Full review
Logitech currently makes a number of steering-wheel controllers for the PlayStation 3. The Driving Force Wireless is the entry-level model and is available now for around £60.
Design
The Driving Force Wireless is a one-piece steering wheel that, as its name implies, is wireless -- except for the power cord. It's designed to sit on your lap, with no clamping required. The gas and brake 'pedals' are flaps positioned just behind the wheel. To hit the gas or brake pedal, you pull up on either flap with your hand. Wii users should take note that Logitech offers the nearly identical Speed Force Wireless, which is optimised for the Nintendo console.
The Driving Force Wireless is simple to operate and easy to set up. You plug a USB dongle into one of the USB ports on your PS3, then connect the AC adaptor to the steering wheel, and plug it into a power outlet. For some reason, the wheel doesn't use the PS3's built-in Bluetooth, which is why you're required to use the included dongle.
Performance
To test the wheel, we sat down on a couch, fired up Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and set the wheel in our lap, adjusting the contoured, expandable lap rest until the wheel felt comfortable on our thighs. The contoured edges kept the wheel fixed to our legs fairly well, but we didn't feel that the wheel was truly secure, as we would have with a clamped wheel.
This model offers force feedback, but it isn't quite as strong -- and the wheel just isn't quite as tight -- as the force feedback on the step-up Driving Force GT, which also features a separate pedal set-up and is available for around £70. In short, if you're looking for a wheel that has a true race-car feel to it, the Driving Force Wireless probably isn't going to cut the mustard, but it definitely enhances the driving experience compared with the PS3's standard controller.
Note that the Driving Force Wireless works with the PS3 and the older PlayStation 2, as well. The full list of compatible games is available on Logitech's Web site.
In the end, the key selling point is the wheel's convenience factor. To make sure you don't lose the USB dongle, there's a compartment for storing it when the wheel's not in use. It would be good if the wheel had a place for storing the AC adaptor too but, as it is, you only have to deal with the wheel and the adaptor, so packing it up and stowing it away in a closet is easy.
Conclusion
Ultimately, whether you choose the Logitech Driving Force Wireless or the Driving Force GT comes down to whether you're willing to sacrifice some performance for easy set-up and dismantling. We suspect more people will opt for the wireless and pedal-less version. But Logitech's got you covered either way.
Additional editing by Charles Kloet