Any Sim Racing Fans?

[proton007]

Do any of you enjoy Sim Racing ?
 
I'm a big fan of GTR2. Playing it for 4 years now. The most realistic game I've tried, in terms of physics and handling, and the car setup is awesome. 
Also the mods and extra tracks are amazing.

 

[NamelessPFG]

I've tried to get into it every now and then, but the learning curve's pretty brutal, especially if arcade racing games have taught you bad habits like leadfooting your way to the finish line.
 
Then again, it doesn't help that I'm trying to dive into the sort of racing sims that the SimHQ community would like, stuff like Richard Burns Rally and Grand Prix Legends, both noted for having brutally realistic driving physics. (The SimBin racers like GTR2 are also well-regarded, but I don't own any of them.)

 

[proton007]

Sim HQ seems pretty hardcore. Thanks for the link, didn't know about it.
 
And it gets pretty expensive if one needs a proper seat and multiple screens, plus some powerful hardware. I plan to do that some time in the future...
 
Took me a while to get a hang of things. Even now, I still keep improving, and from what I know, these skills can also help in real life.
 
I've also heard good things about rFactor.

 

[asmoday]

Been a SIM Racing fan for years. I used to spend a lot of my time racing in various leagues around the Internet but now mainly just race iracing for fun and hang out with a few friends.

 

[Eee Pee]

I'm still after all these years semi addicted to Gran Turismo.  Currently play GT5 probably a few couple hours a week.  What helps is their weekly race challenges.  I started playing the first one because I was an avid Autocrosser.  I'll admit it helped me learn.
 
As much as I'd like to play the PC good ones, I'm past it.  Good news is there's a GT6 coming out at some point.

 

[Draygonn]

I followed insidesimracing.tv for a while and got a G27 and a bunch of games. Dirt 2, F1 2010, Simbin titles such as GTR Evolution, NFS: Shift, R Factor, and GRID. I enjoyed the racing a ton but noticed that I curse like a drunken sailor while racing. The G27 has been packed up for a while but I'll probably break it out when Grid 2 is released next year. I'm tempted to grab the new F1 title but I'm so busy with Borderlands2, GW2, and a bunch of new stuff on the horizon so I'll probably wait for a steamsale.

 

[Kiwikat]

I get out the G27 and play some GT5 every once in a while.  Not sure what happened to the GT series, but I feel it peaked around 2 or 3.  They really need to step up their game for 6.

 

[asmoday]

Quote:

I get out the G27 and play some GT5 every once in a while.  Not sure what happened to the GT series, but I feel it peaked around 2 or 3.  They really need to step up their game for 6.

 
I couldn't agree more about them needing to step there game up for 6, or at least get back to the roots of the series that for me seems to have peaked with 3. 

 

[oqvist]

I am a bit of a burned out simracing fan. But I am sporadically getting back into the saddle. It will take practise before you can compete but it´s like learning to ride a bike. Once you learned you can get back up pretty quickly and it improves your real world driving skills also if you drive the right simulations.
 
Draygonn if you want to do your wheel justice stick with Race 07 and rFactor of those titles you mention. The other ones are game pad optimized and console damaged arcade titles. I do preferr them all with a wheel but you may get a bit disappointed with your purchase perhaps.
 
My personal tarmac favourite is Game Stock Car. I don´t know if it will ever pick off on the multiplayer scene but all the cars are made for close racing as in everyone drives the same car just different bodywork on the V8s. Superb physics and force feedback best I have encountered and for very little money.
 
gravel/rally Richard Burns Rally seem to be destined to be the forever king sadly. Sad that rally get so little appreciation nowadays though WRC 3 is sure fun. It´s more of a semi simulation though it´s certainly more serious then the DIRT series particularly regarding tracks.
 
It don´t really cost much. Sure you should get a wheel though you can get surprisingly fast with a joystick but you don´t desperately need triple monitors, cockpits or separate shifters and the likes you need a quick brain and just hate to loose if you want to be really competitive lol. the next gen of the simulations is rolling out but for the current you don´t need much of a computer.

 

[proton007]

I'm thinking of getting a G27 but no space in my room. I agree a joystick can suffice, but its not really the correct way is it?

 

[oqvist]

Well there is joysticks for handicapped people like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgJPpBvXSds
 
I wouldn´t know if you could get slower or faster or no difference in such a setup. I have wooden legs so I suspect I may not really be slower once I learned the ropes . In Grand Prix Legends with the formula cars with no wings to add downforce a joystick could be benefitial to fast and easy correct the 4-wheel drifts so there you got joystick jockeys that was really competitive.
 
Personally I preferr to race the cars as they are in real life though. Everybody I know use racing wheels. But I am sure you can get competitive with a joystick also. You don´t need to have the most expensive gear to get fast in simracing. It´s not a material sport like real racing. Personal skill matters the absolute most.

 

[proton007]

Quote:

 
Personally I preferr to race the cars as they are in real life though. Everybody I know use racing wheels. But I am sure you can get competitive with a joystick also. You don´t need to have the most expensive gear to get fast in simracing. It´s not a material sport like real racing. Personal skill matters the absolute most.

 
I guess thats right. Our mind can get used to any kind of control, but its not the full experience. I'm looking forward to getting a G27 sometime.

 

[asmoday]

Quote:

 
I guess thats right. Our mind can get used to any kind of control, but its not the full experience. I'm looking forward to getting a G27 sometime.

 
While I have a pretty decent set-up (triple screens, shifters, button boxes, aftermarket pedals, 4 different wheels) none of this I feel really makes me any faster but it does add to the realism. I spend 90% of my racing now in iracing which by some claims is the most realistic sim out there, and I know guys who are faster with a controller than a wheel. You can make abrupt changes faster do to not having to turn a 900 degree rotation wheels. With a wheel you can be more precise and I feel have better overall control but the guys who are good with a controller you wouldn't even guess they were using one. 
 
In the end most of it comes down to what you can afford and enjoy. It doesn't take a multi thousand dollar setup to be fast and have fun. 
 
I kind of cringe when I look back at all the money I have tied up in my rig, but it was also built over many years so it didn't hurt so bad........lol
 
That G27 is a very nice wheel and will reward you very well if/when you decide to get one. If price is a concern at all you could always take a look at the Logitec Driving Force GT (usually referred to as DFGT). Its a very nice wheel for the price and I feel a extremely good value. 

 

[proton007]

Quote:

In the end most of it comes down to what you can afford and enjoy. It doesn't take a multi thousand dollar setup to be fast and have fun. 
 
I kind of cringe when I look back at all the money I have tied up in my rig, but it was also built over many years so it didn't hurt so bad........lol
 
That G27 is a very nice wheel and will reward you very well if/when you decide to get one. If price is a concern at all you could always take a look at the Logitec Driving Force GT (usually referred to as DFGT). Its a very nice wheel for the price and I feel a extremely good value. 

 
Yeah I guess I'll have to start somewhere.
I like the G27 because it has all 3 pedals along with the clutch. The DFGT only has two.

 

[proton007]

Tried a few laps just now. I guess I'm still refining my technique, I managed to shave off 0.5 to 1 sec from a lot of my laps. I was getting on the power too late, too much coasting, so I tried to be a bit early on the throttle, so the apex is cut under acceleration. Now I'm finally getting to use the torque.
 
Thats why I love sim racing...