While the old faithful pair of keyboard and mouse may be king and queen when it comes to certain gaming genres like shooting and strategy, they can’t compare to the controller when it comes to racing games. Then, sitting at the top of the mountain is the physical racing wheel and pedals.
This sim racing gear can be a tough nut to crack for newcomers with many bad experiences had across the hobby with cheap imitators offering what can only be described as cheap toys instead of reliable hardware for racing at home.
As always Logitech has a product on the market right now that you can buy in South Africa. For those on Xbox it’s called the G920, and the PlayStation players have the G29. Those on PC can use either, and this is why you’d want to.
The G920 and G29 are quality products, something you will literally feel the first time you use the steering wheel as it’s covered in hand-stitched leather.
That’s not the only quality material used in the construction here with a steel steering shaft, anodised aluminium wheel spokes, brushed stainless steel shifter paddles and glass-filled nylon for the mounting clamps, just to name a few.
That’s just what you can see and touch on the outside with the real magic happening inside. The wheel has not one but two motors working in tandem to to provide an authentic driving experience complete with force feedback so you can not only feel the weight of the vehicles you’re driving, but the subtitles of the road surfaces too.
You can see an X-ray shot of the double motors in the header image above.
With 900 degrees of rotation and a hall-effect steering sensor to accurately match the wheel position, and you’re not left wanting here.
The wheel doesn’t come alone, however, as the G920 and G29 come with adjustable floor pedals as standard.
This extra unit has three pedals, much to the chagrin of our American friends, allowing for the realistic use of the clutch.
These pedals come with the same great building materials with cold rolled steel used in the frames and arms and rushed stainless steel on the pedal faces.
it’s a shame that quality construction is underfoot but that’s where you’ll want it with features like a patented carpet grip system and a nonlinear brake pedal.
The Logitech G920 (Xbox and PC) and G29 (PlayStation and PC) are available right now.
The G920 and G29 both come with shifter paddles right behind the steering wheel, but there’s another option for those who prefer an actual stick for your shifting.
The Logitech Driving Force Shifter is a six-speed, short-throw standalone unit that makes a perfect accompaniment to your racing setup.
With solid and satisfying shifts into each gear, there’s also hand-stitched leather around the knob and boot meaning a familiar touch for G920 and G29 users. The rest of the construction here is also steel for longevity.
The ability to engage reverse with a push-down function helps if you go off the race track, or you simply prefer to play slower games where parking and positioning are a bigger part of the experience.
All three of these items from Logitech also come with sturdy mounting systems, which work great both on desks and racing rig setups that have dedicated seats.
