rec.autos.simulators

Not to start a Holy War or anything, but I am seeking the advice of the net for
the following thing:

I am looking for opinions as to which is the "most realistic" driving simulator
for those of us who have actually raced cars on a real track.  I've been
driving ICR2 and GP2 and am somewhat pleased with how they drive, but still
feel they lack the "real car" maneuverability (like opposite lock, the ability
to threshold brake, etc.)

Obviously, I realize that there are many things a game will never be able to do
(like scare the ***out of you, or vibrate you so you can't see), but there is
a fine line between what makes the game "feel" real versus what "is" real.  I
think GP2 behaves the most realistically, but since I can't feel the wheels
slipping, that does me no good.  The game should compensate with some other
feedback, like perhaps a shaking screen.  Also, I feel like I'm looking through
a tunnel when playing these games because as a race car driver, one is very
rarely looking where the car is pointing.  Perhaps some type of "fisheye"
display would work here.

Anyway, I'm really looking for other drivers who have found the "right" game
for them to help them improve their real world skills.  And while I'm at it, if
I can find a file containing Limerock race track, that would be great too. :-)

Thanks, and let the opinions fly!

/greg

--
Gregory F. March    -=-    http://www.racesimcentral.net/~march    -=-    AIM:GfmNet

Sorry no help here

hahahaha!

haha

:)

(It's 2:35am, maybe thats why I find this sort of thing funny?)

haha

Anyway, I guess the one you'd want would be the one with the best
physics model, and that would seem to be GPL. Of course, it all
depends on what you've driven. Wing cars are easier to model simply
because they stick better, and there's not so much to program with
slip angles and all that (ever wonder why there's no Sprint Car "sim"
on the market?). GPL may more realistically imitate FF and other lower
open-wheel series. Of course nothing can truly replicate the feel of
driving a CART or F1 car; the best you can hope for is that a game
will mimic the most obvious points of the car's behavior. There's a
new SportsCar game coming out one of these days, but I haven't heard
much about it. Going just by the ads, it looks kind of circusy and
arcadish, but it DOES have Road Atlanta in it, which is a monstrous
redeeming feature. Look into that one. Also, I've heard tell of a
70s-era Trans Am game upcoming as well. Promising premise, and might
suit your purposes.

Later

<snip>
Hi Greg,
Seems like you've avoided door slammers, but the closest thing to real
racing is (standard Internet disclaimer here: IMO) NASCAR2/NROS on TEN
(there's even road courses, you think Lime Rock has elevation changes, wait
til you get to Red Rock! ;-)). Competing with 20 other real drivers has been
very beneficial training for things like patience, concentration, strategy,
focus, sportsmanship, track knowledge, braking, setups,
slow-down-to-speed-up, looking ahead, anticipating other drivers and other
real world (NASCAR Late Model)necessities. As far as physics, well GPL is
gonna be the ticket now, no doubt about it. Another poster replied re:slip
angles & no sprint car sims, SODA came awful close to some real world dirt
tracking experience for me (even as hard as many feel SODA is, it's no where
near as hard as overriding your brain's urge to lift off the gas entering a
dirt track turn, looking at that concrete wall comin' at ya at 100mph,
knowing ya gotta leave your foot IN it to do it right 8-o!).
Happy Lappin',
Wade Tschida

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Now, as for a racing sim, . . . . . there ain't NOTHING out there yet that
is like the real thing! I have tried ICR2 on the Road America track, and
even though I KNOW that track VERY well - in the PC game I can hardly even
go in a straight line! And I won my class EVERY TIME at RA in my RX7 as well
as worked as a Paddock Marshal and Course Marshal (where I got a chance to
go out and flat tow stalled race cars back into the pits) for many many
years. So I know that course very well.

Recently I bought the new Audi A4, and so I got really into TOCA, and also
the NASCAR2 Touring Car patch. Well, I have to say, if I have to name a game
that gets me going, it's TOCA. It is the only one yet that I get a feel for
the speed and looser suspension of a sedan racing car (NOT a formula car),
and the screen (if inside the car - but I use the HOOD view) bounces all
over when going through the turns or hitting bumps. And with a good 3D card
the graphics aren't too bad, and the tracks are close enough to the real
Brit tracks too (as I can watch the real TOCA video tapes and recognize
where the cars are). And most steering wheels (like the T2 or NASCAR) have
their shifter just like the TOCA sequential boxes used. So all in all, TOCA
is not perfect, but for ME its a blast!

Hope this helps????

And do you AutoX as well?