First Impressions: F1 Simulator at the Serious Games Institute in Coventry.

Nowadays every racing team that wants to be considered as one of the pros has a simulator. A simulator is the next best thing after a race car when it's snowing outside. The cost of such a contraption can easily pass the £100,000 mark and each year more advanced simulator are developed. CoventryTV got invited to test out the newest addition to the Serious Games Institute that is situated in the heart of Coventry, just behind the University. The simulator was truly a piece of technological art with a huge amount of hardware and a sleek design reminiscent of a futuristic spaceship. Let's see in more detail what the F1 simulator is about.



Going in, you get the strange feeling you gt when entering a ride at an amusement park for the first time. You don't know what to expect. The driving position is equivalent to that of a F1 car and the pedals are annoyingly realistic as well- meaning the throttle is extremely long and the brake extremely hard to press and locks up the wheels in a matter of milliseconds. One you get used to it though, your motor memory from driving a real car takes over and suddenly driving the simulator becomes effortless.  The wide screen effect perfectly occupies your whole field of view and your brain is tricked into thinking it is actually moving.  The feeling of speed you get is amazing and can not be justified by a video. Nevertheless I believe this POV short video can give you just a glimpse of the amazing experience of driving such an advanced simulator.  Apologies in advance for my driving skills, but having your brain believe it is travelling at  120 Mph five inches close to the wall makes you not that good of a driver. Here is James introducing and me driving: