Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Review: Shift 2 Unleashed [w/videos]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/29/shift-2-unleashed-need-for-speed-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/29/shift-2-unleashed-need-for-speed-review/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/03/29/shift-2-unleashed-need-for-speed-review/#commentsFiled under: ,

Need For Speed Gets Real

Shift 2 Unleashed Review - Click above for high-res image gallery

It was a risky proposition: taking a series as fabled for its antics as Need for Speed and placing it into the cold, calculating hands of a simulation developer. That developer is Slightly Mad Studios, which has roots to the SimBin team that created the groundbreaking GTR on the PC. The resulting game was the first Need for Speed: Shift - truly a fresh title and, more importantly, a truly great racer, managing to straddle the console racing and simulation genres and do both admirably well.

Now, it's sequel time. Ian Bell, sim-racing guru and co-founder of Slightly Mad, said that this game has the "most advanced physics system ever released." We're not sure we'd go quite that far, but in testing this one we're quite confident in saying that this is certainly the most realistic Need for Speed game yet, which is perhaps why it's officially shedding that prefix and just billing itself as Shift 2 on the PS3, xBox 360, and PC. Still, not everyone will enjoy the punishment this game can offer, so read on to see whether this is one supercar sim that's for you.

Continue reading Review: Shift 2 Unleashed...


Gallery: Shift 2 Unleashed

Continue reading Review: Shift 2 Unleashed [w/videos]

Review: Shift 2 Unleashed [w/videos] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>electronic artsfeaturedian bellneed for speedpcplaystation 3ps3racing simreviewreviewsshift 2shift 2 unleashedsimsim racersimulationslightly mad studiosxbox 360Tue, 29 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19894807/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/03/29/shift-2-unleashed-need-for-speed-review/19894807/article-detail.xml 19894807 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/shift-2-2011-03-28-630-06_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/03/shift-2-2011-03-28-630-06.jpg <![CDATA[How to build your own hidden racing sim setup and keep your wife happy]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/06/how-to-build-your-own-hidden-racing-sim-setup-and-keep-your-wife/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/06/how-to-build-your-own-hidden-racing-sim-setup-and-keep-your-wife/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/12/06/how-to-build-your-own-hidden-racing-sim-setup-and-keep-your-wife/#commentsFiled under: ,

DIY Racing Cockpit Ottoman
DIY Racing Cockpit Ottoman - Click above for high-res image gallery

Two things have prevented us from installing a full-blown racing-wheel, pedals and seat in our living room for the likes of Gran Turismo 5 - the aggravation of having the hardware soak up space in the living room and the threat of endangering hard-earned household peace accords for such a folly. One enterprising soul over at OverClockers has come up with the perfect solution by genetically splicing attractive furniture and functional gaming hardware into one vastly superior being. Using a little MDF and some excellent upholstery work, user Lyshco has managed to create a racing cockpit that's a little larger than your run-of-the-mill F1 throne, and he's done so without shelling out nearly $7,000 for a convertible coffee table.

The trick is that the whole kit-and-caboodle folds up into a very attractive ottoman when not in use, saving everyone's eyes from having to suffer through staring at the evidence of our dweeby past time. It turns out that old gem about necessity's momma turns out to be true. Thanks for the tip, Bloop!


Gallery: Racing Wheel Ottoman


[Source: OverClockers]

How to build your own hidden racing sim setup and keep your wife happy originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DIYdo it yourselfgran turismogran turismo 5logitechottomanOverClockersracing simracing simulatorMon, 06 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19747730/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/12/06/how-to-build-your-own-hidden-racing-sim-setup-and-keep-your-wife/19747730/article-detail.xml 19747730 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-otto-630_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/12/01-otto-630.jpg <![CDATA[CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/ces-2009-hands-on-with-d-box-and-simcraft-racing-simulators/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/ces-2009-hands-on-with-d-box-and-simcraft-racing-simulators/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/17/ces-2009-hands-on-with-d-box-and-simcraft-racing-simulators/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



They're more than glorified game consoles with force-feedback steering wheels strapped to a lounge chair. Costing as much as $44,000 apiece, they're racing simulators, and we got to play with a couple of them at CES.

Simcraft says its $44K model is meant for training real race car drivers, like Indycar driver Sarah Fisher, who stopped by CES on Wednesday to show off the company's Apex SC830. The U.S. military is also using the high-dollar simulator to train its soldiers to drive in the tricky sands of Iraq. D-Box's top-of-the-line GP Pro 200 is a much more affordable high-end racing simulator. It'll only set you back $14,000.

Both are PC-based and both offer much more realism than your Laz-E-Boy being moved around by your little brother. The SC830 is definitely more hardcore, with the seat and displays mounted on a tubular-steel frame. The GP Pro 200 sits lower, is more compact and looks less complicated than the Simcraft. But how do they drive? Click through to the jump to read our impressions and for more photos.

Gallery: CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators

Continue reading CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators

CES 2009: Hands on with D-Box and Simcraft racing simulators originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2009Ces2009d-boxmotorsports simulatorMotorsportsSimulatorracingracing simracing simulatorRacingSimRacingSimulatorrfactorsimcraftSat, 17 Jan 2009 19:14:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/1425041/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/01/17/ces-2009-hands-on-with-d-box-and-simcraft-racing-simulators/1425041/article-detail.xml 1425041 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dbox_gppro200_cjt250_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/01/dbox_gppro200_cjt250.jpg -1 2