Logitech
Wingman Formula Force
Nov,
1999
Sometimes
seeing is not believing, and this wheel makes you feel the need for speed.
The WingMan Formula Force is the first force feedback steering wheel entry
from Logitech, makers of excellent wireless keyboards, trackballs and mice.
The Formula Force is just one of the many excellent game controllers offered
by this company, among them, the Wingman Force joystick and the Gaming Mouse.
Like all steering wheels, the Formula Force comes in a gigantic package. E-Scape
is among the first to try it, having pre-ordered it a couple of months before
it came out. Gamers seeking the excitement of racing with a force feedback
wheel will be delighted to know that the Formula Force (about PhP6,000) is
now available in some of the better computer shops in the Metro.
Easy to install
The
Formula Force has a unique cabling. Instead of the wheel unit being the central
point of connection, the pedals are now the main connection point. This is
a better mousetrap since it does away with ugly black cables snaking all over
the desktop.
The wheel unit clamps to the desk using a twin clamp mechanism that accommodates
up to 60mm (2 3/8") desks. The clamping system is both simple and effective.
It's essentially two legs that extend out from the bottom lip of the wheel
unit and extend upward to make contact with the bottom of a desk surface.
The contact surface is lined with high-traction rubber, and there's a knurled
screw on each unit to tighten each clamp down. The mount is secure enough
to withstand rough handling, even by the most rambunctious of kids.
The pedal device goes under the desk, of course. A cable connects it to the
wheel unit, and then to the computer (the cable has both a USB and serial
connection).
Ahh… a dream come true!
The
wheel is a 10" three-spoke design. There are two small silver buttons on the
top spoke. On either side of the wheel, on the backside, is a euro-style gear
shift paddle. The paddles extend almost all the way out to the inside edge
of the wheel. Each is wide enough to fit four big fingers if necessary and
appears to be constructed ruggedly. The wheel itself is wrapped in sporting
red, giving it an extremely competitive look.
The Formula Force turns silky-smooth. Thanks to cable drive technology, there's
no sensation of gear mesh and no clunking sound inside the case, just a positive
feeling of control.
The force feedback is generally good, but this is very much dependent on the
game. In a well-implemented game (like Motorhead), you get a feel of engine
rumble, a feel for the road (slipping and sliding) and all the other forces
like wall impact, crashing into a car or getting rear-ended.
The
pedal unit is big and shaped in a half-oval with a 10-degree angle. It's made
of smooth-textured high-impact plastic which is studded with diamond-steel
look ridges. The accelerator pedal is a little larger than the brake pedal.
Each pedal rides on a different axle, and each axle is offset forward and
back by about an inch. In application, the pedals each have its own radius
which makes them feel more realistic. The pedals that push downwards won't
tickle the fancy of anyone but old Volkswagen owners as far as looks go. The
pedals could use some design revision. There is not enough travel and resistance
on either pedal, making precision footwork impossible.
Other pedal units are notorious for having a mind of their own, running away
as they slip and slide on the floor. The rubber stoppers on the bottom of
the Formula Force pedals do a good job keeping the unit in place on short
carpet. But on tiled floors, the pedals will still slip a bit. All things
considered, and other reviewers may disagree, the pedals are OK.
This wheel is absolutely worth the money the makers are asking for. It does
exactly what they say, and even more. It's well-made, durable, and even a
little sexy. Driving with the Wingman Formula Force in hand is a dream come
true for any racing sim fan. 
Review by M.B.Reyes
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