Start and Back are in the middle along with the Guide button, but sadly the L and R shoulder buttons didn't make the start. On the right prong are the four face buttons, on the left a D-pad. And that, of course, is what they're intended to be used for.
#Forza motorsport 4 microsoft wireless speed wheel plus#
These have very low resistance, so they tend to clap against the back when you mash the throttle, but this plus a long throw means it's easy to be precise on the gas or brake. It's a simple, lightweight thing, with an over-sized trigger on the back of each grip. The Xbox 360 Wireless Speed Wheel, on the other hand, is rather more manageable - and affordable, with a $59.99 price. Okay, so the U-shaped contraption you see above won't get a motorsports enthusiast's blood boiling quite like the Fanatec CSR Elite wheel we tested earlier, but for a lot of gamers the CSR is a bit too much. Still, you'll probably be looking at around $300 and up for these setups, and if that's too rich for your blood Microsoft also has lesser-expensive options coming from Mad Catz and its own goofy-looking, U-shaped Speed Wheel, which will set you back $59.99.įorza Motorsport CSR pedals Image Galleryīy Tim Stevens posted Jun 9th 2011 8:58PM The systems will all be modular, meaning you can package any wheel, pedals, shifter, and handbrake combination that your budget will allow. Both wheels and the pedals are said to be shipping sometime before the year is through, but at this point no price has been established. The design is a bit simpler too, but for those who want to get the GT-style, top-mounted pedal feel, Fanatec will offer a kit that will let you flip any pedal you like (and only those pedals you like) upside down - ala the Thrustmaster T500 RS, but more gracefully.Īnd, hopefully, less expensively. Like the Clubsports, there's still an adjustable load cell for the brake, but accelerator and clutch have moved to simpler potentiometers. We felt similarly good about the new CSR pedals, which take a lot of design cues from the Clubsport pedals, but will be offered with a lower price. Unfortunately we didn't get to experience this wheel's feedback effects, but our brief hands-on time definitely left us feeling confident of its build quality and precision. The wheel uses an optical sensor with a disc on the wheel's axis, separated from the feedback mechanism and, in theory, eliminating that hugely annoying shudder you can get when going down the straights on other wheels. It's kind of like gazing through the engine cover on a Ferrari 458 Italia, except instead of eight cylinders here you see the belt-driven force feedback. Those who take their racing a little more seriously will want to step up to the CSR Elite, which is a fully new design featuring a metal case and CNC-machined internals - internals that are exposed through a transparent window on the top. Finally, an optional shifter pops on the side using a pair of rails, just like the GT2, and you can source a proper handbrake as well. On the back are two big flappy paddles with long throws and clicky detents. It's much more racy, rather less Porsche, with a new thumbstick D-pad on the left, four face buttons on the right, and a further four buttons up top, flanking a small LCD. But they're far from the same, with new electronics inside and a new design for the wheel itself outside. Click on through for our detailed impressions.įorza Motorsport CSR and CSR Elite wheels Image Galleryįirst up is the CSR, the lesser of the two and built on a design similar to the Porsche GT2 wheel we reviewed earlier this year. They're called the CSR and CSR Elite, and there's a new set of pedals to match. At this year's E3, which saw Microsoft peeling the protective tape from the bumpers and fenders of Forza Motorsport 4, there was actually an abundance of compatible wheels on display, but it's clear which were the most serious: two new wheels from Fanatec. If you're a console racer and you own an Xbox 360 then you know Forza Motorsport is among the best, but you also know that your selection of compatible controllers has left a bit to be desired. Update: I added the Wireless Speed Wheel review to the bottom.įorza Motorsport CSR and CSR Elite wheel and pedals hands-on