May 2008

As a keen biker (I own a 2006 Triumph Tiger), I was interested to read of the University of Nottingham’s motorcycle research simulator:

A state-of-the-art motorcycle simulator capable of giving us valuable information on rider and road safety, motorcycle design and motorcycle engineering is currently under construction at The University of Nottingham.

The simulator — which is the first of its kind in the world — will consist of a Triumph motorcycle mounted on a unique rig designed and built at the University. This interactive moving platform will then be linked to driving simulation software that will project different scenarios onto huge screens in front of and behind the motorcycle, recreating a realistic riding experience for the motorcyclist.

This unique system will allow engineers to study aspects of motorcycle ergonomics and rider human factors — a relatively new research area. This covers all aspects of motorcycling, from motorcycle design and rider equipment to rider behaviour and competence and road safety.

You can read the full post here.

This is another one that’s been around for a while (it’s copyright 2006) but has previously escaped my attention. The McDonald’s Video Game is a terrific parody of the well known fast food chain.

To succeed in the game, you need to learn the “complex process” involved in getting those burgers into the consumers stomach’s.

I’m amazed the McDonald’s lawyers haven’t been at work trying to get the URL!

This is a terrific little time waster and very well made.

The Euro Truck Simulator web site has posted a batch of new screenshots of their upcoming simulator.

From the buzz around the Net, I’d say this is shaping up to be one very popular title. I, for one, am really looking forward to giving it a try. I’m an avid flight simulator nut and this sounds pretty much like a ground-based version, but with more “purpose”.

Gizmodo have posted an article on the Motion-Pro II Racing Simulator, a motion platform they declare as ”by far the most impressive of them all”.

Looking at the specifications, I can see why.

• Drive motors and amplifiers: CE & UL compliant
• Degrees of freedom: 2
• Pitch / Roll angle: +/- 20 deg
• Pitch & Roll velocity, maximum per second: 80 deg/sec (1.7 g’s)

Bus Simulator 2008 has been released. I’m not quite sure who would want to spend their time driving a bus around without getting paid, but then that’s from someone who’s happy sitting in a virtual cockpit flying nowhere in particular for hours on end, so who am I to say!

There’s a free downloadable demo you can try out.

Welcome to Megacity and welcome to your new job: bus driver!

Get behind the steering wheel of one of the many different bus models and master one of the countless tracks in the fictional city Megacity.

Features

• 18 different tracks in a huge megacity
• 34 different missions
• 8 different bus models in 4 classes, downloadable buses via internet
• Tycoon elements (ad spaces, buying/renting of buses, ticket prices, promotion offers etc.)
• huge city model with traffic, pedestrians and lots of details
• different camera views including bus driver view (cockpit view)
• help system for beginners
• highscore list and online highscore system
• different daytimes and weather conditions
• easy to use interface