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Turn a national symbol into a, uh, steering wheel
Have a spare ogal handy? If you're not sure what one is, it's a black cord used to hold in place a Keffiyeh, an Arab headdress often worn in Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries. Nintendo Wii Fanboy reader Almadi clued us into a quick DIY project of his in which he slapped together a steering wheel peripheral using an ogal, some scotch tape, and a piece of cardboard. It might not be as revolutionary as our homemade Balance Board, but as far as Wii remote mods go, it's cheap, and pretty much anyone can make one of their own! To be honest, it's not any goofier than Nintendo's official Wii Wheel.
E307: Mario Kart Wii spins its wheels through our hearts
Nintendo didn't give us much on Mario Kart Wii, but it's enough. A smattering of sweet screenshots, a peripheral we're uncertain about, and news of online multiplayer is enough to get any good Nintendo fan's heart racing. As for the upcoming wheel ... Mario and Luigi manage to make it look like a blast! But racing is old hat for them -- they've been doing it for years. We can only guess they needed something new to mix things up a little. %Gallery-4772%
Nintendo announces online Wii Mario Kart, Wii Wheel
At Nintendo's E3 press conference today, Reggie Fils-Aime announced the first online-enabled console Mario Kart will come out for the Wii in the first quarter of 2008. Fils-Aime said the game is "not your father's Mario Kart," and hinted that the game will have a large number of characters. He also announced a "Wii Wheel" peripheral which will be packaged with the game and "level the track for beginners." More pictures of both the game and the wheel after the break.
New Mario Kart and Wii Wheel revealed
New. Mario. Kart.And it's online.At the Nintendo press conference, Reggie hinted at the possibility of massive online races. "More racers means more fun. How many more? Stay tuned." In addition to online races, Nintendo revealed an official steering wheel accessory, not too different from the ones used by Ubisoft at the system launch. The cleverly named Wii Wheel will come packaged with the upcoming Mario Kart, to be released in the beginning of 2008.
Featherweight plastic rims roll closer to production
Granted, there are options out there if you're looking to buy rims not constructed from some type of metallic matter, but for the tamer crowd, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft's plastic alternatives are probably more your style. The firm's research team has reportedly developed fiber-reinforced plastics that enabled trial wheels to last some 250,000 kilometers without falling apart, and they are hoping that designers will soon have "more latitude in their choice of material." The next challenge, however, is convincing regulators that non-metal rims have what it takes to be a safe addition to your next vehicle, but barring any major catastrophes in future test scenarios, you won't find us complaining about wheels that weigh (and cost) less.[Via Autoblog]
Forza 2 racing wheel tuning possible through DiRT
Over on the Forza Motorsport 2 forums members are investigating a way to change the 360 racing wheel's force feedback in the Forza 2 demo. Currently, the Forza 2 demo does not allow customizable racing wheel options, but the Colin McRae DiRT demo does allowing players to change various settings. And, as such, some forum members are reporting that the DiRT demo's force feedback settings magically transfer over to the Forza 2 demo. So, if you're feeling the need for more force feedback in Forza 2, fire up DiRT, customize your racing wheel options and see if it helps your Forza 2 demo situation. Although, all this confusion could be avoided if Microsoft would integrate some sort of racing wheel options menu through the dash. You hear us Microsoft? [Thanks, thermodynamic]
Studly Q Celsius tires for safe winter driving
What's a northeastern driver to do when wintry roads spell danger for everyday tires, while normal conditions hamper breaking ability for the studded variety? Well, Q's Celsius tires have traction studs that protrude and retract on your command -- practical and 007 slick, like something Q would install for use in rescuing Halle Berry from a gigantic ice palace. How it works: when you're ready to enter extreme weather mode, the tires use their own air supply to fill a secondary chamber that pushes the studs through the surface, past the tread. Then when conditions clear up, the studs retract back below the tread and the surplus air is released. We're not sure how much this upgrade will cost to add little cool to your lemon, but some extra cash might be worth the added safety, not to mention ditching the hassle of seasonal tire switching.[Via Autoblog]
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]
PS3 won't support force feedback wheels
Sony recently confirmed with 1UP that PlayStation 3 will not support force feedback, a technology that is often integrated into racing wheel peripherals. The explanation was vague: "All PS3 games are programmed for the Sixaxis which doesn't have force feedback, therefore the force feedback in the wheels won't be recognized."Perhaps Sony misspoke. There aren't any console gamepads that support the type of force feedback technology built into many top-line racing wheels, so when this feature is enabled in racing games, it's an additional programming step that only benefits players using an appropriate racing wheel -- it simply doesn't matter that Sixaxis lacks full force feedback (or even simple rumble feedback). If Sony is actively dissuading developers from coding in force feedback support for racing wheels compatible with PS3, it has nothing to do with what Sixaxis lacks ... then again, it might have everything to do with what Sixaxis lacks.If indeed Immersion technologies like rumble and force feedback are never be supported by Sony's new console it's almost certainly the result of the 2003 lawsuit brought against Sony by Immersion, and the judge's denial of Sony's subsequent appeal.
TRW intros non-rotating airbag, mesmerizes drivers
While vehicle manufacturers are taking this "safety thing" to new heights (not that we're complaining or anything), the ole airbag sure takes a lot of heat regarding its questionable design and potentially harmful nature. The love / hate relationship with this very necessary device has been going on for years, and TRW Automotive Safety Systems is hoping to quiet the protestors a bit with its latest creation. The next-generation asymmetric airbag / steering wheel system features a "non-rotating airbag" that stays put while the wheel around it moves to meet the driver's demands. By utilizing a circumferential gear to keep the airbag stationary, the mobilized unit provides "enhanced crash protection" while allowing automotive designers to add more "convenience and aesthetic features" (read: buttons, switches, and other gadget-controlling togglers) to the steering wheel itself. Although TRW fails to point out just how much automakers will be forced to pay for its invention, it does note that it can be customized to the fit the feel, color, and style of any vehicle, and since the firm has already landed a contract with "a major European vehicle manufacturer," we could see this non-turning technology go stateside anytime.
360 Racing Wheel reviewed
Remember that spiffy racing wheel that Microsoft announced a while back? You know, the one that comes with the special force feedback version of PGR 3. Yes ... that racing wheel! Over at Xbox Canadian Live they got their hands on one to demo, and the short and sweet version is that they absolutely love it. The force feedback option sounds extremely fun especially with Forza 2 when it drops. Though, I'm not a huge race fan, I could see this little accessory adding to the enjoyment of a game. Are you willing to drop some cash on this bad boy so you can experience what real racing feels like? Seriously, why wouldn't you purchase this wheel? (I guess you probably wouldn't purchase this if you're totally broke and hate racing games or despise wheels in general ... then I can cope with your decision.)
ZMP rolls out the e-nuvo WHEEL robot
While it's not exactly a life-sized humanoid companion, ZMP is rolling out (literally) a new robot destined to awe physics and engineering students everywhere. While the company has dabbled in robotics for academia before, the new e-nuvo WHEEL is a learning tool (be it science or anger management) through and through. Designed to challenge your MATLAB / Simulink skills, the two wheeled machine won't stay put (or stand straight up) without your programming efforts mastering its motion. Sporting an unmistakable nuvo body on an "inverted pendulum," the company even has supporting textbooks that explain how Newton's "equation of motion" can be tweaked and implemented in order to get your 'bot up and about. While there's no apparent pricing available, the e-nuvo WHEEL is still currently "in development," but should be wheeling around (or laying flat on its back) in campus laboratories soon.[Via GoRobotics]
Wii's first 3rd-party peripheral is a foam donut
French game publisher Ubisoft is the first company other than Nintendo to announce a peripheral for the Wii. The peripheral takes the form of a small, plastic racing wheel with a slot in the middle for the motion sensing Wii-mote, and is to be bundled with Ubisoft's GT Pro Series and 4x4: World Circuit racing games, although the simple design -- it's basically a foam circle -- suggests to us that it should "work" with pretty much any Wii racer. We'd imagine that the feeling would be similar to that of driving a car after the steering wheel had fallen off the column, and thus hilarity will no doubt ensue. On the one hand, the Wii-eel (Wiil?) could be a great example of the increased immersion that the Wii's controller will allow; on the other, Engadget HQ is chock-a-block with pointless pieces of plastic, so we're sure the novelty of finding a hunk of foam with every Wii game will wear off pretty damn quickly.[Via Joystiq]
Peripherals Gone Wild, caught on video
Via Robert Summa, posting wonderboy of Joystiq, we bring you this video of the latest 360 peripherals in action. You'll get to see all your favorites, including the wireless racing wheel, Vision camera, wireless headset, and the HD-DVD drive. The bulk of the video covers the soon-to-be-released Vision camera. The camera will bring all sorts of features to the 360, including personal gamer pics and video chat (in 30 FPS no less). And good news for parents -- and players who don't want to be subjected to random dongs -- parental controls are allowed that let you decide whether or not the little ones are allowed to use video chat or even see personal gamer pics at all. The wheel looks like a really nice peripheral for racing fans and the headset looks like everything you would expect. And the HD-DVD drive ... well, the HD-DVD drive looks bigger than my complete hardbound edition of Lord of the Rings.[Via Joystiq]
Siemens VDO shows off eCorner motor-in-hub concept
We've seen various implementations of all these assorted next-gen car technologies that Siemens got ahold of for their new eCorner system, but they've managed to squeeze them all into a single wheel, creating quite an interesting system for use with fuel cell or hybrid cars. First off, there's an electronic motor integrated into the wheel hub, allowing for more efficient power use and independent rotation from the rest of the car. Next up is an active suspension system and Siemens' very own electronic wedge brake (EWB). Finally, the independent steer-by-wire function built into the wheel allows for some very interesting maneuverability. Siemens expect cars that would use such functionality to be common in 15 years or so, but we hope we don't have to wait that long for all the fun and power savings this system promises.[Via Autoblog]
$40 XBL Vision camera & UNO bundle detailed by MS source along with prices & dates for other 360 accessories
Our friendly anonymous source at Microsoft has provided us with a few more details concerning the 360 accessories announced back at E3.Perhaps the most important involves the bundling of the Xbox Live Vision camera with a wired headset, the popular Live Arcade title UNO, and a month of Live Gold service for $39.99 when it releases in the States on September 19, 2006.Granted, this is still an unofficial report (based on a leak of "official" info), so understand that you're probably not gonna get much confirmation from MS until they're good and ready to give it. If you'd like information on what other peripherals are coming out "Holiday 2006" (so sometime in the 4th quarter) and at what price, read on for more.
Rumor: 360 wireless gaming receiver $20; wheel $130; headset $60; camera $40; Halo and Forza faceplates $20 [update 1]
Thanks to a reliable source from Microsoft, we've learned some important details about the new peripherals announced for the Xbox 360, including pricing and a few Halo faceplate (non)specifics. Check out the leaked info and prices below: 360 wireless gaming receiver (which enables wireless 360 controllers, headsets, and wheels on your PC): $20 Wireless racing wheel: $130 Wireless headset: $60 Xbox Live Vision Camera (with headset, one month of Live Gold, and one arcade -- presumably Xbox Live Arcade -- game): $40 New faceplates for Halo (with the Master Chief on 'em, but not Halo 3 specific) and Forza (no word on connections to the sequel): $20 each 256 MB portable memory unit (MU): no official price yet, but definitely not four times the cost of the older 64MB MU Besides acknowledging that the PC is "the biggest gaming device of all," MS appears to be setting an agressive price for its most relevant new PC accessory, the wireless gaming receiver (at least in comparison to the outrageously priced 360 wireless networking adapter). Unfortunately, no price was revealed as of yet for the USB-based HD-DVD add-on.We've speculated in our recent podcasts as to what would happen to the various 360 SKUs when price drops inevitably occur. An interesting theory bandied about by prolific Joystiq Contributor epobirs (on our earlier bump-to-256MB-MU post) was that a $20 price drop for the Core system, coupled with a $20 price drop on the 64MB MU, would finally allow folks to pick up a capable non-Premium bundle for the original $300 Core price point. (Not a bad way to undercut PS2 memory card prices, too.) We hope to get official confirmation on this info in the not-too-distant future.[Update: Sorry, had the camera price wrong in the headline; it now matches the price of the bundle listed in the body of the text below.]See also: 360's Mem Unit getting a bump to 256MB? (Comment from epobirs) Use 360 wireless peripherals with a PC Engadget & Joystiq's live coverage of Microsoft's Xbox 360 E3 event Joystiq / Engadget podcasts from Day One and Day Two of E3 2006
Logitech launches steering wheels and G-series inputs
Logitech showed up at E3 with a steering wheel of their own, the G25 system. And let us say, this thing is probably nicer than the wheel on our own automobile -- well, when we still had it. Their $299.99 rig features a leather-wrapped 11-inch wheel with 900° rotation, paddle shifters, dual-motor force feedback, and a very nice external clicky six-speed shifter. This'll be ready to roll in early October, long before the July launches of the force-feedback equipped DriveFX Wheel (shown after the break) for the Xbox 360, which will go for $99, and more entry level G-series devices Logitech's rolling out, such as the G3 laser mouse and G11 keyboard (which is basically the G15 with no display).