Racing Sim Thread, Part II

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:55 am

The Historic GT & Touring mod continues to ASTONISH me with its quality.

I may not touch another rFactor mod for a month, and that's saying something if you know how nomadic I am with my mod choices.

Do whatever you must to get this mod NOW, and run it with the suggested RealFeel and controller.ini settings.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:29 pm

Can anyone point me in the direction of a good resource for GTR2 mods? I've had a quick poke around to see what there might be but is there one site that trumps all for GTR2, in the way that rFactor Central does for that game?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:47 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Can anyone point me in the direction of a good resource for GTR2 mods? I've had a quick poke around to see what there might be but is there one site that trumps all for GTR2, in the way that rFactor Central does for that game?

Adam:

NoGripRacing is pretty good:

http://www.nogripracing.com/files.php?maincat=6

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 7:07 pm

pk500 wrote:The Historic GT & Touring mod continues to ASTONISH me with its quality.

I may not touch another rFactor mod for a month, and that's saying something if you know how nomadic I am with my mod choices.

Do whatever you must to get this mod NOW, and run it with the suggested RealFeel and controller.ini settings.

Take care,
PK

PK did you figure out a way past having to use the original CD?

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:26 pm

Rod, my skim-reading chum, it's in his first long post on the mod. Mind, I'm quite tired so I might have misunderstood:

Installation was easy. I grabbed a disc image of GTL on the torrents and only placed it in my Daemon Tools virtual drive when installing the mod. That was good enough -- I never had to install GTL and risk Starforce. Once the mod was installed, I removed the GTL disc image from my virtual drive and checked for Starforce. Nothing. Perfect.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:57 pm

Thanks Adam. I'll download the game.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:10 pm

I'm thinking about a GTL reinstall. I've never had any trouble with the dreaded Starforce, and though I didn't get far into GTL before I had to reinstall Windows, I saw enough to know there's a cracking game in there. I've been all over rFactor for a year and more now, and I really, really need to remember I've got other sims too, and rediscover GPL (though I've been playing that one on and off), GTR2 and NR2003. I never did get Richard Burns Rally for PC either, though I've still got the XBox version so that can wait.

Thanks for the No Grip Racing suggestion PK, it looks like the kind of thing I'm after.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:48 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Rod, my skim-reading chum, it's in his first long post on the mod. Mind, I'm quite tired so I might have misunderstood:

Installation was easy. I grabbed a disc image of GTL on the torrents and only placed it in my Daemon Tools virtual drive when installing the mod. That was good enough -- I never had to install GTL and risk Starforce. Once the mod was installed, I removed the GTL disc image from my virtual drive and checked for Starforce. Nothing. Perfect.

Nope, spot on, mate. That's exactly how I did it.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:52 pm

GB_Simo wrote:I'm thinking about a GTL reinstall. I've never had any trouble with the dreaded Starforce, and though I didn't get far into GTL before I had to reinstall Windows, I saw enough to know there's a cracking game in there. I've been all over rFactor for a year and more now, and I really, really need to remember I've got other sims too, and rediscover GPL (though I've been playing that one on and off), GTR2 and NR2003. I never did get Richard Burns Rally for PC either, though I've still got the XBox version so that can wait.

Thanks for the No Grip Racing suggestion PK, it looks like the kind of thing I'm after.

No worries, mate.

Adam, every bit of feedback I've read at RSC and rFactorCentral from owners of both GTL and rFactor is that they're nearly all migrating to the Historic Touring & GT mod. Nearly everyone in that camp is calling the mod GTL 2, an improvement in every way.

Better physics, better graphics, better net code and more tracks from which to choose due to the huge library of rFactor tracks. That's saying something, as GTL is held in very high regard in the sim community.

I've never played GTL, but again, the Historic Touring & GT mod is just blowing me away. I strongly suggest giving it a go before installing GTL or trying it and GTL and seeing which you prefer.

There are more than a few mods at rFactor that have received Hall of Fame enshrinement, high scores and positive comments that do nothing for me. Historic Touring & GT has received universal acclaim in all of those areas, too, yet it still might be underrated, if that's possible. It's THAT good, with the proper RealFeel and controller.ini settings.

I know you have RBR for the Xbox, but RBR with a quality wheel like your G25 must be sublime. There are a few physics mods for RBR at NoGrip and Blackhole, and some of them made RBR even better for me, giving the cars more modern WRC handling.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:40 am

Found a PC copy of Richard Burns Rally yesterday, after some effort and a round trip longer than I'll ever admit to anyone, and though it was stupid o'clock in the morning when I installed and played it, it seems fair to say I've lost some of the old magic. It does seem like it'll be very good with a wheel once I stop crashing into things, though.

PK, I set the Historic GT and Touring Car mod running for the first time last night. Let me say first of all that I've not yet given it a fair shake, since I've only ran a couple of cars on one track and I was using Leo's, not RealFeel. I ran a few laps in a GT40 at Mid Ohio and it just wouldn't click for me - buckets of understeer, I couldn't provoke a slide on the throttle, and I hated it. Sure that couldn't be right, I loaded up a Ford Mustang, the last car I'd driven in GT Legends before my PC went belly up last year.

It took a few laps, but then it clicked. Suddenly I was drifting through the Keyhole, driving the last four or five corners sideways on the throttle and having an absolute blast. It takes some driving, and you can't take any liberties, but this is a mod of some quality. I can only imagine how it'll be once I set up the right force feedback plug-in.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:56 am

Adam:

Glad you're digging the Historic and GT mod, mate. I never tried it with RealFeel -- went straight to the supplied RealFeel and controller.ini settings. Give those a go, and let us know what you think.

I'm predicting your experience will be enhanced two-fold!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:02 pm

pk500 wrote:The ongoing saga of the Champ Car mod for rFactor continues with the release of version 1.4:

The mod builders claim 1.4 is the final version.

Reading back through this and the old thread, and I happened upon this. Apropos of nothing, I swear:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... d%20Series

We don't mention Richard Burns Rally that much around here, because it's not a game with a thriving mod community like rFactor or GTR2, and having sat down for some proper playtime with the PC version last night, I wish I had an excuse to bring the game up more often.

Even though I've owned the XBox version since its release, I was too keen to get going and crashed so many times trying to run through a UK stage that I had to put myself back through Rally School, an excellent practice and training tool, to gain any kind of rallying competence with a wheel and pedals. Even through the short training stage, the game put me behind the wheel of a rally car in a way no other game ever had - I've read that the physics and controller code is apparently a mess, but to me RBR is exactly how I imagine a rally car would feel to drive.

Recognising a Japanese stage, Pirka Menoko, that I always ran well through on XBox, I loaded it up and managed a good time but had to concentrate so hard to do it that I spent the entire run with my tongue hanging out of my mouth, and found that by the end of the stage (Pirka Menoko currently takes me just over 5 minutes, so it's not a huge stage) I'd begun to sweat. It required more mental effort than any other PC sim I've played, but it was hugely entertaining and rewarding come the end, and that was just one stage so I can only imagine what a full rally will be like.

RBR isn't a new game, and will be available on a budget range for a knockdown price these days. If you happen to see it somewhere at a low price, I can't give a single reason why you shouldn't invest.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:40 pm

RBR is the only sim that makes eyes do this

from the concentration. Everything moves so bloody fast and the slightest mistake ending the stage it's almost impossible not concentrating.

As the Guiness guys say in the commercial BRILLIANT !

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:21 pm

Rodster wrote:RBR is the only sim that makes eyes do this from the concentration. Everything moves so bloody fast and the slightest mistake ending the stage it's almost impossible not concentrating.

As the Guiness guys say in the commercial BRILLIANT !

Absolutely. And it's "out there" on the 'Net, if you know what I mean.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:20 pm

Bah, before I become PK Jr, I bought it for $12.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:41 pm

One I've been waiting a while for - the first, and if I'm any judge at all not the last, release of iDT's 1995 Champ Cars:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... T%20Season

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:47 pm

GB_Simo wrote:One I've been waiting a while for - the first, and if I'm any judge at all not the last, release of iDT's 1995 Champ Cars:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... T%20Season

SWEET!!! I have been waiting for this one for a long time. I have very fond memories of the 1994-1995 seasons as I was a huge Little Al fan back then. I will get a server up and running on this tonight before the next patch comes.

Edit: Oh cool, the Indy 500 Menards cars are in there as well. Loved those cars. Also, the 1995 Michigan 500 was such a great race. Parker Johnstone gets the pole for Honda, then Scott Pruett and Little Al have an awesome last lap battle:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB3AgjyPnss

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:55 pm

GB_Simo wrote:One I've been waiting a while for - the first, and if I'm any judge at all not the last, release of iDT's 1995 Champ Cars:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... T%20Season

OOOOOOH! Far f*cking out! Now that open-wheel racing is unified, I can say publicly that I loved CART from 1990-95. So I'm all over this baby.

I'll look to jump online with this tonight around 10ish. Let's do it on a road course. Mid-Ohio or Road America, perhaps? Long Beach?

I hope this works well with RealFeel!

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:57 pm

pk500 wrote:OOOOOOH! Far f*cking out! Now that open-wheel racing is unified, I can say publicly that I loved CART from 1990-95.

I knew it you bastard!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 5:57 pm

Subliminal message to Don: How much fun would this mod be with a G25 and racing cockpit? Are you going to get this kind of racing fun with a console?

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:57 pm

iDT has also released the 1995 version of the Cleveland Grand Prix which was also an awesome race that year, see vid of highlights below:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... and%201995

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KeTrZHy ... re=related

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:40 pm

Very, very early mod impressions, based on about 11 laps in total...

Any mod that opens on the Delta Force theme wins an instant place in my affections. There are an incredible number of skins for 1995 in there - I'm not an authority on the lesser lights of mid-90's CART, but I'll be amazed if there's a single livery missing, which means it's a very happy day in Franck Freon's household. I've so far resisted the temptation to use the 1994 skins and be Nigel.

I can't make any kind of fair car-to-car comparison, because I haven't ran a Lola yet, I drove like an old tart in the Penske and I can't stay on the road for long enough at a time just yet. Regular Poker Night racers will know that I tend not to bother differentiating between cold and warm tyres, but from what I've played of this mod it seems cold tyres really do need a bit of respect paid to them. Once they're warmed up, I'm doing my braking in a ruler straight line and being v-e-r-y gentle on the go pedal on corner exit. As you'd expect, grip is at a premium when compared to iDT's late-era Champ Car work, which makes corners like the Kink at Road America an exercise in precision.

The cars break apart very nicely when you hit things. I was testing that feature deliberately, of course.

All seems well so far, but these are very early thoughts and I've not even thought about running with the AI yet.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 9:22 pm

Delta Force? ROCK ON!

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:34 pm

Wish I could say my first impression of the CART 1995 mod was as impressive as Adam's, but I can't. Something just feels off about these cars out of the box.

I know these cars had 900 HP and turbos, and the power kicks in violently. I also know that tires need to be warmed before you can really lean on the car. But these cars also had plenty of grip, too, and I'm just not feeling it, even when the car is on the road. This requires a ton of babying in the corners, and that just doesn't feel realistic to me.

When I trot out the 2006 Champ Car, 2007-08 IRL or Grand Prix 1979 mods, I know it will take a couple of laps for the tires to get warm, and then I'll enjoy grip that breeds cautious confidence. I really start leaning on the car, and the car responds.

That's not happening with this mod. And yes, I checked to ensure I was running road course wings on a road course.

Maybe it's me. Maybe it's the Historic GT & Touring mod setting such an incredibly high bar now in rFactor for me.

But I'm not feeling this mod. I need to give it more time and more laps. It's very strange, as IDT makes some of my favorite mods -- Champ Car 2006, Formula BMW and Toyota Atlantic -- and just oozes quality.

Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:13 pm

PK, you'll have noticed that my impressions didn't include that much on the cars, and that's because when I say I drove about 11 laps in them, I'm not exaggerating for effect. I've not completed a lap at racing speed without a mistake or five, so I'm not in a position to say much about them. My early, early, early thoughts were that I'd have liked less understeer and a softer rear end, but I'd imagine just adding a bit of front wing should help.

I was being caught out by the way understeer shifted to snap oversteer under power, but a) I often need a few laps to work out how to drive a new mod, b) I didn't manage to run for long enough to put meaningful heat into the tyres and c) for some reason I just couldn't drive anything last night (you know how I'm normally fairly quick in open-wheelers? Last night, every corner I drove had a distinct braking section, a distinct cornering section and a distinct exit - I couldn't smooth out the transitions at all, no matter what I drove), so with that in mind I didn't see the value in posting it. I'll have a longer run tonight and see what comes up.