BBC Worldwide North America and Playseat®, the industry leader in racing simulators, will premiere two new Top Gear themed gaming seats at the 2014 E3 show, which are designed to deliver the ultimate driving experience for all gaming fans. Both products, inspired by the world’s biggest car show, will be available for purchase this July. The Playseat® Evolution – TOP GEAR will retail for $399 and the Playseat® Xtreme Elite – TOP GEAR will retail for $1950.
Tanner Foust and Adam Ferrera, the hosts of HISTORY channel’s TOP GEAR will be at E3 on Tuesday, June 10th from 12pm – 1:30pm at Booth #5212 to support the launch of the TOP GEAR Simulator.
The Playseat® Evolution – TOP GEAR (for home use) and the Playseat® Xtreme Elite – TOP GEAR (for public gaming) are compatible with driving games on all platforms including Xbox One and Xbox 360. The Playseat® TOP GEAR simulators provide the optimal experience for a more realistic, responsive ride – allowing players to enjoy their favorite driving games at a whole new level of style and attitude. The seat is compatible with games including Forza Motorsport 5 on Xbox One, where players can race Top Gear’s mysterious tamed racing driver the Stig around Top Gear’s famous test track in Surrey, England.
Soumya Sriraman, EVP Home Entertainment and Licensing for BBC Worldwide North America says: “Top Gear fans recognize that no one drives quite like the Stig, but we’re delighted to give them a new way to hone their skills as though they are wearing that white jumpsuit themselves. To us, Top Gear is a brand that has always been on the cutting edge, representing quality and fun, and in Playseat® we discovered a partner that brings the same attributes to the table.”
President, founder and CEO of Playseat®, Dr. Fernando Smit, says:” We are thrilled to have partnered with BBC Worldwide and bring the first Top Gear simulator to market. Top Gear has always brought fans closer to vehicles of all kinds, and Playseat® brings players closer to the racing experience. These brands are perfect companions- with such an incredible show and a fanbase already playing the games, it seemed only fitting to find a way to put those gearheads into the driving seat.” He ended in Top Gear style with a bombshell: “Teaming up with Top Gear develops a very strong alliance, where Playseat® is very proud and content to give the opportunity to a very large potential target group that deserves to experience the best racing experience.”
The Playseat® Evolution – TOP GEAR: The seat is fully adjustable for players of all sizes – you can easily control the incline of the seat, the distance to the pedals and steering wheel, and more. The seat is made from the highest quality leather-look vinyl for added durability, with a special Top Gear press logo on the seat cushion and an amended seat back that allows for even more aggressive racing. The frame features a special coating designed for this edition of the seat, with metallic additives for added strength and durability.
The Playseat® Xtreme Elite – TOP GEAR: The simulator features ultra-strong patented tubing framework for extreme rigidity and durability, and a special metallic coating just for the Top Gear version (this time with a mild golden sheen). The seat offers a realistic racing experience, with a 1:1 ratio to a true racing position and a patented sliding design that allows the seat to be adjusted without losing that ideal position. There is also a patented tilting mechanism that keeps the video screen and the wheel aligned at all times so the player never loses their place in the game. This seat will be sturdy enough for years of intense play by the public.
Other compatible platforms include PC, Mac, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Playstation 4, Wii, and Wii U, and the simulators will work with all wheels and pedals in the market including Thrustmaster, Logitech and Fanatec.
Playseat® simulators were invented in The Netherlands by Dr. Fernando Smit, who realized from his own driving and gaming experience that being in the optimal driving position is the key to being the fastest on the track. Playseat® has collaborations with major players in the gaming industry including Sony Playstation®, Thrustmaster and Logitech, and even professional drivers like four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, who use a Playseat® simulator to practice their skills off the track.
In the US, the original Top Gear series premieres on BBC AMERICA. The US version of Top Gear premieres on HISTORY.