MadCatz Xbox 360 MC2 Racing Wheel

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 7.0
  Features : 6.0
  Performance : 4.0
  Overall score: 5.5 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  David Rudden
• Edited by:
  David Carnoy
• Reviewed on: 07/12/2006
• Released on: 11/22/2005

The Xbox 360 MC2 Racing Wheel employs the same basic design that MadCatz's past wheels, such as the Universal MC2, have used, with a black-and-off-white Xbox 360 color scheme. Just about every button from the standard Xbox 360 controller is on the wheel, the only exception being the right analog stick. It's not a big deal, since it never really performs an important function--most current racers use it for camera movement. The stick's absence is a little puzzling, though, when you consider that some buttons are represented on three separate areas of the wheel.

The brake and gas pedals are analog, so the deeper they're pushed, the faster the rate of acceleration. The wheel can be tethered to a table via suction cups or left on the player's lap with retractable leg supports. While the second option is comfortable and more secure than sticking the wheel to a table, we found it difficult to access the pedals properly with the wheel binding our thighs together. That said, thanks to a healthy supply of small rubber grips on the bottom of their base, you don't have to worry about the pedals moving around while you're driving--so long as you place them on a smooth floor surface. Overall, the design is sturdy but hardly stylish--the faux-dashboard stickers give off a bit of a Power Wheels vibe. It's also worth noting that, although the wheel connects to the system via USB, you can't use it to play driving games on your PC. Our PC did recognize the wheel when it was connected, but there was no software available to get the wheel working.

We tested the Xbox 360 MC2 Racing Wheel with every car-racing title currently available for the 360, and results were mixed, to say the least. Project Gotham Racing 3 was hands-down the best performing game with the MC2 Racing Wheel--the shifting, steering, and gas controls were all quite precise--which makes us wonder why the wheel's default controls aren't synced with the game, as you have to futz around the control options a bit. Ridge Racer 6 was a solid performer, though shifting between the gas and brake so often made for a difficult ride.

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• 1.0 stars

  "Not worth the money."

  by revel8or on June 30, 2007

• 4.0 stars

  "Good wheel. It has a nice feel to it."

  by jesterdude on February 9, 2007

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