|
 The
new Logitech WingMan Force 3D is a feature-rich force-feedback stick with
a startlingly compact form factor and a wallet-friendly price, and may
well set the standard for upcoming joysticks that balance price and
performance. In addition to
the reduced cost of the WingMan Force 3D, it’s small footprint is a
shocker. The relatively small 8-inch-by-8-inch form factor is exactly the
same as that of the non-force-feedback WingMan Extreme Digital 3D and
insures you won’t have to rearrange much to accommodate it.
Installing
the Force 3D joystick is simple—it’s a USB device, so after installing
the drivers, it’s merely a matter of connecting the AC adapter and
plugging the stick into an available port.
Unfortunately, the AC adapter's cord is a mere 5 feet in length and
there’s a massive transformer at the end of the power cord that takes up
too much space on the old power strip.
Logitech’s software bundle includes drivers, the game Castrol Honda
Superbike World Champions, and the proprietary (and elegant) WingMan
Profiler v.3.5. In addition to the seven buttons and a POV hat, the Force
3D twists for rudder control and includes a small and accessible throttle
lever on the base. Four of
the seven buttons are on the top of the shaft, configured in two adjacent
pairs. The force-feedback
capabilities of the WingMan Force 3D are provided by Immersion's excellent
TouchSense technology and proved effectively implemented in everything
from motorcycle & flight sims to a variety of FPS and action games.
The Logitech Force 3D has a better
“feel” than the aging SideWinder; the Force 3D provides high fidelity
where force replication is clean and convincing without a trace of
awkwardness, and with its force effects disabled it effectively mimics
most standard joysticks. The WingMan Force 3D's control panel allows you
to tweak the force effects' strength and dropping it down some seemed to
help with subtle effects—strong forces fared well at the default
settings.
The Logitech WingMan Force 3D combines a low price, first-rate effects,
and a compact footprint, which makes it an easy recommendation for anyone
interested in force feedback previously put off by high prices and huge
footprints. With a retail price of $59.95, it's a lotta stick for a
little bank.
--Al
Wildey |
Ups:
Comfortable, responsive
& cost-effective