CARRERA SLOT CAR TRACK
We've been spending a lot of time getting ready for the Christmas holiday. I struggled with what to buy my boys this year. When they were young it was a lot easier to shop for them. I can't remember the last time I got them something that 'knocked their socks off' when they unwrapped it.
While searching for ideas I came across a lot of info on VR systems (virtual reality). At first I blew them off as some new gimmick that would be a passing trend. Good systems aren't cheap so I wasn't about to lay out a bunch of cash for something that would spend it's life sitting in a closet an hour after they first tried it out.
After doing further research I found out that one of the BEST BUY stores was giving demos on an Oculus system about 50 miles away. Teresa and I decided to see what all the hype was about.
WOOOAH!!! I had expected it to be lame. I sure didn't expect it to be anywhere near as enjoyable as it was. Heck, I think I'd have been willing to pay to try it again, and I'm a cheap bastard! Teresa's reaction was the same.
Although I didn't get a chance to see a driving sim demonstrated on it, I've got to believe that the experience would be awesome. On the drive back home we couldn't stop talking about how realistic it felt. When you've got those goggles on and are able to turn around, look up & down and see everything just as if you were standing inside of (and part of) the games, - it's a heck of a lot of difference from watching things on a flat screen.
We decided to get a system for ourselves to add to the basement track/pinball/theater setups. I had to upgrade my computer to handle the demands of the Oculus. It needs a much more powerful system than what I had. Although the VR system hasn't arrived yet (I ordered one online) I've been rearranging the basement to accommodate it when it arrives. Oh, I actually did order two systems. - One for my boys and one to surprise Teresa with. She still is hoping we'll be able to get one for ourselves in about six months.
If any of you guys get a chance to see the Oculus demonstrated at a BEST BUY near you, try it out. I really think you'll be impressed.
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While eBay shopping I came across an ad for a custom made Chili Dog Stand. It's not the correct scale for my track but it looks really cool. I suppose it's not exactly kosher to make a copy of it in 1/32 scale but that's what I intend to do. I guess I'd feel more like I was sponging off another guy's work if he was offering it in the scale I need. This is what it looks like below. I hope mine will turn out half as good.
The seller custom makes a lot of other really cool 'O' scale stuff. Check out some of his other work.
We've been spending a lot of time getting ready for the Christmas holiday. I struggled with what to buy my boys this year. When they were young it was a lot easier to shop for them. I can't remember the last time I got them something that 'knocked their socks off' when they unwrapped it.
While searching for ideas I came across a lot of info on VR systems (virtual reality). At first I blew them off as some new gimmick that would be a passing trend. Good systems aren't cheap so I wasn't about to lay out a bunch of cash for something that would spend it's life sitting in a closet an hour after they first tried it out.
After doing further research I found out that one of the BEST BUY stores was giving demos on an Oculus system about 50 miles away. Teresa and I decided to see what all the hype was about.
WOOOAH!!! I had expected it to be lame. I sure didn't expect it to be anywhere near as enjoyable as it was. Heck, I think I'd have been willing to pay to try it again, and I'm a cheap bastard! Teresa's reaction was the same.
Although I didn't get a chance to see a driving sim demonstrated on it, I've got to believe that the experience would be awesome. On the drive back home we couldn't stop talking about how realistic it felt. When you've got those goggles on and are able to turn around, look up & down and see everything just as if you were standing inside of (and part of) the games, - it's a heck of a lot of difference from watching things on a flat screen.
We decided to get a system for ourselves to add to the basement track/pinball/theater setups. I had to upgrade my computer to handle the demands of the Oculus. It needs a much more powerful system than what I had. Although the VR system hasn't arrived yet (I ordered one online) I've been rearranging the basement to accommodate it when it arrives. Oh, I actually did order two systems. - One for my boys and one to surprise Teresa with. She still is hoping we'll be able to get one for ourselves in about six months.
If any of you guys get a chance to see the Oculus demonstrated at a BEST BUY near you, try it out. I really think you'll be impressed.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While eBay shopping I came across an ad for a custom made Chili Dog Stand. It's not the correct scale for my track but it looks really cool. I suppose it's not exactly kosher to make a copy of it in 1/32 scale but that's what I intend to do. I guess I'd feel more like I was sponging off another guy's work if he was offering it in the scale I need. This is what it looks like below. I hope mine will turn out half as good.
The seller custom makes a lot of other really cool 'O' scale stuff. Check out some of his other work.
