Gamester Race Pac Review (Xbox, PS2)

In-Game Performance

Performance is the most important part about the Gamester Race Pac and it performs surprisingly well. The wheel has a wide range of motion governed by some fairly strong springs that make you work a bit when you want to turn really sharp. The springs are much stronger than any other wheel I have used, and I have to say that I rather like it because it almost makes you feel more connected to the whole setup and to your car in the game since you have to putt a little more effort into it. It is also nice to be able to adjust the steering sensitivity while you are racing thanks to the smartly placed buttons on the wheel. The pedals are responsive and perform just like you would expect. On a matter of pure in-game performance, I’d say the Gamester Race Pac is on pretty much the same level as any other Xbox wheel other than the force feedback Speedster 3 wheel.

Construction, Durability, and Adjustment

In-game performance is only half of what the Gamester race Pac offers, though, and the construction and performance of the physical pieces of the setup deserves a look as well. The seat seems thin, but it is nicely padded and is actually quite comfortable to sit on. The wheel/pedal assembly troubles me just a bit, though, and it isn’t really all that solidly put together. Everything folds out into an A frame with the wheel at the top and the pedals on the far leg, which means that while you are using the pedals you are putting a lot of pressure on the top of the “A” and I can see that piece potentially breaking after a while.

Also, while the setup gives you a fair bit of adjustability, it seems like it is built with shorter people in mind. The further out you put the pedals, the lower and further out the wheel has to be, and there will be a point where it just won’t be comfortable for some people. Heck, I’m only about 5’6” and it was a bit of a struggle to find a compromise between wheel and pedal position. You don’t want your legs to be straight out. You need a little knee bend so you can rest your heels on the ground and then press the pedals with the top of your foot. And you don’t want the wheel to be too low, because it would cause your arms to fatigue faster and wouldn’t allow you to react as quickly as you need to. And, of course, if the wheel is too low your knees wouldn’t have anywhere to go. I’m not saying taller people can’t use it and won’t find a comfortable position, but it is definitely a lot easier to use and adjust if you are shorter.

Bottom Line

Overall, the Gamester Race Pac is a fairly decent wheel, and any shortcomings it may have in terms of construction or adjustability are countered by the fact you get a comfy seat, it performs very well in-game, and you don’t have to worry about the pedals sliding all over the place. Also, you can find it for less than $50 at a number of different online retailers (I got mine from Woot! For $30), and for that price you definitely get your money’s worth. It is also pretty cool how it folds up and adjusts, and is almost like a little Transformers character you can sit on. My only other complaint with the Gamester Race Pac is that it is made for Xbox and PS2 instead of the next-gen systems. This isn’t all bad since there are a ton of great racing games for these systems, but using this with Forza 2 or DiRT on the 360 would have been lovely. Here is hoping a next gen version comes along at some point. If you are a Xbox or PS2 racing game fan and are looking for a new wheel at a decent price, though, I highly recommend the Gamester Race Pac. It is a clever take on an old problem (sliding pedals) and performs very well.