Logitech rolls out Gran Turismo-ready PS3 wheel

Logitech this morning helped kick off a round of announcements at the Game Developers' Conference through a new Driving Force wheel. The Driving Force GT (pictured) is the latest wheel controller officially connected to Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo racing games and is the first Logitech wheel specifically tailored to the upcoming GT5 Prologue PlayStation 3 title and its eventual GT5 follow-up: a dial at the front of the wheel allows drivers to adjust real-time settings that are available in some actual cars, such as brake bias, dampers, and the level of active traction control.

The wheel also aims at simulating the experience of driving most real cars with either F1-style paddles or a shift stick for changing gears. Force feedback in the wheel is capable of simulating not just rough roads but also over- and understeer that helps gamers drive by feel rather than just by appearance. Logitech plans to release the GT in May, just weeks after GT5 Prologue's release in mid-April, and notes that the controller can work both with the PS3 as well as the PS2 with the appropriate connections.