I opened this site in 2014 to talk about the aspects of simulation I was learning. It was an exercise in note‑taking, sharing, and learning. My goal is the same as that of true motorsport lovers: the purest possible simulation.
Transferring what happens on track to a static environment is something we already know is not possible. G‑forces, for example, are that barrier we face and know to be insurmountable. Motion platforms and other solutions are continually narrowing the gap, but those factors, and the sense of danger, will likely never be fully replicated.
However, over the past 10 years, we have seen significant advances in immersion for other elements of simulation. Virtual reality has helped from the very beginning to break the toy‑like, unreal feeling many drivers had when taking control of the simulator.
As a strong advocate and user of virtual reality, I have been testing many HMDs since 2016. Starting with the Oculus CV1, then the Rift S, several models from Meta, Varjo, Pimax, and others. Each has its pros and cons due to the different approaches of each brand, but all share a main goal: making us feel present on track.
Are bigger screens the solution?
Right now my setup consists of a 49‑inch Samsung G91F monitor with very good resolution. The image is incredible and the immersion is even better than with triple screens. The display is close enough to make up for the lack of side view, and I can even imagine that a 57‑inch monitor could increase immersion, but it still would not be the same as being there.
Monitors place us in a flat environment (curved in this case) where we are not isolated enough from the rest of the surroundings, and our brain can get distracted by external stimuli. An HMD manages to shut you off from the real world and presents a virtual one with visual quality that would have been unthinkable just five years ago.
My recent tests with the Pimax Crystal Light show that everything keeps evolving. First with lighter HMDs, then with improvements in image quality. Developers and manufacturers provide tools that help with frame smoothness and system performance so we can enjoy the feeling of being “inside” the action.
Is there any satisfying solution?
Of course, HMDs have downsides such as heat build‑up, “discomfort,” and the CPU/GPU power they require. But it is worth remembering that if we want true simulation, the comfort of an ideal room temperature at home is not really the way to go either. Inside a race car, temperatures get extremely high, visibility is restricted to what you see through the helmet (or halo), and comfort is a utopian concept; the chassis twists and mechanical noises are constant. It is a high‑risk sport that puts us under tremendous pressure and in which our lives are at stake.
In reality, using an HMD is closer to pure simulation, both in its positives and its negatives. And this is what true simracers have always pursued. However, if you just want to treat simulation as yet another game where you push limits to the breaking point and look for the glitch of the day, you will probably want to stick to traditional monitors, where it is easier to cheat than to drive.
In the coming weeks, I will be reviewing these Pimax Crystal Light and digging into their improvements.
- You can take advantage of 2% off using our coupon:
This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
