The Ultimate Setup for Forza Motorsport 2
At A Glance
- Ryan discovers a sweet gaming setup for playing Forza Motorsport 2.
Published May 16, 2007
I never know quite what to expect when I head onto a developer's campus in search of behind-the-scenes treasures and detailed info on upcoming games. I did have some idea of the inevitable frenzy of activity I would find at developer Turn 10, just a few scant weeks before the public release of Forza Motorsport™ 2.
Think you can handle it?
But it was with a profound sense of confusion that I looked at nearly empty hallways and a ghost town of vacant cubicles, while being escorted through the building by Turn 10 Community Guru Che Chou. Where were the haggard testers, the nervous executives and the code-weary developers? Turns out that just a few days prior, Forza Motorsport 2 had gone gold.
You just never know what to expect, and as it turns out,
the unexpected can be pretty damn spectacular.
The final code was already locked in place, had been sent to manufacturing to be pressed onto disc, and eventually, make its way into the world. The friendly smiles and greetings I received were a result of the elated exodus of tension after years of hard work and dedication.
And Then There Was Perfection
After exchanging introductions with several of the team members, Che introduced me to what can only be described as a racing game fan's most extravagant dream. There sat before me a fully loaded, force-feedback racing seat nestled in front of an Xbox 360™ Wireless Racing Wheel. The accompanying gas and brake pedals were strapped down on the ground and set at a perfectly accessible angle.
Here comes the good part though: three thirty-plus-inch flat-panel LCD TVs simulated the windshield, and left and right windows, and hanging out at an angle was a perfectly shaped itty-bitty rear view mirror LCD monitor. A bass-booming 5.1 surround sound audio system added the final touch to a gaming setup of preposterous perfection.
After Che toggled a few options and booted up a race for me, I dropped into the chair, gripped the wheel and was transported instantly into the world of Forza Motorsport 2. I felt every bump and fishtail, winced with regret at every metal-rending crash and fought the wheel with every over-correction.
I'm coming for you.
My primary wish for all games is to provide a sense of total immersion, and I can say without reservation or fear of contradiction, that I can recall nothing more immersive than that combination of four screens, racing seat, wireless wheel and thumping surround sound.
It Can be Yours for Only…
That perfect setup is so far beyond the reach of the average gamer (myself very much included), and yet there is something wonderful in knowing that if you won the lottery tomorrow, that same setup could be accomplished with the retail version of Forza Motorsport 2.
Of course, the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel was virtually built with Forza 2 in mind, but it's surprising that the multi-screen support is available in the retail version. In fact, it almost wasn't. The designer who implemented the feature worked on it on the side as a pet project and had to fight for its inclusion. After putting in the time and proving that it worked, the folks at Turn 10 thought (and rightfully so), "Hey, why the heck not?"
In case you're wondering what's required for the ultimate racing experience, here's how it breaks down:
- Up to five screens are supported, which includes the windshield view, left window, right window, rear view mirror and one showing off the race from a replay view. I wouldn't recommend watching that last one too much while in the middle of a race, though.
- You'll need an Xbox 360™ and a copy of Forza Motorsport 2 to power each screen.
- Of course, you'll need the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel.
- I'm not entirely certain what seat the Turn 10 team used, but if you want the full experience, check out what's on offer at the Playseat Web site. I'm so tempted.
Muscle is nice but hard to handle.
Sometimes a visit to a developer can be highly scripted as you hop from meeting to meeting with key team members, but occasionally it's nice to be surprised. You just never know what to expect, and as it turns out, the unexpected can be pretty damn spectacular. I was already talking up Forza 2 with folks on my Friends List, but now I'm switching gears to hound my contacts for an early copy of the game. I can't wait until May 29th. You can believe that.
Article by Ryan Treit
