Racing Games - PC or PS

I enjoy playing racing games and have always used my PC (ie GPL, Screamer Rally etc However, a friend has just purchased a Playstation and is raving about how wonderful it is, especially something called Grand Turismo (and of course TOCA 2 is out for the PS months before the PC version). 200 for a PS does not seem unreasonable , but are these machines as good as he says (I must admit I play a lot of computer games, and am always interested in playing those that look and feel the most realistic,rather than just arcade type games with cartoony type graphics). Perhaps anyone with a both a PC and PS can advise me. PJ

> On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 07:23:32 -0000, > >I enjoy playing racing games and have always used my PC (ie GPL, Screamer > >Rally etc However, a friend has just purchased a Playstation and is raving > >about how wonderful it is, especially something called > >Grand Turismo (and of course TOCA 2 is out for the PS > >months before the PC version). > >200 for a PS does not seem unreasonable , but are these machines as good > >as he says (I must admit I play a lot of computer games, and am > >always interested in playing those that look and feel the most > >realistic,rather than just arcade type games with cartoony type graphics).

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> >Perhaps anyone with a both a PC and > >PS can advise me. > >PJ > I have both. For realism and simulations, the PC cannot be beaten. > One thing, though, go over and try out Gran Turismo on his PSX. > It is a *fine* game. The only problem with the PSX, is that there > are not many fine racing sims....

But then there aren't many "fine" racing sims for the PC either really, are there ? I bought a Playstation because it offered a cheaper route to good games (including racing sims) than upgrading my PC. I can run TOCA(2), Colin McRae rally, F1 97 which would all be beyond my humble P166+, as well as Gran Tourismo which isn't available on the PC. What the Playstation really lacks is a decent choice of peripherals for racing with. I can't get on with driving with the Playstation pads (analog or digital), but I quite like the NegCon controller. A steering wheel isn't practical sitting on the setee, and they all feel too cheap to be any good. John

Get an UltraRacer mini wheel. I have one it it is great. http://www.interact-acc.com/console/sony/index.html Roberto

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>> On Mon, 23 Nov 1998 07:23:32 -0000, >> >I enjoy playing racing games and have always used my PC (ie GPL, >Screamer >> >Rally etc However, a friend has just purchased a Playstation and is >raving >> >about how wonderful it is, especially something called >> >Grand Turismo (and of course TOCA 2 is out for the PS >> >months before the PC version). >> >200 for a PS does not seem unreasonable , but are these machines as >good >> >as he says (I must admit I play a lot of computer games, and am >> >always interested in playing those that look and feel the most >> >realistic,rather than just arcade type games with cartoony type >graphics). >> >Perhaps anyone with a both a PC and >> >PS can advise me. >> >PJ >> I have both. For realism and simulations, the PC cannot be beaten. >> One thing, though, go over and try out Gran Turismo on his PSX. >> It is a *fine* game. The only problem with the PSX, is that there >> are not many fine racing sims.... >But then there aren't many "fine" racing sims for the PC >either really, are there ? >I bought a Playstation because it offered a cheaper route >to good games (including racing sims) than upgrading my PC. >I can run TOCA(2), Colin McRae rally, F1 97 which would >all be beyond my humble P166+, as well as Gran Tourismo >which isn't available on the PC. >What the Playstation really lacks is a decent choice of >peripherals for racing with. I can't get on with driving >with the Playstation pads (analog or digital), but I quite >like the NegCon controller. A steering wheel isn't >practical sitting on the setee, and they all feel >too cheap to be any good. >John

I bought a Playstation primarily to play Grand Turismo. It's a great game with a lot of depth. However I have not been impressed with any of the other racing games for the PSX. For example, I bought Rally Cross 2 and was very disappointed. It is really a children's game, although the reviews I read before buying it stressed how much of a simulation it was. Guess it's a matter of relativity. Also if your PC is fast one with 3d accelecation, the PSX graphics will seem 'dated' in comparision. They are very smooth and fluid in Grand Turismo, but more blocky than current PC technology. If your television is a large one, it's great to play on the big screen, and it really looks quite good. The sound quality is also very good. You can output the sound through your home stereo. The PSX ROM software has a music CD player with pause, random, etc. If nothing else you can use it as a CD player once it's outdated. The way I looked at it was - for the price of Voodoo 2 card, you get quite a bit of entertainment value.

Are new playstations better than, say, 2 year old ones? Are they coming out with faster memory and processors, or has it always been the exact same platform? I have one, but I often wonder if things have improved since my purchase. WHen I bought mine, it was a fine alternative to upgrading my 486.