Project
EA Simulation Lab
Industry
High-performance gaming and simulation QA
Completion Date
17 July 2024
Introduction
High-fidelity simulation titles live and die on the credibility of their physics, the feel of their inputs, and the stability of the display pipeline. Before a single title ships, studios need a space where these variables are controlled and repeatable. EA engaged The MVP to stand up a production-grade Simulation Lab in India that would withstand long validation sessions at 4K, mirror real-world player hardware, and be delivered on a calendar that could not slip. The assignment combined global procurement, import logistics for a high-value bill of materials, precision workstation builds, and on-site integration inside a new facility that was itself coming online.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Stakeholder | Electronic Arts (India) |
| Scope | End-to-end import, build, installation, integration, and handover |
| Import value | ~₹1.5 crore across multiple consignments |
| Hardware ecosystems | MOZA, Fanatec, Next Level Racing |
| Output target | Stable 4K validation across multiple rigs on day one |
The Client
Electronic Arts develops, publishes, and tests interactive entertainment for a global audience. The India team works across a growing slate of simulation titles that reward precision and realism. They needed a dedicated lab that removed the noise of inconsistent hardware and allowed QA to reproduce issues, tune physics, and validate fixes with confidence across multiple rigs.
What the client needed – Consistent, repeatable rigs for long-session testing at 4K. – Input devices mapped and calibrated to a common baseline across stations. – A room layout that supports quick turnarounds between runs without disturbing adjacent setups.
The Challenge
The move to a new building overlapped with a pre-launch test window. The simulation ecosystems that make a lab credible were not available locally. MOZA, Fanatec, and Next Level Racing stacks had to be sourced internationally, protected in transit, cleared through customs, and staged for a coordinated install. Multiple shipments with different lead times needed to converge on a single date. Inside the facility, power, cable pathways, and operator flow had to be planned so the lab could run all day without hot spots or bottlenecks. Any delay or mismatch between shipments, site readiness, and install crews would compress the QA schedule and introduce launch risk.
Constraints and impact
| Constraint | Impact if unmanaged | What we designed to counter |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-country sourcing | Slip risk from staggered lead times | Sequenced POs by lead time with supplier pre-alerts and buffer windows |
| High-value imports | Customs holds can freeze the schedule | Pre-cleared documentation and classification, continuous tracking of airway bills |
| New facility go-live | Install blocked by room readiness | Early lock on power, pathways, and clearances, with readiness gates before ship-to-site |
| 4K performance requirement | Stutter and thermal throttling during long runs | Workstation spec tuned for sustained output and lab-grade thermals and acoustics |
What success looked like
Success was defined up front.
Acceptance checklist – Each rig delivers smooth 4K playback without stutter. – Controllers are mapped correctly with consistent response across stations. – No thermal throttling during long validation runs. – Clean ingress and egress for operators, with fast reset between sessions. – Imports completed with zero critical holds. – Full-room smoke test passed at handover.
How we measured | Area | Target | Method | |—|—|—| | Playback stability | Smooth 4K across rigs | Scene playback while logging for hitching and dropped frames | | Input consistency | Same response for the same steering and pedal angles | Device curve standardisation and cross-rig comparison | | Thermal headroom | Stable temperatures through long sessions | Continuous temperature monitoring during soak tests | | Commissioning | All stations pass | Rig-by-rig smoke tests and operator walkthrough |
The MVP solution
We treated delivery as two converging workstreams, each gated by a quality checklist.
| Workstream | Scope | Primary owner | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sourcing and imports | Global procurement, packaging standards, freight, documentation, and customs | The MVP sourcing and import desk | Cleared consignments staged for install, on schedule |
| Lab and technical stack | Workstation builds, room layout, installation, integration, calibration, and validation | The MVP integration team | Production-ready Simulation Lab at 4K |
Simulation ecosystems
- Complete MOZA, Fanatec, and Next Level Racing stacks sourced from approved suppliers.
- Cockpits specified with rigid frames to eliminate flex under load.
- Stands selected for stiffness and adjustability to return testers to a repeatable posture.
High-performance desktops
- Built for simulation QA with fast core clocks for input responsiveness.
- GPU headroom for sustained 4K output under extended runs.
- Storage tuned for predictable asset loads and quick scene changes.
- Each unit burn-in tested and released only after passing stability, temperature, and noise thresholds suitable for a shared lab.
Displays and calibration
- 4K monitors installed on rigid stands and aligned to each cockpit for a consistent field of view across the row.
- Devices mapped and curves tuned to remove dead zones.
- Standardised profiles ensure a tester moving between rigs does not need to relearn the setup.
Implementation narrative
Planning began with a requirements workshop to lock rig counts, cockpit types, display sizes, power points, and the circulation plan for people and cables. With the room plan frozen, procurement sequenced orders and booked freight to meet the install date. As consignments moved, our import desk tracked each airway bill against the project calendar and cleared documents in advance to prevent last-mile holds.
While hardware was in transit, desktops were assembled and imaged on our floor. We ran burn-in cycles, verified controller compatibility, and built a golden image for fast recovery. By the time the final consignments arrived at site, the room was ready. Installers positioned cockpits, mounted displays, routed cabling for serviceability, and secured frames to remove micro-movement under aggressive input. Integration then moved rig by rig: connect, map, calibrate, and test. Each station ran a long-session smoke test to confirm stability, input consistency, and thermal headroom. Only when the last rig passed did we schedule the operator walkthrough and handover.
Project plan at a glance
| Phase | Key actions | Exit criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements and layout | Workshop, room plan, power and pathway lock | Signed room plan and readiness gate |
| Procurement and freight | Sequenced POs, packaging specs, booking freight | Supplier pre-alerts aligned to project calendar |
| Import and customs | Documentation, classification, airway bill tracking | Consignments cleared and staged |
| Workstation builds | Assemble, image, burn-in, compatibility checks | Systems pass stability, thermal, and noise thresholds |
| On-site installation | Position cockpits, mount displays, route cables | Room ready for integration |
| Integration and calibration | Map devices, tune curves, align displays | Rig-by-rig functional pass at 4K |
| Validation and handover | Soak tests, operator walkthrough | Full-room smoke test pass and sign-off |
Validation methodology
Validation mirrored how the room would be used.
- Tested at 4K with peripherals mapped as in production.
- Long-session stability checks to catch thermal creep and intermittent hitching.
- Cross-rig input consistency checks to confirm identical device response.
- Variances corrected by tuning device curves and re-verifying.
Validation checklist | Check | Status at handover | |—|—| | Playback stability at 4K | Passed across rigs | | Controller mapping | Baseline profiles locked and documented | | Thermal stability | Passed long-session thresholds | | Operator workflow | Reset routine documented and observed |
Collaboration model
Delivery was executed by The MVP sourcing, import, and integration teams working directly with EA stakeholders. Because this engagement focused on hardware and room readiness, there was no third-party software vendor collaboration required.
Results
The lab went live on schedule in the new facility. QA teams gained a controlled, repeatable environment that allowed physics tuning and input feel to be evaluated without noise from inconsistent hardware. By consolidating global sourcing, import management, workstation builds, installation, and calibration with one accountable partner, EA reduced coordination overhead and secured a dependable lab ahead of launch.
Business outcomes – Reliable 4K validation environment available on day one. – Faster setup and reset between runs due to standardised profiles and clean cable management. – Lower operational risk in the pre-launch window.
Timeline and credits
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Completion | 17 July 2024 |
| Scope | Global sourcing, import logistics, desktop builds, on-site installation, integration, validation, handover |
| Partners | MOZA, Fanatec, Next Level Racing |
| Delivery partner | The MVP |
Work with us
We design and deliver production-ready labs and workstations across India. If your team needs a partner who owns the plan from sourcing through installation and validation, talk to our experts at The MVP. We will help you build and launch the environment you need to test with confidence.
