and I find it interesting how people that have tried both
compare them. I like them both... though maybe "dislike"
is the better word.... IMO they both have a lot to offer, but
both fall well short of what I feel a modern F1 sim should
be.... I know I`m not alone in this thought. That being said,
I`m starting to like GP3 much more since doing some
extensive back to back testing with F1-2k and I`ve found
a few differences that [to me] stand out. I`m not going to
get into other issues that are already well covered in this
group.... My opinions on graphics/sound/AI/ interface, etc.
are that I can live with them in both games, though they both
have there ups and downs. What it comes down to for me
now is what sim is more <fun> to play "overall", and for me
most of that fun comes from the feel of driving the car.
These are a few things I just noticed while doing back to
back testing...anyone that has both sims installed should
really try this (and post your thoughts) I was suprised at
what I found. This is what I found:
When I first tried GP3 I thought there was no doubt that I
liked F1-2K more "overall". But I have started to do some
indepth back to back testing, doing 25 laps at a track in
GP3, then doing 25 laps at the same track in F1-2K, then
another set of 25 + 25 to be sure of my feelings. While I
find the GP3 car has a slightly "too light" feel.... the F1-2K
car feels ((WAY)) to heavy. While I find the GP3 car`s grip
to be slightly excessive.... the F1-2K car feels like it has no
grip at all. Dont get me wrong!, I`m not saying the F1-2K
car is hard to drive, far from it (it`s just as easy to drive as
the GP3 car IMO). What I mean is that the F1-2k car is
constantly making tire squeal sounds (when I feel it
shouldnt) and the car always feels "lose" (at high speeds),
although you do have full control of it. When you do back to
back testing it almost feels like the F1-2K tracks have a thin
layer of sand on them, and your car is equiped with
"sand tires" to help you deal with it ..lol. In fact, when you
get fast at F1-2K you get a slight 4 wheel drift "sensation"
through most of the fast corners (almost like a rally car) and
you get the feeling you are taking the corners faster than
the real cars/drivers could. Btw, thats not even a "feeling",
it plays out in your lap times, because my lap times at many
F1-2K tracks are 7+ seconds faster than the real F1 times.
There are still some things I like better about the way the
F1-2k car feels.... it has a slightly more "alive" feel that
translates into a better sensation of driving a "real car" and
not a computer program.... but that doesn`t mean it feels
more like driving a real "F1 car" than the F1 car in GP3.
IMO, although not perfect by any means... the GP3 car feels
a lot more like what a real F1 car should feel like, and I think
thats whats making me have more fun playing GP3.
I still like [many] things about F1-2K more than GP3....and like
many people I wish I could somehow combine the 2 sims.... But
as it stands now.... I need them both.... as I will use F1-2K for
online racing and GP3 for everything else.
Btw, there is a new GP3 hotlap competition site just started.
Including "wet weather" competition =o)
You will find it here: http://www.racesimcentral.net/
All the best,
Lorne