Thrustmaster has used Gamescom as the stage for its latest official Ferrari-themed Xbox 360 controllers. The headliner is the Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition, which features an 11.2-inch replica of the Ferrari 458 Italia’s steering wheel. It has also added the GPX LightBack Ferrari F1 Edition gamepad, which incorporates two rows of LEDs to indicate speed and braking force for gamers into hardcore racing games.
The Cockpit 458 Italia Edition is said to take much of the hassle out of setting up a steering wheel for gaming as it does not need to be attached to a table. It can be used in most living room or study arrangements and can be height adjusted for use by adults and children. It also folds away for easy storage and incorporates a handle, making it relatively easy to move around. Thrustmaster says that the steering wheel allows for high-frequency vibrations from the motors to be felt not only on the wheel itself, but also throughout the cockpit’s entire steering column and pedal set.
The GPX LightBack gamepad is a unique approach to developing a gamepad for racing enthusiasts. It incorporates LED light feedback and speed gauges to help improve control over throttle and braking. The gamepad ministicks have been tweaked to provide twice as much precision as a standard Xbox 360 controller for racing games – they also include interactive backlighting that illuminates in sync with the action.
The Thrustmaster Ferrari Vibration GT Cockpit 458 Italia Edition will retail for $300 and will be available for pre-order from mid-next month. The GPX LightBack Ferrari F1 Edition will retail for $50 when it goes on sale from September.
