Logitech MOMO Force Feedback Racing Wheel by Logitech
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Our Price: $399.94 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $99.00 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Logitech MOMO Force Feedback Racing Wheel
Digital camera Review: Cheap Imitation
Summary: 3 Stars
Short version: This wheel is a cheap plastic imitation of its higher quality forbears. It works, but it doesn't give anywhere near the realistic driving experience the previous models gave.
Long version:
My friend bought the original, red Logitech Wingman Formula Force (...) a couple years back. I borrowed it recently to play with NASCAR Racing 2003 and loved it. The experience was quite realistic. So I thought to get my own.
First I bought the standard Logitech Wingman Formula Force GP (...), because it didn't seem the MOMO version was much different (...), and I didn't want to bother with the rebate. I thought the cheaper price reflected savings in production efficiencies. The GP wheel was shockingly different, in a bad way. The original red Wingman Formula Force has some kind of ball bearing, spring and damper system that lets the wheel turn freely, but give varying amounts of force feedback depending on the game. The original red wheel lets you feel when the wheel gets "loose", and you're about to lose traction. The new, cheaper GP version has a horrible plastic, notchy feeling, as one other review commented - as you turn the wheel it grinds. Turning seems to be a matter of grinding each gear tooth which corresponds to a bit in the control axis. The GP is not at all like a real steering wheel, when the original red wheel was a passable facsimile. The force feedback on the GP is a joke. It's like seeing a downsampled, low resolution, 8-bit version of what used to be a high resolution, 24-bit image.
So I returned the standard, cheaper (...) GP wheel to Amazon and bought this MOMO wheel hoping that the extra dough gets you that special "real" feeling. Unfortunately, the MOMO still fails. This (...) MOMO version is better than the standard GP version, but there's still a plastic notchy gear feeling to the wheel. The notches are finer, and the force feedback effects have a higher sample rate, but it's still the same fundamental cheap plastic gear feeling.
It seems that the wheel I actually wanted was the ORIGINAL, now discontinued, Logitech MOMO Force wheel with the authentic leather, steel pedals and whatnot. It probably wasn't cheap, but you get what you pay for. About.com reviewed the original MOMO wheel and commented: "One of the best features of this force feedback wheel is that there is no "notchy-ness" in the steering wheel. In other force feedback wheels you could feel the gears in the wheel which would prevent you from making smooth adjustments. This wheel solves that problem, it's very smooth."
(...)
I wish I had read that review before I bought this new, plastic version. It's surprising though that nobody had commented in a comparative review about how the steering feel has been compromised. About.com wrote: "The Logitech Momo Racing (black) wheel is a revamped version their legendary Momo Force (red) wheel. They replaced some of the expensive metal parts with plastic and even made some improvements along the way such as increasing the pedal throw and adding a manual stick shifter. The result is a wheel that is even better than the original." (...)
I beg to differ. Maybe the About.com reviewer got a different version of the MOMO wheel, because I'm surprised he didn't comment on the lack of ball-bearing feel to the new wheel. This plastic, notchy feeling to the steering in both the current GP and MOMO versions destroys the suspension of disbelief. The few reviews that said anything about the plasticky-ness, expressing disappointment, were given poor feedback. Why? Do people only want to read glowing reviews of products, regardless of the accuracy of the review?
The only thing positive to say about the newer wheels versus the original red wheel is that the pedals are bottom hinged, and easier to modulate. The new wheels are also cheaper in price. But as I've explained, the new plastic wheels are also cheaper in the quality of experience they provide. You get what you pay for.
Digital camera Review: Don't buy !!!!!
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought this hoping for some real racing fun. What I got was dissapointment however. Steering wheel never centered correctly.Downloaded multiple tweak files from various websites that said it would correct problem but didn't. Steering sensativity was never the same on different games even though settings were the same.
Example: say your racing Need For Speed Hot Pursuit 2 and you win your race and move on to another race in a championship series. The resistence on the race you just won is set to "0" and it's real easy to turn on that race. The next race is totally different though. Even though settings are the same the resistence is like going from power steering to manual steering on an old truck. Then came the real bad problem. Throttle kept messing up and then it would only go 1/2 throttle no matter what game I played or what the setting's were. On top of that Amazon only gave me partial credit when I returned in "as recieved" condition.
Digital camera Review: Excellent Product
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this wheel for some of the computer games I have for me and my son. I'm very impressed with the craftsmanship. Very solid, not flimsy or cheap quality.Digital camera Review: Excellent budget wheel!!
Summary: 4 Stars
This wheel arrived from amazon.com well packed. I mean, triple-boxed (including the retail box) and seemed in fine shape. Unfortunately, the force-feedback would fail rather quickly. Before that happened however I was able to use it and felt it was well worth the cost. Game took on a whole new dimension with this device. I played everything from GT Legends & GTR 2 to the Flatout game 2 & 3. The wheel performed beautifully. It has a great feel. Only negative I can think of is the lack of a clutch peddle. I missed that aspect of it and take off a whole star because of that. How expensive is a third peddle? Come on Logitech! Still, I can't recommend this enough. Now, after contacting Logitech about the problem I was having they told me to send it back. And amazon.com provided a refund that was quick and easy. That's why I like shopping here for online stuff because if you have a problem they will make exchange/refund simple. I ended up buying a G25 from one of amazon.com's marketplace sellers, tigerdirect. I'll review it at its listing later because the experience left something to be desired. The product itself is outstanding even for the price, but tigerdirect's shipping methods are far below amazon.coms. Spend the extra money with amazon.com if you want to make sure your product is taken care of. Use tigerdirect if you need it cheaper...but remember, the G25 is probably the most expensive PC device you will buy and tigerdirect will treat it like a crate of gourds.Digital camera Review: Excellent!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent!!! Excellent!!! Excellent!!!
There is not much else that needs to be said. Logitech is one of my favorite brands (I have always bought their products and only ever replace them if I want to get the newer better version) and I have never had or heard of anyone having a problem with their products.
If you need something and Logitech make it BUY IT! Not only is it cheaper in most cases but it is also going to be better and last longer!