Posted December 31, 1969 by Scott Parrino

For many PC gamers, it is all about control. If you can?t control your character, your plane, your car, then the game is lost and no one wants to lose. We gamers want nothing but precision in our controllers so that we can get that edge over the competition. For those who like the feel of speed and the thrill of racing, Saitek offers up the R440 Force Wheel that is not only a great save on money, but high on quality and the added fun of force feedback.

At first glance, the R440 looks like any other steering wheel. It is circular, has buttons, and shift pedals that provide all the necessary control at your fingertips. For your feet you have two pedals that can serve as your gas and brake. This is overall a very simple design that doesn?t look complicated nor difficult to use. That is Saitek?s way of their products and has been evident all the way through their product line. The standard color of the R440 seems to be the sleek black with stylish gray rubber grips and bright yellow and red buttons, which prevent any confusion amidst racing. There are also a series of lights that light up in conjunction with the amount of force you?re using to steer or fighting against in the game. Pretty cool I say!

Installation of the R440 Force Wheel was a snap. Plug in the cord from the pedals to the steering wheel then plug in the power from the wheel itself to a convenient outlet. Then all you need is a desk that can hold the wheel and it?s clamp as well as the floor space for the pedals. Once you have the wheel secured, you install the SST software (if you chose to) and then plug in the USB plug to your preferred port.

That said how does the R440 fare under usage? Well I tested it under GTR FIA Racing, which seems to be a pretty good standard for PC racing simulation. Control of my Ferrari was very clean and aside from my own mistakes of trying to see if this sports car can race on dirt, did not experience any jerky control through any faulty USB connections. The grip on the steering wheel felt very comfortable and almost natural as my own wheel in my truck. After playing for a few hours and getting sweat on my hands, the grip didn?t falter nor feel slick afterwards. The amount of force that you would get from the wheel differs in many situations, ranging from tire blowout to slamming into a wall at 150 MPH. The R440?s force feedback is great for the true racing feel as it can also simulate the rush of acceleration and corning. If you have a problem with the amount of force you?re getting back or fighting back, you can always turn it down in the software provided (explained below). The only problem I had with the steering aspect of the R440 was that due to its force feedback motor, it makes noise as you steer and can require some force to steer, so you can?t just lazily steer as you would in a regular automobile. The shift pedals behind the wheel were very easy to reach and didn?t need much of force to use them. They gave a soft activation feel with no loud click noise, which were great for late-night races. The buttons required some reaching but I contribute that to my hand size.

The pedals were something different however, and did not operate like how other steering wheel combos would. Instead of working like a pushdown pedals that you would see on MOMO pedals, the R440?s pedals are akin to rotary flappers. If you don?t understand that part, I recommend looking at the picture, then you?d get it. While this setup may seem odd looking, it was a definite advantage. The pedals did not require a full foot to press down on them and not much resistance, so you could easily use these pedals with just your toes. From the looks of it this style can last longer and less prone to abuse (such as my heavy footed brother).

Saitek provides with all its products the SST (Saitek Smart Technology) software to customize the controls specific to profiles of the user?s choice. While helpful for hardware of multiple buttons (like the X52) the R440 doesn?t have much buttons to necessitate the use of the SST software as most racing games can handle user customization of the 4 buttons, 2 shift flappers and pedals.

Overall the R440 Force Wheel is a great piece of hardware for racing enthusiasts who want to get that much closer to the racing feel. The price is great ($80) for those who want the feeling of force feedback and pedals to spice up their gaming experience. Saitek as always provides quality hardware so do not think that you?re buying something that can easily break or wear out with use. I definitely recommend the R440 Force Wheel if you?re in the market for a lower-priced wheel and pedals for your PC.