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!

 

[Fat-Alfie]

Good for you I hope you will come back and give us a full review of your new wheel and pedals when they arrive

 

[hotak]

a new review came out

Anyway there's only few days left to take it on kickstarter

 

[kamackeris]

I've been following progress of the Feel VR as a backer. Their FAQ on the kickstarter page now has a lot of info on that answers a lot of the questions / concerns people have been raising.

It is available here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/feelvr/feel-vr-the-affordable-direct-drive-racing-wheel-a/faqs

Hey Jim. Just wondered have you gone all in for the wheel and pedals. I'm interested but worried at the same time as I don't really have this sort of money that I can throw away. I would be using this should I get it on a desk, not a rig. Do you think it's worth the gamble?

 

[Nobkins]

I went all in @kamackeris . I too will be using it in a desk but it is a solid wood desk.

I think it is worth the gamble and the recent (last few days) release if info on wheel rim button improvement and the mobile app to control software settings (there will be pc software also) are positive.

At time of writing this you have 7 hours to decide. Sorry my reply was slow.

 

[kamackeris]

I went all in @kamackeris . I too will be using it in a desk but it is a solid wood desk.

I think it is worth the gamble and the recent (last few days) release if info on wheel rim button improvement and the mobile app to control software settings (there will be pc software also) are positive.

At time of writing this you have 7 hours to decide. Sorry my reply was slow.

 

[kamackeris]

Mine is a not so solid ikea desk. It's done fine for my t300. I dunno what to do. That wheel is nearly three years old now it has a tendency to double up shift on me although I could just get a new rim. I couldn't ever afford a dd wheel other than this one. I'm just worried they ain't gonna deliver on their promises!

 

[kamackeris]

I went all in @kamackeris . I too will be using it in a desk but it is a solid wood desk.

I think it is worth the gamble and the recent (last few days) release if info on wheel rim button improvement and the mobile app to control software settings (there will be pc software also) are positive.

At time of writing this you have 7 hours to decide. Sorry my reply was slow.

Do you get both rims?

 

[thepharcyde]

Wheel looks tiny, almost like a funny car drag racer wheel?

 

[Steve Worrell]

Would like to upgrade from my g27 but can wait a year to see how it goes. Hope it's a success.

 

[motoliser]

How many of you disagree voters own an OSW?

I purchased OSW and load cell pedals at the same time so I cannot tell wich one has made me faster.
Due to their stiffness (being much higher than any retail gear) it does not make sense to drive with stiff pedals & soft FFB wheel, and vice versa. Also using a very weak gear shifter or handbrake it just ruins the ability to make the most out of the interfaces.
So I believe that in time a proper gear can make any g27 Alien even faster. Pretty sure of that...Even if that means lowering the overall gear stiffness

 

[Durge Driven]

Australia as well. looks like my option on upgrading pedal is back to only Clubsport v3 (double the price)

Australia has been added to list but you won't like postage

every country I see $25US and Australia is $105US must be a typo p



So total is $304US or $400AU only $100 cheaper then v3's $499AU

 

[ZotacTiger]

The only thing that is missing from Feel VR is a shifter.
If it had a shifter I would have bought it for sure.

 

[Schwud Nelsh]

Do you get both rims?

Yes if you buy the full bundle

 

[dud]

What the heck is "real hydraulic simulation"?

Is that "(real hydraulic) simulation" or "real (hydraulic simulation)"?

 

[Celestiale]

It seems like a very good price/performance thing, but as long as my T300 is fine i won't get a new wheel. If my T300 breaks down in a couple of years, there are surely thorough long-life tests of this wheel. I for sure will keep it on my radar

 

[Nobkins]

Do you get both rims?

Yes if you go for the full package. No if you go for just the wheel.

I think you will be fine with a not so solid ikea desk. Mine is similar. I plan to make a rig from wood at some point. Remember that you don;t need to use the thing at 100%. What I want is something that gives me the fidelity I am missing from my G27. That is what DD wheels give. I don't want a work out just detail.

As with anything on Kickstarter it is a gamble. You are backing a project. It may deliver nothing. It may deliver late. It may deliver something that is not what you wanted.

For me I have a working G27. I plan to give this to my son as and when the FeelVR kit arrives. Looking at the prototype, how they have dealt with early issues (a few failures in demos that turned out to be a screw being too long and shorting out on the case), the info released on improved wheel designs (more buttons) and some info on the software has given time the confidence to NOT pull out of being a backer.

If I end up with nothing then I will be annoyed at loosing the money (of course) but I still have my G27.

It's your call @kamackeris

 

[Nobkins]

Wheel looks tiny, almost like a funny car drag racer wheel?

As my wife keeps telling me.... size isn't everything

The only thing that is missing from Feel VR is a shifter.
If it had a shifter I would have bought it for sure.

They have said that they would like to do shifters, handbrakes etc but they are first focussing on the pedals and wheel.

I plan to use a bodnar cable with my G27 shifter as and when the wheel and pedals arrive.

 

[kamackeris]

Yes if you go for the full package. No if you go for just the wheel.

I think you will be fine with a not so solid ikea desk. Mine is similar. I plan to make a rig from wood at some point. Remember that you don;t need to use the thing at 100%. What I want is something that gives me the fidelity I am missing from my G27. That is what DD wheels give. I don't want a work out just detail.

As with anything on Kickstarter it is a gamble. You are backing a project. It may deliver nothing. It may deliver late. It may deliver something that is not what you wanted.

For me I have a working G27. I plan to give this to my son as and when the FeelVR kit arrives. Looking at the prototype, how they have dealt with early issues (a few failures in demos that turned out to be a screw being too long and shorting out on the case), the info released on improved wheel designs (more buttons) and some info on the software has given time the confidence to NOT pull out of being a backer.

If I end up with nothing then I will be annoyed at loosing the money (of course) but I still have my G27
It's your call @kamackeris

I'm tempted. But like I say I use a cheapish desk that has my wheel clamped on with my TV on that bench. It's sturdy enough for my t300rs.

 

[Turk]

Hey Jim. Just wondered have you gone all in for the wheel and pedals. I'm interested but worried at the same time as I don't really have this sort of money that I can throw away. I would be using this should I get it on a desk, not a rig. Do you think it's worth the gamble?

If you don't have this kind of money to spare it's a huge gamble buying this wheel. That's nothing against the company, with the best of intentions they may fail, these days even having the best product at the best price doesn't guarantee success.

One of three things could happen if you spend the money. 1. They completely fail to get the product to market and you get nothing. 2. They get the wheel to you but it's unfinished, poorly made, flawed or with zero warranty. 3. You get the wheel and it's meets or exceeds expectations.

This is a start up company, I know from being involved in bringing a new product to market that it can work flawlessly, non stop in R&D but as soon as it get's into the end users hands problems start popping up left, right and center. The guys making this product don't know what's going to happen going forward.

It really is a gamble, I think if you want a good deal wait until they have a product to sell rather than buying their prototypes. I'm sure if they are successful they will have an offer on the consumer version when it releases and then you have all the consumer protection that goes with that type of product.

 

[BP]

If you don't have this kind of money to spare it's a huge gamble buying this wheel. That's nothing against the company, with the best of intentions they may fail, these days even having the best product at the best price doesn't guarantee success.

One of three things could happen if you spend the money. 1. They completely fail to get the product to market and you get nothing. 2. They get the wheel to you but it's unfinished, poorly made, flawed or with zero warranty. 3. You get the wheel and it's meets or exceeds expectations.

This is a start up company, I know from being involved in bringing a new product to market that it can work flawlessly, non stop in R&D but as soon as it get's into the end users hands problems start popping up left, right and center. The guys making this product don't know what's going to happen going forward.

It really is a gamble, I think if you want a good deal wait until they have a product to sell rather than buying their prototypes. I'm sure if they are successful they will have an offer on the consumer version when it releases and then you have all the consumer protection that goes with that type of product.

I totally agree...I wouldn't (and didn't) mind gambling $4 to buy a certain early access rally game to see if it improves over time, but paying couple hundred bucks to (possibly) beta test their first version of a wheel and pedals? Now THAT'S what you call risky...but good luck to all of those that pitched in!