Is it near impossible to shift in F1 sims with a non-racing wheel?

[Jax Humanhater]

I have been trying with nothing but stumbles to shift an F1 car in sims; of course, Tier 1 is a class of its own, but it seems almost as you need a steering wheel to manoeuvre in sims such as F1 CE, rFactor, F1 Challenge 99-02, and Codies' F1 2010.

I can drive with every other aid turned off, but I can't shift with a Game Pad at all. I was planning on using my SideWinder Force Feedback Pro if I could find its USB adapter on sale. I might have to wait for pay day to come next Monday; I was thinking about purchasing Driving Wheel GT for Gran Turismo which also has PC compatibilty.

Heck, I even used my DualShock 3 controller through special drivers to play it through motion sensing, but that is also a stumble.

 

[Jim Cole]

I have seen some really great and fast drivers who use game controllers and some that use keyboards, so if they can do it I am pretty sure that you can. It is just a matter of figuring out what it is going to take to be able to make it work out for you. Do you have the games set to auto clutch? what have you assigned your up shift and down shift to?

 

[Jax Humanhater]

I have upshifting and downshifting assigned to circle and square respectively.

 

[Kris Vickers]

Why not use the shoulder buttons?

 

[Ryan Callan]

I used to drive with a 360 pad (was pretty quick too) and I simply used the B and X buttons for shifting up and down. Was simples.

 

[Adam Eggbeer]

I'm using a Logitech RumblePad 2 Gamepad and I use the front right shoulder button to shift up, and the front left shoulder button to shift down, whilst using the analogue sticks to accelerate/brake and steer. It takes a while to get comfortable, but once you do then you will find it better.

 

[Jax Humanhater]

Well, all this may very well be irrelevant because my father purchased me a Thrustmaster Ferrari GT Experience Racing Wheel.

While it may not have a clutch pedal or gear shifters, it's great for starters.