Thrustmaster Ferrari Cockpit for Xbox 360 - Coming in October for Approximately $300
Thrustmaster Ferrari Cockpit for Xbox 360 - Coming in October for Approximately $300
We are dedicated to Forza, which means at least some of us may consider buying this. Its got a wheel and pedals, both of which are mounted to a stand that is foldable. Here is the info from last week's press release. Release is set for October, price will be approximately $300.
London, August 15, 2012 — Thrustmaster is pleased to unveil the first cockpit officially licensed for Xbox 360® with a built-in wheel and pedal set. An official Ferrari® licensed product, this cockpit concept is adjustable and foldable, and uniquely incorporates a technology which spreads out vibrations in games throughout the cockpit's entire structure!
Designed for instant fun
The philosophy behind this cockpit is to maximize users' gaming time: say goodbye to long installation processes, and to the hassle of attaching your wheel to a table or desk and connecting a pedal set… Feel like playing? Now you can do so almost instantly, and there’s no need to rearrange your living room's setup, either: the cockpit can be used almost anywhere, and easily adapts to any seating arrangement (sofa, armchair…) and to any user's size (adults, teens, children…) thanks to its adjustable design, which can easily be adjusted both in length and in height. This highly innovative approach is summed up by Stefano Saporetti, Head of Licensing at Ferrari S.p.A.: "Our work with Thrustmaster shows both companies’ commitment to our shared values, namely a dedication to innovation and quality. This product brings its unique concept, with the emotional impact of Ferrari, right into users’ living rooms, allowing them to enjoy racing in a very immersive way." And when you factor in the cockpit's convenient carrying handle, you've got everything you need to be able to jump right into the action every time you hear the racetrack call your name, and quickly store the cockpit away in some unobtrusive spot when it's not in use… to avoid causing too much jealousy!
Superior features, with G.V.S. (Global Vibration System) in the pole position!
The wheel on the Ferrari Vibration GT cockpit 458 Italia edition incorporates G.V.S. (Global Vibration System) technology, allowing for the high-frequency vibrations from the motors to be felt not only on the wheel itself, but also throughout the cockpit's entire steering column and pedal set as well, for incredibly realistic sensations and total immersion in games. The wheel is ultra-precise, featuring 16-bit performance for more than 65,000 values on the wheel's steering. Gear shifting is carried out via the metal Up & Down sequential paddle shifters. The wheel also features a Manettino® dial, just like on the real Ferrari® car! Textured rubber grips on the wheel ensure optimal comfort, and the cockpit even includes a headset connector for communication during multi-player gaming.
Unique metal look
With its streamlined “Musetto” body shape featuring a metal structure, the Ferrari Vibration GT cockpit 458 Italia edition looks great in any living room. Its wheel measures 28 cm in diameter, and is a 7/10 scale replica of the wheel on the Ferrari F458 Italia. Its wide, weighted base weighs in at over 10 kg, providing the cockpit with excellent overall stability.
Another huge advantage in relation to a standard setup is that the 2 metal pedals are built directly into the cockpit, further increasing stability. What’s more, everything is ready for use in games by simply connecting the cockpit to user’s console. The pedals can be moved for your comfort which will also have an effect on the progressive resistance on the brake pedal for maximum realism.London, August 15, 2012 — Thrustmaster is pleased to unveil the first cockpit officially licensed for Xbox 360® with a built-in wheel and pedal set. An official Ferrari® licensed product, this cockpit concept is adjustable and foldable, and uniquely incorporates a technology which spreads out vibrations in games throughout the cockpit's entire structure!
Designed for instant fun
The philosophy behind this cockpit is to maximize users' gaming time: say goodbye to long installation processes, and to the hassle of attaching your wheel to a table or desk and connecting a pedal set… Feel like playing? Now you can do so almost instantly, and there’s no need to rearrange your living room's setup, either: the cockpit can be used almost anywhere, and easily adapts to any seating arrangement (sofa, armchair…) and to any user's size (adults, teens, children…) thanks to its adjustable design, which can easily be adjusted both in length and in height. This highly innovative approach is summed up by Stefano Saporetti, Head of Licensing at Ferrari S.p.A.: "Our work with Thrustmaster shows both companies’ commitment to our shared values, namely a dedication to innovation and quality. This product brings its unique concept, with the emotional impact of Ferrari, right into users’ living rooms, allowing them to enjoy racing in a very immersive way." And when you factor in the cockpit's convenient carrying handle, you've got everything you need to be able to jump right into the action every time you hear the racetrack call your name, and quickly store the cockpit away in some unobtrusive spot when it's not in use… to avoid causing too much jealousy!
Superior features, with G.V.S. (Global Vibration System) in the pole position!
The wheel on the Ferrari Vibration GT cockpit 458 Italia edition incorporates G.V.S. (Global Vibration System) technology, allowing for the high-frequency vibrations from the motors to be felt not only on the wheel itself, but also throughout the cockpit's entire steering column and pedal set as well, for incredibly realistic sensations and total immersion in games. The wheel is ultra-precise, featuring 16-bit performance for more than 65,000 values on the wheel's steering. Gear shifting is carried out via the metal Up & Down sequential paddle shifters. The wheel also features a Manettino® dial, just like on the real Ferrari® car! Textured rubber grips on the wheel ensure optimal comfort, and the cockpit even includes a headset connector for communication during multi-player gaming.
Unique metal look
With its streamlined “Musetto” body shape featuring a metal structure, the Ferrari Vibration GT cockpit 458 Italia edition looks great in any living room. Its wheel measures 28 cm in diameter, and is a 7/10 scale replica of the wheel on the Ferrari F458 Italia. Its wide, weighted base weighs in at over 10 kg, providing the cockpit with excellent overall stability.
Another huge advantage in relation to a standard setup is that the 2 metal pedals are built directly into the cockpit, further increasing stability. What’s more, everything is ready for use in games by simply connecting the cockpit to user’s console. The pedals can be moved for your comfort which will also have an effect on the progressive resistance on the brake pedal for maximum realism.
I'm interested. But it says it has "vibration feedback" not "force feedback" Which gives me pause.
It has force feedback, just not as "high fidelity" (and probably not as strong), as the T500RS. Here is a blurb from Engadget's hands on report:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/15/thrustmaster-ferrari-gt-cockpit-458-italia-racing-wheel-f1-gamepad/
We got to spend some time with the GT Cockpit playing Forza Motorsport 4, and found it to be a welcome addition to our driving game experience. Setting up the cockpit is an easy affair, as you simply unfold the column and set it at your preferred angle with a screw knob, and the telescoping column is secured at the right length in similar fashion. Plug it into your console, and you're ready to race. Alas, the pedals aren't adjustable, so you'll have to make do with the stock alignment.
Once driving, the whole rig was quite stable, and the 16-bit wheel was deadly accurate. It let us clip corner apexes as often as our skills allowed. Additionally, the brushed metal paddle shifters gave us a pleasing snick each time we pulled them -- and, they allowed us to easily navigate gear changes while cornering because they're attached to the wheel and turn with you. While the wheel benefits from Thrustmaster's Global Vibration System technology to provide force-feedback, it doesn't give the high fidelity experience that the firm's T500 RS controller does. What the GT cockpit does share with its higher-priced cousin, unfortunately, is a rubber coating on that's far less pleasing to drivers' hands than say, the leather and Alcantara found on its competition.
That said, the all-in-one nature of the GT Cockpit is a welcome change from other wheels that must be affixed to a coffee table, and its simple setup is a boon to those of us who don't have a dedicated gaming space.
Here is another blurb about the force feedback (or lack thereof)
http://www.gamingnexus.com/Article/Ferrari-Vibration-GT-Cockpit-458-Italia-Edition/Item3618.aspx
Our first impression of the cockpit was that the degree to which it could be customized to fit our personal preferences for the positions of the wheel and pedals was excellent. In fact, it was far easier to find a comfortable racing position with the cockpit than it is to do so with a wheel attached to a desk. The wheel itself was comfortable in our hands and the buttons fell readily under our thumbs. The wheel felt substantial in our hands, but it would never be mistaken for the feel of the larger, more robust wheels like the F1 Integral 500. That is to be expected, of course, as the Ferrari 458 Cockpit is targeted at a much more casual user and at a much lower price. That said, the lack of true force feedback in the cockpit somewhat dampened our enthusiasm as we consider good force feedback to be vital to allowing the player to truly feel as one with the simulated car.
Looks like a great solution for those who race excusivly Forza and can't have a full cockpit for whatever reason, not a bad price either.
Yeah, the term "cockpit" is quite a stretch there.
Still, nice to see some additional players coming to the xBox market.
Hmm somehow missed the post above mine...no true FFB....I suppose at that price point it should not be a suprise.
First I was like.gif "4")
Then I was like.gif "115")
Now I'm like.gif "121")
No FFB? WTF.gif "127")
no FFB... co clutch... looks dumb... and its not really mountable to anything... $300... for 60 more you can get the fanatec csr xl package or for less that 300 the mad cats or MS. No thanks... Pass.
InsideSimRacing.tv has done a piece on this wheel and pedal set. They note right out of the box that this wheel and pedals are not aimed at hardcore sim racers, like many of us. Its clearly aimed at the more casual crowd. To be candid, last time I checked, casual sim racers don't spend $300 on a wheel and pedal set, heck before I got the sim racing bug, I though $100 for a M$ wheel and pedal set was a lot of $$$. Not sure how this will turn out for Thrustmaster.
My bottomline is this, there is no cheap, new force feedback wheel and pedals set out there for the Xbox 360. For PS3 and PC, you have the $100 Logitech Driving Force GT. If you want something for the Xbox 360, save up your pennies and go with the Fanatec CSR wheel ($200 separately, or $250 total with CSR pedals), CSR pedals ($80 separately) and Rennsport wheel stand ($130). Total cost with shipping is $400. Yes, its $100 more than the Thrustmaster set, but the CSR wheel provides force feedback and is compatible with all major platforms (PC, PS3 and Xbox 360). There is also the used market, but you take your chances and often will be without a warranty.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwMyeOguLAQ&feature=g-all-u
Have to agree there.