Thrustmaster Demos $45K Simulator Platform, New Headsets
You'll need a dedicated room to house this racing simulator.
During CES 2013, Thrustmaster was reeling in quite a lot of traffic thanks to the $45,000 VRX iMotion Z-55 simulator. As seen in the photograph, it came with the simulator seat made with 3M DI-NOC carbon fiber and high quality, lockable castors, three screens, and a PC powering everything.
According to the spec sheet, the simulator had a four actuator, commercial D-BOX motion system capable of producing 2G's of acceleration and 3-DOF. This design makes it highly compatible with any form of racing game including Formula1, Indy, ALMS, GT, Rally, NASCAR, Vintage Racing Series, and Exotic Super Cars, ther company said.
"Precision manufactured and hand-polished stainless steel and aircraft grade aluminum components provide a lifetime of durability," the sheet reads. "Each simulator is assembled in Canada with the same care and attention to detail, and with professional and discrete wire routing technique throughout."
Other models include the VRX iMotion Z-27 for $40,000 USD, the VRX Viper Z-27 for $19,000, and the VRX Viper for $9,000.
Also on show in the Thrustmaster booth was a variety of new headsets for the PC and Xbox 360 including the cool white Y-250X headset featuring premium 50-mm drivers, a unidirectional mic that's detachable and adjustable, and a multifunctional controller on the cable allowing users to adjust audio levels and voices independently. The similar Y250C headset came in black and was designed especially for the PC.
Also new at the show were the GPX and GPX LightBack controllers, the GP XID controller, the Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition controller, the Ferrari Challenge Wheel, and loads more.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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billyboy999 I don't see how this is able to simulate 2 G's. The screens are fixed so the seat can't rotate or yaw too much. I found a video where it just looks like the seat jiggles a little.Reply -
jhansonxi billyboy999I don't see how this is able to simulate 2 G's. The screens are fixed so the seat can't rotate or yaw too much. I found a video where it just looks like the seat jiggles a little.It's not the G force they can produce, it's the duration of that force which is the problem. They can only do short transients, unlike a car going around a curve at high speeds.Reply -
d_kuhn For a measley 10g's more you could have a Force Dynamic's 401 Driving Simulator - the ultimate driving seat (this thing isn't even in the same state)... OR you could pick up an Ariel Atom or a Catterham and have about 100x more fun than EITHER.Reply -
abbadon_34 Just the same stuff you see in high-end arcades for a couples bucks a play. Not really for home use.Reply -
internetlad I was going to make a comment about eyefininty, bezels, 46,000 etc. but it actually didn't turn out that bad. The bezels are rather thin and probably wouldn't draw the eye too much.Reply
This would work all too well with the Oculus Rift, though, i'm sure. -
catswold Wolley74Thrustmaster, why have you abandoned the flight simsYou missed the joystick in the first picture, behind the arm of the girl in the chair. Apparently it will do flight sims as well.Reply