Racing Sim Thread, Part II

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:31 pm

Well at least we have an excellent late 70's mod. You also said the 50's mod is good too. I do agree we need a solid 60's mod as well but I like the 1988 mod as well as the 2005 and 2006 which are really good.

I see what your saying but who knows if the modders are holding off on those mods for rFactor 2.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 11:22 am

Dudes are still building sports car mods for NASCAR Heat, which supposedly is now a free download somewhere online:

http://www.virtualr.net/speedsims-new-gt-cars-coming/

http://www.speedsims.net/

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 5:26 pm

pk500 wrote:OK, I'll play contrarian here. We're going to have three separate rFactor mods for just a four-year era of historic F1 racing (1988, 1989, 1991)?

That's f*cking ridiculous, especially since no one has done a proper F1 season mod from the 60s, early 70s or early 80s (all turbo), which were infinitely more interesting eras than the late 80s and early 90s, IMO.

TMF are working on a 1961 mod, Team Players have a 1967 mod that I think I read is still in progress (I might have imagined it, and the rFactor Central WIP page hasn't updated in an age) and the F1C 1975 mod is on the way to rFactor, so there is work being done in the eras you highlight, PK. 1988 was the last year of turbos, 1989 the first year without them and 1991 has some of the prettiest Formula One cars ever built so regardless of their proximity to each other, there's enough about each year to justify their existence, in my opinion. Then again, I'm an unashamed fan of that era of Formula One.

For the first year of all-conquering turbos - that is to say, without those pesky DFVs winning races and titles - you'd need to go to 1984, but then the 1985 mod is well on the way to completion so that's probably not necessary, and the early 80's ground effect cars are something that, from driver descriptions, I'm not all that sure I'd enjoy in a sim setting. The stand-alone 1983 Brabham, from the first year of mandatory flat-bottom cars, is a bloody awful drive too. I can't help but feel that if everyone sees their projects through to completion, there'll be enough there for all tastes.

As an aside, the F1 1989 mod on show at VirtualR has been in development for quite some time now. It might have taken this long for it to be picked up on, but I've been watching it for longer than I'd want to admit.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:23 pm

Jesus H, the engines in this COT mod for NASCAR Heat sound amazing:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ooYObYNBBiE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Edit: The guts of Heat can be downloaded for free here: http://www.themodsquad.uni.cc/modules.p ... oad&cid=10

Heat was the most NASCAR console game by a mile, so maybe I'll give the PC version a go when the cast comes off. rFactor NASCAR mods blow.

Take care,
PK

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:53 am

I've been messing with the Grand Am mod, and I want to try a race with the DP cars in the mod, and also the GT cars to try out a full Grand Am race. Question is, how do I get both of them to show up on the race setup screen. Is there I file I need to edit?

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:45 pm

OK, I'll admit it: The sounds for the upcoming 1989 F1 mod for rFactor are tremendous:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nu2U1CbZ_b4&co ... edded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Take care,
PK

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 3:21 pm

pk500 wrote:Jesus H, the engines in this COT mod for NASCAR Heat sound amazing:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ooYObYNBBiE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Edit: The guts of Heat can be downloaded for free here: http://www.themodsquad.uni.cc/modules.p ... oad&cid=10

Heat was the most NASCAR console game by a mile, so maybe I'll give the PC version a go when the cast comes off. rFactor NASCAR mods blow.

Take care,
PK

What would you do without great old PC games?

My CPU, at the time, could never handle those games, but I remember thinking there's a ton of great PC racing games these days. Imagine what we are going to see down the road. Well that didn't pan out as I expected. I thought there would be more big racing blockbusters instead of a 3rd party community basically running the show.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:51 pm

Gurantsu wrote:I've been messing with the Grand Am mod, and I want to try a race with the DP cars in the mod, and also the GT cars to try out a full Grand Am race. Question is, how do I get both of them to show up on the race setup screen. Is there I file I need to edit?

Haven't downloaded the mod yet, mate, but can it not be done through the Opponents tab as you're picking a track to race on? The Serie International Du Mans mod caught me out like that last night, when I was trying to have all classes racing and ended up with 28 LMP2 Porsches instead.

Speaking of that mod, those things around the Laguna Seca release I briefly pimped earlier are a dream.

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:30 pm

No, the only opponents that show up are the Grand Slam mod. What I want is to see all the cars from both that mod and the GT cars mod show up. I think there is a file you can edit that will let you. do it, I just need to figure out how.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:47 pm

Ah, now I get you! It's not been the shortest of weeks, and that's the excuse I'm sticking to.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 10:29 pm

JRod wrote:My CPU, at the time, could never handle those games, but I remember thinking there's a ton of great PC racing games these days. Imagine what we are going to see down the road. Well that didn't pan out as I expected. I thought there would be more big racing blockbusters instead of a 3rd party community basically running the show.

Damn good observation, John, and there's a reason why. Next-gen consoles arrived in force in 2001 with the PS2 and Xbox, and they delivered what 90 percent of most gamers want from a racing title -- pretty graphics, plenty of tuning and customization options, relaxed realism from the driving model and online racing.

Before 2001, the gap in graphics and realism between PC and console racing games was vast. And only the Dreamcast offered online console play.

But when the PS2 and Xbox were unleashed to the market, those gaps closed, especially online play with Xbox Live. Sure, the best PC sims were superior graphically and in realism, but Xbox and PS2 racing titles gave nine out of 10 gamers exactly what they wanted from a racing game.

That marginalized PC racing sims, once a major genre in PC gaming, into niche status, where it remains today. But it's a damn fun niche, and I could never sacrifice the realism of PC racing sims to return to console racing.

Take care,
PK

johnvon314 · Post by **johnvon314** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:55 pm

pk500 wrote:
That marginalized PC racing sims, once a major genre in PC gaming, into niche status, where it remains today. But it's a damn fun niche, and I could never sacrifice the realism of PC racing sims to return to console racing.

This is water long under the bridge, but EA Sports abandoning NASCAR on the PC accelerated that trend. I still think PC racing would be more popular if a dedicated developer like Papyrus had continued making the NASCAR sims. It would have served as an entry point to some of the other less known racing sims.

John

JRod · Post by **JRod** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:00 pm

johnvon314 wrote:
pk500 wrote:
That marginalized PC racing sims, once a major genre in PC gaming, into niche status, where it remains today. But it's a damn fun niche, and I could never sacrifice the realism of PC racing sims to return to console racing.

This is water long under the bridge, but EA Sports abandoning NASCAR on the PC accelerated that trend. I still think PC racing would be more popular if a dedicated developer like Papyrus had continued making the NASCAR sims. It would have served as an entry point to some of the other less known racing sims.

John

And I bet EA is missing it's set goals with the NASCAR license. When it gets a little advertising as it has been and marginal jumps in quality, it makes we wonder if EA simply thought NASCAR was going to be bigger on the consoles than it has been.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:16 pm

How does NASCAR sell on console in North America? I'd assumed it must do alright - it does well enough in the UK that they release it every year here too, so I'd expected it to do well where the core fanbase is. It ought to, because NASCAR 09 is a genuinely fine game as long as you don't ever race on a road course.

JV, the continued presence of a company like Papyrus would surely give the racing sim a retail presence it doesn't currently have, and as you say, provide an entry point into sim racing. Without them, though, what we've ended up with is a niche genre in which products are, by and large, being made by the community for the community. Playing F1 Challenge 99-02, for example, I always had a sense that EA had released it because they had an F1 licence to use. Playing GP '79, Cart Factor: Prologue, Live For Speed and countless other mods and small-scale releases, it's as if someone's surveyed me on exactly what I do and don't want a racing sim to do. That we've ended up here isn't great for the more casual PC sim racer (contradiction in terms, perhaps?), but for the real enthusiast I can't think of a better situation.

johnvon314 · Post by **johnvon314** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:56 pm

GB_Simo wrote: Playing F1 Challenge 99-02, for example, I always had a sense that EA had released it because they had an F1 licence to use. Playing GP '79, Cart Factor: Prologue, Live For Speed and countless other mods and small-scale releases, it's as if someone's surveyed me on exactly what I do and don't want a racing sim to do. That we've ended up here isn't great for the more casual PC sim racer (contradiction in terms, perhaps?), but for the real enthusiast I can't think of a better situation.

I thought F1 challenge 99-02 was a decent game, and it really set the stage for what ISI did with rFactor in terms of modding. Like NASCAR, F1 no longer has an official PC game which is unfortunate. In fact, EA Sports had some pretty good racing games like the Superbike series and Sports Car GT. This is all part of the general trend of not developing anything innovative. I'm sure the NASCAR series has been a disappointment in sales, but they dare not give it away.

GB, another point is that the above modders are not stuck in the 12 month development cycle. They can release mods when they are ready especially since they don't have to worry about selling it. They can take the extra time to make it right for the racing enthusiasts. There are many in the community too who are willing to give constructive feedback (and many who won't) to make the mods better, and we get the best of the deal. Buy the product once, and get several years of almost continuous add-ons.

John

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Sun Jan 25, 2009 3:09 pm

pk500 wrote:OK, I'll admit it: The sounds for the upcoming 1989 F1 mod for rFactor are tremendous:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Nu2U1CbZ_b4&co ... edded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed>

Take care,
PK

Brilliant PK, sounds like it maybe a little more modern than 89 no? I dont care, my ignorance helps me here i wish i could afford to fix my pc and get Rfactor going again . Looks like a top mod that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:32 pm

One of you dudes needs to call and play host to a 90-minute rFactor DSP Rolex 24 with the new Grand Am mod at the Daytona road course. Our race last year was one of my most enjoyable sim racing experiences of 2008.

I'm still out with a bum wrist, but you guys MUST do this! Come on, you f*ckers!

Take care,
PK

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 6:21 pm

I was thinking the same thing last night. Alright I will do it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:56 am

Someone please paint the new Aston Martin prototype for rFactor!

Take care,
PK

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 12:45 pm

Let me know what night you guys are doing it and I'll try to make it. Most likely I won't tonight however as I'm getting MLB Front Office Manager today and will be messing around with that.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 2:15 am

Discovered Virtual GP 3 tonight, which is supposed to be the spiritual successor to Crammond's GP 4. It's developed by an Italian guy, and the tire model is supposed to be exceptional.

http://www.vgp3.com/main.php

I downloaded the demo tonight, but the wrist is still in fiberglas and not quite ready for road course racing. I'm jonesing to drive, so I may reinstall NASCAR Racing 2003 Season and see if my mending joint can handle ovals. Hell, I should be able to drive those with one hand.

Here's a video of one lap around Monza from Virtual GP 3:

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NV7YqtPhq8g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed>

I also have the latest Netkar Pro demo on my hard drive, ready to go when my aging bones allow. I'm chugging milk and taking calcium supplements daily, boys -- I hope to be back soon!

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:42 am

Virtual GP 3 is sounding like it's going to be the spiritual successor to iRacing. Subscription based racing in this economy, good luck with that.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 8:50 am

After further review I saw some of the YouTube videos PK and it does seem like a rip of GP4. The driving model maybe different and probably should but the damage model was really suspect especially when I saw a car go airborne, flip several times, land on all four wheels and there was hardly no damage.

No logos on the car is rather boring for me too. I still think GP4 with all the mods still keeps me happy even though the last update was for season 2007. That's OK for me cause that's when my boy Kimi won the title.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Jan 28, 2009 11:13 am

Rodster wrote:Virtual GP 3 is sounding like it's going to be the spiritual successor to iRacing. Subscription based racing in this economy, good luck with that.

Yeah, pretty safe to say I won't go past the demo. But I'm still eager to check out the physics model.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 3:45 am

I just bought a decent little Rally game called Xpand Rally. It's been out for at least 3 years and it got decent reviews. It's not equivalent to RBR but closer to Colin McRae and that in of itself is a stretch. What's real fun about this Rally game is that you have to earn money to buy car parts and upgrade your vehicle. It has two modes arcade and simulation. Simulation mode is not what you would expect but it's ok.

The cars get to be fun to drive as you get use to the controls. The sound of the cars is pretty good and the AI puts up some good stage times but as your car improves so will your lap times. And here's the best part it's only $4.99 on Steam. So you may ask why Steam? Because this use to be a Starforce game as well as the Trackmania games which are now also on Steam.