Product Description
PLAYSTATION 3 quad charge station charges 4 PS3 controllers simultaneously.
Product Description
Works on all PS and Playstation game systems. Komodo 1MB – 15 block memory card for PS1.
Product Description
Officially licensed by Nintendo. This case will allow you to compactly store up to 24 DS Games. It will protect your DS games from dirt and scratches. Clear design for easy viewing and DS games can be easily placed and removed. (Nintendo DS games are not included) One SD card holder attachment also included for convenient storage.
Product Description
Rock Pedal is a Rock Band drum pedal replacement. Since the stock pedal often breaks, and is always a hurdle to getting those fast double hits, Rock Pedal is the drum pedal for serious Rockers.
Known for it’s durability (backed up by the 12-month warranty) and it’s ability to raise scores, Rock Pedal has taken the Rock Band community by storm.
A super strong pedal that is VERY adjustable, will get you higher scores, has a 30-day money back guarantee or “test drive”, a 12-month warranty, and Grade A customer service–that’s Rock Pedal
Rock Band Drum Pedal – Rock Pedal – PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Rock Band 1 & 2, ION Drum Rocker
Product Description
Introducing the Tritton AX 720 high performance gaming audio system. Specifically designed for the XBox and PS3 systems, the AX 720 delivers superior voice communication while creating an immersive 3D surround sound environment utilizing Dolby Digital and Dolby Headphone technology. The convenient inline audio controller features independent voice and game volume controls so that you can clearly hear your teammates during those crucial gaming moments. From the casual gamer to the hardcore gamer, the AX 720 is sure to improve your game.
Product Description
100% Brand new high quality USB finger optical mouse. Resolution: 1200 dpi for quick and precise movement USB interface, also works for PS/2 (adapter not included). Plug and play, no installation needed 3 buttons with scroll wheel. Digital encoder technology, operate precisely, prevent faulty movement effectively. No mouse pad required. Sliding on any surface Suitable for both right and left hand user. Textile coating cable (not rubber coating) – enhance free and easy movement. Compatible with MS Windows 98/2000/me/XP/Vista Mac OS 9 and above.
Product Description
Includes a Charging Dock, Carrying Case, USB SD Card Reader, Car Charger, Earbuds, Audio Splitter, 3 Screen Cleaners, 2 Sets of Screen Protectors, Carry All Tote Bag, 2 Styluses, 3 Game Cases & Wrist Strap.
Product Description
Secure fit ensures cover won’t shift or slip. Protective silicon cover for Wii Fit stepping board
Nintendo Wii Fit Board Anti-Slip Grip Foot Pad Silicone Skin
Product Description
PSP AC Adapter
Product Description
Nintendo Wii Speak Wii Accessory. With tthe new Wii Speak Accessory, its like youre all in the same room. The microphone sits atop the sensor bar and picks up the conversation of everyone in the room to encourage a more inclusive experience. Compatible with Animal Crossing: City Folk. The Wii Speak accessory requires an on-line connection.
Product Description
Ion Drum Rocker Cymbal Expansion Kit; Add another cymbal to your Drum Rocker! Able to be used with Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour video games and other drum modules, the Ion Drum Rocker has really taken the Main Stage by storm. With this cymbal expansion you can add another cymbal to the mix to give this power-house setup adding an extra dynamic to your game and an extra cymbal trigger when using a drum module. Just mount the included hardware anywhere an your Drum Rocker stand, attach the cymbal and connect the cable to add another assignable cymbal pad. Ion includes a set of color-assignment rings for easy recognition of which color your symbol corresponds to on screen.
Product Description
XBOX360 RECHARGEABLE BP XBOX
Product Description
Even the odds by arming yourself with infinite health, bullets, and time. Unlock secret levels, characters and vehicles. Now you can become all poerful and beat any game. Action Replay is already pre-loaded with totally unauthorized cheat codes for all the latest and greatest Nintendo DS games and you can easliy update the Action Replay with new codes. Action Replays contains everything you need to put the power in your hands today!
Product Description
Don’t let a lost or damaged AV cable prevent you from using your Playstation! Get the hook up with this AV to RCA cable for Playstation, Playstation 2, and PSX. Connects quickly and simply to any equipment with RCA composite input jacks, such as TVs, DVD players, VCRs, etc. Game on!
Product Description
Experience the essential accessories package for the Wii Sports Resort with the 8 in 1 Pack for Wii Sports Resort from CTA Digital. Enjoy the realism added to your gaming experience and easily switch according to the multitude of games in the Wii Sports Resort video game. An attachable insert can firmly hold a Wii Remote with or without the protective silicone skin case that comes with the Wii MotionPlus adapter. The lightweight plastic material assures that these accessories won’t be a heavy burden on your arms, allowing you to enjoy lengthier playing time without tiring as quickly. With the remote snuggly secured, and your chosen attachment screwed onto the handle, you can freely ski, shoot virtual arrows, and throw Frisbees to the action of the Wii Sports Resort video game.
Product Description
For use with today’s more sophisticated video equipment that allows component input from high-end gear like the PlayStation Portable, the Component AV Cable delivers impeccable, distortion-free picture quality. Use the Component AV Cable to connect the PlayStation Portable to your TV for to superior quality picture, colors and sound. If your entertainment center is ready, prepare for the leap in detail you’ll see with the Component AV Cable.
Product Description
Headset with Microphone for Microsoft XBOX 360
Product Description
XBOX DVD Movie Playback Kit Module DVD VideoAmazon.com Review
Got an Xbox? Do you enjoy watching DVDs? Then you need one of these. This DVD playback kit unlocks the DVD functionality of Microsoft’s powerful Xbox and helps make the console an even more important addition to your home entertainment deck.
Feeling rather light in hand, this remote features large keys that feel rubbery yet firm. The kit sports some of the basic functions you’d expect from a common controller, including chapter skip, play, pause, and number buttons. There’s also handy 32x fast-forward and reverse controls.
Pressing the display button calls up a friendly onscreen menu that allows access to more features, including up to 10x magnification, A-B playback loop (for cueing and viewing favorite scenes repeatedly), and subtitle and audio options. It’s worth noting that many lower-cost DVD remotes have access to such features through the press of a button. The fact that this one requires you to use a menu to access such common commands may rankle DVD aficionados, as the menu is a bit slower than using buttons. Still, the menu is quite intuitive and couldn’t be much easier to use.
For the remote to work, you’ll need to plug the included infrared receiver into an open controller port on the Xbox. Most gamers will never need to unplug the receiver again, as you can plug it into the rarely used fourth port. Interestingly, the receiver works best when the remote is operated almost directly in front of it, and can be a little finicky when signals are sent from the far left or right.
The couch potato crowd won’t be thrilled to learn that the remote does not include power or eject buttons. Why such standard features were omitted escapes us, but that is far and away the worst thing we can say about an otherwise decent control. –Mark Brooks
Pros:
Cons:
Amazon.com Product Description
Enables DVD movie playback functionality on the Xbox video game system. Includes a DVD remote control and an infrared receiver that plugs into an Xbox controller port. Note: this item is required for DVD movie playback on Xbox.
Product Description
Experience superior comfort and audio clarity with the Logitech USB Headset for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. The digital USB audio processor and noise-canceling microphone produce crystal-clear sound and high-quality voice input for command recognition and voice chat for games like SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs. The adjustable headband and interchangeable earpads provide exceptional comfort for long gaming sessions. Requires PlayStation games that support a Logitech USB headset
Product Description
Enjoy the best gaming experience from your Wii with this high-quality cable. It supports the highest-possible resolution modes for the best sound & video output.
Please note: this is an aftermarket item. To get the best quality to you at the best price, this cable is sold without unnecessary packaging.
Product Description
Handling up to 1080p resolution in a single wire, the Xbox 360® HDMI cable brings you HD entertainment in all its eye-popping glory. High-def movies and TV from Xbox LIVE and Netflix, plus all your favorite HD games, come through in picture perfect clarity. The full Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound will make sure the house is a-rockin’.
Product Description
PLAYSTATION 3 quad charge station charges 4 PS3 controllers simultaneously.
Product Description
Belt out the highs and croon the lows of your favorite tracks with the officially licensed Rock Band 3 Microphone. Featuring an improved concert-style design, sensitivity and response have been finely tuned to interact with new gameplay features such as Rock Band PRO Mode. Ideal for adding backup singers to your band, you get the smooth sound and consistent clarity required to help you vocalize crystal-clear harmonies and melodies.
Product Description
AirLink101 AWLL6075 Wireless N Mini USB Adapter
Product Description
Ideal for shooting games on the PS3 that use the PS3 Move Motion Controller and PS3 Move Navigation Controller. Textured grip for added control and comfort. Break-Away Design allows you to modify the gun’s appearance. Lightweight design allows you to play for extended periods of time comfortably. Compatible with PS3 MOVE Motion Controller.
Product Description
SPACENAVIGATOR SE 3D NAVIGATIONACCSDEVICE – ENTRY LEVEL
Product Description
Specifically for Sony Sports Champions Bundle: Move Bow controller (Bow Game), Move Sword & Shield (Gladiator Duel), Move Table Tennis (Ping Pong) 17.3 HD Widescreen Ultrabright LCD Display (1600 x 900 resolution) Integrated 1.3MP Webcam Intel HD Graphics with 128MB of dedicated system memory Blu-ray/Super Multi DVD+-R/RW Drive with Double Layer 802.11b/g/n Wireless LAN 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN Built-in speakers and microphone High-Definition Audio Support Multi-in-1 Digital Media Card Reader Ports – 3 x USB 2.0, RJ-45 (LAN), Headphone/Speaker/Line-Out Jack, VGA, HDMI Dimensions (WxDxH) – 16.3 x 10.8 x 1.07-1.35 inches Weight – 7.27 pounds
Product Description
3rd Party Nintendo 64 controllers brand new
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Xbox 360 headset (over-the-head style)
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The Battery Kit is the perfect companion to the Charge Station for Wii. The Battery Kit from Nyko allows you to make all your Wii Remotes compatible with Nyko’s Charge Station for Wii (sold separately). Each Battery Kit comes with one NiMH rechargeable battery pack good for up to 25 hours of playtime on a single charge. A rubberized battery cover specifically designed to work the Charge Station’s dual port charging dock is also included in one of five custom colors. With the Battery Kit from Nyko, all of your Wii Remotes can easily be upgraded and compatible with Nyko’s Charge Station for Wii. For those with more then 2 Wii Remotes, the Battery Kit is the best solution for keeping all of your remotes charged and ready to go! Please note, the Battery Kit requires Nyko’s Charge Station for Wii which is sold separately at fine retailers nationwide and Nyko’s Online Store.
Product Description
This AV Cable provides composite video & audio output for viewing on a TV / Monitor. Dock connector plugs directly into the game console. Ultra thick and flexible jacket with color coded connectors to simplify installation.Length: Approx. 6 ft / 1.83 m.Color: Black. Accessory ONLY. Game console not included. Compatible With Nintendo: 64 (N64) / GameCube (GCN).
Product Description
The Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller is the perfect bridge between music gameplay and the thrill of playing a real guitar. Delivering a new experience to music gaming, the 17-fret touch-sensitive neck with six buttons per fret provides a total of 102 active finger positions and six low-latency strings for actual note strumming. The Rock Band 3 Wireless Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller is fully compatible with both standard and Pro modes. Empowering you to rock outside the realm of videogames, the MIDI output connector provides compatibility with MIDI software sequencers and hardware devices, while standard console-specific gaming controller buttons deliver seamless console integration. With an official Fender Mustang body, custom Guitar Strap, right- or left-handed gameplay, plus Overdrive Stomp Box support.
Rock Band 3 Wireless Fender Mustang PRO-Guitar Controller for PlayStation 3
Product Description
Play, watch, save, store-expand your entertainment possibilities. The massive 250GB hard drive has plenty of space for games, high-definition TV and movies, Games on Demand, game demos and add-ons, music, plus so much more. It’s the easiest way to get the most from your Xbox 360.
Product Description
Brand new non-OEM. Input: 100V – 120V (U.S. Standard). LED light power indicator. Features fold-away prongs for easy travel and storage. Best replacement for original NDS / GBA travel charger. Intelligent IC chip inside recognizes a fully charged battery and automatically switches to a saver Not compatible with Nintendo DS Lite & non-SP version of the Game Boy Advance.
Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP Rapid Home Travel Charger with IC Chip
Product Description
The Wireless keypad for the PlayStation 3 system provides the freedom of easy to use texting and mouse input capabilities, all while maintaining full gameplay functionality in one easy-to-hold device. This Bluetooth device attaches to any Dualshock 3 or Sixaxis wireless controller and enables effortless internet browsing, e-mailing and instant messaging on the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Home. The unique touch pad feature allows for convenient scrolling and mouse input on the PS3 system on screen display. Dedicated short cut keys provide instant access to ‘Message Box’ and other online communication applications on the PlayStation Network.
Amazon.com Product Description
The Wireless Keypad for the Sony PlayStation 3 turns your regular controller into a texting device with mouse input capabilities, while still maintaining full gameplay functionality. This Blue tooth device attaches to any DualShock 3 or SixAxis wireless controller and enables effortless Internet browsing, emailing and instant messaging on the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Home.
QWERTY Keypad Mimics Smartphones
Adding the wireless keypad turns your regular wireless controller into a easy-to-hold, multifunctional device. Mimicking the QWERTY keypad on smartphones, this device is also designed for fast, thumbs-only typing. The unique touchpad feature allows for convenient scrolling and mouse for the PlayStation 3 on-screen display. When you touchpad is pressed, you can not use the keys for character input, but you can slide your finger on this area to select something on screen.
Blue tooth 2.0, Short Cut Keys, and More
Dedicated short-cut keys provide time-saving instant access to Message Box and other online communication applications on the PlayStation Network. This device charges by connecting it directly to the PlayStation 3 system using a standard USB cable. It is important to note that this device features Blue tooth 2.0, with an operating range of up to 33 feet, and it comes equipped with a rechargeable Lithium-ion polymer battery (Capacity: 610mAh).
By integrating all these features into a sleek and elegant design you can further enhance your online interactivity on the PlayStation 3 system.
Product Description
Replacement audio/video cable for Super Nintendo, Nintndo 64 and Gamecube systems.
Product Description
Customize your control. With a D-pad that transforms from a plus to a disc, the new Wireless Controller provides ultimate precision, accuracy and control for both directional as well as sweeping movements. This distinctively-designed controller features a special edition matte silver color with a unique and premium button design, and comes complete with a Play and Charge kit to keep the game going strong.
Product Description
If your Xbox 360 console has stopped working, then this is the product you need!
Included with the price you will receive the following:
8 Thin Head Screws
16 Black Nylon Washers
16 Lock Tight Metal Washers
With the above materials, you will be able to fix your Xbox 360 consoles in under 1 hour.
No experience is required to repair your console. Step by step instructions are included along with 24×7 support.
Product Description
Airflow EX PC Game Controller Patented airflow design with selectable fan speed
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Airflow EX PC Game Controller Patented airflow design with selectable fan speed
Product Description
Nyko Net Connect allows this USB Network Adaptor to create a reliable high-speed Lan Internet connection for the Nintendo Wii.
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Official Rock Band Microphone, compatible with PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox360
Product Description
Rock Band Wireless Guitar PS2 / PS3
Product Description
The DSi XL Starter Kit provides 20 ways to kick your gaming experience up to the next level. It includes a Charging Dock, Carrying Case, USB SD Card Reader, Car Charger, Earbuds, Audio Splitter, 3 Screen Cleaners, Carry-all Tote Bag, 2 Small Precision Styluses, 1 Large Precision Stylus, 2 Sets of Screen Protectors, 3 Game Cases & 2 Wrist Straps.
Product Description
RCA Audio adapter for non-HDMI supported stereo systems. Allows HDMI video to be routed to the HDTV with the audio routed separately to the home theater system. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround sound output. Feel confident connecting your console to high-definition equipment with the quality you expect from an authentic xbox product. Output: RCA Red / White (L / R) channel; Toslink Optical Audio. Color: Gray. Compatible With Microsoft: Xbox 360 / XBOX 360 Slim.
Product Description
Pump up the volume without disturbing friends, family or neighbors. Hear every nuance of the game – from an opponent sneaking behind you to your teammates’ voices right next to you. Become a better player by hearing every detail in the game along with the voices of online players chatting on XBOX LIVE. Conveniently adjust the game sound level with the built-in volume control and set the chat level from your XBOX setup screen. Blast the game volume without the aggravation of game audio bleeding into the chat mic from external speakers. Noise-reduction ear cushions help block out noise so you can concentrate on the game without distractions. Trash talk online. It’s everything you need for an amazing gaming experience.
Product Description
Display and charge up to 4 PlayStation Move controllers with ease with the new Charge Station Quad for Move by Nyko. The Charge Station Quad for Move holds 4 Move controllers allowing you to charge the internal batteries of Move Motion Controller or Move Navigation Controller with no additional wires back to the console. 4 separate LED charge indicators inform you of when each controller is done charging with a quick glance. The Charge Station Quad for Move conveniently plugs into any standard wall outlet, providing a faster charge with no need to have messy wires back to the console. The design and the décor of the Charge Station Quad for Move matches both the Move Controllers and the PlayStation 3 and easily fits in most any home entertainment center.
PS3 Move Charge Station Quad Port Charging Dock and Battery Pack Set
The PlayStation Portable 3000 Limited Edition God of War: Ghost of Sparta Entertainment Pack brings together the latest revision in the PlayStation Portable (PSP) hardware line, with both God of War games released to date for play on the PSP, including God of War: Ghost of Sparta. Designed for both fans of the God of War franchise and those new to the PSP platform, the bundle contents include a stunning Red/Black version of the PSP-3000 system, a copy of God of War: Ghost of Sparta in UMD format, a voucher for a downloadable copy of the 2008 release God of War: Chains of Olympus, a voucher for a downloadable copy of the quirky superhero movie Kick-Ass, a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo and more. Toss in the media rich features of the PSP-3000, including Wi-Fi access to the Internet and the PlayStation Store, music, movie and Skype functionality, a built-in microphone, a brighter screen and the ability to play games and movies in digital and UMD format and you have a handheld gaming bundle suited to any player.
Set in the realm of Greek mythology, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is a single-player action game that allows players to take on the role of the powerful and iconic Spartan warrior Kratos. This new adventure picks up after events of the the original PS2 God of War game concludes, telling the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War.
In his quest to rid himself of the nightmares that haunt him, Kratos must embark on a journey that will reveal the origins of lost worlds, and finally answer long-awaited questions about his dark past. Armed with the deadly chained Blades of Athena, he will have to overcome armies of mythological monsters, legions of undead soldiers, and amazingly dangerous and brutal landscapes throughout his merciless quest.
The first God of War game developed for PSP, Chains of Olympus tells the story of the origins of the legendary Kratos…In the beginning there was darkness. The ancient world speaks of a mortal that slayed a god. But long before his battle with Aries, Kratos sought absolution from his past sins by pledging himself as a champion to the gods. These brutal crusades in the name of Olympus became legendary. The Ghost of Sparta is now ordered by the gods to journey the underworld, after the world plunges into darkness. There he must face the most feared creatures of Greek Mythology and is forced to choose between his own personal redemption and saving the ancient world from certain destruction.
“How come nobody’s ever tried to be a superhero?” When Dave Lizewski – ordinary New York teenager and rabid comic-book geek – dons a green-and-yellow Internet-bought wetsuit to become the no-nonsense vigilante Kick-Ass, he soon finds an answer to his own question: because it hurts. But, overcoming all the odds, the eager yet inexperienced Dave quickly becomes a phenomenon, capturing the imagination of the public. However, he’s not the only superhero out there – the fearless and highly trained father-daughter crime-fighting duo, Big Daddy and Hit-Girl, have been slowly but surely taking down the criminal empire of local mafioso Frank D’Amico. And, as Kick-Ass gets drawn into their no-holds-barred world of bullets and bloodletting with Frank’s son Chris, now reborn as Kick-Ass’s arch-nemesis Red Mist, the stage is set for a final showdown between the forces of good and evil, in which the DIY hero will have to live up to his name. Or die trying…
With 2GB of memory, the compact Memory Stick PRO Duo allows you to save your PlayStation Network downloads, as well as store your videos, photos, music and more.
The latest PlayStation Portable revision, the PSP-3000, has everything the older PSPs had but now includes a built-in microphone, which lets you take advantage of voice features in some games as well as the PSP’s built-in Skype functionality without having to use a headset. The PSP-3000 also includes an improved anti-reflective screen that offers higher contrast and clearer visibility in well-lit places and can even be used outdoors.
The PSP was designed to handle all varieties of applications and entertainment — music, video, communication, wireless networking, and, of course, gaming. Users will enjoy topnotch 3D games with high-quality, full-motion video, and high-fidelity audio. The 4.3-inch wide screen display is bright and beautiful, and works well under many different lighting conditions. If you prefer, you can also connect your PSP to your TV. The PSP utilizes the Universal Media Disc (UMD) for a storage medium, each of which holds 1.8 GB of data. It can also be used to download content digitally over the PlayStation Network.
The PSP gaming library is hundreds of titles strong and covers a wide variety of genres. Whether you are seeking the hard hits of football, the strategy of a puzzle game, or anything in-between there’s sure to be many games for you. The PSP is capable of graphics quality that is comparable to the PlayStation 2, but in a pocket-sized package that you can take wherever you go.
With the ability to play MP3, WAV, WMA, ATRAC3+, and MP4 files, you can easily use your PSP as an audio player. Simply place your music on a Memory Stick Duo, and you can navigate your collection using the PSP’s XMB (XrossMediaBar) to select your song to play.
With the PSP, you can show a slideshow of your photo collection with your friends by simply placing them on a Memory Stick Duo and accessing them via PSP’s XMB. Additionally, you can beam photos wirelessly to friends who also have a PSP via the device’s ad-hoc wireless connection.
With built-in Wi-Fi you can access the Internet from any accessible hotspot. Once connected, you can surf the Web and download exclusive demos and content for your PSP from the PlayStation Store. Wi-Fi functionality also allows you to battle other gamers, both over the Internet and in your local vicinity (ad-hoc).
The PSP-3000 Limited Edition God of War: Ghost of Sparta Entertainment Pack includes, the PSP-3000 Red/Black system, God of War: Ghost of Sparta for PSP in UMD format, a PSN voucher for the downloadable PSP game God of War: Chains of Olympus, a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo, a PSN voucher for the downloadable PSP movie Kick-Ass, an AC power cord and adapter and PSP battery pack.
Product Description
The Rock Band 3 MIDI PRO-Adapter provides a link between traditional MIDI instruments and the gaming consoles. Seamless connectivity with MIDI-compatible Drums and Keyboards is now possible. With a versatile clip for use on a tabletop, or attaching to an instrument or waistband, the place-anywhere design promotes total freedom of movement. An Overdrive activation button coupled with full-featured action buttons and D-Pad for in-game navigation all deliver the perfect blend of video game and real-world rocking.
Product Description
Airlink101 AWLL5077 Golden 150Mbps Wireless Mini USB Adapter
Airlink101 AWLL5077 Golden 150Mbps Wireless Mini USB Adapter
Summary [8.5 out of 10]
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The Logitech Driving Force GT PS3 Wheel is an excellent driving wheel with a good build quality at a solid price point that will satisfy any casual or avid racer. Unfortunately not every game makes correct or full use of driving wheels, but the ones that do (e.g. Gran Turismo 5) create a surreal driving experience that will satisfy any driving fan.
For the purist that must reproduce the true racing experience in his or her house, we would still suggest the Logitech G25; it is, however, more than twice the price of the Driving Force GT.
What’s in the Box?
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It’s a good sized box, about the size of a Logitech 2.1 PC speaker package. As shown on the box there was an instruction booklet, pedals and wheel (with integrated shifter).
What I was really surprised to find in the box, and it might have been a toss-in for some promotion because I don’t see it mentioned on Logitech’s site, was a full copy of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue. If you already have it, then use this copy (if you get one) as a gift I suppose. If you didn’t have a copy, you will be so freaking happy they included one, it does the wheel justice while other games don’t:
After spending time with this wheel and especially Gran Turismo 5, I would have to say that you cannot review a driving wheel, or al teast this driving wheel, without having a copy of Gran Turismo 5 to test with. The experience is so much better with GT than it is with other “arcade” racers that it’s a night-and-day difference. More on that later though under “Driving Experience”.
For anyone that has used a force-feedback wheel in the past 10 years, I think the form factor of these things has always been the same. A life-sized steering wheel attached to a tapered base that is fastened to a table or desk of some kind using clamps or grips of some kind; this is very similar:
As you can see the steering wheel reproduces all of the 17 or so buttons you find on a standard PS3 controller. The red wheel and “enter” button on the bottom right can be used for navigation and confirmation as well as in-game adjustments for games that support it (like Gran Turismo 5).
I’m not sure what the split-circle +/- does on the bottom left, I never got it to really do anything in any games.
In addition to the full-sized wheel the base unit includes an integrated shifter. The shifter doesn’t have much play up or down as it behaves more like those auto-shifters (flappers) you find on some higher end cars that let you drive in automatic or shift automatically if you want. It just clicks up or down as you are driving and a spring re-centers it when you let go. It doesn’t click “up” or “down” into position like a gear shifter, it’s more of a toggle action.
Of course you have your pedal plate. I’m a size 11.5? and the plate felt like a nice size, sturdy, good resistence on the brake and gas and my foot never fell off it or slipped off. It’s a perfect size.
I did find that the pedals stood upright a bit too vertical, so sitting in a chair and playing, my foot was always cocked up when I was off the gas or break. This made switching from gas to brake with 1 foot uneasy for me and I ended up driving with both feet instead; I just couldn’t flip from gas and then cock my foot up enough to clear the brake as I moved it over to the left to push it back down. What ended up happening is that the side of my foot would hit the break as I moved my foot to the left and push the whole pedal pad over.
I would also point out that the pedal pad would be perfect on carpet because it integrates a retractable spike-strip on the bottom of it that can click out, and dig into the carpet. On hard/wood floors like I have, it was moving around a little bit, so I secured it by pushing it up against the table you see in the picture above. I believe there are little rubber feet on it but they don’t do as good a job stopping it from moving as the carpet-spike-strip would if it was on carpet.
Keep that in mind if you are on a hard floor and don’t have a way to secure it in place, I’m sure putting it on a mat on your hard floor would work fine (like a yoga mat) or something else that will cause it to stay put.
Hooking it all Up
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As with all racing wheels since the dawn of mankind, you fasten the wheel base that everything hooks to, to a table or desk using clamps that tighten to hold it in place:
If you don’t have a table or desk that this can be fastened to, you will need to get one if you plan on using this. I lucked out in that our coffee table had a lip on it that I could hook to, but I have a friend that has a low coffee table that he hooked the wheel to that provides a lack-luster driving experience as he is bent over the wheel.
Someone else that came over to try the wheel out didn’t have a coffee table at all in front of his TV and was wondering how he would use it; my only comment to him is that he couldn’t unless he had something to hook it to.
The base unit is front-heavy with the steering wheel; meaning if you didn’t secure it to the table, it would happily fall steering-wheel-first off the table onto the ground. You can’t just set it on something and use it; it needs to be clamped down.
Also you will want it attached to something sturdy because you can get to fighting with the force-feedback and turning the wheel and moving quite a bit while racing. This could move whatever you have the wheel attached to in more vibrant racing moments; something I did with our coffee table because it has wheels on it.
For example, if you tried to hook this to a bar stool or something, I don’t think that would work out really well.
After getting the base-unit in place, everything plugs to it into sockets in the back of the base-unit, right behind the shifter. You will plug in:
* Power Adapter
* Pedal Plate
* PS3
The wire length between all 3 of these things is pretty liberal, so unless you are trying to spread yourself across your entire living room you should be OK.
The shortest connection is from the pedal plate to the wheel (understandably, since the two will always be near each other) and uses what looks like an old-school COM port connection.
In what I consider the most important connection, the base-unit to the PS3, Logitech was pretty generous. You have a 10? or 11? USB cable to connect to your PS3. In the picture above I am about 10? from the PS3 and that is about as far away as I am going to get without a USB extender.
The power adapter also had a generous lead on it, which I plugged into the wall behind me, about a 5? run total and there was still plenty of slack on that cable.
For those curious, the power adapter is one of those “huge bricks that I have to plug in and will cover a bunch of other plugs” types. The prongs themselves are set high enough on the brick though, that if you are plugging into a wall socket, you can use the top or bottom socket without blocking the other one.
If you are using it on a power strip, I’d suggest making it the last plug off the power strip so it hangs off and doesn’t block other plugs cause it will. It’s a bit bigger than a deck of cards or there-abouts in size.
Build Quality
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My gut reaction out of the box was “meh” honestly. I have used force-feedback wheels in the past and only once can I remember being impressed with the non-plastic build quality.
However, after using the wheel for a while and playing quite a few games with it, I came to find the build quality above-average. The wheel is solid feeling, it’s got a leather-wrap feel to it, the force-feedback is dynamic and consistent and the pedals were sturdy and performed well. If you want to turn the force-feedback up, the wheel can really wrestle with you, so if you like a powerful experience, you can certainly get it with this wheel.
The pedals didn’t feel amazing to me out of the box, but playing with them I didn’t have any complaints, besides the comment above about how vertical the pedals stand.
The gas is easy to depress but sping-loaded in a firm fashion to make it somewhat hard to push down with your hands. And the brake is firmly spring loaded, but in a smooth, shock-absorber way that makes it satisfying to use and feels more like a real car.
The shifter does feel a little rinky-dink because it’s just a plastic knob on a metal pole that is attached to a spring-loaded click-shift mechanism.If you want that tactile feedback, you’ll want to get the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel.
If you are a build-quality nut and don’t mind paying for you, you really should be looking at the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel; that’s more of a direct race-car replica, complete with metal parts, full shifter, clutch, etc. But it’s more than twice the price of this wheel (just a warning).
Driving Experience
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First a list of the games we tried (in alphabetical order):
* Burnout Paradise
* Dirt
* Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
* Grid
* MotorStorm
* Nascar ’09
The “awesomeness” of this wheel (and I imagine all racing wheels) depends 100%, completely on how well the game you are playing implements it.
Let that above statement sink in… you could spent $900 on a wheel, and if the game you are playing doesn’t have a tuned wheel experience, you will likely go back to using a controller.
Gran Turismo 5 is excellent, Grid and Dirt are bad; even though there are a ton of adjustments for the wheel, I wasn’t able to find a combination of settings for those two games that made them playable for me with the wheel… there is a certain amount of arcadey lag that occurs between the wheel and what your car does that screws you up in tight spots, sharp turns, etc.
You spend a lot of time spinning out and then spinning out more as you try and get straightened out on the track.
Your mileage may vary and your tollerance may vary, but this was a comment another friend of mine with the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel echoed about those two games as well. Some of the bad controls can lead to road-rage though if you are expecting a perfect-simulation-experience from all games:
I tried this wheel out, along with my wife, our friends and their children. I didn’t see anyone “not get it”, it’s pretty straight forward and accessible to anyone that has driven before. Although the children seemed to pick it up no problem and like the idea that they were racing “for real”.
While the wheel does expand the experience of driving, especially if you stick yourself in “first person” perspective in the cockpit of the cars of some of these games, bad response from some games can ruin that experience just as fast.
Conclusion
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After some time with this wheel and quite a few titles, I think I’ve come to the conclusion that if you are a Gran Turismo fan/junkie, and plan on getting it, this wheel or one of Logitech’s others is a must-get along with the game.
If you just like racing games, especially more arcadey ones, you should probably skip getting a force-feedback wheel. The wheels themselves are excellent, but they are only as good as their weakest link. If the game you are playing wasn’t tuned for the wheel you are just going to end up going back to the default PS3 controller after a while anyway so you can win races.
It’s unfortunate, but with a lot of the problem titles, I didn’t find playing with the 20 settings or so for force-feedback in most of them helped at all. Some I couldn’t even see a difference between a 1/10 or a 10/10 “Force Feedback” setting.
Areas of Improvement
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As with all our reviews, we don’t like to criticize without providing suggestions on how to improve the product, so here are our suggestions for the Logitech Driving Force GT PS3 Wheel:
* Any of the following individually (realizing that all of them together would increase the price too high):
o A clutch on the pedal pad
o Gear flippers on the wheel for easy shifting
o A Shifter that included two well-defined gears and not the small-range-of-motion up/down click-shifter that is on there now so you feel cooler throwing it into gears
* Wireless connection to the PS3 (Is that possible? I don’t know how much data is being transfered from the wheel to the PS3)
* A chart or guide that has “Best suggested settings” for the most popular driving games. You can spend a lot of time messing with the Force Feedback settings for different driving games. It would be nice to have “recommended” settings out of the box since the sampling of popular driving games on the PS3 is so small, it shouldn’t be hard to do this.
* MINOR: Easier to reach Start button (for pausing) on the wheel. The phone rang while I was playing a few times and I fumbled and crashed 3 times trying to pause the game. I can’t imagine getting interrupted while driving is an uncommon thing for a video game. Would have been nice.
* SUPER-MINOR: Working horn button, there is a horn button in the middle, and it lights up and depresses, but none of the games I tried it on did anything. This is super minor, but I like honking a lot before smashing into people.
Rating: 4 / 5