The problem with sim racing isn’t that it’s not fun enough. No PC gamer with even a fleeting regard for suspension stiffness has done a few laps in a sim with a good direct drive wheel and said to themselves,
“Well that was boring. On with my life”. If you don’t believe me, watch someone try a sim racing rig for the very first time – whether they ordinarily play games or not, the grin that takes over their face when they get up to speed is life-affirming.
No, the problem is that the hardware and space requirements are really high. Similar to VR, it’s a big financial investment that you need to find a dedicated space in your house for, and while VR at least offers a range of genres and experiences beyond gaming, the same can’t be said about that £1,000 Fanatec gearstick you just bought.
This has been an ongoing knot in my mind for years. I love sim racing, but I can never quite arrive on a setup that satisfies me. I’ve tried to make it work with just a gamepad and a clenched jaw, hoping I’d be able to render the whole wheel and pedals thing unnecessary with my sheer precision and record-setting pace with a pad. I was wrong about that.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A New Dawn - The rise, fall and rise again of PC Gaming in Japan
The so-called 'Paso Kon' market (ie katakana's transliteration of 'Pasonaru Computa') in Japan was originally spearheaded in the 1980s by NEC's PC-8800 and, later, its PC-9800.
MARVEL: ULTIMATE ALLIANCE
Enter the multiverse of modness.
SLIDES RULE
Redeeming a hated puzzle mechanic with SLIDER
GODS AND MONSTERS
AGE OF MYTHOLOGY: RETOLD modernises a classic RTS with care
PHANTOM BLADE ZERO
Less Sekiro, more Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
STARR-MAKING ROLE
Final Fantasy XVI's BEN STARR talks becoming a meme and dating summons
THIEF GOLD
Learning to forgive myself for knocking out every single guard.
HANDHELD GAMING PCs
In lieu of more powerful processors, handhelds are getting weirder
FAR FAR AWAY
STAR WARS OUTLAWS succeeds at the little things, but not much else shines
FINDING IMMORTALITY
Twenty-five years on, PLANESCAPE: TORMENT is still one of the most talked-about RPGs of all time. This is the story of how it was created as a ‘stay-busy’ project by a small team at Black Isle Studios
