Hardware Product Review:Extreme Gamer had the chance of reviewing some of Intec's Microsoft Xbox Hardware. Here are the items we will be covering in the review.

• Universal Racing Wheel
• Pro Mini 2 Controller
• Lazer Wireless Controller
• Cyber Pad 2 Controller

Universal Racing Wheel:This is the first racing wheel I have tried out with the Xbox, so I was excited to challenge my racing stills in a more personal experience. In the DVD-Tray goes Project Gotham 2 and I am ready to roll.

The Racing Wheel comes almost all ready to assemble all you have to do is plug the footpedal controller into the steering wheel and then the wheel into the Xbox. The wheel is Universal so you will have to use the supplied adaptor for the Xbox since its designed for the PS2 in its native state. All the adaptors are supplied so you could even give Mario Kart a shot with your Gamecube.

The size of the wheel is about the size of a racing car racing wheel, which is smaller than the normal steering wheels in your average vehicle. The racing wheel has the ability to tilt extend to better match the drivers size. Once you have it comfortable its time to familiarize yourself with the button layout. All the buttons for the three consoles in the middle brace and can be a little hard to get used to at first, but unless you are console hopping you will be familiar with it soon enough. The start button is positioned in the horn space, and D-Pad just to right. It easy to get started into the action.

I found I needed some time adjusting to the wheel in the game, but I just kept trying race after race until I got used to how to properly control the cars using the Racing Wheel. Its more sensitive then a gamepad so you'll have to use more control and not let lose. The foot pedals work great and the displace the proper amount of pressure similar to a real car. The pedals work better than the analog buttons on the stick and if your used to driving then it will feel more natural to use your feet to control the acceleration.

There so under a half-hour I set up the wheel and played a bunch of rounds of Project Gotham Racing 2. I found that even though I wasn't accustomed to using a driving wheel there is no other way to capture the driving experience with out it. I am hooked, now onto Colin McRae 04.

Lowdown:
Owners who have more than one console will happy with Intec's Universal Racing Wheels quick and easy setup for use on other systems. The wheel has every feature you would need to have a realistic car simulation, while providing the buttons of your normal controller. Overall, Intec's Universal Racing Wheel is something ever racing fan should have its affordable and not overpriced.

Downtown Approved?: Recommended

The Model They Sent Us	The Next Model Up (Not Bad!)

Pro-Mini 2 Controller: Talk about a small guy here. The Pro Mini 2 Controller is considerably smaller then the now standard Japanese Xbox controller. My initial impression was wow, look at this small thing.. does it really work?. At first it seems too small to be practical, but surprisingly it is depending on your hand size. With some of my friends over I tested the Pro-Mini 2 and it was the females who liked it the best. Immediately they attached them self to it and claimed they could play better with it rather than the normal S-Controller. The girls demanded that they use the Pro-Mini 2 controller over all the other ones in our pack or they wouldn't play. Now that is love. :) They guys also tried it out, but they tended to like the larger controllers better, mainly the S-Controller. The main complaint was the control sticks where too small and close together for there liking.

The button layout is almost the same as the S-Controller with the Y button set north and the other buttons spread out like a diamond. The white and black buttons underneath them and the back and start buttons off to the left side. The only real difference would be the extra buttons Intec added on. First is the Program buttons where you can program a specific button to do a multi-button combo, and the second is the Turbo button. The turbo button I actually used in some hack n' slash games so I didn't have to repeatedly hit on button. Its simple to program, all you do is hold the turbo button down while you press the button you want used on turbo. So in my case, I had a swift chopping 'A' for those goblins in Dark Alliance II.

One more feature on the Pro Mini 2 is the vibration control where you can set it on 1, 2 or OFF. This comes down to personal preference, but I had mine on 2 which seemed about the same as a normal controller. Lastly I have to mention the great addition of a little green LED light on top of the controllers input and the rubberized handles. The handles provide a great grip and it the LED light makes it convenient to tell if your controller is plugged in and to what joystick port. Every controller should have this feature.

Lowdown:
I would recommend the Pro-Mini 2 controller to anyone who finds the S-Controller a little large and to the females. Not to stereotype, but on my testing the girls seemed to like the controller and actually do better in the game using it. It might just be too small for most adult males. This controller is a great design and is made well and I love the LED, simple but useful.

Downtown Approved?: Highly Recommended

Comparison (Cyberpad, Orginal, Mini2, S)	Pro Mini 2

Lazer Wireless & Cyber Pad 2 Controller:The reason I am putting these controllers in the same hardware section is because they are the same basic controller, one has a wire and the other doesn't. I will cover there differences right off the bat. Beside the wire or no wire they have the same layout except the wireless controller has the battery pack located underneath the controller between the two trigger buttons. This makes the controller heavier than the Cyber Pad 2, but no means is it uncomfortable to hold. The Lazer Wireless also comes with the receiver station that plugs into the Xbox which gives allows the controller to communicate without a wire. Note: The receiver has to be up high and have a clear visual view on the controller to work 100%

These controllers are most like the original Xbox controller. Yea, that is right the big sucker everyone complained about. Was I the only one on the planet that loved the original controller? The controller is almost the same size, maybe an half an inch smaller then the Original. The Cyber-Pad 2 is actually a lot lighter than the original controller, so it gives the illusion of being smaller when it's in your hand.

The button layout is the same as the original controller, except the added a Program and Turbo button just like the Pro Mini-2 controller. The both have the vibration setting and it's recommended that to lower it or turn it off on the wireless controller if you're concerned with keeping an extra long battery life, without recharging. The D-Pad is raised a bit more than the other controllers which makes it more loose to control and easier. It is allot easier to execute combos in games like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and is great for fast pressing. Unfortunately there is no LED light with the Cyber Pad 2, but they did make the cable color silver, which again makes it easy to reorganize.

Lowdown Lazer Wireless Controller:
I have a little beef with the Lazer Wireless controller. First on my list is is the short cord they provide for the receiver. It's so short that it can only sit in right in front of the Xbox. I needed more height on mine for it to work properly and my only option was to raise my Xbox up to a higher spot which disturbed my whole entertainment center wiring. The other problem with the Wireless controller is that you can not use Xbox Live with the unit. The plug in for Xbox Live headset is on the receiver, so unless you sit right in front of your TV going blind this is not an option. Besides those two problems the controller is a fine unit, it's too bad about its drawbacks.

Downtown Approved?: Not recommended

Lowdown Cyber Pad 2:
This controller is great, and a nice solution to finding a replacement or similar controller to the original. If you liked that big ol' guy then you will love the Cyber Pad 2. The extra features really help push this control ahead of the original and the Cyber Pad 2 has now become my controller of choice. Great controller.

Downtown Approved?: Highly Recommended

Lazer Wireless	CyberPad 2