Comments on: NASCAR in your livingroom

NASCAR in your livingroom

KevinSkomsvold — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:04:23 -0800

I guess if you already have X-Box, this will have to suffice. [Warning: Embedded WMV file]

By: tweak

tweak — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:16:57 -0800

Context? Pretty sweet looking driving simulator, but uh, what's under the hood, so to speak?

By: jeblis

jeblis — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:17:21 -0800

Well if you're never gonna get laid... I guess that's a good way to spend you cash.

By: gazole

gazole — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:17:53 -0800

[this is dumb]

By: GooseOnTheLoose

GooseOnTheLoose — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:23:19 -0800

Bother to do all that and it's an automatic? Eh, not only that, but I think "rocking backward slightly" doesn't quite capture the exciting part of going 0-60 in an NSX in five seconds.

By: dreamsign

dreamsign — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:24:11 -0800

Considering that my downstairs neighbour complained about the noise from two six-inch computer speakers on a Saturday afternoon, I'll have to give this one a pass.

By: KevinSkomsvold

KevinSkomsvold — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:24:24 -0800

No context at this point. I pilfered the link off of Digg but so far I cannot find out much else about it. Sorry. Agreed Gazole. This thing would suck in my condo.

By: papakwanz

papakwanz — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:25:42 -0800

I think gazole was referring to the post, not the item. Would have liked an over the shoulder cam to give a little more feel for what the guy was experiencing.

By: felix betachat

felix betachat — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:26:03 -0800

I kept waiting for the whole thing to collapse inward and the guy to get electrocuted. Does this make me a bad person?

By: jeblis

jeblis — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:26:25 -0800

I don't think it's a bad link. I just wanna pick on the guy.

By: dobbs

dobbs — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:41:41 -0800

You guys are all weenies. Assuming this geek built that by himself, which I suppose is unlikely, it's awesome. Thanks for the laughs.

By: tweak

tweak — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 00:44:05 -0800

DUDE, I said it looks 'pretty sweet' what more do you want?

By: zardoz

zardoz — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:14:00 -0800

Grade for this video: Geek factor A+ Cinematography F-

By: loquacious

loquacious — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:16:55 -0800

That actually looks like a pretty robust multi-axis sim. I'd like to see how it handles something smoother like a flight sim. People are indeed building pneumatic and hydraulic motion simulators, with increasing regularity. I just saw plans for one online somewhere, but I can't remember where. Make magazine? I dunno. They only thing I can't figure out is where they get the positional data from - because I don't think most PC/Console games have hooks for that in their programs. MS Flight Simulator, maybe. Also, how long do you think that screen is going to last? Is it a flat panel or projector? With either it probably isn't healthy for the device

By: furtive

furtive — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:33:00 -0800

Ooooohhhh... shiiiiiitttt man, that was awsome, and then when he died at the end,....shhiiiiiitttt. I have xbox, but that looked to be one of hte best gaming experiences out there. Thanks.

By: furtive

furtive — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:33:21 -0800

s/have/hate

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:36:49 -0800

THAT'S AWESOME! Must be either an aeronautical engineer or a mechanical engineering student to know how to use gyros like that. Really cool stuff!

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:37:50 -0800

meh. You need something that can exert more than 1 G on you to truly replicate the experience of a fast car's acceleration and cornering forces. I give it a C.

By: pmbuko

pmbuko — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:38:26 -0800

ok, a C+

By: jeblis

jeblis — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:41:50 -0800

Oh and I don't get the title. I guess if you already have X-Box, this will have to suffice. Are you implying that this is worse or better than an xbox?

By: dingobully

dingobully — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:04:00 -0800

I think I saw something like this at Chuck E. Chesse.

By: greycap

greycap — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:04:28 -0800

Things like this always make me wonder whether the quest for realism in games will hit a natural ceiling - or in 5 years time will there be a flight sim version of this that does a loop the loop and ejects you 100ft into the air when you get shot down?

By: dingobully

dingobully — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:05:18 -0800

I think I saw something like this at Chuck E. Chesse's.

By: dingobully

dingobully — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:06:58 -0800

Didn't I just say that?

By: Dean Keaton

Dean Keaton — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 02:24:03 -0800

I give the video a C+ and the post a F+, the + for warning about the embedded file.

By: TwelveTwo

TwelveTwo — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 02:49:46 -0800

all I give this post is a comment containing the previous and the following: THUMBS DOWN

By: SteelyDuran

SteelyDuran — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 03:01:07 -0800

It's a real product. The company is Force Dynamics.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 03:49:40 -0800

Images and more video available. I can't see myself blowing $10k-30K to own one in my lifetime, but I'd pay a few bucks to ride one. 18" of travel and 60 degrees of rotation is nothing to sneeze at in a small motion sim.

By: DrDoberman

DrDoberman — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:07:45 -0800

It looks like it needs bolting to the floor, especially when (s)he crashes at the end!

By: Busithoth

Busithoth — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:31:06 -0800

He should invest in a fan, to replicate the wind. It looks neat, and loud, and I would never turn down a chance to try Freespace2 in it.

By: elgilito

elgilito — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 05:41:27 -0800

I'm with pmbuko. The first time I went into one of those simulation rides they have in theme parks I found it exciting. The following times, I just felt like I was being gently tossed around. Simulating acceleration is the key. But short of wiring the brain itself I don't see how it can be done.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 06:21:57 -0800

The title is incorrect. The sim isn't NASCAR (thank god) It's clearly a WRC (rally) sim. Pretty sweet one, at that.

By: ginbiafra

ginbiafra — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:06:12 -0800

They only thing I can't figure out is where they get the positional data from - because I don't think most PC/Console games have hooks for that in their programs. MS Flight Simulator, maybe. Well, most games today return force-feedback data for supporting devices (rumble controllers, steering wheel controllers) - could this just extrapolate on that data?

By: ginbiafra

ginbiafra — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:07:37 -0800

Many games, that is, not most.

By: zenzizi

zenzizi — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:08:21 -0800

The title is incorrect. The sim isn't NASCAR.. that is absolutely correct because a NASCAR sim would only need a box under one side of a normal chair.

By: UseyurBrain

UseyurBrain — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:47:16 -0800

I would like to see the GTA sim. Combo of this sim for driving, and a love doll for the prostitute sim.

By: psmealey

psmealey — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 07:57:17 -0800

This is probably a great innovation for people that have suffered severe spinal cord injuries and have great difficulty doing ordinary things like driving, walking, etc. The rest of us should probably get outside once in a while, go for drive, bike ride, swim, walk, whatever. Every time I see shit like this, I can't help but think what a collossal waste of time video games are. This kind of thing just takes it to the next level.

By: UseyurBrain

UseyurBrain — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:11:51 -0800

...Eye of the beholder and all that? One man's waste is another man's fun.

By: grimcity

grimcity — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:28:11 -0800

How about a Counterstrike sim that pokes you with a sharp stick every time you get shot?

By: malaprohibita

malaprohibita — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:09:33 -0800

Not that I'm a Luddite, but: big fucking deal.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:12:13 -0800

For that kind of money you're halfway to buying the real thing.

By: kliuless

kliuless — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:33:13 -0800

oh my, that looks dangerous.

By: PurplePorpoise

PurplePorpoise — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:35:12 -0800

Someone needs to build something like this inside a pod attached to a centrifuge.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:40:03 -0800

Reminds me of a prop from 12 Monkeys.

By: chrominance

chrominance — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 09:59:07 -0800

Nice! Now all I need is Nicky Grist yelling "five left over crest, don't cut" in my left ear and the illusion will be complete.

By: tommyc

tommyc — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 10:06:36 -0800

Nice idea, but why not simply driving in your car in the woods? (Please read the speed limits)

By: Dipsomaniac

Dipsomaniac — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 10:10:31 -0800

Here we are. PBF has the idea.

By: interrobang

interrobang — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 11:49:34 -0800

Well, that got boring pretty damned fast.

By: KevinSkomsvold

KevinSkomsvold — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:08:43 -0800

Thanks for the back links loquacious. It looks much more sleek in those pics than in the video.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 13:08:42 -0800

Thank SteelyDuran. He found the actual company.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 13:48:57 -0800

This game controller...it vibrates? (sorry)

By: mk1gti

mk1gti — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 13:51:29 -0800

It's encouraging to see a few rally fans on the thread. The comment about the NASCAR sym was pretty amusing 'put a box under one side of a chair. I would imagine for the price of the sim one could actually go out and build a pretty okay private-entry rally car for the local rallies. The only down side would be the eventual meeting of tree and car and the costs of repairing damages sustained, as well as all the entry fees, spares costs, tires, etc, etc. Perhaps it's just as well to just get an X-Box and 'Colin McRae Rally' or 'Rally Championship 2' and make do with that. Minus the mechanical hardware in the filum of course. Much less expensive to repair 'virtual' damages than in the real rally world. Back in '92' the entry fee for a national championship event was $400.00. I don't even want to think of what it is now. . . .

By: 13twelve

13twelve — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 14:55:54 -0800

I remember a few years ago when the Need For Speed series did V-Rally and the box had to explain to the American audience what Rallying was. Going round ovals looks - well, dull to me as a young, British boy racer. Where as tearing round a forest on gravel, sideways in a rip snorting Escort Cosworth - looked ace. As for the sim - I think it looked rad. I wouldnt have one - and I can imagine it making you feel sea sick in minutes. The link was well worth a fpp.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:17:08 -0800

If I wanted this kind of thrill, I could do it more cheaply by buying a set of leathers and a crotch rocket. Plus I'd actually be experiencing the thrills and spills. Real life is awesome. More people should give it a try.

By: loquacious

loquacious — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:27:26 -0800

13twelve: According to the Force Dynamics page the motion is so realistic that it actually abates motion sickness. People that normally can't play 3D sims in general due to the equilibrium problems reported that they were able to drive the sim without the motion sick effects they felt when playing the sim in a locked down and motionless state. Another statement they made is that a vast majority of the driving/racing specific sims have in an incorrect center of rotation, so that the acceleration/braking effects were actually somewhat backwards feeling. IE, when the center of rotation is low and the sim pitches forward to simulate acceleration, the real-world attitude of the sim cockpit tilts forward rather than back. So though you feel yourself moving forward, you're actually also being pitched forward against the seatbelts and restraints. I've experienced this in "high end" coin-op arcade sims, and it's annoying - to the point that the motion cues didn't match the visual cues and I experienced motion sickness-like nausea. I don't really get motion sick easily. I love 3D games. I read books in moving cars. I love motion/thrill rides in general, and love the spatial confusion they present. (Though, as a kid, I used to get motion sick a lot. But then again it was usually when my ex-Air Force grandpa was piloting his giant Oldmobile at ludicrous speeds through twisty mountain roads like Mulholland Drive in Southern California.) On preview: Real life is indeed awesome, five fresh fish. But so is living. I like skateboarding vert. It's a blast. I don't see any sim in the near future replacing it. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy some Tony Hawk Pro Skater, as well. The complete irreality of it is what is actually attractive, because it gives you the chance to do and try things you'll never be able to do in real life and survive. Also, you can use accurate sims as training tools. Why do you think they've been so widely implemented for commercial pilots? I wouldn't be surprised if some rally racers and racers in general used sims as a way to train for routes and techniques. Besides, a crotch rocket is a pretty good way to die. I know plenty of folks that would prefer to die on their bikes. But, still, the risk-to-reward ratio is probably way too high for most people.

By: mk1gti

mk1gti — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 15:52:27 -0800

Speaking as somone who's done real rallying and 'sim' rallying, Colin McRae rallying gives a pretty good 'you are there' experience, although one has to use the 'in-car' view to experience it. Rally Championship 2 is also really good at this. I know that some F-1 racers secret themselves inside their trailers to play Playstation 2 F1 sims to learn and re-learn some of the tracks they race on. Of course it doesn't give 'the real experience', but it's something like reading a map but in three dimensions, a very useful tool. Forza Motorsport did a really good job if simulating a lot of the raceways out there, but the really big downside about it is there is no 'in car' view. A major disappointment because of that. I also echo loquacious's comment about 'safe thrill seeking', having fun on a sim is a lot less expensive and a lot less dangerous than being out there on a bike, in a rally car, or skating vert. Nothing matches the real thing of course, but just because someone doesn't want to get out there and blow the bills on the real activity doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to experience some approximation of it in the safety of their barco-lounger. Perhaps it will inspire them to try 'the real thing' someday.

By: vagus

vagus — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 17:30:14 -0800

I, for one, welcome our new never going to get laid overlords.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Sun, 30 Oct 2005 17:51:44 -0800

I have an online acquaintance with the guy that runs the company that makes these things. It's some pretty serious engineering. It doesn't work with Xbox or Playstation, only a few PC games/simulators. They need to be able to get actual acceleration values from the physics engine of the game, so you can't just plug it in to any game with simple force feedback. The people that buy them are generally the filthy rich who can afford toys like this. I believe they're planning on making a hardened version for arcades and the like. They're pretty confident in the durability of the unit. A pretty good FPP could have been made about the simulator, and may have cut down on some of the snarks. There's quite a big community centered around race simulation, and this is pretty much the unattainable gold standard. I actually thought about doing an FPP a while ago about it, but it didn't seem like a good idea given that I "know" the person.