Developers / Hardware makers

Act Labs

discussed in 508 posts, 1997-2005 · overall tone positive

Posts per month

How the mood changed

Starts at zero. Every post that spoke well of them moves the line up, every critical post moves it down (weighted −2 to +2).

Press releases

Date	Release
1998-11-08	Force RS Update: wheels shipping November 9 (excerpt)
1999-09-16	Rally Championship pre-release to ship with ACT Labs RS Shifter (excerpt)
1999-12-16	ACT LABS opens European shipping and fulfillment centre
2000-03-20	ACT LABS to manufacture and supply backordered PDPI L4 cards
2000-03-27	ACT LABS Force RS and RS Shifter now in stock
2000-04-04	ACT LABS Force RS and RS Shifter in stock and shipping
2000-06-06	Windows 2000 beta drivers for Force RS available
2001-08-22	ACT LABS auctions first Performance Clutch Pedal unit for charity
2001-09-19	ACT LABS releases new USB shifter software

Key threads

Complaints about declining Act Labs customer support 2002-09-04 · 23 posts
Glenn Campbell warned that Act Labs' support for its Force RS wheel and Performance pedals had collapsed over the previous three months, citing unanswered requests on its forum. Several users reported waiting weeks for replacement pedal springs, while others had received parts promptly; some shared spring modifications. Act Labs' forum response said parts handling had changed and out-of-warranty parts must be bought.
Review of Act Labs Performance Pedals 2001-10-22 · 48 posts
Dave K gave a glowing review of the new Act Labs Performance Pedals, praising their machined finish, progressive resistance and heel-and-toe ergonomics, and others who received them agreed. Tom Pabst called them plastic toys compared with BRD's products, provoking a backlash, and he later conceded the word was inappropriate. Owners also discussed pot replacement and wheel recognition problems after installing them.
ACT Labs' $99 force-feedback wheel raises doubts 1997-09-22 · 34 posts
A poster promoted ACT Labs' upcoming force-feedback wheel, praised at E3 and priced at $99, with a mid-October release. Jim Sokoloff, Eric Busch and John Wallace doubted that a quality force-feedback wheel could be built for that price, noting that good servo components cost far more. Others pointed out that previews from E3 are not always reliable.
Logitech MOMO vs Act Labs vs 'Old Red' wheel 2004-01-09 · 22 posts
Scott Banac asked which wheel to buy to replace his Logitech Wingman Formula Force ('Old Red'). Ken MacKay warned that newer Act Labs wheels had coarse, stepped steering after an electronics change, and the leather MOMO and discontinued Microsoft wheel were recommended. Mitch_A complained about repeatedly broken Act Labs pedal springs, and Aidee pointed him to a spring modification guide, which he said transformed the brake feel.
Travel tips for a sim racer visiting Vancouver 2001-11-19 · 48 posts
Ashley McConnell asked for cheap accommodation and things to do in Vancouver. Locals recommended hotels, Grouse Mountain, Whistler, Victoria, Granville Island, karting and Canucks hockey, and joked about the rain and riots. Raymond from ACT Labs offered a tour of the company's Richmond office.
Choosing a first wheel and pedals for GPL and others 2001-08-30 · 21 posts
A newcomer moving from a joystick asked which wheel and pedals to buy. Suggestions ranged from Act Labs and the high-end TSW wheels to Logitech, Microsoft and Thrustmaster Ferrari force-feedback models, with differing views on whether the original Logitech Wingman Force Feedback was good or overrated. Ruud van Gaal described a centring problem with his new Act Labs Force RS, and Doug Appleyard linked his fix for loose screws on the Logitech GP wheel.
Choosing a force-feedback wheel for precision in GPL 1999-12-22 · 22 posts
Karl Zosel asked which force-feedback wheel offers the most precision for GPL. Shumi said the Logitech had the best positioning resolution, with Act Labs close behind, and explained that USB wheels digitise their potentiometer signals. Scott Husted urged owners to ask Papyrus to support the Act Labs RS shifter, which worked only in sequential legacy mode.

Busiest threads

Complaints about declining Act Labs customer support (11 posts about it)
ACT LABS Force RS to Sell Out Before Christmas (9 posts about it)
Act Labs Performance Pedals - first experience (long) (8 posts about it)
So Exactly *** WHAT *** is Up with PDPI / Act Labs ??? Does Anybody Know ??? (8 posts about it)
ACT LABS Performance Clutch Pedal for Auction (7 posts about it)
ACTLABS FF wheel still the best? (7 posts about it)
Random thoughts about the ACT Labs H-style shifter (rant) (7 posts about it)
pedals Act-labs VS TSW (6 posts about it)
Review of Act Labs Performance Pedals (6 posts about it)
ACT LABS Service on Top! (6 posts about it)
Act-Labs shifter in Finland? (5 posts about it)
pre-ordering the actlabs pedals (5 posts about it)
ACT LABS wins Maximum PC's Game Controller of the Year (5 posts about it)
Re: Opinions on RS Force Wheel? (5 posts about it)
Act Labs or Guillemot Racing Wheels? (5 posts about it)

Sentiment by year

Year	Posts	Positive	Negative	Tone
1997	15	5	0	positive (+0.33)
1998	20	7	4	mixed (+0.15)
1999	86	50	5	very positive (+0.69)
2000	218	92	21	positive (+0.48)
2001	96	36	17	positive (+0.28)
2002	48	11	26	negative (-0.33)
2003	13	8	2	very positive (+0.62)
2004	10	2	6	very negative (-0.60)
2005	2	0	2	very negative (-1.00)