Ah yes, the day has finally arrived. For years, PC users have enjoyed the pleasures of controlling their favorite driving sims with a realistic driving wheel while Mac users have had to struggle with the rather cumbersome mouse and keyboard setup. Now, thanks to Thrustmaster, Inc., we can enjoy driving on our Macs with a solid, reliable wheel and pedals. As you read this, Thrustmaster will have released the new Formula T2 Racing Wheel and pedal set for Macintosh, complete with software and ADB connections.
Feeling Good
The Formula T2 wheel is made from a combination of metal and plastic, with the latter by far being the most prevalent. The wheel itself measures 10 inches in diameter and is covered with an extremely 'grippy' rubber that adds greatly to a realistic feel. The circumference of the grip portion of the wheel is a whopping 4 inches, which is as thick (or thicker) than many real automobiles. The wheel’s turning radius is a full 260 degrees, which is more than you will use in a game like Nascar Racing. The wheel sits on a sturdy base that is roughly 7.5 inches deep, and 14 inches wide, this housing also accommodates two buttons and a shift lever (on the right hand side). The base can be securely attached to almost any desk, and once properly screwed on it more than stands up to a tense race situation with plenty of tugging and pulling.
The pedal base is roughly 10 inches square, with three 'slots' for pedals. Of these three slots only the brake and gas pedal are utilized, and Thrustmaster informs us that the clutch pedal might be included in future incarnations of the T2. The pedals are 'double jointed' and provide a very smooth and solid feel. I personally found the pedals to be similar to those in a real car, but Dee Warner, the reviewer of Nascar Racing, said her smaller feet had some trouble depressing the pedals without lifting her heels off the base. Still, the pedals are excellent and as an added bonus their relatively small footprint will make them easily hidden when not in use.
The gear shifter is probably the only minor disappointment in the T2 wheel. Instead of a full shifter like you might find in a real car or the arcade, you are limited to shifting only up or down. This means that the gears must be lowered or raised sequentially, which, let's face it, isn't really a hardship. The buttons on the wheel base are located just the the right of the wheel itself, and are easily reached with your right hand. As you might expect, these buttons can be programmed to do whatever pleases you.
Solid Gold
The Formula T2 Racing Wheel is a model of solid construction. When I first got a hold of the wheel I was stunned at how heavy, solid, and realistic it really felt. This is no brittle piece of equipment, it's obviously been built to last while providing a firm, solid feel. The whole setup comes in three pieces (aside from the screw clamps) with the wheel base, pedals, and actual wheel being the only major pieces. The wheel fits nicely and securely onto the base, and a notch in the circular attachment ensures that there will be no slippage when steering. The ADB cables include a pass through that will enable you to connect the T2 wheel effortlessly to your ADB chain. Ultimately, setup is a no-brainer.
Thrustware
The Thrustmaster T2 wheel comes with the Thrustware 2.0.2 calibration/strokes software which makes setting up your own control sets a breeze. The current version of the Thrustware software comes with a set for Indycar II, Al Unser Jr. Racing, Nascar Racing, and GP Ferrari. For now, this covers all the major racing games, but if need be you can easily adjust the control set as you see fit. The Thrustware software is much easier and intuitive than its predecessors, and fiddling with the sets should not pose any problems. However, the current stroke sets are excellent as is, and most will probably not want to mess with perfection.
 
Does It Make a Difference?
Does the T2 make a big enough difference with racing games like Nascar or Al Unser Jr.? Believe me, this is a rhetorical question. The wheel makes such a huge difference in the enjoyment of these games that one should not be sold without the other. I must admit, I was truly shocked at just how good Nascar was with the T2 wheel, it's difficult to describe the intangible a wheel brings to a driving game. In fact, I don't think I could go back to any other mode of control now that I've tried the wheel. Nuff said.
Baby You Can Drive My Car
When it comes to driving sims, there is nothing that can even come close to touching the T2 wheel. Its quality construction, ease of use, and relatively low street price ($149.00) make it the controller of choice for any driving game, whether arcade or simulation. If you like driving games, buy one of these, it's that simple.
