Discussion
By way of background, I have never got on with Sims or racing games as somehow my perception is crap and I can't get dialled in to working purely with sight on screens - even big curved ones, as in proper Darren Turner type sims. I had a theory though that I might be suited to VR having tried out tank commander in VR on a playstation. Yesterday I had the fun of driving the sim/e-games VR rig at Williams HQ round Interlagos. And that has proved my theory, I am a natural in VR. It only took a few minutes to get dialled in to a new circuit. I'm very happy indeed 
So I am contemplating getting some sort of VR based setup for home. I'd like it to be useful and accurate in driving historic single seaters to help my racing and also useful for some online racing. So needs to have 3 pedals and H pattern gear change, ideally paddles as well.
I can't quite work out where to put it in the house and whether it'll need to be portable or whether I can set it up somewhere permanently.
Fanatec looks like a good place to start and I think the gear at Williams was from them.
Anyone know about this stuff to advise?
TIA
Bert
So I am contemplating getting some sort of VR based setup for home. I'd like it to be useful and accurate in driving historic single seaters to help my racing and also useful for some online racing. So needs to have 3 pedals and H pattern gear change, ideally paddles as well.
I can't quite work out where to put it in the house and whether it'll need to be portable or whether I can set it up somewhere permanently.
Fanatec looks like a good place to start and I think the gear at Williams was from them.
Anyone know about this stuff to advise?
TIA
Bert
Thanks all for the info. Looks like lots of choice and some budgetary decisions to make.
One thing that does concern me is how to get a sim model setup that has the same characteristics as my ff2000 race car. I drove one that was set up to be the same lap time around croft based on an f3 car and it wasn't well balanced at all.
Bert
One thing that does concern me is how to get a sim model setup that has the same characteristics as my ff2000 race car. I drove one that was set up to be the same lap time around croft based on an f3 car and it wasn't well balanced at all.
Bert
Rick101 said:
Regards kit. Just buy used when starting out. There are regularly full setups for sale at very reasonable prices.
Thrustmaster stuff is good, Fanatec is better but can have some failures and I understand not the best after service.
Missed this. Where's the best place to buy used? I assume there are forums and classifieds?Thrustmaster stuff is good, Fanatec is better but can have some failures and I understand not the best after service.
Thanks
Bert
RobM77 said:
I realise Bert's fine with VR, but just for future record on this thread it's worth saying that VR makes many some people barf within minutes. I'm one of those people! I love my OR, but I've got 10, maybe 20 minutes out of it a day tops. Even my wife, who can read in the car, had to stop using the OR after a few minutes in FSX.
On sunday my daughter who also races FF2000 lasted about 4 minutes until she barrel rolled (which frankly is not a-typical) and then she had to lie down for an hour!RobM77 said:
I reckon that's a good approach, yes. I've enjoyed using expensive sims (I think we've both been to Pro Sim?), but my setup at home is surprisingly close for far less outlay. Be aware that if your desk chair has wheels you may need to lock it in position to use the pedals properly. I've screwed wooden stops to the skirting boards and use a piece of oak worktop upstand behind the chair - matches the floor and does the job well.
I'll let you know about the OR. It's only worth about £50-£75 and I may just keep it for the Apollo thing
Good point about the wheelie chair!I'll let you know about the OR. It's only worth about £50-£75 and I may just keep it for the Apollo thing
Kraken said:
Problem I have with sims is that I get no sensation of speed when approaching a braking zone or any feel of the car moving about on the limit. I use them to learn the basics of a new to me track before driving it in real life and nothing else really.
I expect a full motion setup so what I felt through my backside matched what I was seeing would be different but that's out of the reach of most. It's interesting that most older drivers (even in F1 etc) really don't like simulators at all whereas the younger generation seem to love them.
That is exactly where I was with screens and I just couldn't get on with the sim. Maybe after more practice, but even after a full day (albeit shared with 2 others), I still couldn't get it. For me the VR makes the difference. It really feels like I am driving a car. Hence my current interest!I expect a full motion setup so what I felt through my backside matched what I was seeing would be different but that's out of the reach of most. It's interesting that most older drivers (even in F1 etc) really don't like simulators at all whereas the younger generation seem to love them.
Bert
BertBert said:
That is exactly where I was with screens and I just couldn't get on with the sim. Maybe after more practice, but even after a full day (albeit shared with 2 others), I still couldn't get it. For me the VR makes the difference. It really feels like I am driving a car. Hence my current interest!
Bert
This evening, I watched the Brazilian GP highlights having watched the race last weekend at Williams and had a go on the SIM. I was amazed about how well I thought I knew the track after only 18 mins driving it on the SIM. I'm definitely a convert!Bert
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