I saw this set up the other day and my first thought was "how much?" This is like the ultimate driving/gaming station that is currently available and it looks like a whole lot of fun. If you are going to be locked down then you may as well have some good toys to play with. Formula E series has gained in popularity as some of the Formula One Drivers have joined in.
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I went looking at the Playseat site to price what a decent set up like Valtteri Bottas has as it doesn't look cheap. The items are cheap enough to all be out of stock which tells you what the lock down has done. Normal gaming chairs are in stock, but the driver simulators are all gone.
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Lets take a look at what it will cost to get something similar to what Valtteri is using here. The Mercedes AMG Petronas Motorsport edition will only cost you $1456.35. For that you get a branded kit plus a Forcelock system that will not allow the frame to flex creating superior stability. Amongst all the specifications that run off the sales pitch list is one that stood out and made me smile. The seat is made from high quality leather-look black vinyl. Leather and imitation leather should not be in the same description and has cheapened this in my thinking now. Paying nearly $1500 at least give me real leather or an option to have real leather.
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We now need to complete the set up so a steering wheel is required. This one I chose looks the closest to the current Formula One steering wheels and will set you back another $656.99. Already we are over $2000 and we are not quite done yet.
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Looking closer at what Valtteri is using this doesn't quite look like the same spec and is a cheap alternative. Zooming in Valterri is using a system by Fanatec. Having looked at the site we have just gone up a level in class and quality. Actually it looks like several levels and will change the entire experience feeling like you are playing a different game entirely. This steering wheel is not cheap and will set you back $1799.95 which is $300 more than your actual base set up.
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What next is we need some foot pedals and after seeing the difference in steering wheels we will stay at Fanatec as Valtteri has expensive tastes and this is trying to replicate what he has. This set is the ClubSport Pedals V3 inverted costing a cool $599.95.
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We are nearly done and still need the television or monitor stand which kind of important if you want the same experience. You can't exactly have this set up if your monitor is going to be 3 meters away as it is kind of pointless. This will cost an additional $229.95 and that about does it.
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See what I mean. You have spent all that money and diluted the experience by not buying the stand to put the monitor above your feet.
The only thing left is to build a stand and pay for the items plus the shipping. The base set up weighs 42 Kg's so postage wont be cheap. Currently this set up would cost you $4086.20 if it was free shipping so I would guess another $200 shipping depending on where you are in the world.
Damn look at that. If only I found this before I got hooked on porn mid March! No time for video games now! Lol
But seriously that certainly brings gaming to another level.
But soon I'm hoping I can get back to traveling. Here in Thailand there are going to be amazing places to discover and accommodations are going to be 5 stars at a 2 star price.
Cool post brother, keep'm coming.
Thanks so much. Very true the travel industry will be desperate so we are all going to benefit if we travel straight after everything opens. I am sure you will take advantage of the specials that will be on offer.
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Wow this is so huge and it's mainly for the gamers.
These are powerful gears to keep fit with during this lockdown. However, it would be so cool to have companies producing and selling these gadgets run their sales with cryptocurrencies, and better still , get them to be aware of the Sports Talk Social Community here on Hive chain.