Posted April 02, 2012
Back in the mid-to-late '90s I used to have a "joystick" controller from Interact that was called something like a "racing wheel controller". No, it was not a steering wheel per se. It did not mount on your desk: you held it in your hand.
You held the body of the controller in one hand (left for me) and there was a small rubber wheel mounted on the other side, that you worked with your other hand (right). It had some buttons on it, of course, but I forget the configuration. I used to love</span> that controller! I remember playing games like Powerslide and Ultim@ate Race Pro with that controller.
I also remember playing the original Mafia, and when you got to that mission where you had to race around the race track I could NOT DO IT with the keyboard. I must have replayed that mission 20 times before remembering that Interact controller. So I plugged it in and I immediately won the race on my very next attempt!
But I think that controller was the oldschool pre-USB type, that used to plug into your soundcard! Remember how soundcards used to have a D-sub connector for plugging in joysticks or MIDI sound modules? Ah, those were the days... not all of them good. Joystick calibration through those input ports was a major headache, for developers and gamers alike.
Anyway, the question is... does anybody make a similar controller for today's PCs? I have an "ok" steering wheel controller I bought last year... a Thrustmaster Ferrari GT. Despite costing only $39 it's a HIDEOUS MONSTER that takes up waaaay too much space, both on your desk and on the floor with the foot controls (although I don't need the foot controls). I'd love to find something like that old Interact you could just hold in your hands, but assuming that one was pre-USB I can't plug it into my PC anymore.
If you have any suggestions for SMALL handheld controllers with a wheel for driving, I'd love to hear about it! The Interact was about the size of today's TV remote controls. I suspect there are R/C cars and trucks that probably have a similar controller.
You held the body of the controller in one hand (left for me) and there was a small rubber wheel mounted on the other side, that you worked with your other hand (right). It had some buttons on it, of course, but I forget the configuration. I used to love</span> that controller! I remember playing games like Powerslide and Ultim@ate Race Pro with that controller.
I also remember playing the original Mafia, and when you got to that mission where you had to race around the race track I could NOT DO IT with the keyboard. I must have replayed that mission 20 times before remembering that Interact controller. So I plugged it in and I immediately won the race on my very next attempt!
But I think that controller was the oldschool pre-USB type, that used to plug into your soundcard! Remember how soundcards used to have a D-sub connector for plugging in joysticks or MIDI sound modules? Ah, those were the days... not all of them good. Joystick calibration through those input ports was a major headache, for developers and gamers alike.
Anyway, the question is... does anybody make a similar controller for today's PCs? I have an "ok" steering wheel controller I bought last year... a Thrustmaster Ferrari GT. Despite costing only $39 it's a HIDEOUS MONSTER that takes up waaaay too much space, both on your desk and on the floor with the foot controls (although I don't need the foot controls). I'd love to find something like that old Interact you could just hold in your hands, but assuming that one was pre-USB I can't plug it into my PC anymore.
If you have any suggestions for SMALL handheld controllers with a wheel for driving, I'd love to hear about it! The Interact was about the size of today's TV remote controls. I suspect there are R/C cars and trucks that probably have a similar controller.
Post edited April 02, 2012 by tritone
