You ain't kiddin', brother. $700 to play a $60 game on a $300 console? It better dispense ice-cold beer when I fire it up for that kinda coin.

to each their own... some feel the realism factor and feel are worth it for the ultimate simulation experience.

save your money... die one day and leave this earth like all others... with nothing.

Yeah it all depends on what you compare the costs to.

Ever since I got a decent sim PC and a force-feedback wheel my virtual racing hobby allowed me to give up my past hobby of sport bikes and fast cars.... on my sportbike I would spend the $300-$500 cost of a decent wheel just in new tires every other year, and that doesn't even include the costs for track days, servicing, etc...

So yeah if you want to compare the cost of a wheel to the cost of the XB360 it is expensive, but if you compare the costs to the activities that you are simulating then it is a very cheap cost.

I hear the same thing about FSX, people can't believe we spend $50 on a aftermarket plane, or a scenery pack, but when you compare the costs of simflying to the cost of lessons or renting a plane, it's super cheap in comparison.

In Fanatec's defense, that $700 wheel will be usable on pc as well as 360 and most likely the PS3 too. Buying for ONLY Forza would be a little silly of course. If it comes with good pedals and an H shifter, I can see it.
...just not out of my wallet. I'm building a gaming rig for less than that. LOL

http://e3.gamespot.com/live.html

this is suppose to be about FM4, lol.

Great 20min E3 FM4 demo vid here:



Wow FM4 is looking great, Road Atlanta looked pretty nice and "Track Day" mode will be one of my favorites, lots of online leaderboard features too, the only elephant in the room I didn't hear him mention was physics improvements, but I have seen other articles mention that, so I am very hopeful.

There's supposed to be a 4hr Forza 4 event tonight at E3, hoping thay vids will be available for that too.

hehe. Save it for what? When you start approaching 4 digits, you're talking a percentage of a real race car (local track), extra jet ski, new home theater projector, etc.

I hope to one day be able to buy any and all toys at will, until then the bang:buck factor is the major kicker.

Seriously though, I'm getting hyped for the new FM4. Custom public lobbies and control over all assists sounds too good to be true. If they just fix it where I can gift my wife stuff I buy on auction house or let me buy it from her free live account for her, I couldn't ask for more.

I feel your pain! haha
(full disclosure - I do not own any Fanatec products)
I was ready to order a GT2 kit (wheel + CSP) around January/February but all the news of the shipping and quality caused me to hold off. about a week after that Fanatec pulled the GT2 kit...so I am also watching to see if it will be reintroduced so if I buy one I could save money.

The Fanatec products look very nice and receive good reviews from critics and gamers so I hope they can work through their issues.

I just put that flamewar comment in because I have seen some very heated arguments by Fanatec pollyannas and haters in other forums about regarding their products and service!

haha...marketers are training us gamers to look at the $500 Thrustmaster t500rs as mid-priced! LOL

true!

Like other products I also wonder if sales of expensive wheels will show companies (Thrustmaster, M$, Logitech, etc) that there is a viable market for lower-priced, robust wheels.