This "virtual car" is really just a specialized, homemade controller for the 3DOTM video game console (aka the Panasonic REAL 3DOTM Interactive Multiplayer, models FZ-1 or FZ-10). It is out of production now, but it is a CD-based video game that hooks up to your TV, comparable to the Sony Playstation. This project started sometime back in 1994 when I bought a game called "The Need for Speed" by Pioneer Productions and Electronic Arts® Canada:
It's a driving simulation game which strives to be as realistic as possible (e.g. the cars are modeled after actual vehicles). I enjoyed the game but I thought it would be so much better with an actual steering wheel, pedals, and shifter. Since these accessories didn't exist for 3DO, I resolved to build them myself.
Here's the finished result:
A view from the driver's seat with the Toyota Supra at the beginning of the Alpine course:
Whenever I tell anyone about the car, they tell me I'm crazy, but after they drive it, they always walk away impressed. So if you're reading this now and you haven't driven it, go ahead and get it out of your system: "You're crazy!"
Now that that's out of the way, the following are the basic steps I went through to build the virtual car:
Connect the virtual car to the console via the joypad (text and images, about 27K).
Build the virtual car chassis. I needed something to which to attach the steering wheel, pedals, etc. For that, I measured the layout of my own car (at the time, a 1989 Nissan 240SX), including the height of the seat from the floor, the angle of the seat pan and the seat back, the height of the steering wheel, its distance from the seat, its angle, the height of the brake and accelerator pedals, their distance from the seat, the position of the stick shift knob, etc. Then, I built a chassis out of wood that would allow the controls to be positioned properly. The steering wheel came from the local auto parts store and the steering column is a 1/2" threaded rod, about 30" long.
Implement the virtual car controls (joypad) (text and images, about 52K).
Connect the virtual car to the console via the joystick (text and images, about 33K).
Re-implement the virtual car controls (joystick) (text and images, about 51K).
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