Thrustmaster T500 RS: no compromise

About ten years ago I dreamed of a game steering wheel with feedback. But then I was an insolvent teenager and could not afford such a thing. Therefore, like 99 percent of young fans of car simulators, I drove along virtual routes using the arrow block noname keyboard. Over time, this became a habit, and the craving for the game "steering wheel" somehow subsided by itself. But here recently the next part of the NFS called Shift 2 Unleashed was released, which is impossible to play with the keyboard: it is designed for analog control, and if you press the left arrow, the wheels spin out to the stop, press up - the “slipper” is sunk into the floor ... In short , I took advantage of the connections and took the Thrustmaster T500 RS racing kit for testing. And now I’m torn between the desire to acquire it and the understanding that 20k is too much ...

What is what?

In general, this steering wheel was developed specifically for the Gran Turismo 5 simulator and came out exactly a month after the start of sales of the game - on the eve of Catholic Christmas to the delight of all PS3 owners, fans of the series. And the trick is that this is actually a practically complete car simulator - everything is so monumental and uncompromisingly done.

Design and ergonomics

Just go and buy this system Thrustmaster does not work. And I do not mean the impressive amount that will have to be paid for it. In addition to twenty thousand, it would be nice to have a real car, because the whole set weighs so much that it is difficult to carry it on your own. The steering wheel itself pulls 4.6 kilograms, the pedal block - another 7.3 kg, plus a kilogram power supply, a thick manual on a pile of languages ​​and all kinds of small things. In short, about 15 kg in a huge uncomfortable box.



However, all these kilograms allow you to fix the structure on the table very reliably and not be afraid of the integrity of the kit. It’s better to be afraid at the table, because inside the steering unit there is an industrial motor running at 3000 rpm, which creates a very plausible illusion of a resisting steering wheel. The “under the skin” coating adds realism (for such grandmothers they could really sheathe it, indeed!), The very real diameter of the “donut” (30 cm) and 17-centimeter chrome paddle shifters that attach in an adult way to the base - and allow you to change gears even in corners.



The pedal unit deserves special attention. These 7.3 kilograms stand firmly on the floor on flat rubberized legs and do not even think to move. Clicking on grooved racing pads is a pleasure, the sensations are really very similar to those that you experience while driving a real car. And especially pleased with the opportunity to adjust the force for the brake and the freedom to choose the pedal attachment: top (a la GT) or bottom (a la F1).



And the manufacturer said that he intends to release a manual gearshift lever in addition to this kit, so that the third pedal will not stand idle. True, it is worth noting that the T500 RS for almost six months, and the accessory still does not work.

Mount

In the meantime, until the lever hit the store shelves, you can play like that. First, attach the steering wheel to the table. As I already said, it is better to choose a table strong and heavy so that the device does not swing it much, and then the pleasure of the game is lost - “go” and you’re afraid that the tabletop will not fall on its feet :) This thing is attached with just one complete clamp, but if you tighten it properly, nothing should fall off. At least I had everything ok. After that, pedals are connected to the steering unit using an RJ-15 cable, all this is powered from the network, and only after that (important!) Is connected via USB to the computer.

Connection

As I said, the gadget was developed primarily for the PS3 and it connects to this console without problems: it is immediately determined, and you can go to the track. But with a PC, not everything is so smooth. Anyone who wants to make friends with this computer steering wheel will have to sweat a little. After connecting the T500 RS to the PC, it’s better to move away, since the steering wheel starts to spin furiously at all its 1080 degrees during calibration (in the future, the number of revolutions can be limited with the help of a motorized stop). Hands inside at this moment certainly should not be poked, which is carefully reminded of in the instructions. But the universal drivers that Windows will be able to find will not be enough. You will need to go to the manufacturer’s website (thrustmaster.com) and download newer software from there. The only problem is that most likely these "firewood" will also not be enough for correct operation. The device will be determined both by the system and all games, but I didn’t have the final drivers working on the pedals on either of the two computers (both running Windows 7) and in one compatibility mode. They were perceived simply as buttons - no matter how you press, it’s still either full forward or full backward. The problem was solved only after installing not yet posted on the official websitedrivers labeled RC , which I got through the PR department of the company. The question is, what would an ordinary user do in this case? Bought a PS3?

Impressions

But after everything finally worked for me, the annoyance at dancing with a tambourine went away, as in fact this thing is simply unrealistically cool. When you pick up a quality thing, you immediately realize that it is made in good faith. Here it is the same. If you do not take into account the problems with the software, otherwise this steering wheel is ideal. Recognized by all games (tested on Race Driver: GRID, NFS Shift 2 Unleashed and Live for Speed).



The 65-watt engine fulfills all the collisions and bumps in the road as if you were actually sitting in the seat of a racing car. And the game reacts to steering wheel turns exactly as you want it. Thank you for this HEART technology (HallEffect AccuRate Technology), which uses magnetic sensors that give out 65,536 steering wheel positions. And yes, due to this, over time, accuracy will not fall. Plus, on the entire surface of the steering wheel additional buttons are evenly distributed, which, of course, can be customized as you like.

Summary

I think the Thrustmaster T500 RS is pretty damn good! I would probably buy it if I liked computer games in general and racing simulators in particular. But my moderate passion is not enough to cope with innate thrift. I’m not ready to spend 20 thousand rubles on a steering kit that has problems with drivers for the PC and has a rubberized coating under the skin, while the cheaper analogs are covered in genuine. No, this monster is meant for PlayStation owners who love the Gran Turismo series. And I, perhaps, will go to the store for the Lodzitek "donut".

PS If something specific interests, ask - I will try to answer.