Games recommendations for Logitech G25?

[Smooth Groove]

I bought a G25 yesterday to try with Bland Borismo 5.  It was pretty fun although the force feedback did as much to hamper performance as it did to enhance the experience.  Overall, the G25 seems to be built pretty well although the stick feels kinda cheep for a $300 device.  I also wish the wheel was a bit bigger.

Based on my PS3 experience, I"m kinda leaning towards returning the G25 as it didn't come close to being $300 of fun.  I'm gonna check out some PC games before making my decision though. 

What PC games work well with a force feedback wheel?  I've never used a steering wheel before so I don't know which PC games to try. 

[Mupepe]

i want one so badly, but i felt stupid enough paying 150 for the ms wheel.

[Smooth Groove]

How well does the MS wheel work?

I thought about getting a MS wheel too since the 360 has a better racer library than the PS3.  Also, I think the MS wheel is compatible with PC.

In the end, I didn't get the MS because I wanted to check out the clutch+stick on the G25 and I've heard complaints about the MS's build quality. 

[Mupepe]

It works good.  The only thing I don't like is that it has no stick and that it's not a 900 degree wheel.  But force feedback works great, it controls great.  I love it.

[Smooth Groove]

The 900 degrees seemed to be mostly a marketing feature.  I barely turned the wheel in most of the turns in Bland Borismo. 

[crimsondynamics]

Unless you are a hardcore racing sim fan, 300 for a wheel is a bit steep - and this comes from someone who loves racing sims and owns two wheels.

It depends on what kind of racing you prefer, but for the PC I would get GTR and RFactor. The net code on RFactor is especially well done, and I've been able to game with people in the east coast (me being in Asia).

GTR2 http://www.10tacle.com/gtr-game/ is a great sim, renowned for its tire modeling. It focuses on the FIA GT series.

RFactor http://www.rfactor.net/ is more a "foundation" for user content (mods). The stock game doesn't offer much, and what is there isn't from any real racing series, but check out this site http://www.rfactorcentral.com/ and you can find anything from F1 to WTCC, Australian V8, various stock series from Europe, and even karting and lawnmower mods. This lets you turn it into an arcadey game as well (such as having F1 cars on a dirt oval or lawnmowers in a street circuit).

Check out this site for great PC (and console) racing reviews, mostly with a focus on simulation driving: http://www.simracingworld.com

You can always download the demo, or in the case of RFactor, the full game (should you decide to buy it, you just do the payment and get and unlock key for the game).

[Smooth Groove]

Thanks, Crimsomdynamics.

Is there any game/sim where I can just drive around and not race? 

I wonder if I can learn how to drive manual with a G25.   lol

[Mupepe]

Thanks, Crimsomdynamics.

Is there any game/sim where I can just drive around and not race? 

I wonder if I can learn how to drive manual with a G25.   lol

Burnout Paradise, Test Drive Unlimited ( incredible fucking game)

[Smooth Groove]

Burnout:P is too fake.  How realistic is Test Drive?  I just checked to see that the PC version does support the G25's clutch and stick. 

[crimsondynamics]

Thanks, Crimsomdynamics.

Is there any game/sim where I can just drive around and not race? 

I wonder if I can learn how to drive manual with a G25.   lol

Farck! Lost my lengthy post! Not typing again!

In short: Try RFactor. You can drive around in practice mode all you want, and you can even just drive alone or with AI cars that you assign - if you want, you can have, say, 16 other cars on the track, and everyone is just driving around.

It can also be as simmy or as arcadey as you want it to be. To wit:

Monaco - 1979 F1
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Monaco%20GP79

Nordschleife - normal and snowy
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Nordschleife%202007

Bobsled run
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Jagged%20Peak%20Bobsled%20Run

Rally China
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Rally%20China

Ski jump
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Ski%20Jump

Or any combination of track and car
http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=Lawnmower%20Racing

(sorry, no leech!)

There are championship formats if you want, but there is nothing to unlock - just download the track or car you want to play, and drive. Good stuff.

[Mupepe]

Test Drive is a nice mix of realistic and arcade.  it rocks.  try the demo.

[crimsondynamics]

http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/grid

Grid isn't looking half-bad on the PC either.

[Bildi]

Test Drive is really nice with a wheel.  It can be extremely challenging without the assists on, or you can turn some of them on and it comes close to being as easy as an arcade racer.

I have only tried the GRID demo with the wheel but it was awesome - tons better than a 360 controller.  DiRT is excellent with a wheel too if that's your thing.

The MS wheel is good for the price however some of them do have a centering problem and it has no facility to adjust the center point.  Essentially when you have force feedback on, some of them will not return to center but will sit slightly off (or more than slightly if you're especially unlucky).  Best thing to do is buy it somewhere where you can return it if it sucks.  As soon as you plug in AC power it will show whether it centers properly.  If you get a good one, you're right - it doesn't un-center during its life or anything.

The 900 degree thing doesn't do anything for me.  If a game allows it, I change the settings to make my steering wheel match the in-game steering wheel as I find this makes things easier to drive for me.  So I don't even use all the travel of the MS wheel.

And I know this is taboo, but it actually works brilliantly in my lap which was a surprise.