(Updated 2020/10/12)
Over time I keep refining a gaming simulator, aiming to make experiences as realistic and immersive as possible with the state of the art (for home use :P). Here I list the hardware/software choices I have made so far, plus a few notes if you want to try a similar project.
Here you will find an earlier version of this article, covering the 3DOF setup.
Wheel
T500RS by Thrustmaster
For driving simulators.
A matter of taste and budget.
I have no H-pattern shifter; I prefer sequential, being more oriented toward track racing than rally.
Hotas
X52 by Saitek
For flight simulators, both realistic (e.g. X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020) and fantasy (Elite Dangerous, Star Wars Squadrons, etc.).
Again, a matter of taste. Obviously if you only care about racing sims it is pointless: you need it for titles like X-Plane or Elite Dangerous.
Seat
Again, a matter of taste.
Before the current one I had an RSeat RS1, but unfortunately it was incompatible with the DOF platform I bought later.
Wind
SRS Power Wind by Sim Racing Studio.
Sim Racing Studio software connects to telemetry from various titles (Project Cars 2/3, Assetto Corsa, iRacing, Flight Simulator 2020, etc.) to adjust wind based on speed.
It is very enjoyable, greatly increases the sense of speed, and is very pleasant in summer because it stops the headset fogging up when it is hot.
The two fans are ‘stereo’: they push air differently depending on whether I am taking a right or left turn in the sim.
Earlier (2019) I had Fan Controllers from Sim Projects and two SANYO high-speed fans (16,000 RPM, 12V, 3A). Very aggressive; generally the same effect. I switched to SRS mainly for consistency (same software) with the other components below: Shake and 6DOF.
Shake
Elite SRS ShakeCombo by Sim Racing Studio
Lets you feel physically when you hit a kerb or enter a gravel section, or engine revs (feeling the rig vibrate as you floor it at a standing start is worth it).
This also connects to telemetry; the OS sees the kit as a sound card and the driver sends bass for the vibrations.
I have three zones: seat, pedals, backrest.
Motion Platform
P6 by DOF Reality
A 6-axis motion platform.
Platforms are classified by how many axes they control (1 to 6). The first three are rotation about X, Y, Z. The other three are translation along the axes.
I chose DOF Reality’s P6 (6 DOF) for the reasonable cost (I had no way to try several), because I started with the P3 3DOF model (here the earlier version of this project) and later upgraded to 6DOF.
The P line (P3/P6) is ‘professional’; it differs from the H line (H3/H6) ‘home’ in having more powerful motors, wider motion angles, and generally a longer service life. If your simulator will be open to the public, the P version is mandatory; for private use the H lets you save money without real sacrifices. Personally I had to plan some fabrications with a metalworker, especially for the HOTAS mount.
Honestly, the jump in experience/feel from ‘nothing’ to ‘3DOF’ is huge; from ‘3DOF’ to ‘6DOF’ it is minimal. If budget is tight, H3 is my recommendation.
In the video above, most scenes are recorded with power/travel at maximum. In real gaming, especially long sessions (e.g. hours of driving), that is tiring, pointless, and annoying. In gaming, a small movement is enough to feel the sensation; beyond that it borders on useless — a fairground ride rather than a simulation.
That is why I am very sceptical about other non-arm-based solutions like Feel Three.
VR Headset / HMD
Pimax 5K+
Dual Customized CLPL panels with 5Kplus 2*2560*1440
200° Diagonal FOV, physical IPD adjustment
The headset has no built-in audio; I use wireless Sennheisers.
The choice is between 2D monitors or a VR headset.
With monitors you usually use three (plus others for stats and telemetry), but I prefer VR for realism. That is why I went with the Pimax: a huge FOV (Field Of View) that greatly reduces the “binoculars effect” of other headsets (Oculus, Vive, etc.), plus high resolution against the screen-door effect.
If you choose three monitors, remember they should move with the DOF platform.
For hour-after-hour professional sessions, 2D monitors are probably less tiring on the eyes.
Keep in mind that few racing titles support VR.
Video card
Asus ROG STRIX RTX 2080 Ti Advanced Edition 11 GB GDDR6 (Amazon.it)
A lesser GPU can also be acceptable if you give up graphical quality to keep 90 fps with a VR headset. Frame rate is essential to avoid motion sickness, especially for first-time guests/friends. That is why I tend to avoid any interpolation (reprojection) and try to hold the headset’s native rate, at the expense of graphics.
If you choose 2D monitors, a lesser card is enough.
PC
Any mid-to-high-end PC (an i7 at minimum), suited to the GPU.
Software
Windows 10.
Sim Racing Studio, SimDash for the hardware
fpsVR, PiTool, SteamVR for VR.
Titles I use (the platform supports many, but only a subset support VR):
- Project Cars 2/3 — Entertainment: e.g. a Lamborghini on the Côte d’Azur, or snow rally. Favourite for guests and beginners. Generally a setup that favours graphics and fun over precision. For example, no real damage.
- Assetto Corsa — Simulation, usually Michael Schumacher’s F2004 at Monza. Configured for the most realistic experience possible.
- iRacing I have it configured, but I prefer Assetto Corsa for that target.
- Elite Dangerous.
- X-Plane 11
- NoLimits 2 Roller Coaster Simulator — Guests like it.