We were already completely enamoured of our own flight simulator, but the one that a Swiss company has produced is far superior to ours. The professional mobile simulator not only offers a flying experience very close to reality, but should also prevent sensitive people like me from feeling nauseous. It's not really for gamers, though.
One thing's for sure: it's not a toy. Well, on the one hand it is, but an overpriced toy. To put it simply, the VR-Motion 200 is a mobile chair with a handle and pedals with which you can play virtual reality simulation games. The device simulates the movements of the digital aircraft or vehicle so that the player has the impression of sitting in a real cockpit.
The Brunner Elektronik AG company, based in Hittnau ZH, has created a showroom for its products. The futuristically styled VR-Motion 200 is surrounded by two classic flight simulators without VR and motion functions, but those don't interest us today. We've come to test what is certainly the most realistic flight simulator in Switzerland.
A joint project
Enough talk, let's get to it
What about nausea?
Intensive, energetic and fun
These products are more than enough to get you started:
As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles.
This meeting was the result of a coincidence. Mario Ackermann, sales and marketing director of the family business, wrote a comment mocking our improvised flight simulator, which was held together by Scotch tape. He said that if we wanted to test a real simulator, we'd have to go to his place. He's not the only one of our readers who didn't find our 6,000-franc simulator luxurious enough. So we didn't let ourselves be talked into it, and on a rainy day in September, we made our way to Brunner's showroom in Hittnau, barely able to hide our impatience.
Brunner AG did not design the VR Motion-200 on its own. The first prototypes were built in the enthusiasts' lounge of the VRMotion start-up - which gave its name to the simulator - and developed in close collaboration with HSR, Rapperswil Technical College, and Brunner. "A lot of brainpower has gone into this project," says Mario. "We simulate the inner ear and use the motion platform to generate the forces that the body expects." Many people feel bad when playing in VR, because the brain doesn't understand why there is a difference between what we see and what we feel. For example, if you're in a racing game and you turn a corner, your body expects to be pushed into the seat by centrifugal forces. If nothing happens, the player may feel nauseous. This is exactly what the VR-Motion 200 is supposed to prevent.
It looks like it's really my thing. But the device, which costs 60-80,000 francs, isn't really aimed at consumers like me. "We're mainly targeting the training area. Our solution is much cheaper than taking flight hours or buying a conventional simulator," explains Mario. Prices for flight simulators quickly reach the million-digit mark. The advantage of VR is that you can easily switch from a fighter jet to a helicopter or land vehicle. "The possibilities are almost limitless with VR and you don't have to make all the adjustments like with conventional cockpits," says Mario, referring to the various screens that populate a real cockpit.
After video producer Linus has pre-warmed up the seat and has already made his judgement clear with several "holy fucks", it's my turn. Because the VR-Motion's seat is in a raised position due to the mechanical arms, it feels like you're on a throne. The seat, handle and pedal are massive and look really authentic - as far as I can tell as a layman. After all, Brunner also specialises in professional controllers (CLS-E Yokes and Rudder) that cost thousands of francs. To prevent me from falling out of the simulator when it leans to one side, I'm strapped in with seatbelts: Safety First!
We play as we did with our own "Aerofly FS2" flight simulator. But playing with the VR-Motion 200 is nothing like it. Even taking off with the F/A-18 is incomparable. Every movement of the joystick, no matter how small, has immediate and realistic feedback. Pull the stick all the way back and you're really propelled into the seat. At least that's the impression I get. Seen from the outside, the seat simply put me in a rearward position. The sensation is really deceptive. It's even more extreme when you're playing a role. It's a good thing I'm properly strapped in, because otherwise I'd be scared of falling off. It's incredible how much you feel the plane. The VR-Motion 200 delivers exactly what our pilot said was missing from our simulator.
"I can promise you won't feel bad," Mario assured me before take-off. Without Motion, he too immediately feels sick. With Motion enabled, however, he can spend more time in the cockpit. From that point of view, it looks like my stomach is a real diva. After the first few daring manoeuvres, I'm already missing the solid ground beneath my feet. Maybe I shouldn't be constantly doing loops and dives like a little kid staring out the virtual window with his mouth open. But what do I want to do? It's all so crazy. When I missed my first landing approach, Mario thought it was okay to keep flying, because there were still other runways. I subtly suggest that you choose a landing approach from the menu. That way it's quicker. I don't have much patience. While the VR-Motion 200 is rocking me back and forth, I'm doing everything I can to make a successful landing. Up, up, up, down, down, down, down, I feel like I'm in 'Top Gun'. As the destruction of a multimillion-franc plane looms ever larger, Mario graciously turns off the motion platform so it doesn't shake me like a milkshake when I crash.
When I step off the simulator, I first have to wipe the sweat beading on my forehead. It was an intense experience. I feel like I'm back on solid ground after a boat ride in the worst of storms. I don't feel too good, but I don't need the vomit bags Brunner printed for publicity. "You looked around very often and very quickly, which doesn't do much good in VR," says Mario. That's entirely possible. I wonder though, do I feel bad because of VR or because the simulation felt so real? If I'd been doing manoeuvres like that in a real F/A-18, I'd certainly have decorated the cockpit with whatever was inside my stomach.
Flying with the VR-Motion 200 was an impressive experience that I can recommend to anyone. Brunner Elektronik AG will soon be exhibiting the simulator at various trade fairs. At Gamescom in Cologne, six similar devices were on display. "These simulators aren't bad, but they usually only have three or four DOFs. Ours has six," says Mario modestly. DOF stands for Degree of Freedom and describes the movement capabilities of the simulator. Gaming halls are also said to be interested in the Motion-VR 200, and the device could also find a place in museums such as the transport museum in Lucerne. If money is not an issue for you and you're looking for the ultimate flying experience, then you can already make room at home. You should hire a structural engineer to make sure the ceiling doesn't fall on your head. That would be a bit too realistic. You can also come and see the VR-Motion 200 at Züspa on the Stokys stand or at the HSR stand at this year's Olma.
