A Glimpse Into The Future Of Racing Game Hardware

Predicting the future of gaming hardware is no easy task, and I don’t claim to have psychic abilities. To understand the potential of hardware accessories in the future, we first need to look at the past. What was the first gaming system you played, and what type of controls did you use? No matter if you started on a PlayStation, SNES or an Atari, the goal of the gaming experience was the same: to immerse yourself. Instead of feeling as you were moving pieces as in a game of chess, the game was intended for you to feel as though you really are the character.

When we played as children we cried out, “You got me!” or “Oh no, I died again!” (okay, I still say those things as an adult). We got so involved in the games that we would respond with grimaces, outbursts or body movements. The games had served their purposes to immerse us in the experience. Hardware developers moved from arcade sized machines to systems and accessories anyone could fit in their own home. This made gameplay just that much more personal, since you could surround yourself with your closest mates instead of strangers at the local arcade.

With items like Nintendo’s Power Glove and Sega’s virtual reality headset, we started using more than just our thumbs to control the game. This real movement, making our minds connect our bodies to the motions in the game, is something that cannot be recreated with the push of a button. The sad news for racing games at the time was that only an arcade could afford to install a simulator complete with a seat, gear shifter, screen, pedals and wheel. We would have to wait until the early 2000s to start seeing personal wheel set ups on the market. The reason is simple: money. We won’t get to advance our personal use hardware until the makers find the ability to produce it at a reasonable price.

In the latest wave of breakthrough technology for home gaming hardware comes virtual reality. Because more developers can access the tool kits necessary to pair things like virtual headsets with their games, they are becoming more widely available. Unlike the Nintendo Power Glove, these new headsets can be used to play more than just a handful of games. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather buy a racing wheel I can use with all my games instead of one exclusive to just one title.

Now that our personal computers and gaming consoles have the power to render the graphics at a speed that can keep up with the input of all these new devices, the ideas for new hardware are limitless. We’ve seen robotics, 3D rendering and movement sensors all being harnessed within a single device to create a realistic experience for the gamer. The next step is taking the bulky devices and expensive gadgets and creating more affordable slimline hardware. Nintendo’s new headset is a great example of this movement. Pushing aside the giant goggles and opting for a small pair of virtual glasses will attract more buyers and eventually push the price down.

For us racing gamers, it’s all about the feel of the car. Today’s wheels no longer knock when you steer, and there is virtually no latency between the controls and the actions on the screen. The addition of VR headsets lets us look around the cockpit and look naturally around the field as we race between our competitors. Being able to customise our wheel, pedal and gear settings gets us one step closer to accurately recreating reality.

We all know what we want to see happen for racing games at this point. Bring on the full cockpit! No, I probably don’t have the space for one of these in my house, but I would find a way. Living room furniture is so overrated. If you want a full motion cockpit to experience every rumble, the best deal you will find is around $23,000/£15,000. For now, you might as well buy a new car…..but there’s hope.

Just a few years ago, a similar system cost more than double the current price. For manufacturers, cheaper parts mean cheaper systems. As the production of the necessary mechanics increases, the price will continue to fall and we will see affordable home moving cockpits one day.

I’m curious to know what you wish for the future of gaming hardware. Does the thought of virtual glasses, holographic images, full immersion cockpits or something entirely new strike your fancy? Also, where do you draw the line on the price you would be willing to pay for an extravagant set up?