SteeringWheel
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Homegrown Wii steering wheel proves disgraceful
Since the frequency (and severity) of Wii-related injuries has calmed down somewhat since Nintendo (we think) starting replacing those previously weak Wiimote straps, it seems that Wii owners now have more time to spend crafting accessories than filling out medical paperwork. Sure, the more official steering wheel adornment has been available to purchase for quite awhile, but for those who can't (or have no desire to) conjure up the coin required to snag one, there's always the homegrown approach. It's quite possible that we've grown too accustomed to well planned and well executed mods and DIY creations, but we must say this attempt at crafting a Wii wheel looks to fall a bit short -- unless you dig incredibly lumpy and presumably slippery circles to steer with, of course. Nevertheless, we've got to give props for the not-so-typical blue tape used in the construction, but we're counting on Rev. B to be a much more refined rendition, capiche?[Via NintendoWiiFanboy]
Homemade Wii accessories: steering wheel
What do you do when you need that true-to-life steering wheel experience, however you don't have the money to buy Ubisoft's attachment (or think that it's ridiculously priced)? Make your own, of course! While we would've initially pictured more candidates sporting the ultimate do-it-yourself repair aid (hint: duct tape) then the other, more ridiculous solutions that the forum-goers came up with, we laugh all the same. [Via Go Nintendo]
Home Pro Racing Simulator decks out your living room for $4,000
You know, most of us who have extra 42-inch plasma screens just kicking around usually spend our spare time watching say, "Battlestar Galactica" or some other big exploding action-packed show. It hadn't occurred to us that what our home entertainment center was missing was a Home Pro Racing Simulator, but then again, what do we know. Costco, a big-box wholesale retailer, is shipping an equally ridiculously-sized $4,000 rig that apparently acts as the perfect cockpit for racing (no, not the actual kind) or flying video games, coming complete with a steering wheel, foot pedals, 10-inch woofer, a handful of tweeters, and of course the optional, but obligatory, joystick. While the Simulator is also advertised as a "movie-going experience", we're not really sure how you're going to cuddle up to your loved one in a single seat while squashed behind a steering wheel -- we're not trying to replicate makeout point in our home theater, ya dig?[Via Red Ferret]
Ubisoft's steering wheel, boxed
It's the doughnut, ready and willing to cradle your Wiimote while you take those hairpin turns. If you're not picking up GT Pro Series or Monster 4x4 (both of which come packaged with the wheel), then you can snag one of these for a pretty reasonable $19.99. While it may look funny (and so will you when using it), the steering wheel has actually gotten some pretty good reviews, the most recent from Chris Kohler of GameLife.Check after the jump for the back of the box.
Ubisoft steers GT Pro Series onto the Wii
Ubisoft is all over Nintendo lately. Not only are they dominating the Wii launch lineup, but they're the first to bundle a peripheral not designed by Nintendo with their games. Yes, that's games plural. Their new steering wheel, which cradles the Wiimote like the precious jewel it is, will be bundled with both Monster 4x4: World Circuit and their new racer, GT Pro Series. IGN snagged a short intervew with associate producer Tats Myoio. They didn't cover much, but the screens of the colorful cel-shaded game and the first look at the superfly steering wheel are so exciting that an interview is just the cherry on this Ubisoft sundae.The highlights: GT Pro Series will feature over 80 licensed cars, including Honda, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota. There are 11 different options for customization. The game includes a wide variety of racing modes: Championship (Career) mode, a Quick Race mode, Versus mode (splitscreen only!), Time Attack and Drift Mode. Any race can be saved and replayed later, for your viewing pleasure. GT Pro Series supports 16:9 widescreen, but no progressive scan. The steerig wheel was developed by Thrustmaster specifically for GT Pro Series, but it will work with other Wii titles, like the aforementioned Monster 4x4, Excite Truck, Cars, and portions of Spongebob as well. We're vehemently not going to be the ones who break down and make a Thrustmaster joke. Just in case you were wondering. [Thanks, AssemblyLineHuman!]
Intel's F1-inspired Viiv remote
We wonder what the meeting was like over at Intel HQ when they decided to produce this programmable remote that's designed for controlling your Viiv devices and is shaped like the steering wheel from a BMW F1 car. We wrote a short play describing how we think it went. Executive 1: It seems like people are seeing Viiv as kind of a novelty. What should we do?Executive 2: Hmm, maybe we should develop a remote that'll give users access to all of their media without having to switch remotes, thus making Viiv actually useful for accessing content. It can have an array of custom programmable buttons, two of which look like bright blue marker caps, and everything.Executive 1: Yeah, and it can be shaped like the steering wheel from a race car!Executive 2: That is a totally sweet idea. When does it come out and how much?Executive 1: Well we're developing it now, so no word on release date. But judging by how much other companies charge for race car stuff, it's safe to say that it won't be cheap.Executive 2: Awesome. AMD Live! has no idea what's coming. Fin.
DIY gaming chair for $80, BYO wheel/pedals
This'll be the second DIY gaming project requiring welding skillz this month! If you shied away from the DIY DDR dancepad due to lack of welding equipment, tool-blog Toolmonger has some suggestions. First, check out their awesome guide to inexpensive welders (they settled on the $380 Hobart's Handler 125 EZ), then head over to their guide on how to build a totally badass gaming chair with $80 worth of materials. That covers the chair, steel, and paint; it's bring-your-own-steering-wheel-pedal-set. The best part? Even though they've spelled it all out for you, you're still not going to do anything about it ... but you could enter their contest to win the thing! Just make a comment somewhere on Toolmonger before July 31, and your lazy ass might win an awesome chair to stick it in.[Via MAKE: Blog]
360 steering wheel with LED display
Korean peripheral company Joytech is offering the "Nitro Racing Wheel" controller for the Xbox 360, featuring a shifter, foot pedals, force feedback, the 360 controller's four colored face buttons, and the trademark 360 guide button. The product's real distinguishing factor, however, is the LED display located on the wheel itself; a unique, albeit dubious, addition. Not sure if this will ever make it outside of South Korea, but it's being sold there for about $144. [Via digg]
