The game wheel is the universally recognized best gadget for digital entertainment in the racing genre. It is he who makes it possible for the user to feel in the chair of a real racing car and plunge into the atmosphere of competition that reigns on the track. The varieties of the mechanism, connection and embedded technologies will be discussed in the article.
General description and mounting
The game wheel is an ideal option for racing projects of both ordinary arcade and hardcore simulations with imitation of real road conditions. The user just needs to purchase a model with pedals and connect to a computer to start the entertainment. When choosing a gadget model, it is recommended that you pay special attention to what surface the steering wheel will be attached to. Pay attention to the presence of double locking, screw handles, as well as the reliability of the clamp. The design can fail at the most inopportune moment, because during the game the user is very addicted, and careless movements occur quite often.
Varieties of technology
The game wheel seems to be a simple and obvious gadget, but the developers have been going to create it for a long time. The first models were standard and allowed only to intercept control of the car on this mechanism. In the twenty-first century, such samples have almost ceased to be produced. Most varieties are equipped with two well-known technologies - Force Feedback or Rumble Feedback. The first of them provides for the built-in servomotor, which guarantees the uniqueness of each trip. Maximum traction simulation guaranteed. Such entertainment will never get bored, because many people will like to try on the role of a rider. The second technology guarantees slightly less immersion during the races. It provides for the location of small motors with vibration along the contour of the steering wheel. They shake the device at some point, as if reminding you to really drive. This happens when skidding, ramming or flying to the sidelines.
Important parameters
Not every player knows that a game steering wheel for a PC can be equipped with different parameters. The outer coating is one of them, you should always remember this, because sellers like to keep silent about it. The worst material is plastic, which always flies off hands and which gives poor grip on the gadget. At the same time, the skin is most pleasant to touch, the feeling of comfort, even with prolonged use, will not disappear. It is also important when purchasing to take the steering wheel in your hands and carefully evaluate the ease of pressing the keys. They should be easy to reach with your fingers, and your hands should rest on the rim as if it were done specifically under your palms. The rotation angle in the game steering wheel on a PC is considered optimal 180 degrees. Until recently, it was believed that 150 was enough, but manufacturers of new models reached a new level. It is worth noting that there are models with a large degree of rotation, but this value complicates the game. When bundling with pedals, you should definitely pay attention to elasticity and size, which directly affects comfort.
Connection
So that there are no problems with how to connect the game wheel, you need to prepare in advance. Connection is via the standard USB port that any computer has. Drivers are regularly issued by each manufacturer to their products. This applies to gadgets and the operating system to support technology. Moreover, now engineers are trying to immediately lay the necessary settings inside the steering wheel, so that they can be seen immediately at the first connection. You will have to manually update them on systems older than XP, which some gamers still love and do not want to change. In each racing game, steering support is provided. There should not be a problem with how to set up a game steering wheel. In the settings of the project itself, a mechanism must be recognized, and all buttons can be reassigned. The whole process will take no more than five minutes of time, after which you can safely go to your first track.
Price categories
It would seem that choosing a high-quality game steering wheel at an affordable price is almost impossible, but it is not. Even with a rubber or leather coating, a convenient gadget with built-in fashionable Force Feedback technology does not take a lot of money. Due to the decrease in competition in the market over the past five years, the cost has risen slightly, but a quality product from three to five thousand rubles can be easily bought. Only if it is not about exclusive publications. When the mechanism first appeared on the market, it was produced by different companies, but it turned out to be interesting only to fans of the race genre. Soon there were only European organizations that maintain their reputation. The steering wheel is recommended for purchase to anyone who wants to experience racing simulators in a completely different way. The main thing is to choose the right device, because it should serve even more than one year.