Build a Force-Feedback Gaming Simulator

inventgeek writes "Inventgeek.com has an interesting article on force feedback controllers. Their how-to instructions explain how to build a force feedback simulator on the cheep! While this mod is for the PC, it is possible to do something like it for console systems also!" From the article: "This project, just by its nature, will be presented a little differently than our other projects. The scale of this project presented some difficulty to properly report using our normal format and delayed us while we made a more flexible framework. So what we have done (Microsoft take note) is take the entire project and broken it down to a bunch of subsystems, and basically produced a mini segment for each section with full documentation and pics and plans. This overview of systems is in essence the master plan."

Yeah

[GigsVT]

I'm sure MS hasn't heard of modularity before. Thanks for your wonderful public service.

Cool

[Bellum Aeternus]

I remeber that Back to the Future ride, and I loved it too. I'm going to have to somehow convince my fiancee that building this thing is a good idea. I wish InventGeek.com had tips on how to convince girl friends/fiancees/wives that these things were worth the money the cost to build.

The next level

[BennyB2k4]

For those wanting to take their sim ride to the next level check out:

http://www.frex.com/gp/ [frex.com]

and have a look at the SimConMotion (hydraulic motion base)

If you have even more money to burn, check out:

http://www.force-dynamics.com/ [force-dynamics.com]

I can't believe nobody's posted...

[ResidntGeek]

...the Forced-Feedback Enemy-Denial Smackdown Ergonomic Chair [userfriendly.org]!!

Far more out there on this subject!

[Dibblah]

For more of this fun playing around:
http://forum.rscnet.org/forumdisplay.php?f=186 [rscnet.org]

And for a GREAT game to drive it:
http://www.liveforspeed.net/ [liveforspeed.net]

which supports output of true force data (acceleration / cornering G forces, suspension deflection, etc) to a real motion platform, such as:
http://www.force-dynamics.com/ [force-dynamics.com]

Idea for a cheap source of high-torque motors (<$15):
http://homepages.which.net/~paul.hills/Motors/Star ters/StartersBody.html [which.net]

This is not easy (or cheap) stuff to do right, but I'm quite sure when you do, it's well worth it for the look on people's faces :)

looks like a nice hack

[DavidV]

......but I'd rather have one of these

http://www.force-dynamics.com/

Exercise bike?

[Eightyford]

Does anyone know of any plans for building an exercise bike input device for a PC or console? I would love to try this, and I was thinking of just using an optical mouse (or regular one, even).

Re:Exercise bike?

[Bellum Aeternus]

Plans? No. But Balley's has these things, and they have rowers too. Exercise and beat the crap out the guy on the bike next to you. Makes exercising almost fun!

Hey there's an idea.

1...
2...
3 Profit!

Somebody help with 1 and 2 please!

Re:Exercise bike?

[iainl]

I don't know of plans available for customizing a bike you already own, but if you're starting from scratch, take a look at the Reebok Cyberrider - http://www.reebokcyberrider.com/ [reebokcyberrider.com] - it has USB and Playstation 2 compatibility, apparently.

With a project this expensive....

[hal2814]

With a project this expensive it's probably better to get some real arcade parts off of eBay or somewhere like Happ Controls and wire them up to encoders for various PCs, consoles, etc using DB-9/15/25/etc connectors (or even Molex if you're into that sort of thing). That way you only have to swap encoders instead of building a new seat each time. Modularity can save hundreds of dollars here even if you have to resort to buying a steering wheel for each console and hacking an arcade steering wheel's input