The smart software driver can customize the various programmable buttons as well as retrieve and save the settings as game profiles of your favorite games. On the FreeStyle Pro itself, there are two rows of three buttons each, corresponding to buttons 1-6, which are all programmable. Two triggers at the top of the controller are designated buttons 7 and 8. The button labeled START is button 9. A SHIFT button can be used in concert with buttons 1-9 to provide a second set of buttons.

The motion sensor capabilities can be toggled on and off using the SENSOR button. A two-color LED indicates the status, red is off and green is on.

The D-pad is identical in shape and feel to the SideWinder game pad. Using tilting motions: forward, aft, left and right to control movement takes some getting used to but once you it the hang of it, you'll use the D-pad only for precision work. There is also a throttle control that is within easy reach of either thumb.

The SideWinder FreeStyle Pro is best for arcade-style 3D racing games. The Need for Speed series played well with this controller, but the FreeStyle Pro really shone in Motocross Madness. Words are simply inadequate to describe the fun this controller elicits. You need to use it to appreciate it.

Racing Sims

Favoites: NASCAR 3, Official Formula 1 Racing, Need For Speed: High Stakes
Controller: A steering wheel and pedal combo

In a race car, you're not likely to be fiddling with buttons and controls. Other than shifting and braking, there aren't many functions to perform beyond driving. Keeping yourself in front is difficult enough as it is.

The grip and the tension of the wheel are important. The wheel should be comfortable and have an excellent grip. The tension should increase evenly from lock-to-lock (center to extreme) as they say in race circles. The range of motion should offer precision. In PC racing, having to cross your arms to reach opposite lock is too wide (although real rally drivers are accustomed to this technique).


Force feedback wheels should be convincing in force-feedback enabled games and undetectable when they're disabled, no gear-mesh, no rumble and no stiffness.

Big-bucks Controller: Logitech WingMan Formula Force

One look at this wheel and you'll say: let's race! This force-feedback driving wheel takes pole position in an increasingly crowded race for force-feedback honors. The WingMan Formula Force wheel grip is dressed in racing red. The 180-degree turn radius is perfect, and the clamping system is secure enough to take on the roughests kids.

The force feedback emanating from this baby is excellent. The wheel convincingly replicates every force the game developers could throw in, from the loose feeling of an uncontrolled slide of the tires on wet road, to the fierce tug of the wheel during a bad collision. The use of cables instead of gears relieves this wheel from the noise and the unrealistic feel of gear mesh that is present in most of its competition.

Shifting gears is done using euro-style shift paddles. They are easy to use and add a very competitive look to the wheel.

Its biggest flaw is the poor design of the pedals. The downward direction in which they move and the slight range of motion makes it difficult to operate with any precision. It's a shame that a good wheel is pulled down somewhat by something as simple as pedals.

Despite this, the Logitech WingMan Formula Force is neat, with cable connections at the pedal unit instead of the steering unit. You can choose to plug it either to the USB port or the gameport.

If you're interested in the feel of well-programmed forces and don't mind paying extra, this sexy wheel is well worth the price.

The "Why Not" Controller: Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital

It may seem a bit odd - recommending a joystick to control a race car. Besides the fact that it kills the realism, it's difficult to control a car with it. Or, so goes the common belief. With practice, we found out that the Extreme Digital can stick to curves like wet t-shirt on Lara Croft. This is important if you are blasting down a winding road in Need For Speed: High Stakes with a Ferrari 360 Modena kissing your rear bumper. With a steering wheel, you will need to turn it 45 degrees or so right to take a right bend corner, bring it back to center, then another 45 degrees left to negotiate the left bend up ahead. With a joystick, the movement is about 30 degrees less in both directions. Summing it up, the joystick will move only 30 degrees to take the two corners, while the steering wheel will need 90 degrees of movement to tackle the same course. At race speeds, this takes too much time!

That's why we wouldn't hesitate to use a Logitech WingMan Extreme Digital in any hardcore racing sim. The handle is confortable even when you grip it under stress, the buttons are easily configured for gear-shifting and braking. The heavy base keeps the joystick righteous even when you jerk it hard during a near-collision maneuver. While racing around NASCAR 3's Glenn Watkins road course, the Extreme Digital's precise and responsive stick provides the right input to keep the car inside its racing line at 160 mph.

Mech Sims

Favorites: Heavy Gear II, Star Siege
Controller: A joystick with rudder control.

What the heck are mechs? Think of it as battle tanks with legs. The robot-like mechs, hercs and gears have movement controls like any other vehicle. They walk forward, back, turn left or right, even strafe. They are equipped with HUDs and sophisticated fire control systems to control various weapons mounted on turrets, pods or rotating torsos.

These walking behemoths have the same control considerations as any other fighting vehicle.

The ideal joystick should have rudder control for rotating the robot's torso or turret. Besides this, look for something with lots of buttons and good programmability, so you can issue most of the commands from the joystick rather than the keyboard. The fast pace of combat in this genre will kill you if you have to glance around to find a key in the middle of battle.