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.







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.
This would work all too well with the Oculus Rift, though, i'm sure.
You missed the joystick in the first picture, behind the arm of the girl in the chair. Apparently it will do flight sims as well.
but you couldn't race it... that takes skill and probably killing a few real cars before you are good.
-------------------
that said, its going to be sad how all the immersion that these give wont be able to trump what the oculus rift does at about 300$
sure you wont get bumps, but you will feel more immersed.
To top it off it's incomplete. What's the point in the chair, and the screens, if you have no simulator-like shell to encompass it all. When it's open like that, it ruins the immersion and experience. It's half-done.
idiots