A new simpod has emerged into the sim racing world, the Playseat F1.
Playseat F1, by Playseat will be compatible with PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox/360, Nintendo Wii and all PC steering wheel and pedal sets. The seat is made of vinyl but looks like leather, has red double stitching, is fully adjustable and is finished off with black coated steel.
It will be available starting in January 2011 and will retail for $1012 U.S. dollars, a pretty penny for a racing seat however, the Playseat F1 reproduces the driving position of an F1 racing car, so the driver will get the true experience of driving an F1 car.
It’s actually not my first look at the Racer GT by Hot Seat Sim, but it’s the first time I’ve shown it in detail and how I have the one I’m reviewing set up.
Late last year we got in contact with Hot Seat Inc to see if they were interested in having us review one of their racing rigs. We had originally seen one at “E For All” back in 2008 in the CH Products booth set up to run flight simulators. They were very interested and sent one over for us to evaluate. I must admit that I have taken my sweet time with this rig because for starters it’s very comfortable and with the Hanns G 28″ monitor they sent with it, a great rig to race in.
Besides the Hanns G, my setup came with a Logitech 5.1 Surround sound system that is completely attached to the rig. Every speaker, the subwoofer and the control pad are all mounted to the chassis with circular plastic clamps. Without a Buttkicker attached, the way they’ve mounted the woofer creates some decent rumble through the chassis. They’ve also placed the speakers on the rig to get the best sound pointed right at your head. Since the chassis is tubular, they have holes so that you can route all the wires so that it looks clean.
The setup also came with a Logitech G27 wheel and pedal set that I’ve swapped out for the Fanatec GT3 RS V2 and Clubsport pedals you see in the photos.
Since receiving it, I’ve had all sorts of gadgets attached to it to test. Most recently I installed a Buttkicker Gamer 2 right below the seat and a Tachometer and gear indicator using a rev burner by Symprojects. Both of which add to the immersion factor.
How much is it you ask?? Not cheap.. For the chassis and seat with the 5.1 surround sound system it comes in at $999.00
With LCD mount = $1,198.00
Add – Hanns G 28″ LCD screen = $1950.00
Then if you want a turn key rig ready to race that come with the game GRID or Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, the Hanns G 28″ monitor, and 5.1 Logitech surround sound. The PC version comes with a month free trial to iRacing as well.
With a PS3 and Logitech G27 = $3099.00
With a Gaming PC and a Logitech G27 = $ 4,530.00
Shipping is included in the continental US. Canada, Mexico are usually just a few hundred more. In Europe they have an affiliation with a company called “Liberty Games”
So what do you think of the Racer GTX ? A little pricey isn’t it? The base for $999 with the sound system isn’t bad shipped to your door considering the size and adjust-ability of the rig. This is definitely something that’s going to remain in one corner of your home, basement or garage.
Personally, I like the rig a lot and it offers a lot of comfort and stability for my racing needs. To hear my full take, you’re going to have to wait until our review coming up on Episode 75 of Inside Sim Racing. In the mean time, check out the pictures of the rig I’ve added to the gallery below. Or you can visit Hot Seat Sim at their home here.
Back on May 27th, I received an email from a person named “Peter” from a Woodhaven company. He showed me a video of a wheel stand he was planning to build. It was in an animated CAD style video on how it works. Matter of fact, you can see it in the middle of the one I embedded below as the narrator (I assume is Peter or a friend) discusses the build and adjustability of the stand.
Peter sent me this in his initial note on the 27th.
I’ve been working on developing a unique racing wheel stand that will be available on the market early this June. I was curious to know if your team would potentially be interested in receiving a review unit for inclusion in a future episode?
I told him “Absolutely” and here’s the questions I asked in my return email.
1) Price
2) Distribution ? Worldwide, etc
3) Compatibility
4) Extras / adapters
5) When can we get one ?
And here’s what he responded with..
1) MSRP is right around $350, although that price is calculated to compensate for shipping in the continental US
2) We’re planning on taking US orders online, but I do have the ability to quote shipping if an international customer calls
3) Compatible with any table clamp style racing wheel and a wide range of controllers secured via the universal clamps
4) 1 Racing Wheel Adapter plate that’s included in the price, drilled out for patterns to fit the Logitech G25/G27, Fanatec & MS 360 Wheels. In the case of the 360 wheel it’s unique in the sense that it requires removal of the lap board assembly for true flush mounting to the stand surface.
5) Hopefully next week, should be receiving my final hardware Monday, then I can start packing and shipping units.
Fast forward to this week and here’s more on the above 5 questions.
1) Looks like the final price he settled on was $359.99 shipped in the US.
2) I know the answer to #1 because I tried to place an order at his site and it directed me to his Amazon store.
3) No question and comes with hardware to mount the wheels as well. We had a Fanatec GT3 RS attached in minutes.
4) Answered in #3
5) Based on #2, we received ours last week.
Now the next question is.. What do I think about it ? To get my full opinion, you’ll have to wait until episode 74 of Inside Sim Racing later this month. For now, I will tell you it is steady and probably the most adjustable wheel stand on the market. I’m 6’4” and I can stand up and drive with it. Sitting down, you can get the angle to go anyway you want. But.. that does come at a decent price tag.
It’s a dual post design versus a single that goes between your legs. There’s a little bit of side to side movement, but not enough to effect your racing. The stand is pretty heavy weighing in at 30 lbs and won’t be moving much unless you have it on an uneven surface.
It also adapts to any wheel on the market, and pedals for that matter. Clubsports by Fanatec will easily sit in the wide pedal base.
As big and heavy as it can be, it also folds down pretty good. I was surprised at how compact it got with the GT3 and a set of G27 pedals attached. From the pictures, it looks like it’s built of metal when infact it’s MDF or a type of high quality partical board with a nice coating.
At right under $360, it’s probably the most expensive wheel stand on the market. But it’s also the most stable. To see it in action, tune into episode 74 of Inside Sim Racing scheduled to air later this month. For now you can check out this video of the stand that was produced by the manufacturer.
Don’t forget to check out the gallery below as well of Shaun and I checking the rig out for the first time. Also if you want to order one of these bad boys yourself, head to the Steadiplay site here.
I had never heard of the Lamborghini Gallardo wheel by Atomic Accesories until I happened by their very small booth at E3 last week. Unfortunately, they didn’t have one to try at the show, but I was able to acquire their media packet and contact information.
Since E3, I’ve been in contact with them and have one in route to review on Inside Sim Racing, and here at RSC. It’s manufactured in China and distributed by Atomic Accessories who make a variety of gaming peripherals.
Official licensed by Automobili Lamborghini, the Gallardo is a replica inspired by the steering wheel from the actual Gallardo lp560-4. It’s compatible with the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and PC .
Here’s the specs for the Gallardo.
• 26 cm diameter wheel rim with rubber coating
• Force Feedback on all platforms
• Sequential gear shifter paddles
• Pedal set: Gas and brake
• Rotation: 270°
• 6 steering sensitivity levels
• 8-way D-Pad
• 12 buttons
• Cable length: 210 cm.
• Side wings to be used as knee top
• Table clamp
No word whether it’s belt or gear driven. 270 degree’s of rotation is definitely a limitation. It doesn’t look like a Logitech or Fanatec killer, but may be good competition for the Thrustmaster Ferrari F430 wheel. We’ll let you know as soon as we get our hands on our review sample.
Today Fanatec announced Version 2 of whats probably the coolest looking wheels in sim racing the 911 GT3 RS. The 911 GT3 RS V2 has new electronics which are based on the 911 Turbo S Ultimate Edition. The biggest change on the mechanics are a complete new design of the paddle shifters and a structure to keep the paddle shifter buttons more stable. I’ve tried the setup myself and it’s defintiely better.I especially like the larger paddles. Â Version one is a good wheel, now it’s bordering on perfection.
Here is the detailed list of the new 911 GT3 RS V2 racing wheel:
• Full PS3 compatibility
• 3 styles of paddle shifter included: Button only, Small steel shifter, Big Clubsport Paddle Shifter made of aluminum
• Upgradeable firmware
• on/off switch
• More powerful electronics for perfect calibration and precision
Advanced TUNING functions:
• Adjustable ABS vibration for all games (PS3 and PC)
• Adjustable deadzone (no more shaking on straigths)
• Adjustable linearity
• Steering angle from 90° to 900° in 10° steps
• Adjusstable drift mode
The new wheels are in stock and for immediate shipment in EU and USA. Pricing: 179.95 EUR/USD for the wheel and 319,95 EUR/USD with a set of Clubsport Pedals.
If you purchased a first generation wheel don’t fret, an upgrade option for existing owners is becoming available. I’ve also included the how-to video on changing the electronics to V2 that Patrick Spence produced.
The following components need to be replaced:
• Inner structure of wheel rim with new paddle shifter buttons
• Clubsport Paddle Shifters
• LED display cover
• Wheel rim PCB
• Base PCB
• Base button PCB with cable
• Main cable wheel-base
The on-off switch cannot be upgraded.
In order to upgrade, the wheel must be almost completely disassembled. Please note that they will not give any warranty if something is damaged during the rework of the wheel. It is sold as “spare parts”. Fanatec will offer this kit as a stand-alone for 40 EURO / USD.
If you are not a big DYI fan you can also send them the wheel and they will make the transformation for you. They have service agents in Germany and California.
The price of the service is 30 EUR / USD plus shipping costs in both ways.
If you are interested in upgrading your PWGT3RS to V2 go HERE to check out their blog and instructions on how to order.
Winn Keaton of Thrustmaster called me a week or so ago to tell me the exciting news about their new product, the F430 cockpit. As far as I know, we’re the first to receive one as well.
From the looks of the pictures, it was their F430 Force Feedback wheel integrated into a cool looking stand.
I was impressed.. Had Thrustmaster finally made a product that was going to give Logitech a run for it’s money ?!? In about a week, I would find out..
Well, that week has passed, and if you’ve read elsewhere that this is the F430 Force Feedback wheel that Thrustmaster came out with and we reviewed back in November 2009, that is incorrect information. The wheel atop this new F430 cockpit is a new design..
For those of you looking for an all in one Force Feedback solution for the PS3 and or PC.. You’ll need to look elsewhere. The wheel does not have force feedback, and is not the same belt driven mechanism as the F430 that we reviewed. This wheel is being marketed towards the entry level PS3 Gran Tursimo driver that wants a piece of Ferrari in their living room.
The wheel has all of the same button and paddle functionality as it’s big brother (F430 Force Feedback Wheel), but without the forcefeedback, and with a bungie system to handle the tension and centering. It has approximately 270 degrees of rotation.
Below the wheel sits a robust stand with a solid base and a great set of pedals (similar to the F430 we reviewed). Matter of fact this was probably the most adjustable stand we’ve come across. I’m 6’4†and can drive it standing up, or sitting in a low chair.
We tried it with Gran Turismo 5 and it’s fully compatible with some minor mapping of buttons in game. The Manetino switch acts as a PS button as well.
We’ll be doing a full review of the F430 cockpit in episode 68 of Inside Sim Racing. For now, I’ve included some pictures from our unboxing for you to enjoy below as well as the features.
Features:
• Metallic colors of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia’s “musettoâ€.
• 11†in diameter, is a replica of that found on the Ferrari 430 Scuderia,
• 5-position Manettino dial
• Metal gearshift levers
• The wheel is 100% programmable and features an internal memory.
• Pedals are built directly into the cockpit and feature magnetic resistance
• The cockpit ensemble is wireless, featuring a range of more than 10 meters
• 50 hours of battery life with 4 AA batteries
• Wide, solid base and a total weight of 23lbs.
• The cockpit is fully adjustable
• H.E.A.R.T HallEffect Accurate Technology™ system (12-bit precision, with 4096 values on the wheel’s axis)
Fanatec has released their new firmware for the 911 Turbo S that offers up a lot more adjustability in the tuning display.
Here’s some of those new adjustments
• Adjustable steering axis linearity
• Adjustable deadzone on steering axis
• Adjust sensitivity settings in 10° steps
• Minimum degrees of rotation: 90°
Here’s a video my good buddy Thomas posted on You Tube explaining it all. Be careful to follow all the instructions carefully if you plan on updating your Turbo S.
To download the firmware, you can go to his blog here.
Extreme Competition Controls Inc (ECCI) have been making commercial grade sim racing wheels since 1995. Before force feedback became a necessity, ECCI made THE wheel to have. It was the one I always wanted to get, but at $1600 was too much for my sim budget.
I’ve tried a few of the ECCI Trackstar 6000s at trade shows and although they are awesome, without force feedback, I was definitely slower than usual.
ECCI at one point said they weren’t going to make a force feedback wheel for public consumption, but could if someone wanted to finance it.
I guess the demand has now warranted production of their new 7000 series wheel WITH force feedback. Not sure if it’s going to be released as a “trackstar†but the invoice part number was 7000-200c.
How did I get my hands on one ?? I’m lucky enough to have a good friend named Rhawn Black who has had a very long and strong relationship with ECCI. Matter of fact he was sponsored by them at one point and actually owns 3 ECCI wheels.
Well, now he owns 4. He’s one of the few lucky consumers to have one of these masterpieces. Rhawn is such a cool guy, that he brought it 2 hours from his home, before he even opened it so we could be the first to check it out. We’ll have it on our show next week, and will discuss it and tell you how it feels. For now, I’ll say.. It’s INCREDIBLE !! Best force feedback wheel I’ve ever tried. I’ve tried BRDs, Frex and of course all of the budget wheels and none compare to this one.
For $2599, none should compare.. Is it worth $2599 ?? If I had the budget to get one, it would be in route right now from ECCI.
Here’s the pictures I took while Rhawn was driving his new “toyâ€. I also have included pictures that ECCI sent to Rhawn as he was waiting for his new wheel.. I’ve nicknamed it “The Laser Cannonâ€
Came across this rig posted by You Tuber INDYDANIPPER. Track IR, Buttkickers, Obutto, separate gauges and two actuators that are powered by XSim and attached to the Obutto chair. This guy has all the bells and whistles on this rig. Very nice work !! Check it out running rFactor.
Most new drivers are taught basic driving skills with a manual and a few hours behind a wheel. While this is a great way to teach young drivers the basics, it doesn’t provide the necessary skill set to deal with panic situations young drivers may encounter in the real world. Defensive driving schools exist, but it is far too expensive to replicate a multitude of scenarios, which is where Honda’s automatic driving simulator comes in.
The Honda simulator provides new drivers the ability to go through defensive driving strategies with the comfort and security of a classroom. To create a sense of immersion, 3 42″ LCD screens wrap around the driver seat, in a device that resembles some of the more extravagant sim setups used for rFactor. The astounding price tag of $66,000, does seem pricey, but if a life can be saved, it is well worth it.
Extreme Competition Controls Inc (ECCI) have been making commercial grade sim racing wheels since 1995. Before force feedback became a necessity, ECCI made THE wheel to have. It was the one I always wanted to get, but at $1600 was too much for my sim budget. 
