Sim Racing: Affectionately known by those in the industry as “Sim racing” (Simulated Racing), it holds much more relevance in the world of motorsport today than ever before. Although this may appear to be a relatively new thing, the art of creating racing simulators has been around for many years. In fact, you can trace their heritage back to 1989, but what is the difference between a racing game and a simulator? Well, quite simply, racing games were designed to provide entertainment in a fun, pick-up-and-play sort of manner.
The kind of games where you choose your favourite car and race it on either a track or road, maybe crash into a couple of other cars, road signs or other obstacles and everyone involved has an enjoyable time. They can be enjoyed via the use of game pads, keyboards or even steering wheel and pedal sets through the use of driving aids to make them accessible for users of all abilities. A racing simulator, however, takes the idea of driving a car to a much more in-depth and serious level. Designed to replicate real world physics variables such as tyre grip, traction, suspension geometry, aerodynamics and more, a simulator creates the most accurate representation of driving dynamics possible. Please go here to GT Sim Racing and know more about the Benefits of Modern Racing Simulators.
Too Real: The 3D image offered by a headset, provided the resolution’s strong enough, is easier to interpret. There’s less difficulty in determining the braking point and, obviously, the proximity to cars, walls, and other solid objects. It can’t be underestimated how much these aspects play a role in driving accurately. The right kind of VR provides a convincing illusion — so convincing so that it can increase the heart rate, cause a driver to sweat, and occasionally get them to curse at their opponents. Screens can, too, but the headset seems to excite the driver far more. With the wraparound visuals and the ability to look over the shoulder, it tricks the mind.
A Matter of Endurance: This intensity of VR might not be for everyone. It’s not necessarily the one that some are most comfortable with. Too much excitement can take a toll on performance. There’s a lot to take in without a static background behind your field of view. The speakers right beside the ear raise the heart rate. The crashes on a VR headset are intense — perhaps a little much for those getting started. I suppose there’s a limit to the amount of realism your typical gamer or car enthusiast would want. If it’s purely for entertainment, VR may be too intense,” Geddes begins. “It’s more physically and mentally draining than the screens. Most drivers can only handle about 60 to 90 minutes of constant VR engagement—at least at first.” Even most seasoned drivers will need a break after a couple of hours.
Practical Concerns: In addition to the expense of high-resolution wraparound screens, they also take up a good amount of space. If the apartment or man cave is a little short on room, the smallish VR headset should appeal to your sense of spatial economy. For big-city dwellers, this arrangement holds obvious appeal. With enough room for a seat, pedals, and possibly a frame, those living in a Brooklyn shoebox can still enjoy a high level of racing realism. Plus, the headset’s built-in sound eliminates the need for bulky speakers. It also adds the compelling feature of surround sound. It is a nice thing to be able to hear a driver approaching on your right — though, to be fair, a good external speaker setup could convey this even better.
The Value of Good Resolution: Even with the best VR headsets, the resolution is not quite as strong as a high-end screens, though the resolution around edges on a big screen sometimes seems a little blurry. This might not bother many, but the proximity to the display means chunky pixels can distract the eagle-eyed users. As mentioned, the illusion has to be convincing enough to generate the sort of physical response that a real car would provoke. With low-detail scenery, the ‘screen door effect,’ or the issue of recognizing the grid of pixels in the display, can prevent a driver from feeling completely immersed in the virtual environment. This and the need for longer sessions is what caused Geddes to move from a VR headset to a new 1080P projector for his long training sessions.
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