I do love me some video-games. But one genre I have loved since almost the beginning of my hobbyist career has been racing games. And any keen reader here will note that I almost always have a racing title in my most played of a month (or week, when I did that to myself).

I also have a beefy PC that I a built at the tail-end of Covid. In part because I had extra Covid money. But also because my prior PC was a wreck. And despite the advances in graphics cards, the lack of advances in CPU and the focus on AI in GPUs has meant by PC, now approximately in it's third year of life, is still monstrous. So most games run full-tilt on it. And what's installed, other than the semi-obligatory CS2? Car games.

I whipped out my old G27 wheel to see if I've still got it. But I'm lying to myself. That wheel has sat gathering dust for years, to the point that I'm going to sell it on for a modest price just for the sake of getting it into a new home. But playing it this week with some real sim racing titles has gifted me memories and lots of joy. The pressure, sweat and physicality of dragging my skill-levels up to make a car get around a circuit quickly is just the endorphin generator I need after a day of minding kids, work, or both.

And the conclusion is that I should invest a little bit into a decent sim racing rig. Nothing extreme. I have neither the time, skill or money of Max Verstappen. I've gone a little too deep on the R&D here but I think I've settled on something decent.

Someone in Dublin is upgrading their rig (they're a streamer and very serious about this, compared to me) so selling a Simagic wheel and base at a very good price. Even better considering most retailers I would get it from might trigger VAT import duty. And the hobby is so deeply niche that more local European retailers don't have lots of stock.

Assuming I manage to swing that stuff, I can get a cheaper pedal set and couple all of it with a sim racing stand. I don't need the full bucket-seat rig you see streamers or semi-pro folks work with. I do have the space in my office but sliding a little rig to the side, or folding it away, is far more ideal for me.

And all of this is also based on the need to use my time for not work, frankly. Alongside the announcement that Assetto Corsa is finally releasing a new title after about 10 years since the original (not counting Competizione, which is tied to the GT world series... which I love).

About those memories evoked. Remember the classics? Ridge Racer. Porsche Challenge. Micro Machines. F-Zero. WipeOut. We've come a long way, but the joy of getting an extra tenth of a second on a track is just as visceral, even if the stakes feel higher because a GPU can smash out graphics better than god intended, or a CPU can stick 50 other cars on a track without dropping a frame even if the weather gets dodgy.

Tabs

• Microsoft to ban kernel controls. The scandalous CrowdStrike issue's resolution may wind up opening Linux gaming as a result of stopping kernel-based anti-cheat.
• Receiving a MEGA65
• Bringing back the light gun
• GT4 Spec II mod. Amazing!
• Prince of Persia creator has a new graphic novel
• Roblox is a mess
• Wipeout LEGO kits
• A wild J Allard appears

What I've been playing this month:

• Assetto Corsa Competizione
• Automobilista 2 (on Steam Deck)
• Team Fortress 2 (also on Steam Deck)
• I am your beast