The 2 million VND gaming steering wheel attracts buyers to practice driving
Over the past week, every day Nguyen Hung, 25 years old in Hanoi, spent nearly an hour practicing driving on the newly purchased steering wheel. Although he has had his license for a long time, he has not had the opportunity to regularly use a car, so he is worried that he will forget the operations, especially how to coordinate the accelerator and brake pedals.
Not being able to buy a car and not wanting to rent a car to practice again, Hung spent more than 2 million VND to buy a steering wheel, gear lever and pedals, connecting to a computer to practice on simulation software. "I haven't driven often for a long time so I'm still timid. The steering wheel feels quite smooth so I bought it to maintain the feeling and reflexes when driving the car," he said.
Products of this type are appearing more and more on e-commerce platforms and computer stores, with common prices of 2-5 million VND. Mr. Duc Tien, who specializes in selling this equipment in Hanoi, said he sells 150-300 sets each month. "In the past, customers often bought them to play games, but now many people buy them to practice driving, especially those who are just learning or just got a license," he said.
One of the factors that makes the device accessible is the price. A set of 2 million VND includes steering wheel, gear lever and pedal cluster with clutch, brake, and gas. Depending on the model, the steering wheel may have a 900-degree rotation angle, along with a vibration or force feedback function that partially simulates the feeling of driving the car. The device connects to a computer or laptop to use with racing games and simulation software.
Games and software such as Euro Truck Simulator 2, City Car Driving, Assetto Corsa allow users to perform many operations similar to driving, such as steering, increasing or decreasing speed, braking, shifting gears or moving in simulated traffic situations.
Compared to controlling with a keyboard or handle, the steering wheel requires direct operation with hands and feet. People new to cars can use the device to practice coordination between turning the steering wheel, stepping on the clutch, gas, brakes and shifting gears in a simulated environment.
"The device cannot replace real driving, but it helps to partially recreate the operation of controlling parts on the car, getting used to some driving situations," Mr. Tien said.
According to him, the group of customers who buy equipment to practice more at home currently accounts for the majority. Besides, some racing game players also choose the product because the price is significantly lower than models from famous brands.
Demand is also shown on the e-commerce platform, with many stalls selling steering wheel sets with gear lever and pedals recording hundreds of purchases. Models in the low segment like the F900 cost about 2 million VND, while the P828 is about 3 million VND and the V99 is about 5 million VND.
However, proficient use of a simulated steering wheel does not mean the ability to drive a car in real life. According to an expert in the field, buyers need to determine that this is a device designed for gaming purposes, instead of a specialized device.
In the simulated environment, users cannot fully feel factors such as actual speed, vehicle size and position, distance from surrounding vehicles, braking force, road surface grip or unexpected situations. The feedback from the steering wheel and pedals also does not completely recreate the feeling of sitting in a real car. Therefore, the device is suitable for getting used to operations and practicing hand-foot coordination, but cannot replace the process of learning and practicing with a teacher on a real vehicle.
In addition to the cost of purchasing a steering wheel set, users also need a computer or laptop and compatible software. Some games or simulation software may require different device configuration. Buyers should also check compatibility between the steering wheel, gear lever, pedals and software before choosing.
According to Mr. Duc Tien, buyers should choose a store that supports installation and usage instructions, especially for first-time users. A complete set of equipment also needs to be arranged on a table or stand of appropriate height to maintain a stable sitting posture when used for long periods of time.
Luu Quy