Customer Reviews

Conecpt 4 Racing Wheel for Use with Nintendo 64 Video Game System

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I've used this wheel for 3 days now and am somewhat disappointed in its performance. I am using it with Gran Turismo 2 (bar none the BEST racing game ever and the reason I got the wheel) and it has slow responses. I was originally using Interact's Ultraracer handheld wheel (awesome controller - 4.5-stars and extremely responsive which is what I like) and it is night and day. The Ultraracer turns in, centers and countersteers instantaneously. The Concept 4 is so slow that it causes you to turn too late & run off the road, overcorrect, and totally "get behind" in steering. I gave it a couple more tries in tweaking before I returned it because it is an extremely well built wheel. I adjusted the sensitivity in the game and on the unit (programming and adjustments are very easy to do) a number of different ways and I got it to a point that it is responsive enough to be at least competitive in a race but it takes some concentration and familiarization of the courses. The Concept 4 is superb at long sweeping turns and good in tight sinlge turns but throw in an "S" or chicane and you can hardly keep the car going where you want it to go and you'll get passed by the AI cars. I loved everything else (well, maybe not the "F1 style" shifters - poor shape and functionality) like the feel of the thick rubber coated wheel, great button placement, adjustability and high quality construction. The pedals worked flawlessly, has great resistance and doesn't easily move on the floor. The "shock" effects are solid and strong and can be powered externally w/ A/C adaptor so that you can run two Conecpt 4's together and have shock for both. The wheel is adjustable for height and tilt which makes it easy to use on your lap, under you legs or clamped/suctioned to a table. Some more tuning, button remapping and just plain getting used to it and I think (hope) that this wheel will be my main racing controller. I hope so cuz it's a cool looking wheel with a lot going for it. If not, I can always go back to my highly recommended Ultraracer.

I wrote a review months ago about how totally insensitive the V4 wheel is (gamer from sidney, Ohio). I compared it unfavorably to the V3 I have for my PC, and to the old atari paddles. Unfortunately, I didn't know what I was doing with it when I wrote that.

As noted by another, more patient reviewer, the V4 works fine if you take the time to get to know it. After studying the manual like a textbook, and then studying the manual for GT2 the same way, I discovered that the problem was with the GT2 manual, not with the wheel. The manual does not make it clear how to go about calibrating the wheel to remove the dead zone. Find the dead zone in the calibration, and remove it (you may have to move the center to +1 or -1 for the quirks of your particular wheel). VOILA - sensistivity!

As noted, you can't get both sensitivity and force feedback in GT2. I could get it for Test Drive 5 just fine - until the force feedback conked out.

For some reason, a "dead wheel" feel is the default. That and the speed with which the feedback broke are why I now give it 4 stars instead of 5.

It is a great racing wheel.I woulden't think about not buying this racing wheel.

I've been playing racing games since Indy 500 first came out on the original Atari system. After 15 years off, I recently discovered I can still make it around the ice tracks flat out. This wheel, however, isn't even as good as the old Atari hand-held paddles. As noted by other reviewers, the reaction is so slow as to be debilitating. I don't understand why, when the V3 on my PC works so much better. The only reason I gave it even one star was because of the look/feel/programability. All of those features are very cool. But the game play is what concerns me with any controller I buy, and this will be the first one I take back. Really wish I'd taken the 10 minutes to check the reviews here before I bought it.

The wheel is rather heavy due to the motors inside and yet the case seems very light. Not a great combination, but with care it is just fine. I don't like the notch in the middle of the wheels travel. It is suppossed to help you find the center position but it can be a real pain. It is good if you have never tried anything else, but if you have, consider carefully.

First, I am a HUGE fan of racing games. As any avid racing game lover knows, nothing compares to outrunning cops on the road at 160 mph. The Concept 4 Racing Wheel simply adds more to the excitement!

Now, not only are you tearing down the road at break-neck speeds, but you feel every bump in the road as the Vibration Feedback" kicks in. The rubberized steering wheel feels like an Indy car wheel. The Stainless shift levers are straight out of World Rally Championship.

The pedals are just as good. The break pedal, much like a real car, is stiffer than the throttle. And the pedals are spaced the same as an actual car!

The wheel either connects to a table, or you put it between your legs. The only problem with the wheel is it might be too small for larger-sized people. I weigh over 200lbs, though, and it doesn't bother me.

As mentioned in previous review, the feel and quality of this wheel are great: nice rubber wheel, good pedals, nice controls.

Also mentioned w/r/t GT2 (yes, awesome game), the wheel might have insensitive response. I assume the reviewer was using it in Sony mode (analog 2) where force feedback works. However, I believe that's a function of GT2 interpreting the control as a Sony analog controller (i.e., joystick controller). I believe GT2 does that on purpose to make the typical analog joystick work reasonably as a steering wheel.

In contrast, when I use the Concept 4 in Namco mode (analog 1) where force feedback does NOT work, the steering is very sensitive and responsive. Once the steering is setup properly, the wheel is quite amazing. It would be perfect if it supported force feedback in Namco mode.

FYI, Namco mode is steering wheel specific, and GT2 recognizes the Concept 4 as a steering wheel (whereas the Sony gets no special treatment).

My official rating would be 4.5 stars but halfs weren't available. The missing .5 points would be for the lack of force feedback in the (precision steering) Namco mode, and the difficulty of configuring it (partly nature of beast, partly Concept 4, partly GT2). The instructions are actually quite useful including how to remap buttons, pedals, and shifting paddles. In this case, it's a good idea to read the instructions to get the most the Concept 4 steering wheel.

I bought two more for friends.

This looks and feels real good, but there is a couple inches of play in the steering wheel before you can actually turn which hinders the overall gameplay. I don't know what they were thinking when they designed this because to me that would be the first thing I would look at. I wouldn't have bought this if I knew how bad the steering is. If the company fixed this problem then I would definitly buy a new one, because everything else about it is great. But it makes racing games about impossible to play because of it's two inches of space before you can turn.

This wheel feels and looks great. Unfortunately, I've been through two of them in 5 days, and both lose their calibration during gameplay. I've used it with F1 2000 and Gran Turismo 2, and it happens with both games. I set up the calibration with the wheel's controls and the games', and every time, after about 30 minutes or so, the wheel starts to go off-center. At first it's not a problem, but it gets continually worse until I have to hold the wheel about 45 degrees to the left in order to go straight. So all in all, that makes it pretty useless for these great driving games. I really love the look and feel though, I just wish the thing worked!

purchased this item for son's Christmas present & it did not work. Returned the item to PriceCooler 45 days ago & have not received credit for the return. PriceCooler will not return calls or emails regarding such. Buyer Beware!!!