Joystiq

Logitech to phase out production of console gaming accessories

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST

The third quarter of fiscal 2013 wasn't especially awesome for Logitech, despite the fact that I personally spent 30 of my own dollars on a wireless keyboard within that time frame. Whereas the same period last year saw a net profit of $55 million, Logitech posted a net loss of $194.9 million in its most recent earnings report.

As a result, some of Logitech's divisions will be scaled back, while others will be discontinued altogether. "We have initiated the process to divest our remote controls and digital video security categories, and we plan to discontinue other non-strategic products, such as speaker docks and console gaming peripherals," said Logitech president/CEO Bracken P. Darrell.

While Logitech's console peripheral business will disappear, the company's PC gaming offerings will remain unchanged. We've also been able to confirm that Logitech console accessories that have already been purchased will continue to exist, and will not crumble into piles of dust. These cost reduction measures are expected to take place "by the end of Calendar Year 2013."

Logitech to phase out production of console gaming accessories originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The tech inside the PlayStation Move Racing Wheel contraption

JC Fletcher — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST

During its E3 press conference, Sony sneaked out news of a racing wheel attachment for the PlayStation Move, which looks like something superstitious aliens would use to find ground water.

In this video, SCEA Research and Development's Anton Mikhailov details all the features that aren't necessarily evident from looking at the thing, like a series of additional rumble motors, and pivoting handles and twisting throttle functions to allow you to use it for motorcycle games. It's not just a plastic handle, even though that approach has proven enormously popular.

The tech inside the PlayStation Move Racing Wheel contraption originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony reveals a PlayStation Move Racing Wheel at E3 2012

Mike Schramm — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:46:00 EST

Sony has announced that it's releasing an official, very nice looking racing wheel for the PlayStation Move later on this year - you may recall a patent surfacing online recently. The whole design, as you can see above, is much more active than motion controller wheels we've seen so far: It's got not only a motion controller mount, but full buttons and a D-pad, and even vibration feedback. The sticks on the sides can flip up to move into a motorcycle steering mode, and the controller is compatible with both current and future PS3 racing games.

Looks slick! The wheel will be out in the fall for an MSRP of $39.99.

Sony reveals a PlayStation Move Racing Wheel at E3 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: 'LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing' to include Move racing wheel

Jessica Conditt — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:11:00 EST

LittleBigPlanet probably can't get cuter, but it can get cart-er -- LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing will be crashing into the PlayStation Move, complete with a Move-compatible racing wheel, Sony revealed at its Destination PlayStation event, as reported by Future Shop Gamer.

LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing will support full 3D, but Sony offered no further details.

Report: 'LittleBigPlanet Cart Racing' to include Move racing wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SteelSeries' Simraceway SRW-S1 racing wheel trades pedals for paddles

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST

As serious racing-simulator enthusiasts out there know, the allure of the racing wheel is almost inescapable. When your fancy is tickled by buttons, levers and switches, the only thing better than a full racing setup is the original Steel Battalion controller which, sadly, cannot be used for racing games of any kind.

Ignoring the generous amounts of space and money required to utilize a racing setup, most racing wheels are also fairly unportable, which can make showing off your new toy rather difficult when invited round to a friend's place. Enter the $120 SteelSeries Simraceway SRW-S1, a motion-based simulation-centric peripheral which abandons foot pedals in favor of gear-shift-style flappy-paddles mounted to the backside of device.

Motion controls seem like an odd choice for a peripheral aimed at accuracy obsessed simulator aficionados, but maybe 19 buttons and 3 dials affixed to the face of the wheel will be tempting enough to risk the cost of entry.

SteelSeries' Simraceway SRW-S1 racing wheel trades pedals for paddles originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Nov 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel

Randy Nelson — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST

Inside Sim Racing does not mess around. When the site got its hands on what it says is one of the first Thrustmaster T500RS units in the US (a.k.a. the official Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel), it made this epic unboxing video. Carrying a $600 price tag [Ed.'s note: Not a typo!], the peripheral is expected to ship in North America and Europe on January 5 ... which, coincidentally, is when this blogger's car payment, less than half the price of the T500RS, is due.

[Thanks, Chris]

Continue reading A serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel

A serious unboxing of Thrustmaster's official GT5 racing wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jan 2011 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Thrustmaster teases Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel

Griffin McElroy — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST

Look, you've waited 800 years for Gran Turismo 5 to arrive; don't you think you've earned the right to play the game the way God (and Kazunori Yamauchi) intended? We're speaking, of course, about playing the game using a beefy racing wheel created by the most suggestively named peripheral manufacturer on the planet: The Thrustmaster T500RS, which was recently teased on the company's official site.

Previously, Logitech's Driving Force wheel (which is currently available for the PS3) was the only peripheral to grab the Gran Turismo license, but judging by the aforementioned (GT5-branded) teaser, Thrustmaster managed to get its hands on it as well. According to Engadget, the wheel appears to be equipped with the same magnetic sensors built into the HOTAS Warthog flight stick, and is rumored to hit retail at around $500. Thrustmaster hasn't revealed any official details quite yet, but promises more information will surface during CES 2011.

Thrustmaster teases Gran Turismo 5 racing wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Best Buy offers $20 racing wheel with purchase of Shift, DiRT 2

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST

If you're looking to acquire a PS3 steering wheel peripheral before the release of that one racing game, Best Buy's got a pretty sweet offer for you. If you purchase Need for Speed: Shift or DiRT 2 through the retailer's online storefront, you can knock $60 off the price of the Logitech Driving Force Wireless Wheel, bringing its cost down to a mere $20.

There's no telling how long this deal will be available, so if you're in the market for discounted circular gaming peripherals, you should probably put the pedal to the metal.

Best Buy offers $20 racing wheel with purchase of Shift, DiRT 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Logitech Driving Force wireless wheel half-price at Best Buy

Xav de Matos — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST

Logitech's PS3 and PS2 compatible wireless racing wheel is currently on sale at Best Buy for $49.99, half the peripheral's regular price. While the Driving Force Wireless isn't the best wheel in the manufacturer's catalog, it features compatibility with a plethora of racing titles and Force Feedback. Logitech's higher-end models feature 900 degrees of rotation, better build quality and enhanced Force Feedback, but demand beefier price tags. If you're looking to add an inexpensive wheel to your regular gear-head gaming sessions, this could be the wheel for you.

[Thanks, Ashish]

Logitech Driving Force wireless wheel half-price at Best Buy originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii gets first force feedback wheel from Logitech

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Driving, Peripherals

We know what you're thinking: Gawd, another Wii Wheel? But this one actually does something, we promise. Now, why anyone would jump to purchase a $100 peripheral for a $250 console is the real question that needs answering. (Cough, cough.) But if you truly believe that force feedback is necessary to impress your non-gaming friends the next time they come over, then by all means, check out Logitech's "Speed Force Wireless" Wii wheel when it goes on sale in November. (Warning: Not guaranteed to protect against blue shells.)

Gallery: Speed Force Wireless Wheel (Wii)

Wii gets first force feedback wheel from Logitech originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC08: Logitech unveils Gran Turismo wheel

James Ransom-Wiley — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:56:00 EST

Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Driving, GDC, Peripherals

Want the perfect prologue to sim racing's most-distinguished brand? Tack another $150 onto that $40 download, as Logitech has unveiled the official, and pricey Driving Force GT racing wheel. Engineered specifically for Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (but compatible with GT4 and GT5 on PS2), the Driving Force features requisite force feedback, plus a new 24-position realtime adjustment dial (see -- it's red!), so you can fine-tune the brake bias, traction control and damper settings on-the-fly. Brake bias? Damper settings? Just point us to the boost button!

The Driving Force GT wheel is "expected" to ship in May.

Gallery: Logitech Driving Force GT Wheel

GDC08: Logitech unveils Gran Turismo wheel originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Feb 2008 12:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft discounts Wireless Racing Wheel to $99

Dustin Burg — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: News, Peripherals

Happy day racing fans, because Microsoft is spreading the holiday cheer by announcing that they've cut the price of the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel to $99. W00t to that!

The 360 Wireless Racing Wheel peripheral previously retailed for $129 (before that $149) and now, with a $30 price drop and plastic that doesn't start on fire, the wheel is ready to take over PGR, Forza and NASCAR fans' living rooms. Then again, this racing wheel bundle has been discounted at retailers for the past few months and, in some cases, selling for even less than $99. But who cares, it's an official price drop and if Microsoft says a $99 Wireless Racing Wheel is a good deal then darnit, you're obligated to buy. That's just how it works around here. Vroom!

Microsoft discounts Wireless Racing Wheel to $99 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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