STACK #210 Apr 2022

FEATURE GAMING

TAKE YOUR RACING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

It’s Australian GP time, and lounge room racers nationwide are hitting the track. Playing on console with a standard controller is fun, but have you considered upping the realism ante with many of the top accessories that add to the driving experience?You can start with a little or a lot – let’s take a look at some of what’s on offer. Words Amy Flower

LEVEL ONE GET BEHIND THE WHEEL While we’ve adapted well to controlling our onscreen machines with left and right control pad wiggles and trigger twitches, it’s nothing like clutching a steering wheel in your hands and stabbing pedals with your feet. The leaders in the competitive world of steering wheel and pedal packages for PlayStation and Xbox are Logitech and Thrustmaster, with options ranging from beginner setups to options for those who are seriously serious about it all. On the Logitech side, their ace G29 and G923 wheel and pedal combos are each available for PlayStation or Xbox, with bonus PC compatibility. The difference between the two is minor, with the more recently released G923 offering improved feedback from your wheel – yes, just like real life you have to hold on tight to deal with the simulation of everything from hitting ripple strips to dealing with puddles when slammed at a great rate of speed. Beyond actually steering like a real car, force feedback is the best step up in realism, leaving controller rumble in its wake. Meanwhile, the pedals – accelerator, brake and clutch - offer a satisfying recreation of the realistic feel of driving an actual car. Somebody who shies away from classic manual gear changes? It’s cool, you can always use the flappy paddles that both wheels come with. Thrustmaster’s range of wheel controllers is wider, and really is the go if you want to head all-in on the home simulation setup. If you’re testing the waters, the T248 wheel/pedal combo is a top choice, offering a primo-feel at a decent price. Available for PS5/PC and, more recently, for Xbox/PC, our T248 playtime soon led to nailing better times than ever. With everything from officially licensed Ferrari wheels to setups for the absolute pro, there really is a Thrustmaster wheel to suit any level of home racer. A WHEEL CHALLENGE When you make the leap from controller to steering wheel, don’t expect to master it straight away. Years of driver training via stick ‘n’ buttons takes time to retrain, but, once you click with the added realism of wheel and pedals, you’ll find those lap time records tumbling.

LEVEL two SHIFT GEARS Not afraid of manual gears? Respect! Both Logitech and Thrustmaster are with you, with the former’s Driving Force Shifter a perfect affordable option for both the G29 and G923, while Thrustmaster’s advanced TH8A Shifter will really up your game – and it’s even compatible with real aftermarket gear knobs for added customisation! LEVEL three MAKE A STAND You have the wheel and shifter, but your bum is still parked on the couch. What?! The clever folk at Next Level Racing are here to help, with cool rigs to house your racing setup, whether you’re space challenged or have a cavernous area to play within. Kicking off with the tiny footprint Wheel Stand Lite , the sweet spot for those with smaller spaces is the Wheel Stand 2.0 (pictured below). Remarkably adjustable, it folds fairly flat with wheel and pedals installed and, while heavy due to its solid build, it's fairly easily moved into storage. Embedded wheels would make it perfect. Upon opening, the box contents may look daunting, but top-notch, easy-to-follow instructions make for surprisingly speedy assembly, with enough spare parts supplied to cover almost any eventuality – add a section to capture your game chair wheels, or find screws to attach any of the wheels we’ve mentioned, and more. Don’t wish to BYO chair? Go for the F-GT Lite or GTTrack cockpit, each of which feature racing seats, and you can even add single or triple monitor stands to complete the race day picture.

MY FAVOURITE GAME Here are our top racing game choices, all of which play very nicely indeed with this page’s contents.

F1 2021: The Official Videogame (PS5/Xbox/PS4) Gran Turismo 7 (PS5/PS4) Forza Horizon 5 (Xbox)

DIRT 5 (PS5, Xbox, PS4)

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