality, remove the wheel from its base, lodge the wiimote therein, and then use it as the kind of purely imaginary peripheral that discerning wii owners expect. it takes some companies time to learn to swim in the blue ocean!
Click to expand...

:lol
 
D

DDayton

(more a nerd than a geek)
drohne said:
hm, i wonder if i could mod this to disable the force feedback functionality, then disable all the other functionality, remove the wheel from its base, lodge the wiimote therein, and then use it as the kind of purely imaginary peripheral that discerning wii owners expect. it takes some companies time to learn to swim in the blue ocean!
Click to expand...

You sound ...
Wii Bitter (tm)
 
B

bdouble

Member
Dash Kappei said:
LOL, that would be awesome
well, probably not
Click to expand...

Yeah I saw this suggestion saying it might work but some pedals would be much better. I need the feedback or they are worthless. Hope they can just release some wireless ones separately.

Would the Wiimotes lack of any analog inputs be a problem for this? (one thing I hate about the Z and B buttons. They should be digital click like the GC controller)

edit: I guess GC pad support rules ^^ that out :\
 
F

Farnack

Banned
rezuth said:
A button I guess.
Click to expand...
That would make absolutely no sense.

It defies real world conventions. You really can't turn a wheel and focus on what should be pedal work using your thumb, and it doesn't even look like you can really reach those face buttons that well.
 
D

Danthrax

Batteries the CRISIS!
Farnack said:
That would make absolutely no sense.

It defies real world conventions. You really can't turn a wheel and focus on what should be pedal work using your thumb, and it doesn't even look like you can really reach those face buttons that well.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the gas and brake pedals are on the wheel and you use your non-thumb fingers to press them. Look at this underneath shot:

wiiwheel286.jpg


See those little pedalish things underneath there? Yeah. Those.
 
V

Verve

Member
Strider2K99 said:
Don't even have a Wii, I was just wondering. :D
Click to expand...

ah, ok.. for explanation:
you need to waggle to do tricks in control schemes with the wiimote.

I have a nice, not quite cheap glass tv tray... don't want to waggle the wheel on it :lol
 
T

TurtleSnatcher

Member
Danthrax said:
I'm pretty sure the gas and brake pedals are on the wheel and you use your non-thumb fingers to press them. Look at this underneath shot:

wiiwheel286.jpg


See those little pedalish things underneath there? Yeah. Those.
Click to expand...

You must not know about cars too well :p

Those would be paddle shifters.
 
P

PuppetSlave

Member
A possible solution to the pedal problem could be full throttle all the time.

No The sad truth is probably buttons and that makes this wheel more or less useless
 
D

dk_

Member
Danthrax said:
I'm pretty sure the gas and brake pedals are on the wheel and you use your non-thumb fingers to press them. Look at this underneath shot:

wiiwheel286.jpg


See those little pedalish things underneath there? Yeah. Those.
Click to expand...
:lol :lol :lol
 
R

Ramenman

Member
How awesome is that, a publisher actually used some currency converter for his Euro price. Must be a typo or something.
 
R

Relaxed Muscle

Member
Frankfurter said:
Let me guess.... it just would have made too much sense to ... uh, have a force feedback wheel with pedals, right? :/
Click to expand...

Pedals is like buttons and the second stick: so last gen....

Balance board is the future....
 
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