Force Feedback Wheel Roundup

Third Place - Mirosoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
Make no mistake, this wheel is a very good product. It came last of the ones we tested, but we only tested the cream of the crop. If not for the crummy pedals and high price, this would have been right up there with the second place finisher, maybe above. We just felt that for over $200 you should get a premium quality, feature-rich unit. That's only partly true with the SideWinder.

Score: 85/B-




Second Place - Logitech Wingman Formula Force
Of the three wheels we tested this had the best overall 'feel' while playing, and the smoothest force effects. But it doesn't have much to offer in the feature department, and it could use a few more buttons on the wheel itself (I hate looking for the 'S' key to drop the spike strap in NFS III). The pedals (and the price) were good, but not great.

Score: 88/B




First Place - Act-Labs Force RS
When you first look at the Force RS you think "Wow, this thing is wicked but I bet it's gonna be expensive!" After all, with a stitched faux-leather wheel in place of rubber, a ton of buttons, and heavy-duty construction the Force RS is a pricey-looking unit. And Act-Labs is proving that they are going to support this product by providing several available engine cartridges and planning a gated shifter unit that will work with it (who ever heard of a peripheral having peripherals of its own?) On top of all this, the Force RS will give you some (very pleasant) sticker-shock when you go to pay for it: for less money than the price of the Microsoft SideWinder, and only $10 more than the Logitech Formula Force, you can purchase the Force RS and have it upgraded to work with your PC, your little brother's Playstation, and his buddy's Nintendo64 (not that you'd be stupid enough to loan it to your little brother's buddy). This doesn't have it all, but it comes pretty close. Well done Act-Labs!

Score: 94/A




This review was co-written by: Greg Hanna

We would like to gratefully acknowledge Microsoft Corporation and Act-Labs for sending us their hardware for this test.