Direct Drive on a Budget? Feel VR Kickstarter is Here, But Act Fast!

[Paul Jeffrey]

We heard about the FeelVR Direct Drive wheel project back at the 2017 Sim Racing Expo, and now the plans are a reality with a new Kickstarter campaign launched today.

The team behind Feel VR had an ambitious target to develop and ship a Direct Drive wheel and pedal set for considerably less than any other DD product on the market, and it looks like they are now finally in a position to open up the long awaited Kickstarter campaign, having already surpassed their funding target in just 75 minutes!

At the time of writing the campaign has received over $200,000 in the first day, and if you want to take home an early bird discount you only have the rest of today to act!

I spent a considerable amount of time on a Skype video call with the team at the back end of last year, and it looks like the plans they have in place are very solid and well thought out, with several demonstration models already in action even back in 2017. In fact, the team would be at the Sim Racing Expo in September of last year, although unfortunately we didn't get an opportunity to pop over and say hi whilst we were on site ourselves.

So what is it the team are offering exactly? Well if done correctly, this could be something of a game changer for sim racers looking to invest in direct drive wheel technology - the team are offering a full Direct Drive wheel, and pedals, for the same price as a traditional mid range standard wheel setup.

At present "early bird" investors on Kickstarter can order a DD wheel, two rims (GT and Formula), all the cables and a set of load cell brakes for.... $549! That's cheap.. very cheap indeed..

So what does it look like, and what are the specs? Read on to find out..

The Wheel

As for the pedals, the team at Feel VR have developed an affordable load cell unit that promises to offer a more detailed and consistent performance that traditional spring loaded versions, as anyone who has tried loadcell can testify I'm sure, and if you wanted to pick them up as a standalone item, early bird prices are $149!

The Pedals

All sounds pretty good on paper, let's see what happens once the units begin to ship towards the end of the year...

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Like the look of these offerings from FeelVR? Will you be investing? Can a budget DD set such as this compete in a competitive marketplace, in your opinion? Let us know in the comments section below!

 

[Xr4eyes]

They haven't shipped the pedals yet as far as I am aware. I'm quite an early backer and haven't had my pedals or communication to say they have been shipped

 

[Giovanni Lazzari]

I almost went for it, luckily I didnt and put some more money towards Simucube, my reason was because this is the ugliest wheel base/rim ever made. That being said, the pedals look cool.

I am happy the project is still ongoing and gives hope for loads of backers. However I find the communication terrible and they cannot just give few updates and not telling what really is happening. But, i am afraid this kickstarter/indigo projects are free of any responsability.

I do hope the backers will receive what they were promissed, fingers crossed.

 

[Deleted member 197115]

I wouldn't say this is the case. They didn't try to sell something else instead.
It's simply bad calculations. A not well thought of business plan. They still try to make this work . Let's give them credit for that at least.

They posted already that wheel price must go up, didn't they?

 

[asteroulis]

Yes they did. But sincerely , I don't think that was they initial plan. The price will go up , sales won't go as planned , and the business will probably fail.

 

[super_gt]

 

[Mascot]

Pleasantly surprised! I still think they look unnecessarily ugly and toy-like, but I guess that doesn't matter at all during use.

 

[Turk]

now we have the 10.7.2019 and still no realease date yet. i want tin invest but i dont want spent 600 euro and get my wheel 2 years later (worst case) they want to realease at the beginning of 2020 and im waiting for black friday to get a fanatec or this one cheap. should i spend the money than?

These products aren't really consumer products yet. It's not really a good idea to compare these products to other established brands taht you can buy in a shop.

If your looking for a new wheel, I wouldn't even put them on the list. This wheel should only be considered by people that already have a wheel they can depend on, and have money to burn on something that may never materialise.

This wheel could arrive and not work, or require a lot of tinkering to get to work. It may not have everything working properly without software/firmware updates. Your basically going to be a beta tester.

That's nothing against the company, they may send out the first batch thinking everything is working perfectly. But the real world has a way of exposing bugs that just won't show up in a lab.

If you want a wheel now, buy one of the established brands. If you have money that can be tied up for months (or lost entirely) in a new wheel that may not work, give it a punt.

 

[tadopemu]

The pedals look amazing tbh. For the price, and considering how good the reviews are.
BUT this is only because you can throw away those disgusting red clip on things.
They visually look pretty good without the red things. But with them it's basically toysRus.

 

[tadopemu]

Does anyone have any hope that the wheel will ever ship?
They sound really trustworthy and legit, but they mentioned "looking for additional revenue sources" just to start producing the wheel. That is pretty scary.
Sounds like they used up all the backers money just to make the pedals.

 

[BrainsBush]

 

[Igorek111]

time 57:23

 

[Caton XII]

time 57:23

I saw it yesterday and... It's a matter of an absolute no buy for me, even if I'm not interested in that set !
It was a while now but I gave up a wheel for his generated noise (Logitech G29).

 

[Mascot]

Jesus, Barry - get a bloody hair cut..!

 

[Paul Glover]

Any news?

 

[tadopemu]

no updates in 3 months....

 

[EsxPaul]

Some interesting commentary and added back story from William at the SIM Racing Paddock

 

[EsxPaul]

A new update and video were released yesterday.

https://www.kickstarter.com/project...ble-direct-drive-racing-wheel-a/posts/2784743

 

[Paul Glover]

Any updates on this? Just took a look at their Twitter account and it's been dormant for a while, can see I can order one on their website: https://feelvr.game

Did anyone get theirs?

 

[BrainsBush]

Any updates on this? Just took a look at their Twitter account and it's been dormant for a while, can see I can order one on their website: https://feelvr.game

Did anyone get theirs?

Have you seen this a couple of months ago, also read the comments? And in between as far as I know completely quiet.

 

[Paul Glover]

Have you seen this a couple of months ago, also read the comments? And in between as far as I know completely quiet.

No thanks, didn't think of searching Youtube