Gaming is all about the experience and with faster processors and high performance consoles like the Sony PS3, the realism can be amazing. To further enhance this experience, many driving games such as Gran Turismo 5 Prologue™, NASCAR® 09, Need for Speed™: Undercover, and Midnight Club Los Angeles can be used with steering wheels that provide force-feedback technology. Logitech has recently introduced the Driving Force Wireless system for the PS3, designed to offer simplicity with a one piece unit to minimize clutter in your living space. While some hardcore gamers who want foot pedals and the manual shifters have other options offered by Logitech, the Driving Force Wireless system places the paddles on the steering wheel for controlling acceleration and braking. The all-in-one steering system is designed to sit on your lap with an adjustable width to support both kids and adults.

The Driving Force Wireless system runs on a 2.4GHz band and includes a USB dongle that plugs into the PS3 console. A cord from the AC adapter is needed to power this unit and is the only wire required to operate the steering system. The result is a one-piece design that gives users a more realistic racing experience. Logitech has been able to produce this impressive system for under $100.

Performance
We ran our favorite racing program Midnight Club Los Angeles on our PS3 and took the Driving Force Wireless system for a test drive around the streets of Los Angeles. Having been exposed to Logitech's G25 Steering Wheel system, my expectations were high. However, I have to say that the compact design of this new steering wheel was most attractive and the performance we experienced with the PS3 was great. In many ways I prefer using the controls on the steering wheel for acceleration and braking. The only issue was getting used to a lap based steering system. As an alternative, it can be placed on a flat surface, but you will need to strap it down because the system is quite light and may move around when steering.

The force-feedback system gives the user a realistic effect when driving through the streets of Los Angeles. The wheel even snaps back to the center when you let go of it. The steering resistance completely subsides when the car gets airborne over bumps and jumps. The steering wheel also has all the standard PS3 buttons available to control the game settings without having to grab a separate PS3 controller. The system had absolutely no difficulty communicating with the RF receiver and performed flawlessly during our time with it.

Cordless Vantage™
Another aspect of playing Midnight Club Los Angeles on the PS3 is the ability to interact with other players as you drive. That's right, you can talk to other drivers as you race with them. The Logitech Cordless Vantage is a Bluetooth device ($80) that pairs easily to the PS3 and can play for up to 12 hours on a single charge. These gaming headsets add a whole new level of interaction with other players when taking advantage of the multi-player modes. We spoke to people all over the world during our gaming sessions and it never let us down. The Logitech Cordless Vantage offers users a lightweight design with good sound quality on both ends. People we spoke to during the gaming sessions said the audio quality was very good and they could hear us clearly. In addition, the Bluetooth link made it easy to connect and offered reliable and consistent performance.

Conclusion
Logitech has several PS3 products that make gaming more enjoyable and we were impressed with both system performance and reliability. We never had any dropouts or issues that made us concerned about the long-term performance of the products. The street price of these PS3 accessories are well within reach of those gamers who take playing seriously. Logitech does a great job of making sure their products perform well before they hit the street.

- Kevin Nakano

Projector: Mitsubishi HC5500 1080p LCD Projector
Screen: Stewart Filmscreen 100" FireHawk Screen on a Luxus Deluxe ScreenWall
Video Processor/Scaler: Anchor Bay Technologies DVDO iScan HD+ A/V Processor
Preamplifier/Processor: Parasound AVC-2500U THX-Ultra DTS/DD Preamp/Processor
Amplification: Parasound HCA-2205AT THX-Ultra Five Channel Amplifier
Bass Management: Miller & Kreisel BMC Mini 5.1 Bass Management Controller
Front Speakers: Miller & Kreisel S-150THX (L+R) and S-150AC (Center) Speakers
Rear Speakers: Miller & Kreisel SS-250 Tripole® Surround Speakers
Subwoofer: Two Miller & Kreisel MX-350THX MkII THX-Ultra Push-pull Subwoofers
Room Treatments: Echo Buster panels and Bass Buster towers
Set-top Box: Dish Network ViP622 HDTV Satellite and Terrestrial Receiver with HDMI
Blu-ray DVD Player: Sony PlayStation3 with HDMI 1.3
HD-DVD Player: Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD Player with HDMI
DVD/CD/SACD Player: Sony DVP-NS900V DVD/CD/SACD Player
DVD Audio/Video Player: Kenwood Sovereign DV-5900M 400-Disc DVD Changer
DVD Player: OPPO Digital OPDV971H DVD Player with DVI Output
D-VHS VCR: JVC HM-DH30000U D-VHS High-Definition D-Theater VCR
Media Server: Kenwood Sovereign MRH1 Entre
Remote Control: Remote Technologies Inc. T4 Controller
HDMI Video Switcher: Octava 4 Port HDMI/Toslink Audio Switcher
DVI Cable: AudioQuest DV-1 20m DVI-D Cable
HDMI Cables: VizionWare Hi-Wirez 20-meter, Accell 45-meter UltraRun HDMI Cable
A/V Cables: Ultralink Platinum and Advanced Performance Series Cables

Logitech Driving Force Wireless™

System Requirements

• PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system
  
• PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system

Performance

• 2.4 GHz wireless technology: Delivers exceptional control from up to 30 feet (10 m) from the console.
  
• Force feedback: Recreates bumps, crashes, and traction loss with jaw-dropping realism.

Convenience

• One-piece design: Reduces clutter and makes setup and storage easy.
  
• Expandable lap rest: Allows for comfortable game play without being bound to a table or desk.
  
• Built-in gas and brake controls: Puts precise, fast action within easy reach.
  
• AC power supply included: No batteries necessary.
  

Package Contents

• Wireless force feedback steering wheel
  USB receiver
  
• AC power supply (12-foot/3.7 m)
  
• Quick-start guide
  
• 1-year limited hardware warranty
  

Part Number 941-000036
Source: Manufacture Supplied
MSRP: $99.99

Cordless Vantage™ Headset for PS3

System Requirements

• PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system

Technical Specifications

• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
  
• Range: Up to 30 feet
  
• Frequency: 2.4 GHz
  
• Transmission format: Digital
  
• Rechargeable batteries: Charged via power supply (included) or USB cable (not supplied)
  
• Headband material: Polycarbonate blend
  
• Voice input: First-order directional microphone

Comfort

• Patented, behind-the-head design: Play in comfort—fits left or right ear.
  

Convenience

• Noise-canceling microphone: Reduces background noise for clear, intelligible conversation and voice commands.
  
• Rechargeable batteries: Delivers more than 12 hours of play time. The headset charges via USB or the included wall adapter.
  
• Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate): Provides complete cordless freedom up to 30 feet.

Package Contents

• Logitech® Cordless Vantage™ Headset for PLAYSTATION®3
  
• International voltage AC power adapter (100–240v)
  
• Installation Guide
  
• 1-year limited warranty
  

Part Number 980362-0403
Source: Manufacture Supplied
MSRP: $79.99

Logitech Cordless Precision™ Controller for the PS3

Convenience

• 2.4 GHz wireless freedom: Enjoy superior, lag-free control from up to 30 feet (10 meters) away. Play almost anywhere in your home!
• Mini-receiver: Plug it directly into the console.
  
• Power management: Get more battery life—up to 300 hours of game play on 2 AA batteries (not included). After 5 minutes of inactivity, the gamepad goes into sleep mode.
  

Convenience

• Familiar controls: Get up to speed instantly with all the important controls for PLAYSTATION®3, including thumbsticks, action buttons, shoulder buttons, select and start buttons.
  
• D/Mode setting: Allows use of the advanced directional pad instead of the analog stick.

Package Contents

• Logitech® Cordless Precision™ Controller
  
• 2.4 GHz mini-receiver
  
• User documentation
  
• 2 AA batteries
  
• 1-year limited warranty
  

Part Number 940-000018
Source: Manufacture Supplied
MSRP: $39.99

Company Information
Logitech Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
6505 Kaiser Drive
Fremont, CA 94555 USA
Phone: 510-795-8500
Sales: 800-231-7717
Support: 702-269-3457

URL: www.logitech.com

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