Saitek Farming Simulator Wheel, Pedals, and Vehicle Side Panel

By Atlas on June 15, 2015 in Daily News, Hardware

Saitek, the popular PC peripheral manufacturer, and GIANTS Software, the creators of Farming Simulator 15, have come together to create a bundle of specialized gear to give you a “finer degree of control” inside GIANTS’ farming simulator.

The hardware includes a wheel that gives you 900 degrees of rotation in both directions and turn knob, gas and break pedal base, as well as a Side Panel complete with a front loader control stick and multiple programmable buttons.

A Closer Look

Make Your Farm Thrive

Wheel with 900 Degrees of Rotation for Maximum Realism
Removable Turn Knob for Easier One-Handed Turning
Center-Sprung Wheel Contains all Controls for Out-of-Vehicle Activities
Vehicle Side Panel with over 25 Programmable Buttons to Operate Your Farming Equipment
Loader Stick with Up/Down/Left/Right/Twist Action and Mode Button that Doubles Control Axes – Ideal for Logging
Low-Profile, Ergonomic Designs Sit Close to the top of Your Desk
Durable Clamps Attach Wheel and Vehicle Side Panel to Your Gaming Area

Product Specs

The Market-Leading Brand in Simulation Hardware
900 Degrees of Wheel Rotation for Maximum Realism
Removable Turn Knob for Easier One-Handed Turning
Center-Sprung Wheel Contains all Controls for Out-of-Vehicle Activities
Low-Profile, Ergonomic Designs Sit Close to the top of Your Desk
Gas and Brake Pedals Enhance Immersion
Over 25 Programmable Buttons Give You Total Control of Your Farm
Loader Stick with Up/Down/Left/Right/Twist Action and Mode Button that Doubles Control Axes to Enable 6DoF – Perfect for Woodcutting
“Set and Forget” Cruise Control Speed Dial lets You Focus on Your Vehicle’s Attachments
Mod-Friendly Designs are Ready to Control Your Custom Vehicles
Durable Clamps Attach Wheel and Vehicle Side Panel to Your Gaming Area
Backed by a 2-Year Limited Manufacturer’s Warranty

Room to Grow

GIANTS Software is constantly adding vehicles and features to enhance your farm sim experience. The game contains over 140 authentic vehicles and tools, with even more in the works. Saitek has made sure the Vehicle Side Panel is ready to handle any of the game’s vehicles and tools. And courtesy of 25 programmable buttons and switches, the side panel is essentially future-proof. The solidly built Vehicle Side Panel is an essential tool for helping you grow bumper crops for years to come.

Worth It?

With a hefty $299.99 price tag, the bundle will definitely put a dent in your wallet. Saitek is unquestionably a leader in PC gaming peripherals with a mostly solid reputation, barring a scattering of rough-around-the-edges products. The pre-rendered pictures currently released do little to show off the construction of the controls, which should definitely give one pause when it comes to pre-ordering. If the Wheel, Side Panel, and Foot Pads are all plastic, which the current images make it look so, then that’s definitely something to keep in mind. Peripheral’s like these work so well because they add an extra layer of immersion and enjoyment to your favorite sims. If it feels like you’re playing with a Fisher Price, kids playset it will, more than likely, detract from the experience.

However, there are some nice touches that make Saitek’s and GIANTS’ hardware bundle appealing. For starters, the detachable turn knob is a simple, yet highly appreciated, addition to the Wheel. The integrated D-Pad, thumbsticks, buttons, and L/R triggers on the Wheel will add some finer control, while allowing you to ignore your keyboard/controller all together. The inclusion of gas and break pedals is also a nice, immersion building touch. Better yet, the pedals plug directly into the Wheel so that you only need one USB cord plugged into your PC (or Mac!) for the entire kit. No one likes cords scattered all over their gaming area.

The real selling point of the bundle is, undoubtedly, the Side Panel. The Crane Control Stick gives you precision control over heavy machinery, and with Farm Simulator 15’s new Forestry economic branch, this deeper control will be much appreciated. Along with the control depth, the 25 programmable buttons and switches gives the player absolute control over the gameplay experience, which is precisely why these kinds of controller’s exist.

Another important, but often overlooked, aspect to the bundle is support. Companies like Saitek create multi-purpose controllers which can be used in a variety of games. While that’s definitely a good thing, it can also leave consumers high-and-dry when they realize their favorite game doesn’t work with X product. Fortunately, that won’t be the case with this kit, as Saitek and GIANTS Software have joined forces to create the bundle specifically for Farm Simulator 2015. So, you won’t have worry whether or not this kit will work with your game.

Ultimately, the question of “Is it worth it?” is, of course, a subjective one. However, for 300 bucks, I’d definitely wait to see if the bundle’s construction is up-to-scratch. There is nothing more disappointing than pumping a lot of cash into a new toy, only to find out it’s nothing more than a mishmash of cheap, plastic panels glued together.

The bundle ships this fall and you can pre-order, here, if you’re already sold on the kit.

Farming Simulator 15