In the days of
passenger space travel, mind boggling robotics and an unprecedented level of
graphical detail and design, gamers often ask the question “Is this the best
there is” when it comes to their gaming controllers. Although designed to
perfectly handle all inputs by the user, when it comes to racing, it’s often a
lamented upon fact that console controllers and joysticks leave the gamers
yearning for better, faster and more realistic controllers. Thus came by the
development and introduction of the racing wheel. Manufactured and sold by many
electronics giants, these racing wheels have different levels of control,
realism and designs.
Again however, people asked the same
proverbial question because of the many problems in the design of these wheels.
Some are too light, some too sensitive, some face a problem of latency while
some simply cannot take more than one input at a time. Apart from this, those
who want to experience the power of force feedback and the sheer gritty realism
that it can simulate were left unsatisfied because of weak motors and spotty
performances. Racing wheels which came with pedals in order to completely
simulate the driving cockpit environments, were starting to become an over
hyped and incomplete solution to the problems faced by the people.
There were
several problems that came with different kinds of racing wheels. These
included time lags (imagine trying to judge the lag and attempting a tight 180
in a race), over sensitivity (the slightest shift in the wheel could send the
car careening at breakneck speed into the sidelines affecting time, position
and in some games affecting damage to the car) and lack of feedback. Hardcore
racing fans were often frustrated because they were unable to tap the entire
potential of the game and the car leaving them completely unfulfilled.
Some say
experience is the mother of all teaching and teaching is the mother of all
invention. Muscling its way into the market, the Thrustmaster T500RS racing
wheel quickly and successfully demolished competition and thrust its way
(excuse the pun!) into the attentions of hardcore gamers. Built almost entirely
out of metal, the racing console consists of the racing wheel which is table
mounted and the pedals which can be either floor mounted or hanging (depending
on the type of racing the user is indulging in). The wheel console weights a
hefty 10 pounds while the pedals come in at 18 pounds. Needless to say it’s one
of the heaviest console systems around the market, but that also makes it the
best. Attribute it to the ingenious yet very simple design or the sheer power
of the materials packed in the casing, the console provides the best and
closest simulation to real driving that gamers can possibly achieve without
actually getting behind the wheel of a racing machine.
The weight allows for an
extra strength motor for force feedback, extreme control, balance of
sensitivity and even allows for sheer precision. Readers may find it hard to
believe that such a heavy controller can provide such precision control but it’s
made possible because of the patented H.E.A.R.T or HallEffect AccuRate
Technology which is basically being used in flight sticks in combat fighters
these days. The direct result of the inclusion of this technology is a deadly
precise and impeccably accurate steering wheel with as many as 65386 values and
16-Bit resolution. It’s not every day that consoles such ingenuity is exercised
in gaming controller design.
For those
thinking about the force feedback on the wheel, the 65W motor of industrial
build which provides 150mNm at 3000 RPM provides more than a simple sensation
during driving. The power of the force feedback is enough to leave drivers
sweating in their seats as if they were in a 4D theatre watching a their car
come close to the side rail. Designed to suit literally unlimited driving
styles, the wheel is adjustable in all sense of configuration and works well
whether gamers are drifting, drag racing, sprinting, time running or anything
more imaginable. Be it GT style racing with heavy cars or f1 style racing with
almost inhuman speeds, the T500RS makes short work because of its 1080 degree
configuration. The HEART technology that provides the control is made up of a
contactless magnetic sensor system which allows for longevity and the system is
completely open to any further upgrades that the company may launch. Realism is
even further accentuated because of the brushless metal used in the make along
with non slip rating at the bottom and 100% adjustable pedals. The brake pedal
offers the correct amount of resistance and the entire floor console is made
authentic with the slip eliminating texture of the floor.
Because of its
sturdy and extremely heavy design and the use of metal, the console continues
to operate with the same deadly efficiency and effortlessness even after a
prolonged period of time. Durability which is very important in these cases
because of the constant or intermittent high level of use and pressure is at
its highest and best. The console requires nothing more than the simple occasional
dusting before its ready to muscle its way into the fantasies of the gamer and
make them come alive. A fantastic level of versatility which is lent by the
high level of technology (contactless metal sensors and patented HEART
technology counts as super high end tech) makes the console perfect for any
racing gamer and literally any type and style of race. To generate the
extremely high level of control while effortlessly controlling the backlash and
instability, the system uses a dual belt system which assures that while the
force of bumps and turns and crashes is felt, there is no loss of control in
the wheel or any major disturbance.
Basically speaking it means that people can
feel all the forces that can affect the racing wheel and their hands while
racing, without actually feeling the damage or adverse effects of crashes. Such
simulation is highly coveted by gamers. Literally thrusting out the
competition, the T500RS racing wheel has earned the reputation of unbeatable.
