Four kits to get into VR Sim racing on any budget
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Virtual reality is a natural fit for the racing sim genre, bringing high visual immersion online with detailed, realistic driving physics. But if you're playing with a controller (or worse, a keyboard!), you're missing out. depths of immersion that such games can provide. This article presents an introduction to sim racing hardware, with recommendations for kits for all budgets, including wheels, pedals and accessories, combined with rigs sim.
Sim Engineering GT3 Precision Wheel
Sim Racing's nearly 30-year history has produced a huge range of dedicated hardware, starting with rudimentary wheels attached to bungees for self-centering, followed by the revolution of motorized force feedback, hydraulic pedals and elaborate motion cockpits. Today, the market spans a wide range, from basic plastic peripherals to extreme commercial-oriented equipment.
While virtually all driving simulators can be played with a gamepad, the experience is transformed using dedicated input devices. And in the case of VR, the compelling feeling of sitting in a cockpit racing car means holding a gamepad can feel totally inappropriate. By using a steering wheel and pedals to control steering, throttle and brakes, you feel physically connected to the virtual car in ways not possible with general purpose controllers.
SEE ALSO
The 5 Best VR Racing Sims for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive
Contents
The basics
VR headset
A solid foundation
Kit Recommendations
Beginner:
Budget from $175 to $250
Keen:
$500 to $1000
Pro:
$1500 to $3000
Extreme:
Budget of $5000 or more
Optional Accessories
Joysticks
steering wheel rims
Button boxes
The basics
VR headset
Oculus Rift
HTC Vive
The two main virtual reality headsets for PC, the
HTC Vive
and
Oculus Rift
- both have fairly broad support for VR racing sims. Unless there is a specific VR sim racing game you intend to play (in which case, check compatibility), the either will be a good choice.
If you plan to use your VR headset
only
for VR sim racing, the Rift will offer the best price at $500 (compared to the Vive's $800 price) because the
Rift pack for helmet only
does not include Touch motion controllers, whereas the Vive comes with motion controllers. If you go for the Rift and want to add the Touch controllers later, this is a
easy add $100
Both headsets require external sensors (included) to track their movements, but if you're going for a headset just for VR simulation racing, the Rift's sensor setup is easier right out of the box.
If you plan to use your VR headset for sim racing
and
general VR games, a more important consideration is how much space you have to dedicate to your VR gaming space. Both the Vive and the Rift can be used for seated, standing, and “room-scale” play , although the Vive scales more easily to larger play spaces than the Rift.
If you opt for the Vive and play to run in sessions longer than 30 minutes, consider
Vive Deluxe Audio Strap Extension
for added comfort (and the bonus of not having to deal with a separate headset). The Rift comes standard with a hard strap and built-in headphones.
If you really want to escape the real world and get lost in your racing simulation, the option
Rift Headphones
have very good passive noise isolation. To get the same noise isolation on the Vive, you can use your own pair of noise canceling or noise isolating headphones as long as they have a 3.5mm audio jack .
A solid foundation (literally)
JCL SimRacing entry level rig with OMP seat
The strength of sim racing immersion is determined not only by the quality of your peripherals, but also by the strength and calibration of their setup. of range if you attach them to a weak desk and your chair tends to move around.
Ideally, you should be seated in a driving position suitable for the virtual car you have selected, with your virtual limbs perfectly aligned with your real body, down to the position of the hands on the steering wheel and the position of the feet on the pedals. An approximation can be found with a table and chair of appropriate heights, but a decent riding position is more effectively achieved with a dedicated "simulator thing", which consists of a racing seat attached to a solid frame (usually made of metal) with appropriate mounting points for wheels, pedals and other hardware.
There are several advantages to using a simulation rig. Not only does it provide a comfortable driving position, but everything is ready to race with the click of a button. If you are constantly setting up a temporary position for a steering wheel and pedal unit to table, the feel will be slightly different each time, which is bad for ride consistency, and especially irritating with a VR setup where your headset restricts the view of your surroundings. Not to mention that if the whole setup is easy to use, you will use it more often!
Having a familiar platform that you can navigate largely by touch while wearing a helmet is very helpful. Bolting the units to a frame means you can drive with confidence, braking hard if needed without worrying that the pedals will won't slip under your feet. Additionally, rigidly mounting a force feedback wheel to a rigid frame improves feedback output, as less information is lost to unwanted flex; you can significantly improve the feel of even low-end sim hardware if securely attached to a dedicated rig. And perhaps most importantly for VR, you'll avoid any gradual drift in your vantage point or touchpoints , because everything is securely bolted.
Beginner: $175 -$250 budget
Kit recommendation:
Thrustmaster T150 (~$175)
WHERE
Thrustmaster T150 Pro Bundle (~$250)
Thrustmaster T150
To get started, you will need a combination of steering wheel and pedals. If a simulation rig is too much for a beginner, at least make sure you have a sturdy desk/table for the clamp of wheel, and place the pedals against a solid surface so you can't accidentally push them back in the heat of the race. It's not a good idea to use a swivel chair on wheels, although they have at least usually a quick height adjustment that can work well to improve your riding position.
The
T150
is currently the entry-level wheel and pedal set for sim racing.
T80
is available, but it only uses a simple centering spring and has limited rotation.
Thrustmaster T3PA
The T150 is the point in the range where Thrustmaster gets serious, offering a wheel with full rotation and proper force feedback.
Pedal upgrade
The standard T150 set is usually available for around $170, but the pedal unit is weak, using all-plastic construction with very little resistance on the throttle or brake. The optional
T3PA pedal set
is a major upgrade, higher quality and stronger, with a tapered rubber bushing that bolts behind the brake pedal to provide more progressive resistance.
T150 Pro package
includes T3PA pedals, and you should be able to find it for $250.
If you choose the stock T150 to start with, you can easily upgrade the base pedal box by adding a small amount of foam or rubber behind the brake pedal to increase resistance.
Bargain hunting
Alternatively, those on a budget can consider the second-hand market, where high-quality devices are often found at very attractive prices. Using the PC as a VR simulation racing platform means that a wide range of discontinued hardware is still supported in racing sims. Proceed with caution though, as input devices of this type tend to have a very hard life! Here is a list of popular and well-taken mainstream wheels supported in order of performance (weakest to strongest), which you might want to get if you're a bargain hunter.
Logitech DFGT
Logitech G25
Thrustmaster T150/TMX
Logitech G27
Logitech G29/G920
Fanatec GT3 V2
Thrustmaster T300/TX
Thrustmaster T500RS
Fanatec CSW V1
Fanatec CSL Elite
Thrustmaster TS-PC
Fanatec CSW V2
Fanatec CSW V2.5
It should be noted that a used wheel with a broken or worn set of pedals can still be worth a look at the right price, as you can spend most of your budget on new separate pedals. On PC, even entry-level pedals can be used in racing simulations as a standalone USB device, if you have the right adapter. For example, the
Thrustmaster TRJ12 USB Adapter
will allow you to use a T3PA or T3PA-PRO set with any wheel.
Enthusiast: $500 – $1,000 Budget
Kit recommendation:
wheels
Thrustmaster T300 (~$400)
Thrustmaster TS-PC (~$500)
Fanatec CSL Elite Formula (~$500)
Pedals
Thrustmaster T3PA (~$150)
Fanatec CSL Elite LC (~$200)
Platforms
GT Omega Pro
(~$430)
DIY wood or '80/20' frame
Thrustmaster T300RS
At this level, a dedicated rig becomes quite important, even indispensable. be to have a solid chassis first, preferably one that can accept upgraded devices at a later date.
Thrustmaster T300
combined with
T3PA pedals
is a great choice for a $500 budget, as it will perform acceptably on a tabletop and benefit from moving to a platform at a later date, and it supports the full range of T-Series add-ons.
Note: The T300 is available in several packages at fluctuating prices, ranging from the 'Servo Base' alone to the 'Alcantara Edition', which bundles the luxurious 599XX Alcantara rim with T3PA pedals. The 'GT Edition' package uses the standard T300RS rim combined with T3PA pedals (with slightly different pedal faces), and is generally the cheapest route to the T300/T3PA combo. It may also be worth considering the TX – the PC compatible Xbox One variant of the T300 (with a rotation of 900 degrees instead of 1080) – because its bundles are sometimes cheaper.
If you need to save space, there are several foldable stand products that offer an improvement over using a table, such as the
Stand on wheels Pro
,
Gaming Seat Challenge
, Where
GT Omega wheel stand
-the latter having the advantage of being essentially the front part of a complete chassis, with the
rear half available to purchase separately
if you want to expand your rig later. If you don't need a space-saving solution, buying or building a complete rig is the way to go.
Fanatec CSL Elite Formula
Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer
Fanatec CSL Elite LC Pedals
With a higher budget, the
Thrustmaster TS-PC Racer
Where
Fanatec CSL Elite Formula
combined with
CSL Elite LC Pedals
is the recommended next step above the T300/T3PA combo (see our
“Best steering wheels and pedals for newcomers to VR Sim Racing
' article for a detailed comparison of the TS-PC and the CSL Elite). really appreciate the benefits of this type of sensor.
To note:
higher quality pedals often use load cells rather than rotary potentiometers to measure inputs. This is particularly important on the brake axis, where a load cell allows the rider to find the optimal brake pressure more intuitive.CSL Elite LC pedals are the cheapest way to take advantage of load cell braking.
GT Omega Pro Basic
DIY
The most economical way to own a sturdy rig is to build one out of wood, if you can afford it. A variety of plans are available for purchase on the Open Sim Rigs site, including
one entirely composed of 2×4 pieces
.Alternately,
Ricmotech offers a more detailed and proven DIY plan
which includes full-size models and an instruction booklet.Extruded aluminum slotted beams (commonly referred to as "80/20") are a popular material for constructing a frame, but they tend to be considerably more expensive than the drink.
For those looking for out-of-the-box solutions,
Race hall
and
gaming seat
do some of the cheapest rigs, but the
GT Omega Pro
is considerably stronger and continues to represent one of the best value for money in terms of stability.
Pro: $1500 to $3000
Kit Recommendations:
Wheel
Fanatec ClubSport Wheelbase V2.5 (~$500)
+
Fanatec ClubSport Formula Black Rim (~$200)
Pedals
ProtoSimTech PT-1
(~$500)
Heusinkveld Pro
(~$850)
Platforms
DIY '80/20' chassis
Seat RS1
(~$950)
Fanatec CSW V2.5
Fanatec Formula Black
Fanatec ClubSport V3 Pedals
While more capable wheels are achievable with that kind of budget, in order to have a well-rounded combination of hardware, the
CSW V2.5
seems like the right choice. The Fanatec flagship wheel is a superb device, by far the best consumer model on the market before venturing into the direct-drive niche segment.
ProtoSimTech PT-1
There's also a temptation to stick with a low-end set of pedals with this budget, and the Fanatec CSL Elite LC set has the quality to complement the V2.5 wheelbase. Next up is the flagship of Fanatec
ClubSport V3 Pedals
, which have stronger construction, but may be priced too close (especially the inverted model) for
ProtoSimTech PT-1 Pedals
, which are definitely another leap forward (unfortunately, they're not currently available, but worth keeping an eye on).
Sim Heusinkveld Pro Pedals
At any level, the choice of pedals can make more of a difference (in terms of lap times and consistency) than the steering wheel, so one could justify spending a significant percentage of the budget on the pedals, and
Heusinkveld Pro Pedals
are a very popular choice.
RS1 SEAT
In terms of platforms, the GT Omega Pro platform in the “hobbyist” section can still work with these high-end pedals, but its fixed pedal plate design is less than ideal. A nice step up from GT Omega is the
Seat RS1
, which is more adjustable, stronger, and has a modular design that can incorporate multiple upgrades, including a
pedal plate pro
which reduces flex.
Alternatively, using an aluminum extrusion is probably the strongest and cheapest solution if you go DIY, although ready-to-assemble 80/20 kits can be just as expensive as pre-made frame designs. , as illustrated by the super-solid
Heusinkveld Sim Rig GT
.Basic kits from suppliers such as
4PlayRacing
,
Sim Lab
, Where
JCL SimRacing
start at around $500.
Extreme: 5000$ and more budget
Kit Suggestions:
wheelbases
AccuForce V2
OSW
SimSteering2
Pedals
Heusinkveld
PPH
RealGear
Platforms
FastTrack Sims
SimX experience
Vesaro
AccuForce V2 Motor
Mige engine for OSW
Leo Bodnar SimDirector
Let's just call these suggestions rather than recommendations, as these products are all far beyond the typical consumer level, with performance and durability that can meet the demands of a commercial or professional environment.
Unlike consumer force feedback wheels which use gears or belts to supplement a smaller motor, direct drive solutions connect the flywheel directly to the shaft of an industrial servo motor. Gears and belts always dampen feedback to some extent; a direct-drive wheel provides superior response, torque, and dynamic range. If you want the ultimate haptic feedback in VR simulation racing, this is it. The torque available at Starting from these systems is enough to break your wrists - you might want to let go of the steering wheel before you hit that virtual barrier!
SEE ALSO
It's okay to be jealous of this $25,000 VR racing rig, so are we
Until a few years ago, the technology was limited to the commercial sector, but thanks to the ingenuity of the sim community, the OpenSimwheel project was born. For those looking to create their own OSW,
Martin Ascher's Tutorial
is a good starting point, and
BoxThisLap has helpful documentation
.But now it's much easier to buy kits from sites like
Simplicity
Where
SimRacingBay
.
Kollmorgen engine used for the SimSteering2 system
The SimSteering2 system from Leo Bodnar Electronics
is widely regarded as the best direct drive system for racing simulators, but it comes at an exorbitant cost. Developed for the commercial market, the SimSteering2 is more accurately described as an entry-level industrial controller, comparable to racing systems. Moog and Cruden. You're paying a lot more for very OSW-like performance, though you'll avoid the notorious EMI issues that continue to plague many OSW builds if you go this route.
New direct-drive solutions are reportedly in the works at Thrustmaster and Fanatec, but for now the most consumer-oriented direct-drive option is SimXperience's AccuForce.
Version 2 is coming soon
, with the ready-to-drive model available for $1,299.
HPP PRX-SE
Just like the wheels, the high-end pedals on the market are as realistic as possible and are highly adjustable, so you can tune any set to suit your preferences.
Heusinkveld Ultimate
,
PRX HPP
, and
RealGear GTpro3
are examples of industrial-strength devices that use three different hydraulic designs to replicate the feel of real car pedals.
Again, the rigs from the previous section will work, but there are a few more high-end options worth mentioning here, such as the
FastTrack Sims TC-R1
, specialists in SimXperience motion simulators—
which offer complete rigs with an innovative yaw actuator to simulate the feeling of losing rear traction
—and companies that offer turnkey VR motion simulators such as
CXC simulations
and
Vesaro
.
FastTrackSims TC-R1 Static
Motion rigs are hugely entertaining, but can be somewhat problematic for VR, especially with the Vive, where its base stations are mounted away from the rig. With long-throw motion actuators, your head can change position so much that it doesn't translate into realistic movement in the virtual cockpit. Using a Rift, the tracking camera can be attached to the motion rig itself, so that position tracking is relative to the platform rather than the ground (but this can lead to other tracking issues due to excessive vibration). As such, shorter stroke actuators tend to be more appropriate for virtual reality.
Alternatively, you can enhance a static rig by using audio transducers rather than motion actuators, a popular brand being
Buttkicker
.This can either use the audio from the sim, working as a very low frequency subwoofer, or ideally connect directly to the physical output of the sim,
as provided by SimVibe software
This technology makes the transducer act more like a force feedback device, and although it works with a single unit, it is particularly effective if you can mount a transducer to all four corners of the chassis.
“Formula” platforms
Grand Prix Gaming Seat
While rigs like the TC-R1 offer a riding position that's a good middle ground between an upright "GT" position and the low "formula" position, some will want the full formula experience in VR, where the H point is less than the feet. This is achievable with a custom 80/20 build, or with standard rigs like the
Grand Prix Gaming Seat
, and
Next Level Racing offers innovative F1GT rig
adjustable between the two riding positions. Elaborate Formula-style cockpits are also available, from companies such as
Evotek Engineering
and
FormulaVR
, who recently
unveiled its HelmetVR product
.
Optional Accessories
H-pattern/Sequential Shifter
Thrustmaster TH8A
Fanatec ClubSport SQ V1.5 shifter
Pro-Sim H-Pattern Shifter
If you're a car enthusiast, you'll know there's something special about manually rowing through the gears (
as this gentleman certainly does
), and it's no different in a VR simulator. Unless you have limited space with a formula-style cockpit, or plan to drive cars with paddle shifters, a separate shifter must be the most important input device after your steering wheel and pedals, greatly improving the feeling of connection to H-models of manual cars.
The
Driving force shifter
from Logitech is the most basic option, designed to connect directly to their G29/G920 wheels.
This adapter from Leo Bodnar
can turn it into a standalone USB device. It does the job, but it looks like a toy without any modifications and is only appropriately suited to entry-level wheels.
Pro-Sim PSL Sequential Shifter
3D printing
SHH Shifter
(~$100) is significantly better, followed by all-metal
Thrustmaster TH8A
(~180$).from Fanatec
CS Shifter V1.5
(~$200) is currently at the top of the list, until your budget can accommodate the ultra high end
Pro-Sim H Pattern Shifter
(~1600$).
SHH, Thrustmaster and Fanatec shifters all offer sequential mode, but those who like sequential shift cars can opt for a dedicated shifter, from manufacturers such as
DSD
,
Heusinkveld
,
Manufacture
, Where
Pro-Sim
.A sequential shifter can also act as a handbrake (essential input if you're a rally fan), although these are also available as
separate devices
.
Additional steering wheel rims
There are thousands of different shapes and sizes of steering wheels, but they can be broken down into just a few categories. Virtual reality has an advantage over monitor-based simulation racing in this area because you see the correct virtual steering wheel for each car, but it is always beneficial to hold a real steering wheel that approximates the virtual model as closely as possible. A small formula style rim has a very different feel to a large rally style variant for example; it is quite common for racing sims to have at least two types of wheels, now that Thrustmaster and Fanatec wheelbases have quick release systems.
Fanatec ClubSport Universal Hub
If you invest in a Thrustmaster wheelbase (T300/TX or better), the T-series rims are compatible, like the
599XX Alcantara
Where
Ferrari F1
.
Fanatec offers a wide range of
rim options
, including a
universal hub
, which will attach most real racing wheels (such as MOMO or Sparco). Professional grade quick releases are available for direct drive wheels, although Fanatec's rims perform so well that many direct drive users direct opt for a
adapter to use their quick release system
.
Button boxes
With a restricted view of the real world, using a rim with a few well-placed buttons is pretty important for VR, as you'll want to quickly access certain functions while you're racing, like adjusting the balance of the brakes , activating the pit limiter, or switching between different HUD menus. You definitely want to avoid fumbling for a keyboard or mouse whenever possible. , a combined keyboard and mouse unit like the
Logitech K400 Plus
is very useful for a simulation platform.
DSD P1
A dedicated button box can be a really handy accessory. In VR, you use every input by touch, and there's only so many buttons you'd want on the steering wheel before it gets too cluttered. It's a good idea to choose a layout with a variety of switches that are easily differentiated by feel. These devices are available from manufacturers such as
Derek Speare Designs
,
Ricmotech
,
Sim racing gear
and
Simracing Real Xperience
.