Media Reviews
Next Level Wheel Stand Review
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012 on http://www.atomicf1.com/news/2012/1/12/next-level-wheel-stand-review/
I’ve been on the lookout for a cockpit to hopefully improve my times, but definitely improve my overall enjoyment. I toyed with the idea of getting a model with an inbuilt seat but there’s both the high price and the size factor. I’ve got an L shaped desk and I had just been clamping my G27 wheel and gear stick to that, with the carpet providing some resistance to nearly hold my pedals in place.
It doesn’t quite work though and often during a racing I’ll be trying to drag the pedals back to their optimal position, or worse yet, trying to very quickly reattach my steering wheel to the desk after I yanked it free in a hard bout of opposite lock. I play a fair bit of games that use the H-shifter and I’d also like to have it in a more natural position, down lower near my leg, rather than on the same level as the wheel.
My solution to this problem, given all the parameters, was the Next Level Racing Wheel, a sturdy frame that provides mounting points to screw in a G27 kit, wheel, pedals and shifters.
The package arrived via rather large cardboard box, almost fully assembled. The out of the box experience was great and the frame was of high quality solid construction with an attractive pearl black enamel finish.
The only work on my part was fixing the gear shift lever on my preferred side (left) and then attaching the G27 components using the supplied allen key screws. All hole lined up perfectly and all screws went in with minimum of fuss, a positive sign of a quality build process. Another bonus, which I found thoughtful, was the inclusion of four velcro strips which I used to tuck the various cables of my G27 into the frame. After about 15 minutes of assembly I was plugged in and doing laps in my favourite racing simulator.
The first few minutes of driving were spent adjusting the pedals, sliding them further back, and raising the height of the wheel, which also raises the height of the gearshift. The wheel height extension arms have holes at regular intervals into which you can screw a bolt, but I found it possible to still have a sturdy setup with the screws firmly screwed in against the metal.
A few laps of hard driving later and I was impressed. The entire structure is solidly planted to the ground, a combination of the weight of the unit and rubber feet preventing movement on my carpet floored ‘study’. I was also able to be very aggressive with all of the pedals, gearshift, and wheel without them moving; the hand screw adjustable pedal base remaining locked.
When I’m not playing racing games I simply unplug the USB cable from my PC and drag the frame off of the side. It also folds up vertically so it can be stored in a cupboard (or under a bed?), for those people who have their PC’s in a more open space or use it for a wheel on a console plugged in to their lounge room television.
Overall I give the unit 5/5 and I’ve got no complaints with what was supplied. If I could do anything to improve the package it would be to provide a way to secure the wheels on my chair to the frame, at a positioning of my choosing. This would ensure a perfect driving position.
Rating: 5/5
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Sturdy
- Meets functional requirements
Cons
- A mess of cables if you want to pack it up against a wall (not really a con, but I had to mention something)
Top Gear Australia Magazine
November 2010 Editorial pg 72
TeamOz Next Level GTxtreme Racing Simulator Review
By Jason Bean
17th March 2011
Being an online sim racer and admin at one of Australia’s leading sim racing communities, I spend a fair amount of my spare time sitting in front of my computer administrating race events, keeping our members and guests up to date with what’s happening at our home on the internet and racing laps myself. One thing I’ve learnt about online racing is there are a number of boxes that need ticking before you can fully enjoy the experience.
For starters you must have a good performing computer with high graphics capability, you must have a solid internet connection and you must also have a steering wheel and pedal set for realism but most importantly... YOU MUST have a comfortable, sturdy race sim that generates the feeling of being fully immersed as if you are sitting in the driver’s cockpit for real. That’s where Pagnian Imports comes in. The “Next Level Racing” Australian distributors recently sent their flagship model; the GTXTREME Racing Sim to TeamOz Racing for testing and the feedback from our four test drivers was nothing short of outstanding!!
The Assembly Process
Once the professionally boxed sim had arrived via courier, it took about 40 minutes to assemble from start to finish and it was surprisingly very easy to put together using a single instruction page. A total of 9 pieces make up the sim and you get everything you will need to build it including nuts, bolts, washers and tools... Yep that’s right, you even get the tools!! Next Level Racing have thought of everything to make the job easier and have even included in the kit velcro cable restraints as well as the screws that secure your steering wheel and pedals to the chassis plates.
Something that grabbed our attention when you first open the box is the full synthetic leather racing seat. This top of the line racing seat proved to be very comfortable offering good lumbar support with wings that wrap around the side keeping you tightly encased within the sim. Being fully adjustable, it can be slid back and forward to cater for different sized drivers as well as recline for those moments you feel like having a snooze in between races. Seriously though, this seat offers great all round support and just sitting in it makes you feel like you’re a real race car driver!
As we went about building the GTXTREME one thing we noticed was the ease in which the bolt holes lined up making the job all that more enjoyable. The well finished tubular chassis slotted together one piece after another like a meccano set to produce an extremely stable yet light weight racing sim. Another great feature of the Next Level Racing sim is the fact that it caters for a number of different racing wheels. We used the Logitech G25 wheel, pedal and shifter kit and it slid right into place first go. Using the standard clamping methods for the wheel and shifter, they both secured to the mounting plates firmly however we did use the mounting screws for the pedals to give them a little more stability.
A little tip that we can offer to those who are looking to buy a Next Level Racing sim... When assembling the chassis just nip all the bolts up lightly and pre-assemble it fully before tightening firmly. We learnt that the hard way!!
The Verdict
After putting the GTXTREME through its paces with a vigorous afternoon test session it was agreed upon by all that drove it that it is unreservedly the best value for money sim on the market!!!! If asked to describe the Next Level Racing product in one word; it would have to be QUALITY... From the packaging to the professionally designed and constructed materials through to the ease in which it all goes together will ultimately save you time, money and lots of frustration.
It's appearance is unobtrusive and with its smooth flowing lines and sleek design it is definitely a classy sim that would look great in any home or race room. As previously mentioned, the GTXTREME racing seat is undoubtedly one of the sims best attributes as is the adjustable gear shifter and steering wheel plate positions allowing the driver to feel totally comfortable behind the wheel. The perspex wind deflector / nose cone certainly adds style to the otherwise bare chassis but it also has functionality hiding the electrical cables that connect to the steering wheel, pedals and gear shifter. The sim itself provides a great ride height that doesn’t break your back when getting in or out and access to the cockpit is easy via the right hand side.
The Next Level Racing GTXTREME is the complete package for those who want a quality racing sim without spending ridiculous amounts of money.
Take Racing To The Next Level with a GTXREME racing sim available from Pagnian Imports or check out one of their many other great racing products at www.pagnianimports.com.au. Also offering FREE Shipping Australia wide, Pagnian Imports know how to sweeten the deal on an awesome new racing sim.
From the people who live and breathe online sim racing...
TeamOz Racing gives the GTRXTREME Racing Sim 10/10.
Crank & Piston Dubai - Next Level Racing 'The Toy' Review
By Phil McGovern - Editors Pick
Tuesday 2nd November 2010
The Review
NEXT LEVEL RACING have been so kind as to lend us one of their rigs this past week. Well, I say fair but the experience has been so awesome that getting any work done has been nigh on impossible!!
I think it is more than fair to say that the team specialise in bringing gamers across the Middle East the highest quality racing simulator cockpits, at the lowest possible price. For just over 2000AED the team at NEXT LEVEL RACING will supply you with the simulator (cockpit, the monitor stand) and send you on your way to motoring nirvana. Sadly the deal doesn't include a PS3/XBox - which would have been nice as I don't have access to one that works anymore, after my eldest thought it humorous to use mine as a toilet!
We have a cheeky little plan that includes you - yes YOU - so stand by and prepare yourself for a challenge.
In the mean time, if you are in the market for a racing sim machine - get on over to http://www.nextlevelracing.ae - you know you want to.
Alpha Magazine - October Footy Finals
2010 Edition
Gizmodo Lightning Review: Racing Games Are Infinitely Better With A Racing Simulator
By Nick Broughall
March 11, 2011 at 4:58 PM
As a general rule, I’ve always avoided racing games like the plague. But that all changed when the guys from Pagnian Imports sent us one of their Next Level Racing simulators to review.
The Next Level GTxtreme V2 Racing Simulator is a $649 racing controller frame that is designed to suit Logitech and Fanatech controllers. Featuring secure steering wheel, pedal and gear shift connections, plus a quality leather seat with reclining and adjustable settings, the GTExtreme is designed to give you the sensation of sitting in a car while you play the latest racing simulator.
Like some Ikea furniture for racing game fans, the seat requires some basic installation. Armed with the included Allan key and a bit of free time, putting the GTExtreme together was like a savoury entree to a delicious meal of high speed racing. It wasn’t difficult to put together by any stretch of the imagination, but did require regular glances at the instructions.
Attaching a Logitech G27 racing controller package, it’s obvious to see that the GTExtreme is designed with racing gamers in mind. There are some simple and effective cable management solutions (although I did find the G27′s power cable lacking in the length department), which are nicely hidden behind the front name plate.
But it’s when you actually sit down to game that you really enjoy the benefits of having a dedicated frame for enjoying racing games. Plugged into the PS3 and playing Gran Turismo 5, even a cynical gamer without a care for racing games like myself can appreciate the joy of nailing a tight corner, or slipping up the inside on the final bend to take out the race.At $649, the GTExtreme feels like a bargain. Sure it doesn’t include the racing controls, which are an essential part of the enjoyment, but it feels like something like this should be more expensive. The only downside with the whole rig is that it’s quite large – as it needs to be – and storage could be difficult.
But if you spend time enjoying racing simulators and space isn’t an issue, this is a fantastic body for your wheel controls.
Thoughts of DUH! Striving for mediocity in a world of excellence
By OzDJ
Posted on December 31, 2010
Gran Turismo 5 (GT5) was THE “coming soon” release that encouraged me to head out and buy a Playstation 3. That was in December 2007. Finally, in November 2010, the title hit shelves in something of an anti-climax for fans of the franchise. I couldn’t be bothered running out to buy a copy on release day, let alone queue at midnight to pay $119.95 for it.
But then I stumbled upon chatter about the Logitech G27 wheel set and knew that my time had come to not only pick up a copy of GT5 but also a good quality wheel, pedal and shifter set to go with it. I was somewhat underwhelmed with my last wheel purchase (a Logitech DriveFX for my XBox 360) but I know the old ‘pay for what you get’ adage and was prepared for a second try.Getting my hands on a Logitech G27 at the right price was an exercise in futility. Eventually, I gave up and turned to Google for inspiration. The search ended up with me landing back at Whirlpool and then onto the Pagnian Imports site. And that’s where this story hits top speed.
Shopping
I whipped out my credit card and lashed-out on:
- Next Level GTpro racing cockpit
- Fanatec GT3 911 RS V2 wheel
- Fanatec Clubsport pedals
- Fanatec Porsche shifter set
I was BLOWN AWAY by the level of service and professionalism by Pagnian Imports’ principal, Hess. Within minutes of pressing submit, I’d received an email thanking me for my order. A few hours later, there was a personal note to confirm the order had just been loaded onto a truck and would be with me in one to two days.Sure enough, 48 hours later, a courier arrived with a massive delivery. Oh baby!
Unpacking and assembly
Everything about the GTpro cockpit screamed quality, from the double-walled shipping carton right down to the plain-English assembly instructions. Within 45 minutes, I had the basic frame assembled and sat back to admire the quality of the components and the monster toy I was building.I’d just like to take a moment thank each retailer who tried to screw me with an overpriced Logitech G27 as they attempted to exploit GT5 fans. Without your belligerent sales approach I’d have never turned to Google and discovered the pure awesomeness of Fanatec hardware.
The weight of the boxes told me I’ll been shipped either:
(a) some quality, heavy-duty gaming equipment, or
(b) half a dozen house bricks.
Thankfully, it was the former. And the wheel even came with bonus LOLs:
I won’t bore you to death with yet another review of the Fanatec hardware, but I will say this: the Clubsport pedals are THE MOST EPIC piece of gaming hardware I’ve ever owned. They scream quality from every angle and are so heavy that they generally stay in place under their own weight.
Mounting hardware to the cockpit
Wheel: The GTpro wheel plate is pre-drilled (w00t!) for the GT3 wheel, which has threaded holes for screws. All you need to buy is four M6 screws and bolt it into place. Too easy.
Pedals: As noted above, the Clubsport pedals will stay in place due to their weight and thick rubber stoppers on the base. However, I wanted to do this ‘right’ and drilled two holes in the cockpit foot plate to align with the mounting holes in the pedals. Two more M6 screws and some nuts, and the pedals weren’t going anywhere.
Shifter: Some Scotch ‘Super Strong Exterior Mounting Tape’ means no drilling and no movement, even under “spirited” driving conditions.
Cabling: 10 metres of Velcro cable tie wrap ensured cable runs were kept out of sight wherever possible.
At this point, I couldn’t help myself and took it for a spin.
Houston, we have a problem.
Still without a copy of GT5 in my hands, I fired-up GT5 Prologue. Comfy seat position – CHECK! Shifter, pedals and wheel in right position – CHECK! 46” Samsung LCD TV dangerously close – CHECK! And away I screamed.
Holy crap! The force feedback through the wheel and pedals was STRONG. So much so, that the wheel thrashed about on the strand like it was a trampoline. I headed to the Pagnian website to get some tips.
I was gutted. Not only didn’t I find out what to do about the bounce, but I discovered that a new, V2 version of the GTpro was now available – with additional steering supports. Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
I dropped Hess a line and shared my concerns and frustrations. He was both understanding and reassuring. He explained that the additional steering supports were NOT critical and Hess urged me to get my rig fully calibrated and tested with GT5 before deciding if the additional supports were necessary.
I took Hess’s advice. I picked up a copy of GT5 and, using this video as a guide, dialled-in the following settings:
GT5 in-game options:
- Steering Type — Simulation
- Power-Assisted Steering — Off
- Feedback Strength – 10
Fanatec 911 GT3 RS V2 settings:
- Sensitivity — 900 (degrees of rotation)
- Force Feedback — 090
- Shock — 90
- Drift — 002
- ABS — 065
- Linearity — 000
- Dead Zone — 010
- Spring — 0
And the results? The proverbial chalk and cheese. The monster was TAMED. HUZZAH! Driving nirvana was in my loungeroom. I let Hess know how happy I was and thought that was that.
Next thing I knew, Hess dropped me another line asking if I’d like a pair of the wheel supports for purpose of a review and some before & after thoughts. I took up the offer and, on Christmas Eve, they were in my hands. Of course, I didn’t get a chance to fit them before Christmas Day but that didn’t worry Luke as he got stuck into GT5 just before he got stuck into lunch:
As you can see, the wheel was not bouncing about and that’s without the additional supports. Indeed, I actually started wondering whether or not I’d bother fitting the V2 supports at all.
Modding the rig
Not content with the setup being “just so”, and eventually realising that I would fit the V2 supports after all, I decided to make some enhancements:
1. Added under-seat LED lighting bling – also lights the pedal area. Mainly for bling value, but the soft glow is also ace when typing on the Lenovo wireless keyboard which I use for in-game typing
2. Added eye tracking camera mount. This was a home-made widget, using a couple of 90 degree brackets, some perforated metal strips and a handful of pop-rivets. Spraypainted it in a black enamel to match the cockpit and bolted it down with two more M6 screws/nuts.
3. Added 7-port powered USB hub. Mounted this under the front plexiglass panel. Means that I have a single USB cable going back to the console by having a number of peripherals (incl keyboard receiver, camera, wheel etc) connecting to a single point.
4. Added 4-outlet power strip. Mounted this under the foot/pedal plate to put all the mains power items in the one place. Same idea as the USB hub, really, and now I have a single mains power head for all the on-board power needs (eg LED lights, HUB, wheel etc).
5. Added RAM self-levelling cup holder. OK, this is just a little bit silly, but I had the cup holder left over from my 150cc scooter. It holds large coffee mugs (incl thermal travel mugs) and beer with ease.
6. Added the V2 support poles. Doesn’t make a huge difference to the racing experience, but certainly helps with moving the cockpit about.
7. And just on the topic of moving it about, the completed rig IS big and it IS heavy. Thankfully, there is a join section between the seat module and the steering/pedal/shifter module. The join is made using four M6 screws/nuts. To make moving/storage of the unit easier, I simply swapped-out the nuts for M6 wing-nuts. Too easy.
The Final Product
By Paul Trengove
Formula Race Car Driver
Paul Trengrove is the 2002 winner of the Australian Formula 3 National Series, runner up in the 2003 Australian Formula 4000 Championship at the age of 7.
The Review
During my racing career, it was vital to learn and understand everything possible about a track before I actually arrived at the venue. As a result, I would play racing simulator games on a variety of cockpit simulators before a race meeting. Whilst it gave me some basic knowledge of the track configuration, I always felt that the experience never really gave me a true feel for what it is like to race a car; the steering always felt sloppy, the response from the throttle and brake was inaccurate, the seating position was unrealistic and it really did not give me the ‘sensation’ that I always thought a racing simulator should.
Recently however, I was fortunate enough to test Pagnian Imports' Next Level Racing GTPro whilst playing GT5 Prologue on the PS3. For the first time, simulated racing actually felt REAL. The feedback and response through the GTPro and Fanatec Steering Wheel was so precise in comparison to what I had played before. The handling is accurate and the feedback through the steering wheel was very realistic.
I could change car settings or drive the car in a number of different ways and everytime I could actually ‘feel’ the difference. In fact, when changing between different performance cars, I could easily feel the different characteristics of each car, creating an immersive driving experience.
The seating position was very comfortable, and fully adjustable, as was the position of the pedals and the steering. With some of the best ever racing simulator games soon to be released (GT5, F1 2010), this racing cockpit simulator is a ‘must have’ it.
Paul is currently the Competition & Operations Manager for the National Association of Speedway Racing, the first international Speedway Racing body to have achieved FIA delegation.
Games.On.Net Next Level Racing GTxtreme Review
By Bennett Ring
Tue Sep 28, 2010 @ 1.20
This bargain-priced cockpit is readily available from Pagnian Imports, who supplied a review sample to games.on.net just in time for our F1 2010 review. With Gran Turismo 5 just around the corner, demand for the GTxtreme is set to soar, and I've been putting it through its paces over the last week to see if it's a comfy home for racing bums around the nation.
At $649 including free delivery, the GTxtreme is relatively cheap as far as cockpits of this quality level go. You can build a cheaper cockpit yourself if you happen to have a welding torch lying around, but most geeks' metalworking abilities are second only to their useless sporting skills.
For the price you get a full Bucket Seat on adjustable rails, attached to a steering wheel and pedal mount. There's no monitor stand included (that'll set you back an extra $99), but there is a gear shifter mount, which can be placed on either the left or right hand side. It's compatible with all Fanatec Wheels, as well as the Logitech G25/27 wheels.
Construction is quite simple, with just a handful of pieces. A hex key and spanner is included, so you don't even need your own toolkit. Everything arrives in thick plastic padding, ensuring it's in perfect condition when it lands at your doorstep. Fearing an Ikea flashback, total construction was much easier than anticipated, taking just twenty five minutes from cardboard box to firing up my iRacing Pontiac Solstice.
All of the parts that arrive in the boxWhile the instructions are easy to understand, they don't mention that the steering wheel mount must be held high while it's being screwed in. As a result, after my first build, the steering wheel was resting on my knees; very uncomfortable. However, after a quick chat to Pagnian, I discovered that holding the mount upright while screwing it in gives much more leg room. If that's still not enough, you can simply bend the steering wheel mount even more, giving giant sized people a bit more space. The seat also slides back and forth to accommodate hobbits like myself.
The steering mount is pre-drilled for Fanatec wheels, but Logitech owners will have to use their standard desk clamp, or bust out the power drill to create a couple of new holes. The pedal mount also lacks any holes; I used $2 double sided tape to stop my ClubSport Pedals from lifting during heavy braking, but it'd be nice to have holes in the board so that cable ties or screws could be used.
Once everything was screwed together, I mounted a Buttkicker under the seat - there's a short horizontal pole underneath that is perfect for the job. It was then time to do several hundred laps in iRacing and F1 2010 to see how comfortable and stable the cockpit is.
Unlike the WheelStand Pro I'd been using up until the GTxtreme arrived, this cockpit barely moves a nanometre, even during the hardest of turns. Whether I'm handbrake turning through a hairpin in Dirt 2 or slamming on the brakes at the end of a Monza straight in F1 2010, this is a beautifully stable platform for your peripherals. The steering mount flexes just a tiny bit, but it's not an issue.
It's also whisper quiet, with no rattling no matter how high I cranked the Buttkicker. The seat seems a little hard at first, but it soon softens up, delivering an exceptionally comfortable ride for even the longest Le Mans session. Like a real car, the seatback angle is adjustable. The seat needed some extra lubricant to slide properly on its rails - grease it up before you build the cockpit to make sure it's all working properly. The gear shifter mount is perfectly placed within reach, allowing for gearshifts in the blink of an eye.
If there's one issue with the GTxtreme, it's that I would have liked a few more configuration options to help accommodate the wildly different shapes and sizes of the Human race. I reckon it'll be fine for anybody between 5' and 6'2"-ish. Any taller than that and you may find the steering mount knocking on your knees, making it hard to move your legs around. Given how popular TrackIRs are with racers, an option to mount one of these behind the steering wheel would also be fantastic, but I've yet to see a cockpit that features one of these.
The full-built cockpit. Grid babes not included
Given the lack of choice in Australia, it's a relief to see that the GTxtreme delivers an excellent driving experience. Easy to build, rock solid and stable while in use, and comfortable enough for 250 lap endurance races, the biggest stamp of approval I can give is the fact that I ended up buying my review sample once I'd finished testing. All you need to do now is get approval from the matron of the house, a task that is infinitely more difficult than setting up the Next Level GTxtreme.
Gametraders Marion - South Australia's biggest & busiest Gametraders store
Next Level Racing Product Launch Night
Ultimate Blokes Expo
April 17th - 18th 2010
Ultimate Blokes Expo Fastest Lap winner - Jon Falzon
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