Logitech Announces New Racing Wheel for PC

[ldi222]

With all the E3 maddness, I havent seen this notable Logitech (http://www.logitech.com/) announcement mentioned.

Today at the Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3), Logitech unveiled its most advanced gaming wheel ever, the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel, enabling people to bring the most lifelike racing experience into the home. But amateurs beware: The limited-edition G25 wheel´s uncanny realism could lead to moments of extreme exhilaration and fear.

A member of the company´s extreme-performance G-series family of peripherals for PC gamers, the Logitech G25 wheel offers advanced features which, until now, could be found only in specialized or custom-made racing simulators that sometimes cost thousands of dollars to assemble. These features include a six-speed gated shifter and clutch pedal; two high-torque force-feedback motors; an 11-inch wheel; and a full 900 degrees of rotation. The wheel, shifter and pedals are made with premium materials such as stainless steel and leather, delivering the look and feel of parts from a race car cockpit.

"We´re helping people bring the race car into their home," said Ruben Mookerjee, Logitech´s director of product marketing for interactive entertainment. “The G25 wheel will take expert gamers to places they´ve never been. It will make people forget they are in front of their PC, and it will put them in the pole position at Indianapolis, Monza or Brands Hatch race tracks.”Full Press Release (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/news/US/EN,contentid=12020,crid=34).

[sTubbs]

Interesting, but are there enough PC racing games to make purchasing a wheel worthwhile?

[NefariousChump]

Your kidding right?

Live for Speed S2, GTR, GT Legends, Richard Burns Rally, Cross Racing Championship, Nascar Racing 2003 and its GTP mod, rFactor and more and more and more. The racing genre on the PC is huge right now and the last 2 years have been overwhelming. I for one am very excited about this steering wheel announcement. I think I will finally give up my old leather MOMO Force.

NefC

[dotbomb]

Gear select and 900 degree turn radius seem like no brainers for wheels. Glad to see this one sport it. I have the logitech momo and love it, but it doesn't have those features. Pretty steep pricing at $300. I think I paid $100 for the momo wheel.

[DirtyChimp]

that's cool, except it's $300!

[NefariousChump]

that's cool, except it's $300!

Yes, but you are talking about a market that buys stuff like this:

ECCI (http://ecci6000.com/consumerhome.htm)

$300 is actually pretty affordable with a clutch pedal and the other features with force feedback (unlike the ECCI wheel). Being a member of the "hardcore" sim racing fans out there, this feels like a hell of a deal. But I can see it seeming pretty expensive for casual racers.

I think this is a genius move for Logitech who know that this is one of the fastest growing niche genres in PC gaming, especially in Europe.

NefC

[slink-jadranko]

A proper gear shift? Think I might have to upgrade from my DFP when this comes out. Damn.

[Spiffae]

Nice! I use a DFP For Live For Speed, but this might be worth the upgrade.

[Subbacultcha]

Interesting, but are there enough PC racing games to make purchasing a wheel worthwhile?

Grand Prix Legends, baby!

$US 300 might seem extravagant for a peripheral, but similar specification rigs from boutique joystick makers cost much more (not to mention the patchy games support). The biggest weakness in many consumer level wheels in general, including those from Logitech, have been the cheap, fragile pedals. If Logitech can improve the quality of their pedals then, yes, I'll happily be their bitch and pay for the privilege.

[Gel214th]

I got turned off of racing wheels. I bought a MOMO for NFS Most Wanted Black and I hated it.

I never could adjust the tension of the wheel itself. It always felt as though I was driving a car that had no power steering, it was so stiff and difficult to move that making quick turns on the road was near impossible. And there was nothing in the drivers about wheel turning tension, there were no levers or knobs on the wheel itself either. There was only Force Feedback Strength in the drivers, which seemed to be something different entirely.

I don't know whether this was just the MOMO or wheels in general, but I was really disappointed.

Will the new Logitechs be any different, I could not beleive this was something that everyone with PC racing wheels deals with as a factor of the wheel itself and something which cannot be changed. I felt sure that the tension of the wheel should have been adjustable (although I know even in high end joysticks it is not).

[TKO]

Yeah, this wheel sounds pretty cool. I'd love to have one. I'm not so sure about the gear-shifter though. I was always kinda partial to a sequential gearbox (feels so responsive ..and professional.) :)

[absolut taco]

Clutch pedal FTW! Please please please make a 360 version when Forza or GTR come out!

[NefariousChump]

I got turned off of racing wheels. I bought a MOMO for NFS Most Wanted Black and I hated it.


The problem is that you bought a wheel for a game that is made for a gamepad. I have 3 wheels and I still play any NFS game with a gamepad, even Porsche Unleashed.

Do yourself a favor and pick up GTR. It has a variety of modes so you don't have to jump right into hard-core simulation. I think then, even in the "Arcade" mode you will begin to appreciate the wheel for what it is meant for.

NFS

[Gel214th]

I bought GTR, then quickly uninstalled it when I found that it used Starforce. :-\
But I still think that you should be able to alter the tension of the wheel via the Windows drivers.

[kwijibo]

This looks great, but the wheel itself needs more buttons.