1. Preparations before buying a steering wheel: Familiarize yourself with common terms
Please note that currently, all domestic brands' steering wheels have poor support for "Racing OL". Either the default functions are abnormal or they simply cannot be used. Many people have already tested them out. Currently, only international brands like Saitek and Logitech offer support due to their excellent driver programs.
An increasing number of people have discovered that using a steering wheel is an extremely enjoyable experience, especially when turning corners, as it offers better control. Recently, police missions have been added, and for those using a steering wheel, these missions are much easier to handle. They can control their speed well because the pedal throttle on the steering wheel is variable. Therefore, more and more people are starting to buy steering wheels to experience the fun brought by the game. Choosing the right steering wheel is something you need to consider. Now I will introduce from three aspects: low-end, mid-low end, and mid-high end:
First, let's familiarize ourselves with some commonly used technical terms:
Simulated axis: The left and right movements of the steering wheel, throttle, and brake are usually referred to as simulated axes. However, if they are not controlled by potentiometers, they are generally not called simulated axes.
Potentiometer: This is the device that controls the simulated axis, i.e., the left and right movements of the steering wheel, throttle, and brake. Some low-end steering wheels do not use potentiometers, so there will be no finesse, making them similar to keyboards.
Finesse: This refers to the level of detail in the performance of the steering wheel's simulated axis in the game. A good simulated axis follows a pattern such as 1, 2, 3~100. The finer the finesse, the more accurate and smooth your operations will be.
Accuracy: This refers to the precision of the steering wheel's simulated axes. A good steering wheel will always keep its pointer centered without any deviation and will not exhibit pointer jitter. Potentiometers can maintain accuracy within about 3% deviation, and slight pointer movement is acceptable. However, all deviations should be minimized as much as possible.
2. The most common classification method: Low-end / Mid-low end / Mid-high end
Low-end
Many low-end steering wheels do not have simulated axes for their left and right movements or throttle and brakes; instead, they function like buttons. Only when you turn the steering wheel and touch the switch does it respond. This is why low-end steering wheels are cheap. Coupled with poor craftsmanship and unpleasant feel, these steering wheels are no different from using a keyboard, and in some cases, even worse than a keyboard. For example, if you turn the steering wheel to the left and trigger the switch, the car will go left. To go right, you need to turn the steering wheel to the other side, which takes time. With a keyboard, you just release one key and press another, making it much easier to operate than a low-end steering wheel.
The price of such steering wheels is generally below 150 yuan. Buyers are usually first-time users who are unfamiliar with steering wheels. These steering wheels often compensate for their shortcomings by having many buttons.
Mid-low end
These steering wheels are much better than the ones mentioned above. Generally, they use potentiometers to control the simulated axes (left and right movements of the steering wheel, brakes, and throttle). However, some only partially use potentiometers, like using buttons for brakes and pedals. It may look like an axis, but only when you fully press it down will it respond.
The left and right movements of the steering wheel usually still use potentiometers. This means you can turn it as much as you want, but it might not be very precise or detailed. There could be intervals of around 20-30 units, and over time, deviations may occur. However, potentiometers come in high, medium, and low grades. High-quality potentiometers offer excellent precision and detail. A high-end potentiometer generally costs around 60-70 yuan, and a steering wheel needs three potentiometers. These are just three components inside the steering wheel, so from the price of the steering wheel, you can also tell whether it uses high-quality or ordinary potentiometers.
This type of steering wheel is currently the mainstream choice. The feel is average. The price of such steering wheels is generally between 150-300 yuan.
Mid-high end
Good steering wheels use optical control, such as Saitek's R220 and R440, and Logic's MOMO. These use optical control, offering very precise control and fine details. Moreover, they never wear out and provide excellent feel. These steering wheels are made by world-renowned manufacturers. These products generally don't have too many fancy function keys, focusing on professionalism and practicality. Buyers of these steering wheels usually have previously owned low-end steering wheels or are regular gamers who understand steering wheels to some extent. They are people who have consulted many professional players. The price of these products is generally between 300-900 yuan.
There are also ultra-high-end models, but I won't discuss them here. These steering wheels generally cost between 1200-5000 yuan and are chosen by absolute simulation enthusiasts rather than casual gamers.
3. Important issues to note: The difference between force feedback and vibration
In addition, the steering wheels mentioned earlier did not specifically mention force feedback (also known as haptic feedback) and vibration. Since "Racing OL" does not support vibration or force feedback, I will explain the difference between force feedback and vibration:
Force Feedback
Currently, there are mainly two companies with this technology: Microsoft and Immersion. The most authoritative is Immersion Corporation, including Microsoft, which has abandoned development in this area and turned to Immersion Corporation. Force feedback comes in many levels, such as vibration-based force feedback, tactile-based force feedback, interactive-based force feedback, etc.
Tactile-based force feedback is one of the higher-level force feedback technologies.
Vibration
In academic terms, vibration technology is also a form of force feedback, but it belongs to the lowest level. It is a relatively open technology that many companies can produce. Among the technologies of Immersion Corporation mentioned earlier, there is a vibration-based force feedback technology, which is the highest level in vibration technology. However, currently, apart from a flight stick by Saitek and some products by Logitech, no other companies are using this technology because it is quite expensive. Therefore, most companies either develop their own or use public technology.
In games, vibration mainly manifests as shaking. At most, it can differentiate between light and heavy shaking. Some low-end products have very poor vibration quality, basically starting to shake wildly once you enter the game until you exit. Such products are often jokingly referred to in the industry as "health care products," meaning massage devices, not for gaming, but for leg or waist health care.
Remember: Currently, in China, only Logitech and Saitek use real force feedback. Others are fake and are not true force feedback but merely vibration or slightly advanced vibration. Using Immersion Corporation's technology is considered the absolute top-tier force feedback technology. On their official website, Immersion Corporation lists the names of companies using their technology.
4. List of dealers and important driver downloads
Users purchasing Saitek and Logitech products can refer to the following list of dealers:
Saitek dealer list:
http://www.uniluk.com/info/Contact_jingxiaoshanglst.htm
If there are no dealers in your local area, you can purchase through nearby dealers.
Saitek product introduction and prices:
http://www.uniluk.com/product/PC_gamewheel.htm
Saitek technical service forum:
http://www.saitek.com.cn/sesupport/index.asp
Game peripheral product technical service forum. If you have any questions about Saitek game peripherals, you can ask here. Also, please check other posts in the forum first because many questions have already been answered.
Saitek R100 setup method for the online game "Racing OL" and actual pictures of the new 2005 version R100:
http://ctr.bbs.joyzone.com.cn/viewthread.php?tid=48677
Please download the R220 driver package from the following address:
ftp://ftp.saitek.com/pub/profiles/files/r220update.zip
First, insert the R220, and the system will automatically install the default driver. After installation, execute the update driver according to the prompts, and the operating system driver will automatically upgrade. When the "Update is preparing to update your device" installation screen appears, unplug the USB interface of the steering wheel, wait 2-3 seconds, then reinsert it, and click the "Next" button. After the installation is complete, you have two choices: 2Daxis/3Daxis. Please choose 2D axis or 3D axis based on different games. Currently, the online game "Racing OL" requires choosing 3D. Supports Win2K and WinXP.
Don't regret not reading! R440 one-key gear shift setup method
R440 one-key gear shift setup method, users of R440 and R100 will regret not reading!
The instructions in the compressed package include the driver installation method and the SST software setup method for the online game "Racing OL." If you play other racing games, you only need to check the driver installation.
Download address one: http://www.saitek.com.cn/down/R440.rar
Download address two: http://www.uniluk.com/download/R440.rar
Author's prepared configuration file for the online game "Racing OL" download address: This configuration file allows one-key gear shifting.
Download address one: http://www.saitek.com.cn/down/ctr.rar
Download address two: http://www.uniluk.com/download/ctr.rar
The file is small, only 2K. After decompression, place the ctr.dat file in the R440 driver installation directory, usually C:\Program Files\Saitek\Software.
5. Solutions for many steering wheels not working
Since "Racing OL" is a 2-axis game, many steering wheel drivers do not support it, lacking adjustment modes for 2-axis and 3-axis. Some settings are not supported at the chip level. To solve this, there are two methods: (1) The game makes changes; (2) The steering wheel manufacturer modifies the driver or even the product.
However, most steering wheels can be recognized in "Racing OL," but they do not recognize the throttle and pedals. If you have purchased such a steering wheel, it would be a pity to leave it unused. We should try to make use of it. You can operate the throttle and brakes by pressing the buttons on the steering wheel. Normally, "Racing OL" defaults the throttle and brakes to the buttons on your steering wheel. If they are not set by default, you can change the settings using this software.
Download address one: http://www.chinatigers.com/download/joytokey3.7.8.zip
Download address two: http://www.saitek.com.cn/down/joytokey3.7.8.zip
This software is easy to use. You just need to set the corresponding keyboard keys in the appropriate positions.
First, go to the test page of your gaming device in the Control Panel - Game Controllers. Check the test page of your gaming device to see how the buttons correspond. That is, check where Button 1 is on your device and where Button 2 is, etc.
Then open this software, and you will see Buttons 1, 2, etc. For example, if you want to set Button 1 of your gaming device to the brake, first find out what the brake is on the keyboard, say 'A'. Then double-click Button 1 in the software, a window will appear, and input 'A' in the yellow position and click OK. Set the other buttons similarly. Then you can enter the game.
If you want to test whether the settings you just made are effective, there are two methods: one is to enter the game and play to find out. Two is to open any Notepad or document, then press the buttons on your gaming device, and the letters you just set will appear. For example, if you set Button 1 to 'A', pressing Button 1 on the device will display 'A' in the Notepad.
However, I must particularly point out that since "Racing OL" has many errors, even though you set the buttons, they will not replace the originally defaulted buttons but will exist simultaneously. For example, if you use the R220 steering wheel, without setting anything, Button 1 in the game defaults to the brake. Even if you use the software to change Button 1 to zoom in on the map, in the game, when you press Button 1 on the steering wheel, both braking and zooming in on the map will happen simultaneously.
Therefore, for the "Racing OL" game, if you want to use this software, you can only set the buttons that were not originally defaulted to make it work.