Microsoft's Wireless Racing Wheel, a Q&A with Marc Whitten [update 2]

by Vladimir Cole { May 9th 2006 at 5:45PM }

Microsoft's Wireless Racing Wheel's is on display here at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood, California. I'm peppering Marc Whitten, General Manager for Xbox Accessories with questions. If you've got some questions for Marc, post 'em below in the comments. I'll hang out for another 10 minutes and get him to answer reader questions.

Here's the simple overview:

WHEN: The wheel launches this holiday season.
PRICE: TBD.
WINDOWS OPERABILITY: The wheel communicate with a Windows computer via a "wireless receiver" that can be purchased separately or that might come bundled with the wheel itself.
POWER: The wheel uses the standard Xbox 360 battery pack. That means it'll also take two double-A batteries.
FEEDBACK: Inside the wheel, there are two rumble motors (as in the Xbox 360 controller) and a force feedback system that can create tension, "spring" and other effects that either make the wheel more or less difficult to turn, depending on what's happening in game. The wheel can use all three feedback mechanisms at once, but in order to do so must be plugged in to a standard power outlet. If it's not plugged in, the wheel uses just the rumble motors. Battery life is comparable to the Xbox 360 controller.
COMPONENTS: The wheel includes: (1) a pedal base with a gas and a brake pedal -- the pedal base is wired to the wheel; (2) the wheel itself, with shift levers behind the wheel -- this unit is curved underneath for comfortable lap fit; (3) the table mount, for gamers who prefer to mount the wheel to a racing chair or a desk of some sort.
NOT INCLUDED: Dancing hula girl to sit atop the wheel.

[Update 1: added picture; update 2: removed a sentence fragment]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Don Jose @ May 9th 2006 5:49PM

Does it work with the 360 or just PC's?

ivanv4 @ May 9th 2006 5:50PM

Will Forza Motorsport(1) will support this wheel as well in the 360?

LK @ May 9th 2006 5:52PM

Where do they get those dancing hula girls?

sev4 pri1 @ May 9th 2006 5:52PM

I love it, now bring on Forza 2

Geraldo Riccardo @ May 9th 2006 5:52PM

Ask him what he thinks about Super Mario Galaxy.

Major Suckage @ May 9th 2006 5:52PM

I seriously can't wait for this. Hopefully it'll live up to what Microsoft is touting it to be.

Aliboy @ May 9th 2006 5:53PM

Q: How do you see the wheel to benefit in those who play these raccing games ?

vc @ May 9th 2006 5:55PM

A (to the Forza question): The wheel will work for any driving game that's (a) on the BC list and (b) it won't support feedback for BC games.

A (to the benefits question): "It's the most immersive experience you can have for high-def racing games."

Phant0m @ May 9th 2006 5:58PM

pgr3, test drive support?

LK @ May 9th 2006 6:13PM

Serious question:

Any Windows specific games that support or are supported by the controller?

jaemz @ May 9th 2006 6:21PM

Price? (even a ballpark estimate would help)

Will there be all the standard buttons and LEDs that one finds on the X360 controller?

Can you hook up two wheels to the same X360?

thanks...

DarkYoda @ May 9th 2006 6:29PM

HD-Drive when, how much, why USB ?

vc @ May 9th 2006 6:37PM

They wouldn't be pinned down on price... no answer there yet. You can hook up to 4 wheels to the same Xbox 360. LK -- the controller's precise integration with Windows is not yet being announced.

jaemz @ May 9th 2006 7:07PM

thanks Vlad and Marc... now if we only knew somthing about the HDMI cable / HD-DVD issue ;)

Soyeb @ May 9th 2006 8:22PM

The "spring" effect, is that just increased resistance, or will it be able to turn the wheel? You can't get realistic force-feedback without the wheel being able to turn itself. If it can't then I'll be sorely disappointed.

Logitech are coming out with a xbox 360 wheel in June. Will that do proper forcefeedback, and will it have 900 degree turning on the xbox 360?