|
|
posted by malloc at 06:45 pm on 2006-10-09 |
 |
|
Madcatz MC2 Vs Joytech Nitro – Xbox 360 Steering Wheel Head-to-Head!
Product: Madcatz MC2 Vs Joytech Nitro – Xbox 360 Steering Wheel Head-to-Head
Official MC2 Website: Madcatz.com
Official Joytech Nitro Website: Joytech.net
Introduction
The Xbox 360 currently is no stranger to a string of finely polished racers including the likes of Project Gotham Racing 3 and Test Drive: Unlimited. However, videogame developers are continuing to put their foot on the accelerator and soon more quality racers will hit Microsoft’s sytem including the ultra-realistic Forza Motorspot 2.
With such games offering life-like visuals, and speed in abundance, there is always one key thing that can be taken up a gear – user realism! Thus far, two third party steering wheels for Xbox 360 have found their way onto the market from Madcatz (MC2) and Joytech (Nitro). We have taken both for the ride of their life and happily present to you a head-to-head review!
The Look
First up let’s take a look at the Madcatz MC2. It matches the creamy white colour of the Xbox 360 and in all honesty doesn’t scream out class. It’s durable and relatively strong, but certain aspects such as the sticker representing the ‘dashboard’ look as if it belongs on a young child’s toy. However, the wheel does come with a built in leg attachment which allows the MC2 to fit comfortable in anybodies lap, regardless of size! Again, the unit overall is a lot bigger than the Nitro and overall feels of lesser quality.
 
 
 
Moving onto the Joytech’s Nitro, really this one does look and feel the part. The actual wheel feels heavier in a reassuring manner, and the full rubber wheel head really gives a quality impression. The Nitro unit as a whole is generally smaller, the pedals on the Nitro may not be as big but they do not carry ‘dead air’ as in the case of the MC2 which can cause problems when trying to keep at a constant speed during a race. The leg attachment on this unit differs slightly, they are not ‘in-built’ as such, but there is a slide and click mechanism so you can fine tune your leg width.
 
 
 
Based on looks and feel alone, this round is the Nitro’s, as soon as you put the wheel through your hands it just feels like greater value for money.
Performance
Both wheels hook up to the Xbox 360 in the exact same way, through a small pedal attachment to the wheel and a wired connection to the Xbox 360’s controller port. In order to provide a fair test, the majority of our testing was conducted on the super slick Project Gotham Racing 3.
The MC2 unit worked well enough, it feels comfortable your lap and easily attaches to a desk surface via suckers. On PGR3, this wheel worked just as expected. However, one of the major flaws with the MC2 is that has absolutely no sensitivity options at all, the one size fits all approach will simply not be ideal for other racers as their engine responds differently. While PGR 3 and the MC2 were relatively well matched, a title such as Burnout provides something of a dilemma due to the loose steering. In such a situation, there is nothing you can do except return back to your tried and tested controller. . To bluntly put it, the MC2 is a simple wheel, which does a decent job, although if such loose steering is experienced as in Burnout with future titles, then this will really give you some food for thought as there will be nothing you can do to improve the state of play.
Now it’s time for a little turbo boost with the Nitro, Joytech’s wheel actually has sensitivity options! There are four levels of sensitivity which you can easily toggle between and pre-sets well suited to Ridge Racer and NFS. Again, this unit is comfortable in your lap or on the desk, but a small discomfort can be experienced as the width of the pedals are pretty small, you could find your thighs annoying close to each other dependant on your preference. There is also a stop watch option on the wheel, we’re not sure why you would need this as your race time will most likely be displayed on your screen. The pedals on the Nitro are easier to control; they are more like a controller button whereby you know the limits. There is very little ‘dead space’ and it’s a lot easier to hold your speed than with the larger and more flexible MC2 pedals.
 
The Nitro just wouldn’t be complete without a little showboating of it’s own, as you have already seen the wheel features a small LED screen which allows you to perform various functions such as changing the sensitivity options and time your laps. Now for the really aesthetic part, the wheel features a series of LED’s across the top of the wheel in strikingly bright colours, better yet these LED’s respond to how hard you hit the accelerator. To some this may be a bit gimmicky, but really we found it a nice touch and we’re sure fans of Knight Rider will be pleased to have their own mini replica of ‘kit’.
Despite all these differences between the two, one factor both have in common is the lack of force feedback. In an ideal gaming situation, when you’re driving an Enzo at 180MPH and crash into a barrier you really want to feel it, well at least slightly. The rumble on both wheels is feeble to say the least and definitely an area both could’ve improved on.
Nitro goes the extra mile to claim victory
For the extra few dollars, the Joytech Nitro wheel for Xbox 360 really gets our vote out of the two units. Superiority in the looks department alone is not what puts the Nitro in pole position; it’s really the ability to adjust the sensitivity of the wheel which will do your investment justice in the future. The Madcatz MC2 works well particularly in PGR3, but not only does it lack the sensitivity adjustment but also the additional bells and whistles which are a comfort to have. Are either of the wheels strong enough to warrant a purchase over the upcoming official wheel? In many cases of course they are as both are approximately half the retail price of Microsoft’s offering. Not to mention they both provide added realism to racing games, with the Nitro providing a greater experience and most importantly a sense of style.
MC2 Summary
+ Works perfectly with PGR 3
+ Low price
+ Decent build quality
- Lack of sensitivity options
- Weak rumble effects
- Lesser quality overall than the Nitro
Nitro Summary
+ Very comfortable to use
+ High build quality
+ In most cases useful LED screen and top lighting system
+ Sensitivity options
- Weak rumble effects
- Pedals may be just too close for comfort some leg sizes
Official MC2 Website: Madcatz.com
Official Joytech Nitro Website: Joytech.net
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
