Remember the first time you tried the original Microsoft Sidewinder Force-Feedback joystick (or bought one for about $140)? The clunky-yet-rubbery response? The poorly synchronized force effects that came too early, too late, too hard, too soft, or not at all? Well, if you haven't tried a piece of Force Feedback equipment in a while, you'll be pleased to know that those days are gone. The technology has been constantly advancing, and now is even a part of Direct X, thanks to a cooperative effort between Immersion (the pioneers of Force Feedback) and Microsoft. When we started our review of the three best (in our opinion) Force wheels on the market, we were fairly new to the technology, but we quickly discovered that good Force Feedback is available, and at a fair price.

The Competitors:

Microsoft SideWinder Force Feedback Wheel
The latest thing from the team at Microsoft. A compact, all black unit with the smallest footprint both for the wheel and the pedal unit.

Logitech Wingman Formula Force
A racy, red and black unit that makes you feel like you are taking the reigns of a Ferrari F355 even before you start playing.

Act-Labs Force RS
A very different-looking product from the Great White North, it's middle name is versatility.

The Test
We set the wheels up on Pentium II 450 machines under Windows 98, and played with a variety of different games: MS Monster Truck Madness, MS Cart Racing, EA's Need for Speed III, and Sierra's Viper Racing.

First up its Microsoft
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