Xbox Steering Wheel

While it is true that a name brand Xbox steering wheel controller is the best bet, there are alternative brands available. Some may save you a few bucks and some may not. Quite a few electronic manufacturers have these available in all game formats, but the Xbox is the most popular by far.

Mad Catz is the front-runner in gaming accessories. Their technology is right up there with that of Microsoft. That makes the interface seamless and completely invisible. By selecting a Mad Catz Xbox steering wheel controller, you are getting as close to the same quality as possible as an Xbox brand controller. The wheels have rubberized grips for increased handling and performance. Most are adjustable as are the brand name Xbox steering wheel controllers. Usually, a pedal unit is included and an optional gear shifter console is made available for manual transmission driving game lovers. This gives the user a realistic experience at a sometimes better price. Not always, but sometimes.
 
Other manufacturers of gaming devices and electronics also have started making Xbox steering wheel controllers available. Companies like Logitech have entered the gaming device market. Logitech is well known for their mouses and wireless devices like keyboards as well as web cameras and many other devices that make our computer lives more personable and manageable.
 
Many of these alternative brand Xbox steering wheel controllers even have the button controls on the wheel. So if you really do not want to switch the controller out to play a different game, like a shooter or superhero game for instance, you have that ability. Just use the buttons as you would a regular hand controller and you are playing in a heartbeat.
 
The only difference between these and an Xbox steering wheel controller is the wire connections. Microsoft has three wires tipped red, yellow and white. Just connect like color to like color and you're done. Mad Catz, Logitech or other manufacturers of the controllers may use different color connection tips - usually red, blue and green. This is not a big problem; it just takes a couple of tries to get the right configuration.
 
One factor that figures in here prominently is the cost. Like anything else, you can get a full system set or just a controller. The full sets will include all wires and connections with instructions (normal), a foot pedal unit for brakes and acceleration and maybe even batteries in some cases. Other kits may include an optional wheel and a gear shifter module to drive the virtual car as a manual shift type.
 
Whatever the Xbox steering wheel controller you decide to get, be assured that you will be receiving a realistic racing/driving experience. The responsiveness of the alternative Xbox steering wheel controllers has gotten much better in late years. You will not know the difference between a brand name Microsoft Xbox steering wheel controller and one of these alternatives.
 
The real difference is cost and the alternative Xbox steering wheel controllers can be as much as 30% less than the Microsoft ones. With no real difference in responsiveness and connectivity, this is ideal for cost conscious gamers everywhere.

All of us that enjoy Xbox racing and driving games want a realistic experience. The only way to do that is to use an Xbox steering wheel controller. The benefits of a steering wheel controller over a hand controller are pretty varied and we will see that here.
 
Using hand controllers in Xbox driving games
Using a standard hand controller for a driving/racing game can be frustrating at times. The buttons and sticks are factory configured to operate specific functions of the car. For instance, "X" could be brakes, "A" could be accelerator, "B" could be clutch and so on. The cross pad or thumb stick will control direction of the car, effectively acting as your steering wheel.
 
The problem with this is that it is too easy to hit the wrong button at the wrong time and lose whatever you are trying to achieve. For gamers playing on Xbox live, that can be massive. The idea is to amass your gamer points with wins or places. Brake when you should accelerate and that could knock you out of the running.
 
The other thing with using a hand controller for a driving game is that there are combinations of buttons that perform certain functions that are easily done otherwise. These are easy to forget and may be overlooked when in the flow of a game. See the point I am making?
 
Yeah, a hand controller gets the job done, but not as easily as an Xbox steering wheel controller does.
 
Using an Xbox steering wheel controller in Xbox driving games
Now, the main benefit here is a realistic driving or racing experience. However, the truth is that the virtual car is easier to control. Instead of buttons, levers, and thumb sticks, you have a steering wheel, pedals and an optional gear shifter for stick shift Xbox game aficionados or purists.
 
The use of an Xbox steering wheel controller puts you IN the driver's seat. You see the landscape and react as you would normally as a driver. The overall experience is real time driving one. Shift properly and you can drift the lead driver; make a mistake and you could crash or blow the engine. Yeah. The possibilities are real and can happen just like in real life.
 
All this is possible without the worries of all those buttons and sticks of a hand controller. You accelerate, brake, shift and steer in real time. A natural, real time driving or racing experience is exactly what the Xbox is all about. Use an Xbox steering wheel controller for the ultimate driving game fun.
 
So if you are like me and absolutely LOVE driving or racing games AND you want a real driving experience, use an Xbox steering wheel controller. You will find that you feel as if you just won the Grand Prix. The excitement is real and when you're done with a race, your heart will be racing and your adrenaline will be pumping. A real racing high.

Lovers of driving and racing games have one desire in common. That desire is to have a realistic experience while in game. The revolution of the Xbox game system has brought that to the forefront more than ever with the Xbox steering wheel controller for their driving games. This has several benefits over the use of a standard hand controller, as we will see here.
 
A name brand Xbox steering wheel controller is the most viable responsive option for this. Many users have stated that the Xbox brand responds better to the commands than a hand controller. It has been said that the other brands available sometimes lag in responsiveness and this can result in a crash or loss of a race level. For those of you playing Xbox live and amassing gamer points, that is a huge issue.
 
Connection is easier for the Xbox steering wheel controller as well. Microsoft uses a standard three wire connection red, yellow and white tips. All you do is plug like color to like color. The plugs are the same on the Xbox console and the back of your TV or monitor. Very simple so even the technologically challenged can do it properly the first time.
 
Man of the other manufacturers of steering wheel controllers and gaming devices use different color tips on the wires. This can, and has, caused confusion with inexperienced users. Connect the wrong color wires and there is no signal to the monitor or TV. It is not clear if this may cause damage to the console, but it is possible in some cases.
 
Another benefit to using an Xbox steering wheel controller is that they can be found in different styles. If you prefer a standard steering wheel, it is available, but if you really want a racing experience, then a racing wheel can be found just as easily. Not just racing wheels in general, but Ferrari wheels, Jaguar wheels and several other infamous performance car styles.
 
The Xbox steering wheel controller usually comes with the wheel and a floor pedal unit with accelerator and brake pedals for the ultimate racing/driving experience. The floor pedals are connected to the rear of the steering wheel console by a hard wire unless the unit is wireless, of course. If you prefer to drive your car as a stick shift, an optional gearshift addition is available separately. The game itself has a setting for automatic or stick shift. Just select the one you want and use the appropriate controller.
 
Microsoft has designed the Xbox steering wheel controller to give their users the most realistic driving experience possible. So why use a lesser brand or knock off?  The look is realistic, the feel is phenomenal and the connection is simple. The responsiveness is also the best anywhere and gets you through the levels of the game easier and faster.
 
For the best gaming possible with Xbox driving and racing games, use a name brand Microsoft Xbox steering wheel controller.