Can Gran Turismo 3 be any more real? Sure!

Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec. That video game carries a lot of weight. It has an eerie sense of realism as every car you drive will react the same as if you were driving the actual car.

So why are we still using the normal Sony Playstation DualShock 2? For one, familiarity. We didn't use any fancy controllers or wheel for the first two games, did we? NO! So why should we change?

Sony licenced Logitec's USB steering wheel and pedals for exclusive use on thier most vaunted driving game, which makes all of us skeptical on how well does the wheel/pedal arangement will affect the gameplay and realism of the game. Having not tried one (the $99 tag is outragous!), I've looked at other driving controller alternative.

Fry's Electronics in Sunnyvale, CA have GT3 on display, along with a Mad Catz handheld Racing Wheel for the PS (PSOne, really) and a wheel/pedal that was designed for the PSOne as well. No DualShock2 was in sight, so I picked up the handheld wheel.

-==- What the Hell is THIS? -==-
It looks a bit weird from afar, but once you get your hands wraped around it, you'll realize that it was designed like a radio controller. For those who played with radio controlled gas/electric gas cars, you'll feel right at home with this PSX controller. (X meaning a variable now, as it works for both PSOne and PS2). It also have the usual vibrating motors for feedback to complete the driving experience.

Once you grab it, it feels pretty confortable and solid in your hands. No rattling parts, and it is heavy enough to feel like a tool, not a toy. The purple color of the controller does remind you that it's just a game, though. You grip it like a gun, with your left hand. Your index finger is wraped around an analog trigger which SHOULD control the gas and brakes (you can map anything to any trigger buttons, analog or digital). Like in the RC cars, pulling the trigger gives you gas, while pushing it away gives you brakes. Letting it go (centering it) is basically like you are letting go of your car's pedals.

-==- Button Placement and Ergonomics -==-
Digital trigger buttons are nicely placed as well. The circle and square buttons are located under your thumb if you hold the controller corectly. They are most suitable for upshifts and downshifts since they are located right next to each other and easily accesible (remember, under your thumb!). The X button is located in a position where it is also accesible, on top. If you reach your thumb a little more, you can hit it, which makes it good for an emergency brake or reverse. The triangle is located just under your left pinky finger, where you can almost accidently hit it if you grab the controller too low in the base. This lets position allows your pinky to hit the triangle button so you can use it the same way as the X button. Last, but not least, you have the digital directional "pad" which is now a joystick on this controller. It will allow you to select tracks and move around menu items.

I consider these trigger buttons in usage/priority rank this way, and I will also recomend what to map them to (it's a preference thing):

1st priority - Trigger and Steering Wheel
Location - Left index finger and right fingers on right side, respectively.
Recomendation - Throttle, brakes, steering left and right.

2nd priority - Square and Circle buttons
Location - Left thumb
Recomendation - Downshift and upshift, respectively

3rd priority - X button
Location - Left thumb (move to reach)
Recomendation - Emergency brakes (my preference, but reverse considered)

4th priority - Triangle button
Location - Just below the pinky finger (move to reach)
Recomendation - Reverse (my preference, but emergency brakes considered)

5th priority - L1 and R2
Location - Above the X button, left thumb (move to reach)
Recomendation - Look back and change views, respectively

L2, R2, L3, and R3 are the only other buttons left. They are located near the steering wheel, which makes it easily accessible to your right hand. However, since your right hand will be pre-occupied with steering, those buttons are best left alone. Fortunately, the other trigger buttons are enough for most driving games. Who knows, maybe you can get some of these buttons to change weapons and shoot in games like Twisted Metal, though, I'd recomend a button more easily accesible for those important functions. After all, Twisted Metal does not have a manual transmission option, so you don't need buttons for gear changes.

-==- Programability -==-
Even if you have a game that has preset configurations which limits your flexability to map buttons on your controller, this wheel allows you to do HARDWARE-BASED button mapping!

Software-based controller configuration allows you to map any buttons to any functions on the game itself. Some games have preset configurations that allow you to select (like in Nintendo 64's Goldeneye). This limits your ability to map buttons to where you want.

Hardware-based controller configuration allows you to map buttons on the controller itself. This means that you can make your controller send out a triangle button to the game even though you pressed the X button. So if you have a game that doesn't allow you to configure to your heart's content, give this controller a try!

There may be other advanced programing as well, since I did not have time to check the manual. The manual is actually pretty thick compared to the usual 2-page pamphlet most other controllers include. Though it's no novel, it makes a good bathroom read. Advanced programming may allow you to program (for example) your brakes to be hit rapidly even though you are holding it down. Kind of like rapid fire. So if you want the help of ABS, you don't have to keep pumping your brakes manually. I will update this as I find out more about this controller, though.

-==- How Does it Corner? -==-
This is a question most likely asked. Since many people buy specialty controllers and end up abandoning them for the more tried and true DualShock/DualShock2. Well, fret not, as this wheel will corner better than you expected.

Like many other specialty controllers, it will take some time to get used to. However, this handheld wheel is pretty much ready to go from...well...GO! As I picked up the controller from the display, I was already lapping the other player who was using the wheel/pedal combo. Of course, that combo wasn't great to begin with. It was horrid, as you must push the wheel almost to the edge of (left and right) before it registers in the game (GT3 was being on display).

There was no DualShock2 used in this demo, so I played the computer for a while. On the Forest track, I was surprised I can make turns near perfectly! Of course, it took about 3 curves before I got the hang of it. This track is perfect for learning this control, as there isn't much sharp turns and hairpins.

The learning curve for the steering is not bad at all. The GT3 reacts the way you'd expect it to. The steeper (though still not bad) learning curve is the throttle and brakes. For those who are used to the analog button on the DualShock2, you'll realize that the travel distance for the analog button is non-existent. In fact, it feels like a digital trigger button. However, if you push let off for a bit, your RPMs will lower, but not completely (giving less pressure will drop your RPMs from redline to 3,000 RPMs, depending on how much pressure you let off). With the analog trigger on this handheld wheel, however, you must get used to the fact that there is a large amount of travel, just like a real car's gas pedal. Same goes for braking. No more "tap tap tap" for the poor man's ABS trick, as you can do critical braking easier now (once you get used to it) - the technique that allows you to brake at your maximum force, but not lock up your tires, which leads to better control from not skidding.

-==- Pricing -==-
Impressed with the way it handled and feel, I tried to find the controller at the store's shelves. I braced myself by expecting a price tag of $20 to $40. When I finally found the stack of boxed controllers, I dropped my jaws when I saw a yellow tag that read $9.95. That's right! Less than $10!

This is a real value, as it was designed for the PSOne. It works for BOTH PS2 and PSOne, which allows you to play the original Gran Turismo and Gran Turismo 2. Although it is not designed for the PS2's, and it's analog trigger buttons in mind, you can still get full use of an analog throttle/brake with the analog R3's joystick (refer to the DualShock/DualShock2 controller).

Even if you found yourself struggling to get used to this control, this is chump change. After all, if can't use it, let your friends use it while you use your trusty DualShock2! Just don't be too cocky, as they may get used to it. My brother can adapt very quickly to different controls...especially when we were on a trial and error run for joysticks for Capcom's VS games. Considered yourself warned!

But get used to it, and you're the one who will be doing the warnings. :)