/personal tech/hardware/

The force (feedback) is with WingMan

By Eric Griffith

You haven't really played a game until you play with force feedback. Not that wimpy vibration stuff you get on some PlayStation controllers—we're talking about feeling the stutter of a Gatling gun spewing bullets, the impact of an explosion as you walk into a minefield or the buck of a motorcycle as you hit the ground after a flying jump.

For that, you need a real force feedback controller, and the Logitech WingMan Force 3D fits the bill.

Logitech (800-231-7717) kept the joystick's size manageable, and its price affordable at $59.95.

This WingMan has all the controls you need for maneuvering vehicles, planes or soldiers, including a twist handle for looking or turning left and right and a throttle control for speed increases. Programming a joystick can be challenging, but the Logitech software makes it easy with simple pulldown menus for each button. The WingMan's downside is that it needs a separate power cord—it can't pull enough power from the USB port. But giving up that extra outlet is worth it for the gaming realism Logitech WingMan Force 3D can supply.

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Logitech
www.logitech.com