Same here, no longer counting rivets haha.


And it's true across the board with my gaming, from sim purist to gamer. And it's great, because it results in trying things like Forza, which I would not have ten years ago. I came up through the Papy era with Indy Car and GPL and those were my frames of reference. And those sorts of sims still rock, but my pool is deeper now and there are more diverse things to branch out in to and have fun with.


I can draw a similar parallel in war gaming. I was a historical snob. Like with Total War, a series I love, with a winning formula. Turned my nose up at Warhammer, until one day I thought, well why IS that? So I tried Warhammer 2 and was blown away and it became my favorite title in the series.


And while Forza will not supplant GPL in my mind, it's a diverse, fun driving game that I would have ignored had my paradigm not shifted. Now, everything is fair game, and it's nice to have so many options.

I would try Forza 5, if only it had VR. But both the developer and the bosses of XBox have ruled it out.

Its hilarious how much fun this super-structured but not easy-to-win game is: Circuit Superstars. Its supercute., and incopldues a level of polish and charming detials that one would nto expect from a fun racer like this, incoduing cutely animated pitstops and replays with varying TV camera angles. I got it cheap in a sale, and did not expect to like it that much. But I like it! I appreciate the over-all impresison and "roundness" (completeness) of the package. Its like playing "Carrera Plus". For six coins, nobody can complain! Highlights include great replay options, damage, tyre and fuel modelling, pitstops, many different classes with cars indeed having different feels and physics, and up to four players on split screen. Must be a party and family burner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpmaeHe-Vsc

Skybird. I appreciate you posting about that GT3 wheel. I'm looking at it now myself, but I've not owned Fanatec and I have more to learn. Tell me about your setup. I need the works. Wheel, or rim as it seems to be called, a base, pedals. Paddles are fine, not looking for a stick unless I return to GPL, or even rally, perhaps. I mostly drive/race F1 and GT/Super/Hyper cars and paddles are fine. I see it has dual paddles, and I could see one set for gears, and the other for maybe launch control. What do you use the second set for?


The base you have in your images isn't what I've seen. And that is clamped to your desk?


Any more thoughts now that you've been using it for a longer time?

I also watched that video you linked to and I'm impressed. Excellent commentary and camera work. For what I drive, this wheel ticks all the boxes, and would let me get in to the Fanatec game at a lower entry point. The modular quick release nature of the system means you can own a variety of rims, if the pockets are deep enough, and just swap to the most suitable one for the class you're racing at the moment.

This is a GT style wheel and would work great for those cars and for open wheel. With no hoop it's unsuited for serious rally racing I think, but still fine. And no reason other than the mad stacks of cash that a serious sim racer couldn't have several lying around.

I don't rally and one wheel is plenty. I do open wheel Formula 1 and GT style racing and the McLaren wheel seems perfect for me. I'm still unsure of which base to get out of all the options. This rim works with a dozen different base choices. I'm hoping for one with desk-mount and stand-mount capability, if that's possible. Direct drive is probably a bit too much.


I also think it's smart to get a three-pedal set. I don't need a clutch with the stuff I'm driving, and I guess the second set of paddles is perfect to use as a clutch, but somewhere down the line I'll wish I had a foot pedal clutch option.

Add it all up and this is approaching US$1000 I reckon. And this is the entry point with Fanatec. But watch that video Skybird linked to and you'd have to say it's worth it.

I ran the rule over all of the options on Fanatec's site, but either high demand or slow production -- or a combination of the two -- means they're sold out of a lot of things, and I guess only sell direct?

I want a Fanatec wheel, but I'm going to change course and reign in my ambition a bit and go for something like Thrustmaster's T248.

That's a great wheel you have Skybird and thanks for the info. Still interested to hear your thoughts on it.

Skybird's been 'online' for days now but no reply here? You OK mate? No obligation to reply, but I expected you to want to talk about your rig. No worries, but hope all's OK.

I did get the T248 wheel and pedals. Not on the level of the Fanatec stuff, but really nice all the same. Great set of pedals which is what put it over the top for me.

I started off looking at Fanatec, and was ready to go for it, went through their configurator, and when I got to the base I found it was out of stock. I was prepared to blow $1000 on this kit. But when it wasn't available I changed course.

I also looked at two other high end brands, Precision Engineering and Ascher. This is amazing gear, it really is. I mean look at this


https://www.precisionsimengineering.com/


And I thought Fanatec was high end! ha!

So once I changed course I dropped in to the mid-range. wheels in the $400 range. It came down to three wheels for me, the Logitech G923 Trueforce, Thrustmaster T300 RS GT Edition and the Thrustmaster T248.

These wheels move away from the direct drive force feedback, and that's a big part of what you give up in this range. But I know that even so it will be the best FFB I've experienced considering what I've used so far. In the faceoff between those three options the T248 was the winner for four main reasons.

One, the price I spotted it at was hard to beat. Pricing is out of control these days, and over the past few days while I did my search I was steeled for spending a grand. So to find an agreeable option for $300 was good.

Two, the FFB is hybrid belt and gear, which gave it the edge for me over the G923. By making the move to a new wheel I am hoping to improve my driving, bring laptimes down through proper gear. I expect force feedback will be a big part of that. I think if I can go X amount of fast without any feel from the car and track, that having those indicators can only make me better. Belt driven is generally regarded as better than gear it seems, but worse than direct. So this was a slight edge in my decision, even if it's only a hybrid system.

Three, the paddles are magnetic.These are like the Hall sensors I put in my flight gear, no contact points, all magnetic so they retain accuracy and don't wear out over time like traditional pots do.

And fourth, the pedals that are included are said to be good, and improved over other recent offerings. These are also magnetic and that's what I want. And I get a clutch pedal.

So I chose the T248 over the G923 for better force feedback (hybrid belt and gear over all-gear) and chose the T248 over the T300 for the superior pedals in the bundle. If the T248 had been at regular price of $400 and if the T300 had the same pedal set I would have gone for the T300.

The kit has arrived, setup was straight forward and I've turned some laps. Nice wheel and I really like the pedals. However I need to work out a mounting solution and until I do I won't be able to race seriously as the pedals rock. The brake takes quite a bit of force (and even comes with an additional spring to make it stiffer).

In answer to the title question, about as realistic as romantic intimacy in a PC game, LOL! :haha:


But, I grew up around racing and even did a little when I was young. And I like cars. So I occasionally indulge.


I have a Fanatec wheel, pedals, and shifter. If you're going to sim race, Fanatec gear is good stuff, in my humble opinion.


:Kaleun_Salute:

When it is in stock it sure is! I'd have one now if their production outpaced their sales.

Got myself a second wheel rim after the light and cheap (round) PS4 rim got worn out with the gear pedals' mechanisms. I now use this and the GTR3 rim, depending on the kiund of cars I race/drive. Absolutely fantastic kit, but I must tailor the setups a bit more ideal to optimise the button markers for several titles. Extremely good quick release/connect mechanism, even on the fly while being in the sim. Heavy quality, it feels like real world stuff. I had to wait three months, with one further delay during that period.



https://i.postimg.cc/RhdKVPGB/20220419-201848.jpg

I wrote four posts addressing you and your setup. No obligation to respond, but no reason for me to be here, it appears. Have fun with your new wheel.

Threadfin,

I indeed missed your posts with those questions. Sorry that you waited in vain, I try to answer it now in no specific order. It was no intention, I just had not visited this thread for some time. And when I came back to post Chris' video adventure, i again missed your posts from mid April. Sorry.

Fanatec is costly compared to the usual toy-like wheels. They recently raised some prices due to the recent crisis. But there are much more expensive producers out there - their gear however primarily is aimed at full simulatgor stands with installed seats and so forth. I depend on being able to mount the kit and dismount it from the table easily. Well, stuff is worth what peope are willing to pay for. Some years ago I could not imagine to go for Fanatec, I thought it would be crazy to pay these prices. But VR changed my preferences dramatically. And so I wokred my way up on the price ladder, from No Name and Logitech to now Fanatec. Which will be the end of the ladder for me.

Fanatec suffers from the supply lags in shipping, they referred some months ago directly to the lacking shipping containers and the hilarious costs, when they reported their problems they talked of a price rise of factor 16 or 18 per shipping container. Also, the supply chains are disrupted.

For pedals, you asked, I would point you to the important pedal: the brake. You want something with load cells, and good, metal furnishing. A good brake pedal can make you faster. Just a wheel and rim and base will not, its immersion mostly. But the brake, if good, makes you faster. Becasue you will not "mis-brake" so easily.

Belt wheel bases they do not offer anymore, but they came up with two affordable - by their standards - minor direct drive wheelbases recently. "Minor" is relative, they are still so much stronger than the belt drives they once offered - and these already were good. The bigger brothers of these new kits are also still available.

The wheelbase you saw on the picture is an Elite CSL, it is out of production, I got it with a PC-PS4 wheel which is now retired (pedals worn out). It even deals easily with the new wheel though the new wheel is almost twice as heavy than the GTR3. I will use it until it breaks, I am satisfied with it.

The nice thing is both wheels can be changed on the fly, with the sim running. You may need to switch to another keymap, however, but you must not leave the sim to change hardware.

I recommend the GTR3 wheel, and also the new one which I got at a sale. They do these sometimes, and then offer combinations of products. Sometimes they are good, sometimes not so much, the quality i mean, but you can usually save 50-150 coins, and I did. How it is in the difficult economic environment we now have - I dont know their plans.

The second set of pedals on the GTR3 actually are analogue, no gear pedals, and you can code them for launch control, for example. I haven't, and actually do not use them, but I know that those who use them, are die hard fans of them. You can also map throttle and brake to them. But the nmost used purose is for launch control, to avoid stalling, or spinning the tyres. Some sims allow that to be considered. But as I said, i personally do not care. I drive more relaxed these days, less competitive.

Both wheels imo are very good bang for the buck. Good quality, good feel. I am satisfied .

The round wheel is, as you mentioned, for Dirt Rally 2, ETS2, Wreckfest and some cars in Assetto Corsa, Competizione and Raceroom, though I usually play all cars in Competizione with the GTR3 wheel, but some cars in it get dispalyed with a roudn wheel, others with a GT wheel. The round wheel has a massive, solid feel, it feels like the real thing. The GT3 weighs much less, still is very robust and stiff, no distortions when beings under stress, no toyish feel on it, really.

Again, sorry for letting you wait. It was a mishap, no bad intention. Sometimes I just miss something when it happens.

Yes, thanks for the reply and my apologies as well for assuming the worst when obviously nothing was intended.


For about a month now I've had a full racing rig. I bought a racing seat called an Open Wheeler Gen 3. I put the Fanatec stuff to the side when it proved hard to get due to supply issues. I bought a T248 instead. Decent wheel with great pedals. Having everything bolted down and so comfortable has really transformed things for me.


Are you a member at SimHQ? I know you used to hang around there right? We are doing some racing there and I'd like to invite you to participate if you like. We started a dedicated ACC private server. Yesterday we ran AMS2. Also bought rFactor 2 and will probably be picking up Race Room in the near future to round out my options. Attracting drivers has some inertia I must say, but I feel, like we're on the brink! Come join us if you want to. The one I drive with most is also from Germany (and an alien).


I'm having so much fun returning to sim racing that even though I only just got this wheel I already have designs on an upgrade. Thanks for your insight Skybird.

SimHQ, well, now I feel old. Yes, i was aroudn there many, many years ago, but that must be fifteen years or so. Mostly Falcon 4 times when Frugals shut down and an other site also stopped. Combatsim, was that the name of that site? Time is fleeting. It were good times.

Congrats to yur cockpit build. I woudl do that myself, too, a fixe dsite for racing I mean, if I had the spacve, a sepaarte room. But then, using VR exclusively, my design priporities woudl be different, and for button boxes and such I would nto even have use anymore. I need buttons on wheels.

Raceroom offers a once-in-a-lifetime-pick. For - last time I checked - 100 coins you get ALL content they ever released: all cars, skins, tracks. That is so cheap that it stinks: 57 locations, 143 track variations, and cars and skins count in four digit numbers, I assume.

I drive AI practice trackday sessions these days, and sometimes a race against the AI. Races more in Raceroom (better AI), trackdays more in ACC (now that I got my problems that I had with its VR and my new headset fixed). ACC I often drive relaxed, just for cruising. It has some hilariously good track mods. Enjoying its superb cockpits in the high resolution VR I now use, is pure joy. Its very very rare you could see me online. If so, then in AC classic, and practically never in races, but trackdays/endless practices.

P.S. I posted on that fun top-down-looks racing game (LINK). Especially if you have friends or family and kids, I recommend this game, I - to my surprise - currently come back to it frequently. Not often, but frequently. There is somethign around it that makes me hysterically giggle. A round, good, fair priced fun package, really, done with love and a feelign for good style. Recommended for the racing snack in between! ;) Pitting has me not stopping laughing for minutes to come, becasue I suck at it. This game simply gives me a good mood. And I just love the replays. If squirrels would do car racing in matchbox toy cars - this it would look like!


Wreckfest in a virtual cinema on huge movie screen also is a blast. The game cannot be recognised this way, its Wreckfest 2.0 if used this way.

Yes, the good old days. I was on Frugal's staff, not under the Threadfin moniker. I'm an old Falconite too.


Well too bad you won't take me up on the invitation, but I get it. Enjoy your racing Skybird.

10-15 years earlier - maybe. But I never was a big online gamer, never. It just does not make that clicking sound in my head.

Fair enough and to each his own.

I've been running a Vintage Formula 1 World Championship that I created in AMS2. Racing the AI lets me do the stuff I want, and fill the gaps. I concurrently also have a championship going in ACC, driving the 991 GT3 R.

But like I sad those are just gap fillers. Online racing's where it's at for me. The problem is I don't care to run with randos, and finding enough enthusiastic, like-minded people to race with is challenging at best these days.

To whet the appetite, here's the start of round 1 in my title chase. The grid screams off the line at Kyalami Historic 1976. Good stuff.


https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...e/kyastart.jpg

Isn't it up to what size of what graphic card and CPU you have that determine how realistic sim racing could be ?

I myself are trying to save money to buy a decent set of Steering wheel with pedals. I've read about the one Skybird has and they look interesting, but again it's all about money.

Then it's my gaming computer it has 6 GB Graphic memory 3.3 GHZ CPU. Can't remember the RAM how much it has.

Markus

Graphical fidelity is great, and some of these new sims are simply fantastic looking. But for me what makes 'realism' is physics and feel. I could drive GPL today with 1998 graphics and love it. Of course that shot above is beyond what we can achieve with GPL and so it becomes the standard. It nails the feel of Grand Prix Legends while looking far better.



To illustrate how good these sims look, here's a shot I took a few days ago in Assetto Corsa Competizione, driving the BMW M6 GT3.





https://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.p...ilename/M6.jpg