Just got my wheel at http://www.redoctane.com. Pre-ordered this week and I got a set of labtech speakers for free.

Plus, the wheel was only 99.99, and it was the ONLY place I could find it.

They claim the speakers work on PS2 and are worth $50, but we'll see. Sounds like an awesome deal.

You must not have looked very hard, Gamestop and EBWorld both have it. Gamestop used to have it for $99.99, but I think they went up $10. EB should still be at the same price. You can also get the Formula Force GP USB PC wheel for probably cheaper. It is the same as the PS2 wheel with different colors and will work on GT3.

my store is getting these with the logitech speakers as well. let me know how the speakers are. i may keep a pair for myself. :D

The Formula Force GP USB PC Wheel may be cheaper in price, but does it have force feedback and resistance like the Logitech Wheel?

i emailed logitech about the difference between the PC version vs the PS2 version but have yet to receive a reply. both are usb, and both have force feedback. one is red, the other blue... anyone else know what the differences are?

One of my friends has the GT3 Version, which includes a set of buttons on the wheel specifically for PS2 controls. If I recall, Start, Select, etc..

Straight from the website:

http://store3.yimg.com/I/adux_1643_194749

Preorder the GT FORCE wheel before July 11th, 2001 and get a $50.00 set of Labtech speakers for FREE*! Hurry, this offer has been extended by popular demand!

Due to limited availability, RedOctane discounts are not valid for this product.**

The Logitech GT FORCE wheel is the first and only force-feedback wheel available for the PS2 and is specifically designed to support the highly anticipated GRAN TURISMO 3, a game so brilliant that it has been called "an instant classic [and] a must-own game," by GamePro magazine. This limited edition wheel lets you feel the road, car handling, bumps, walls, and crashes like never before.

According to ign.com, "It works brilliantly with Gran Turismo 3 and greatly enhances the driving experience better than any wheel we've ever used in the past." Click here for the full review.

The wheel has rubber handgrips for premium comfort and precise steering control. Two wheel-mounted gear shifters allow for fast gear changes. There are four action buttons for easy control of car functions and view changes. A dual clamping system holds the wheelbase tight and secure. Includes realistic gas and brake pedals mounted on a weighted base.

System Requirements

PlayStation 2 (includes a USB port)
Gran Turismo 3 A-spec or other racing games that support Logitech Force Feedback

[Edited by Tigger on 07-04-01 at 01:03 AM]

The PC and PS2 wheels are identical except for color. They have the same number of buttons and everything. If you can get a PC wheel for cheaper, you'll be fine with it. I know a number of people who are using the PC wheel just fine.

From the pic of the GT, it definitely looks like there's another 4 buttons that aren't present on the GP. Don't know what else those grey things would be.

Aghama: No, the buttons are the same. There are four face buttons and two triggers on the back side of the wheel. Then there are two foot pedals. I've used both the PC wheel and the GT Force wheel. They are identical except for the color. There is no reason to debate this issue.

Yeah, what I was seeing was the labels for the buttons. Picked mine up today at Best Buy for the $30 mail in store credit.

Questions
 

Any of you that have it already, I have a few questions:

1. Do you own any games it works on (and name the games please)
2. If so, how is the force feedback and control on those games
3. Can you only clamp the wheel onto a desk (or hard surface) or is it able to sit on my lap or on a bed flat?

Thanks much. I would love to get this but it is hard to justify $100 extra dollars just for GT3 when I've played the other GT's with my controllers. I know I'll have to wait until at least Wednesday for impressions on the wheel with GT3, but I'm just wondering if any of you have tried it out on other games. I saw it does work for Tokyo Racer Extreme, so maybe someone has tried that out. Thanks much.

Re: Questions
 

I don't have the wheel, but here's what I know.

1) So far, GT3, Nascar Heat 2002 and Tokyo Extreme Racer Zero are the only ones that support the true force feedback.

2) From what I heard, it's Nascar Heat 2002 and TERZ have similar force feedback as GT3.

I just picked up the PS2 version at Best Buy yesterday (they offer a $30 gift card by mail).

They (Gt and GP) are the exact same wheel except the PS2 version doesn't include software drivers (you have to download them yourself).

There is no PS2 specific buttons (select, start, triangle, circle). They are actually labelled A, B, X, Y etc.

The PC recognizes it as the GP wheel and I played NFS: High Stakes and NFS: Porsche Unleashed and they were both excellent.

I'll try it with GT3 when it arrives, if it doesn't add significantly to the game, I'll return it. For $100, I expected a little better build quality and force feedback. Its also noisy as hell.

Doug

Nice review Doug, I am interested in this wheel as well. I will be getting GT3 but, I am still not sold on the wheel yet.

Yes Doug, thanks for the review. Noisy as hell, eh? Yeah, I knew it wasn't a well built wheel in reviews of the GP Force. Of course, Sony handcuffed the consumers by not letting wheels by other companies (namely Microsoft) that could fit in the USB port be able to be used for GT3. There are better made wheels out there that unfortunately don't work with the PS2 or GT3 from my understanding. Oh well, I just won't buy this wheel and stick to my controllers.

They review the wheel with GT3 at http://sports-gaming.com.
It didn't get raves and they suggested not using it when going for licenses.

I actually like the feel of the Dual Shock 2 with GT2, so I may end up ditching the wheel.

Doug

I've always loved the Dual Shock with the other GT games. The only thing that moves me toward a wheel is a review that Firing Squad did where they used the Formula GP wheel on the Japanese GT3 and they said there were things you couldn' t pull off in GT3 without the wheel, but maybe they were just BSing. I barely read Firing Squad, but they were one of the first to use a Logitech wheel with the game and have a review of it.

Thanks for the link by the way. 2 more days (hopefully)!

I've been using the GT Force wheel with GT3 for about the last two months and I simply can't imagine playing it with a DS2 at this point. If anything, you at least get the precision that you can't get with a Dual Shock 2. I was a bit annoyed that Polyphony axed the NeGcon support which they had in the last two games which then forced me to get the GT Force wheel. Haven't regretted it since. At first, it may be a bit easier with the Dual Shock but as you learn it, you'll get a lot better, and the game is just a lot more fun that way. However, one thing that it works really good for is with the Rally mode stuff. The DS2 just can't compare to the wheel in this mode. The combination of the feedback and the precision with the wheel just makes Rally mode much more controllable and a lot more fun.

If you're worried about putting the money out, of course go with the BB deal, and remember that from now on, just about every game that could use a wheel will most likely support it. Already four games are supporting it by the time GT3 gets released here and you can bet everything else will too. You guys forgot to list Twisted Metal Black which supports the wheel too.

With GT3, TMB, and NFS:HS I may just get this wheel. Especially with the BB deal. I only hope they don't sell out by the time I get there on Thursday.

I noticed at EB today they are selling the wheel for 109.99 and you get a set of speakers valued at 50 bucks for free... I assume its basically the same deal that, I forgot the site, was doing.

I picked up my wheel and GT3 last night at best buy. I can confirm that the wheel does work with the PC. Just download the drivers from Logitech's web site. The software is nice. It does allow calibration as well as a demo of the force feedback. This is where I noticed the loud noises reported earlier. I played GT3 for a few hours last night but, I did not notice any loud noises during gameplay. It was only during some of the demos on the PC. The USB cable was a little short so I connected it to the PS2 through a extra USB hub that I had. This caused no problems. Function with NFS:HS on the PC was flawless. Overall I am very pleased with the wheel and, I would highly recommend it.

Another positive review for the wheel. I had trouble playing with it initially due to the fact that it wasn't "connected" (stabalized) to anything, so I got a little portable tray, and it worked great! I don't think I could go back to using a controller. Now to test it with Need For Speed...

I like mine as well. It's way too much fun to go back to a DS2.

The wheel really shines when you're rally racing, lots of fun, definitely adds to the enjoyment of GT3. Also, I don't think it's that noisy, my old VW steering wheel made more noise. :D

Hmmm... I think I'd play Twisted Metal: Black more than I'd play GT3. But with special moves requiring combos on the d-pad, I'm pretty sure this wheel wouldn't work. :(

Anyone know differently?