Logitech G25 & Playseat Cockpit
 

I got a G25 on Saturday - the best PC peripheral ever.

And a PlaySeat Racing Cockpit Seat 2 weeks previously - It all happened by accident really - one day we were working on the Zero to 60 magazine and the next thing I knew we were standing around filming some guys driving in front of a widescreen flatpanel TV as we began filming the pilot of the Zero to 60 TV/Video/DVD show... ;) (<-- news scoop :P)

So, anyway, while we were filming the video game sequences, someone commented how "It would be cool if these things had clutches and H-gate hifters"... so I replied, in true geek fashion "Logitech has a G25 with blah blah blah specs fancy buzzwords blah blah..."

But of course to driving game fans the presence of a clutch and H-gate has always been a desire that one had to pay dearly for - only he best custom made controller included them, and even then, they are not PS2 compatible.

So there I was at Fry's Saturday - when they are unpacking a bunch of G25's - I did not know they were even available yet - and they were a surprise delivery as well - with supposedly 2 month backorder.

Well - new gadget, 2 month backorder and the "low price" of $299.00 meant it was not really possible to go home without one.

http://www.playfeed.com/blogimages/logitech_g25.jpg

So, add this to this:

http://i.walmart.com/i/p/00/67/95/79...01_500X500.jpg

and this:

http://ak.buy.com/db_assets/large_im.../203000378.jpg

And you can see you can have some serious fun

This peripheral is the best made PC (and PS2) add-on ever.

Period.

Bar none.

It is so well made, with the leather and the polished metal foot pedals and the brushed aluminium paddles and the leather booted shifter and all, that it even ahs a new car smell ;)

It seriously makes the Logitech DFP look toylike.. (well only because of the crappy pedals the DFP has - The Logitech Momo Ferrari wheel has some of the same metal bits the G25 has - so they could have made the DFP this good if they wanted to)

I can imagine they will have a special GT5 edition with fancy leather and engraving etc - but it will probably (I hope) be the same wheel.

Playseat
This this is awesome - at $245.00 it wasn't that cheap, but if you ever want to introduce Console or PC driving "games" to non-gamers and convince them these are "simulations" not games, you need a seat setup like this so they will take you seriously ;)

The frame is pretty solid and the seat seems well made and decent wearing for now - the wheel mount is sturdy enough to take the abuse that a DFP driver delivers - but the dual motors of the G25 actually rock the stand a litte - but that adds to the "ambiance" ;)

The foot plate was designed with the DFp in mind, and the G25's huge solid pedals need an extra clamp to keep them in place - Velcor just doesnt cut it.

The seat folds up for storage, so when your girlfriend/wife/mom gets home you can give her the living room back when you are done :P

Those of you living in your parents basements may want to just setup the thing downstairs as it is pretty bulky to keep carrying around ;)

The G25
Oh boy - wow - amazing - dammmmmnnnnn.

Actually, to let give you an idea of just how good this thing is, I reinstall GTR and GTL and got around to trying out GTR2.

The added realism of wrestling a BMW CSL around Laguna with a clutch to add to the mix is unbelievable.

The newfound ability to either double clutch or heel and toe (Thanks SDFMALEX for showing me the missing config :P) at will as you wrestle a car around the North Loop - or the added "fun" off being able to shift from 5th to 3rd as you negotiate the chicane at Donnington...

... and then accidentally mis-shift to 4th instead of 2nd as you drive out and get passed by a Lotus... in your Mosler is awesome.

The wheel offered almost as much enhancement to the PS2 games... except not having a clutch now bothers me :P hehe

I simply leave the shifter in H-gate mode and go through the "gated motions" even though it's a sequential shifter on the PS2.

The other awesome feature is that the brake, gas and clutch all ahve dfferent spring strengths.

Of course, the "next ultimate controller setup will be force feedback gear box and brake pedals.

That way wif you miss time the clutch, the shifter wont select a gear and as the race progresses your brake pedal might get mushy - but what we ahve today is awesoe...

..especially for the price of $299.00

It's a bit cheaper than the current crop of "super custom controllers" and it's PS2 compatible.

This is my current setup
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1...ide1kj7.th.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2200/g251ag6.th.jpg

Close-up pf the Wheel, SHifter and Pedals
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4...eel1iu5.th.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5...als1ug6.th.jpg

Highlighting the differences between the G25 and the DFP - not the change in pedal plate size - too big for the race cockpit and needed some clamp help
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4...lsvskm1.th.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/1...lsvsgk0.th.jpg

So. did we really drive the RT12 and CTR in the flesh - or just the PGR3 versions...?? ;) :P

Sounds awesome and i too now want one. I did mange to get a similar setup myself barring the H-gate. Using my DFP and a spare set of pedals from an old wheel, i used the accelerator of the old pedals as the clutch, and had a joystick as a sequential shifter. It was all a bit heath robinson, but similarly, the joy of double de-clutching a Racing Ford Capri on GTL before throwing it round a corner sideways and feathering the throttle was immense.

That H-gate and all those metal bits do look rather tempting. Wheres my debit card?

Nice review as well man!

Nice lucky bastard. Does it work with the 360 or the PC? Or just PS2.

Anyways how much was that TV? and what the spec on it like contrast ratio , resloution, types of connections it has and so on. Why I ask? If it cheap I might get one for my room :D

The flatpanel TV was only used during the filming - I have a regular 50" projection TV at home that am using for home based goofing off ;)

I will post pictures of the setup this evening.

It works with the PC and the PS2 - I guess I forgot to talk about its use in GT4 and Enthusia.. :P

Haven't bothered trying with the XBOX360 - I don't see how it can work though, as Micro$haft have made the XBOX360 USB implimentaiton as closed as they claimed to have made the PC version open... :P ;)

Added pictures to the review in the first post.

for the first time ... im jelous :lol:

damn you RC :-/ :bah:

i want that wheel :cry:

Damn that setup looks pretty awesome, and surprisingly not too expensive either. Great review RC, and thanks for including pictures of the 'rig'. :D

Very nice RC, been thinking about buying one too since Im planning to have a Video Projector soon but being a student money really is the issue :P

so finally RC45
u got it...
congrats...

i spend hours playing without feeling the time 8)

Nice setup mate, I never tried running any games/sims on my tely. Got a 42" rear projection my self...but I happy with this widescreen LCD.

The wheel is awesome...must wait till next month to order one though :(

awesome reading.. even better looking :twisted:
(mental note to self, set 600 USD aside for mandatory PC gear..)

RC, now you just need that 103" HD Plasma :wink: :lol: :twisted: (i trust you have a nice sound system to go with that all.. ;) )

as for GTR2 pretty nice.. still having some issues over here with my momo wheel..
most cars seems to be moving too fast.. slightest turn of the wheel and i'm on the grass, tried to add some dead zone, but maybe that wasn't enough, still need to play with the settings.. and damn it i hate playing with settings.. :? why cant they make something like a "wheel settings" or something simple like that.. :?
anyways..
congrats! and great review :good: (0-60 was a great read too ;) )

Awesome man, been waiting for my G25 for a while now. It'll take some time though, coz I "pre-ordered" it a little late thru Amazon. Anyway, is it possible for you to youtube a video or something for us, while playing a GTL or GTR2 lap? Would love to see the Wheel ForceFeedback TurnSpeed. And what about the Noise? Quieter than DFP I presume?

Thanks for the Pics, Brilliant Setup too! :)

im in the process of getting this. Selling my DFP before it becomes widely know about G35 existence... Got the 43" Pioneer plasma now just need seat! I fukin hope this works with PS3 and no other better one comes for PS3 in at least a year.

Bump... for fellow racing craz Canadians

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index...550&cid=PE.468

/\/\/\Oh man!!!! Dammit! Now I have no excuse not to get it.......


Blah must get it this month.

Not much of a warranty there ;)

Reason: Chinese computer parts chain. :wink:

Regardless, I am abusing my GT Pro wheel like crazy and it's still going strong, I am sure this one will only be better and more durable. If it last 30 days, it will last till a better one comes out LOL.

Looks very nice :D And the all stuffs are less expensive than a RUF :wink:

That setup is very cool it must be said. If I had the spare money I would love to have the wheel and chair. Just one question RC. The wheels itself. does it work better with the force, and feedback? Do you feel more connected in a sense?

Looks really good. I have never driven stick in a LHD country. I recently moved to the USA and just got a nice track car and a membership to a local track so I need to get adjusted with my right hand to change gears. I am going to buy the g25 and a playseat to practice (been driving SMG in VR and in real life for last three years so my manual skills have deteriorated) but have one question: did you find the H to be in the right position. It seems right in front and not the side as it normally is. Are there any adaptors for the playseat (Want to get the A1GP) that would enable me to adjust where the H goes (ideally low on my right front side so I can simulate my car's cockpit faithfully)? Appreciate your help.

I'll be picking up a G25 today.

Well I got it and its very nice.

I believe this is my 6th wheel in what 4 years and I gotta say, this package could be sold for over 500$ :wink: It is that good.

HOLY CRAP! :shock: thats one kickass toy you got yourself :drool: I can only imagine what is it to drive those games that are made today :P

http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...ALEX/G25_1.jpg
http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...ALEX/G25_2.jpg
http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...ALEX/G25_3.jpg
http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...ALEX/G25_4.jpg

I'll take some full setup pics later

You still thinking of getting rid of the shifter?

Dunno man, I was thinking of getting rid of the pedals, putting them on ebay or something.

The shifter I could use the buttons on the console, and can use the sequnetial for brake balance. Looks like a usefull peice of kit.

The pedals however I could get rid off...they are nice, but if I can pull 100$ might aswel let it go.

i kno what im gettin for x-mas

So this should be the setup for at least 3 years...

Hardware shouldnt change from this point on.

http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...nal_setup2.jpg
http://www.is-mad.com/upload/userfil...inal_setup.jpg

Nice!! Did you get it from Canada Computers?

Yes sir, best price ;)

is it just me? cant see images from is-mad Alex :? they just wont load

Its ok here, maybe you got some DNS problems.

other than internet where can I buy a Playseat, any specific stores ? in the US of course

I hate to drag this back up...but I am also looking for a PlaySeat...I'm in Canada.

I just installed GT Legends. Full graphics on it plays great. Now I just need a wheel and some pedals.

Anyone wanna sell me theirs? ;)

I do have a spare Logitec MOMO... i don't indend on selling the DFP anytime soon

Buy my DFP, my DFP pedals were never used either :D

If you can make a deal better than what I can find on eBay, let's do it.