Topic: The damnedest thing (Rally Racer Racing Wheel)

[jasonditz]

While picking through a bin of old reduced classic GBA light peripherals looking for one that actually would work with the GBA/GC cable, I came acrossed what has to be the oddest handheld peripheral I've seen in my life.

Its made by Pelican and called the "Rally Racer Racing Wheel". It looks like one of those little steering wheels little kids play with, only its Indigo color (like any good Nintendo peripheral). It has a hole in middle that you slide your classic GBA into and apparently you can then use the wheel in the many, many "Top Games" available for the GBA.

On the front of the package it lists the following 10 titles:

Driver 2
Crazy Taxi
Mario Kart
Wave Race
NASCAR Heat
Need for Speed
GB Rally Advance
Grand Theft Auto III
F-Zero Maximum Velocity
Midnight Club Street Racing

The back has another 20 or so titles...

I'd never even heard of this thing, but it was $7.49 and had a 25% off sticker on it, so farbeit for me to pass up a chance to own a useless piece of plastic.

I'll let you know how it goes... but this has to be just about the silliest looking thing I've ever seen.

[couchmonkey]

Hee hee, sounds funky.  I'm interested to know what it's like!

[jasonditz]

I opened it up and tested it on F-zero, the only racing title I own. Its actually a lot of fun.

The only downside is (as usual) lighting. When you snap the GBA the wheel blocks any light that's coming from above. You pretty much have to use it with a lamp over your shoulder.

[Ian Sane]

How does it connect to the GBA?  If it uses the link port it's possible you could connect it to the GB Player assuming it connects with some sort of cable.

[jasonditz]

Interestingly it really doesn't "connect" to the GBA at all, as such. There's a mechanism that goes over the D-pad and the buttons, and when you turn the wheel left and right or press the on-wheel buttons it depresss the GBA's buttons. its also got somewhat larger A and B buttons that replace the traditional ones and are more conducive to the racing game. It also has its own up and down buttons for navigating through menus.

Its a good solution because it doesn't require any software support for it, just the assumption that left and right will be used to control the racing game.

Of course being shape dependant it wouldn't fit an SP or a GBP, which is probably what landed it in the discount bin for $5 and change.  

[jasonditz]

Actually I was just browsing through PGC's hardware section for more interesting GBA addons and came acrossed this. It looks identical to the "Rally Racer Racing Wheel" modulo a few decals, so I'm assuming Pelican is rebranding it for Pro Play stateside.