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The gaming chair consists of a red plastic seat and has an elongated, low shape. The seat cushions are covered with black imitation leather. The seat is mounted on a red wave-shaped metal frame that extends far beyond the seat at the front. The frame thus allows the feet to rest on a metal plate on which the gas, brake and clutch pedals are mounted. A column on which a steering wheel is mounted rises up from the frame just in front of the driver's seat.

Playseat Formula Red with Thrustmaster Formula 1 Bundle, 2021

Object of the month March 2022

The gaming chair consists of a red plastic seat and has an elongated, low shape. The seat cushions are covered with black imitation leather. The seat is mounted on a red wave-shaped metal frame that extends far beyond the seat at the front. The frame thus allows the feet to rest on a metal plate on which the gas, brake and clutch pedals are mounted. A column on which a steering wheel is mounted rises up from the frame just in front of the driver's seat.
The seating position of the gaming chair is based on Formula 1 racing cars and the red paint matches the color the sports car manufacturer Ferrari uses on its racecars. The logo of that successful Formula 1 brand is found on the steering wheel.
SDTB / C. Kirchner

This gaming seat for computer racing games is specially designed for simulated speed races like Formula 1. Unlike simpler versions of gaming seats, this model places more emphasis on the design. In the world of consumer goods, this seat and bundle (steering wheel and pedals) are relatively expensive. 

Beginning in the 1970s, gaming chairs became commercially widespread in arcades and bowling centers. Private purchasers consisted mainly of avid racing gamers. Car racing games have been an extremely popular genre of computer games for decades. The emergence of home computers, game consoles and smartphones solidified their place in the market and they are now an integral part of the everyday gaming culture of children, young people and adults. The games reflect the importance of the car in our society and as early as childhood begin shaping the positive image of the car in general and fast driving in particular.

The Deutsches Technikmuseum will be displaying this gaming seat through July 3, 2022 in the special exhibition "Madness - Illegal Car Racing and How to Stop It." Its role there is to serve as an example of the ways in which the prevailing values of speed and competition are conveyed in automotive culture. The question of whether computer racing games influence driving behavior was scientifically examined more than ten years ago but no direct correlation was found. Although large numbers of people play car racing games, only a miniscule percentage of them are prone to reckless speeding on the road.