I ummed and ahhed over this post title. Mostly as it's not buyers remorse, but I think many folks will tell that I have got it.
Why? Because I went out and bought a G29 steering wheel for my PS3. There I've said it. I've not bought a T300RS (Terminator be proud) or a second hand sweaty G27 and I've not bought a squash ball for my DFGT Pro either.
Am I made of money? Not any more I'm not. But if you start reading up on the G29 I'd say 90% of the postings are why you shouldn't buy one because it's a G27.
Whatever. I don't own a G27, the G27 doesn't work on the PS4 (a future purchase) and the DFGT Pro I bought was an ebay special some five years ago. So was this purchase worth it? I'd say yes. Should I have bought a T300RS? I don't think so because you can't stretch helical gears... I need something that'll last as long as my current/last wheel has.
So, I'm just like the guy in the pub working hard to prove that buying a 'high end' Proton is a better deal than a base VW Polo - you know the components are made from the same elemental mass don't you....
So what am I reviewing?
- G29 - no shifter addon (yet).
- My (t)rusty PS3
- Some games, notably:
- GT6
- Grid Autosport
- Shift 2 Unleashed
- F1 2013
- My couch and the wheel stand reviewed elsewhere in this blog I'm sure
First Impressions
I'll not talk about helical gears or hand stitched leather - you'll know all about that.
No, for me, the USB and power cables are too short to sit a reasonable distance from the PS3/TV, so I've now got a twin core cable and USB extender from the local Jaycar and I'm set (if I'm honest I stretched everything last night and made it work anyway).
The pedals are big. much bigger than the DFGT set, not least as there's a clutch now. There's also no gear noise and no resistance when the wheel is turned off.
Fitting it to my wheel stand was pretty easy. Easier than the DFGT in fact as this had a couple of metal screw mounting holes that lined up with my stand - G27 like I guess.
So to the games...
GT6
First game for me to have a go with, and to be honest I was a bit "meh". Certainly the feedback isn't all that, but the thing I noticed most was the return to centre wasn't accompanied by a scream of gears, the reaction time was very nice indeed.
For reference I race with "power steering" turned on - it makes the flicks easier when racing, and I think that probably exacerbates the slightly light feeling. But then I think that's a common complain these days with Gt6 also.
Of the pedals? Much of a muchness with the accelerator. Interestingly the clutch doesn't work as the wheel is detected as a DFGT Pro. I'll say that again, ingame the wheel is detected as a DFGT Pro. So the leap from the real to this wheel isn't so big.
And the brake pedal. Well, it's much firmer and no mistake. A very nice feel compared to the sponge of the DFGT. But I noticed I wasn't getting 100% on the brakes, you've got to mash it down and no mistake to get that, all good and possibly more real, but after five years of gentle brake caressing this new mistress is going to need to require some serious slapping.
Grid Autosport
Ohmergerd!
This has revolutionised this game and no mistake. The DFGT limited lock to lock to 180.deg, and whilst it was OK, it was very unnatural having the steering wheel lock up so quickly. But this isn't the case with the G29. What's more with the better pedals, the clicky gears and general step up it's really opened up this game. I very nearly didn't get to try the other games actually, the racing with this wheel in this game is so good.
Interestingly, I went back to GT6 after this and reckon it wasn't so bad either - so maybe I was getting used to the wheel by then. To be honest though - I'll be spending a lot more time in Grid as a result of this purchase.
Shift 2 Unleashed
Time to return to the bar and talk about my Proton... I like Shift Unleashed but it's an acquired taste the same way that even if you are partial to a bit of cheese you'll still think that goat's cheese tastes like chalk. You need to push past the bite and savour the flavour for what it is.
So Shift. Even with the DFGT the handling was a bit out there. Understeer city would be a good phrase, but if you're careful, and learn the cars you can get a reasonably good race out of it. Read the review below if you want more - basically the club racers are it, any more and the handling is out.
So it's a tough call for the G29 to make this better. And I think it hasn't. It hasn't made it worse either though.
What it has done though has stuffed up my braking. I think I need to reset something in the options. The reason, remember that progressive brake pedal, well, getting 100% is a stretch in this game, I've spent a few corners overshooting which is no fun. In fact I need to get back to this game, I really did look for excuses to move on.
F1 2013
Following Shift I wasn't holding my breath. I've struggled a bit with F1 2013, mostly I suspect that I'm not an F1 driver coupled to the attention span of a mosquito - less actually.
And my first hot lap wasn't great, hmm, have I got something for a future console more than the current crop? But then I had a look at the settings for the steering wheel.
Joy, turning everything to zero - deadzone, saturation (what is saturation anyway) and turning linear steering to 100% and all good. Actually, more than good I actually really enjoyed the F1 racing and I must say it felt more immersive. Great stuff.
So there we have it, my cheap games on an old console on a second hand couch with a steering wheel that's probably worth more than the entire system put together.
The good things:
- Major step forwards from the DFGT Pro
- Lovely lovely wheel
- Nice pedals and pedal feel
- Quiet (compared to the DFGT)
The bad things:
- Not really price sensitive if I'm honest.
- Cables are too short
- Most games are going to see this as a DFGT Pro wheel, so no clutch.
- No shifter - I liked my sequential box!
Am I glad I bought it after all that? Yes. I race a lot, and this will last me into another console too which is very good indeed (it better had). But, the day after I bought the G29 Thrustmaster announced the T150, which if I'm honest might be the better casual racer wheel.
I don't regret my purchase though, even if it is the top of the range Proton.
