During October 2015, Saitek / MadCatz came out a pack including a steering wheel, a crankset and a control box dedicated to Farming Simulator 2015. Appeared below the 200 euros mark and a victim of the accessory's success with fans, the stock shortage was not long in coming and we had to wait for a copy reserved for the press (Thank you Mathilde! ) passes into our seasoned hands so that we can finally (re) discover the favorite game of the agris.
Update on the pack
The pack consists of 3 distinct elements:
- the side control panel, comprising 24 buttons grouped together under different color codes, a directional stick (itself comprising 2 buttons), and a "button" wheel to manage the cruise control in the game.
- a handwheel rotating at 900 ° (450 ° on each side, or 1 1/4 turn) very easy to turn, without force feedback or vibration, surmounted by a knob. A large central button acts as a horn. 10 buttons (2 on the back and 8 on the front) and 2 button sticks identical to those present on an Xbox 360 pad are also present.
- a pedal unit made up of 2 pedals (accelerator and brake / reverse gear) equipped with an anti-slip system allowing it to stay in its place on the ground.
All the plastics are of good quality. Only a play in the axis of the steering wheel will shade the board. The clamping systems (with non-slip rubber pad) are very effective and never failed during the test, and yet, we are a little violent when we start to "steer" the tractor.
The return spring which centers the steering wheel when you let go is flexible enough, but be careful of the pommel stroke in the forearms when you let go.
The test platform
The copy received had neither manual nor installation CD. We plugged it in USB (Please note, 2 ports are available!) On a PC equipped with Windows 10. The equipment has been recognized and no driver has been requested by the OS. Unfortunately, we no longer have a Windows 7 PC in the editorial office to check on older machines.
Personally, we would have liked software to manage the sensitivity of the steering wheel because, as we will see, all is not rosy on this side.
On Farming Simulator
The 3 elements well placed, it is time to launch Farming Simulator. The pack that was delivered to us contains the GOLD version of Farming 2015 released on October 29th. You can read the excellent test of jeuxvideo.com which reflects our vision of the game. Note that the Gold version brings a new map "inspired by Eastern European landscapes" as well as 20 vehicles and equipment.
This Precision Control Pack confirms our first impressions (video) during the first unpacking of the beast. Small Farming players, we were starting to tire of the gameplay and the repetitive missions that were offered, but that was before… With the Saitek pack, we no longer play: we “simulate”. We rediscover the game. We try to have all the material available in the game, to test everything. Using a telescopic and catching the rounds of hay with the fork becomes a real treat, it feels like it ... except that you are warm in front of your screen in this full winter season.
The buttons are pre-configured, and pretty good. The small stick is used to control the fork, a button for the hazard lights, indicators, headlights, unloading the vending machine, etc.
Driving straight requires a little adaptation time because the rotation of the steering wheel seems exponential: you turn a little ... a little ... and suddenly "hop" the tractor starts at 90 °! We must therefore learn to dose the pommel. And this is where we would like the possibility of adjustment via software dedicated to the steering wheel (and independent of the game), because this excessive sensitivity is also found in car racing simulations.
The physics of Farming Simulator 2015 (already widely criticized) take another hit, and the behavior of a Valtra is no longer realistic as soon as you start off-piste (the desire to do Moiss'batt 'Cross inevitably itches with such a equipment in the hands).
On other games
It was good because we had a Need For Speed Most Wanted 2012 installed on the pc for lunch breaks. Seeing the stick of the control box, we can easily imagine that it would make a nice handbrake. A quick setup later, here we are trying to drift behind the wheel of a brand new Carrera 4 (for now). You might as well tell you right away, if you buy the pack thinking of sliding with the handbrake and using the knob: go your way. Also because of this sensitivity of the non-configurable steering wheel, driving a racing car is not possible without muscular training. Driving in town at 150 km / h (what an idea too…), by making 900 ° of rotation to go from left to right, is more than risky for your wrist (always this rapid return of the pommel).
To conclude, the Saitek Precision Control Pack leaves us with mixed reviews. For a regular Farming player, yes, you need this pack. It really brings another dimension to the title, and going back to the keyboard / mouse combination is cringe. If you are a casual gamer then take a look at the price side. Indeed, the law of supply and demand has passed through there, and at the time of writing, the equipment is no longer available at Madcatz and some do not hesitate to resell it. 699 euros on Amazon (game included). Taking into account the quality of manufacture and the end use of the pack, the launch price seemed correct, afterwards, it's up to you ... certain pleasures are priceless ...
(Thanks to the Minuit Douze team for the loan of the equipment)