Racing Sim Thread, Part II

Gurantsu · Post by **Gurantsu** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:24 pm

I really like Ferrari Challenge, I think its a fine game. Strikes a good balance between sim and arcade; although it leans more on the sim side in my opinion.

Although I would like to hear about the SBK game as it looks interesting and the one on PSP was good (even though I know there is no real comparison between the 2 systems.)

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 8:49 pm

There was once a thread on it, in which Rodster and PK hated the PC version and I absolutely adored the 360 version. From that thread:

I wrote:The hardest AI really can move. The only track I've done any meaningful running at is Brands Hatch, and I can just about run the same times as the AI there but I'm trying so hard to keep up that I fall off every couple of laps. I'm only doing short races (or only attempting short races, at any rate) so all my racing is in packs, meaning I can't check the developer claims of different AI riding styles. They've not done anything silly to me so far, though, and if we make contact - this usually happening because the AI in this game overtakes at every chance, and I keep forgetting about that - it's because I've messed up, not them.

I've put the game straight onto its hardest settings because I've found the recent Moto GP releases to be a bit wet, a bit too arcade-oriented. I wanted SBK-08 to have racing and bike physics that could deliver a sim experience if I wanted them to, and it has those. I'm really liking it so far.

They love to pass, the AI. They love it so much they almost love it too much, but it means you get good racing all the way down the field. With some practice I was able to win against the hardest AI but I can't imagine anyone being able to beat them straight away, so there's longevity there, and there's Gamescore given out for repeated crashing and for accumulating rider injuries so the time spent sat in gravel traps cursing isn't totally wasted.

Having played all of the XBox 360 bike games, I find SBK-08 to be the most enjoyable of the lot and well worth a buy. However...I have never played the PS3 version. I have no idea how it stacks up in terms of frame rate, graphical quality or anything like that.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:03 pm

Yeah I was playing SBK 08 (PC) and to put it mildly it sucked. It looked like an upscaled PlayStation 1 game with framerate issues and the physics were absolute garbage.

It's quite possible the 360 version was much better but I wasn't going to take the chance and buy it especialy when it was selling for $49.99

The new version sounds better and is only $29.99, I might pick it up tomorrow as i'll be close to a Target and Walmart.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:39 am

RACE On Screens (Simbin game for PC)

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=61517

RACE On will target PC owners with a bit of petrol in their blood and comes with a very strong selection of new challenging content including the tracks and cars from WTCC season 2008 which turned out to be the most competitive championship ever.

The next scheduled release, RACE On will target all PC owners with a bit of petrol in their blood and comes with a very strong selection of new challenging content including the tracks and cars from WTCC season 2008 which turned out to be the best and most competitive championship ever. SimBin has recreated the epic 2008 season down to the smallest detail and now YOU get the chance to show the world who the real champion is. Jump in the car of your favorite racing driver and compete with the best through 12 unique tracks located around the globe including Okayama.

Race On also marks a new focus from SimBin with the inclusion of iconic Detroit Muscle cars suited for those who like to lay down lots of rubber power sliding out of corners on the rev limiter. Enough torque to drag the moon off orbit, full opposite lock and a big grin on your face.

To finish the new lineup SimBin brings you Formula Masters, a top of the line open wheel series, offering you even more speed and action than ever before. Extreme cornering speeds and simulated g-forces make this a true driver’s car.

But RACE On is not just new cars, it also features brand new American tracks in SimBin quality and it comes with a hefty update of existing tracks to 2008 standard. With RACE ON comes 5 brand new tracks all recreated down to minute detail.

As a bonus the game also includes the complete “STCC The Game” (The Swedish Touring Car Championship) which has previously only been released in retail stores in the Nordic territory and Russia. The tight and technical Scandinavian circuits and the wide variety of touring cars running in the series have already created a large following so SimBin is happy to be able to offer this package to the rest of the world including 7 Nordic tracks and 6 unique car models.

RACE On includes the following new content:

* 16 unique car models in 8 classes with over 140 variations.
* 12 tracks of which several never has been released by SimBin on PC.

RACE On will be available as a stand alone game including all RACE 07 content and an expansion pack for existing owners of RACE 07 will also be available.

All in all this makes up for:

* 39 unique car models in 17 classes with over 450 variations.
* 30 tracks and 17 alternate layouts, in total 47 tracks.

For current owners of GTR Evolution RACE On is designed to merge and fully integrate with the existing GTR Evolution

RACE On is scheduled for release in Q2 2009.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 11:57 am

Simbin is really milking the sh*t out of the RACE franchise, eh? It is creating more releases for RACE than EA does with its annual slew of licensed sports titles.

This sounds like a console-esque rehash of prior RACE games.

Take care,
PK

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:31 pm

It once again sounds like it's torrent worthy. Those guys need to move past Race and do something new rather than Race expansions like GTR Evolution, WTCC Race and STCC Race.

DChaps · Post by **DChaps** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:07 pm

pk500 wrote:Simbin is really milking the sh*t out of the RACE franchise, eh? It is creating more releases for RACE than EA does with its annual slew of licensed sports titles.

This sounds like a console-esque rehash of prior RACE games.

Take care,
PK

And I have been a sucker all along. To date I have purchased Race, Race 07, GTR-Evolution, and STCC. If I was to purchase Race On, it will be like the 4th or 5th time I am purchasing the same content. Unfortunately, with each reiteration, my aging PC has worse performance, even though there is barely recognizable differences in the graphical content, or physics performance. After the fiasco of Race Pro, I think I am done for awhile with Simbin. Or at least until I get a new PC.

GTR 2 was their swan song in my opinion.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:03 pm

Because I only got my new rig a few months ago, GTR Evolution was my first shot at one of the RACE series, and while I don't mind it, I certainly don't get enough from it to feel at all excited about RACE On. There's something about the feel of the game that I have a bit of difficulty describing. It's a kind of detachment, I suppose, a sense that I'm always a step behind the cars because I can't get enough of a feel for how they're behaving.

rFactor runners who like to keep themselves up to date may be interested in an update to CTDP F1 2006:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... 006%20CTDP

From the comments thread:

Kaftan wrote:Is the removal of the Renault runed mass damper device calculated into the physics? And if so, which track configurations run without it? We're running multiplayer with the upgrades at brazil spec, and it would be nice to know if that equals a "gimped" R26?

Apparently it is, in a fudged not-strictly-correct sort of way, and it does. My mind is struggling to comprehend how far into sim racing you'd need to be to give a flying toss.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:52 pm

I know this is not a "sim" but did not think it merited it's own thread.

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=61568

Developed by acclaimed Sheffield studio Sumo Digital, OutRun Online Arcade, will be available via Xbox Live Arcade on 15, April for 800 Microsoft Points, and on PSN April 16, 2009 for £7.99/€9.99.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:39 pm

bdoughty wrote:I know this is not a "sim" but did not think it merited it's own thread.

But it's based on OutRun 2 SP! It's the single most utterly joyous, wondrous, perfect arcade racing game ever created, guy! It deserves its own tribute site, never mind its own thread, and to disagree is to venture into the uncharted territory somewhere beyond Wrong.

That's assuming, of course, that Sumo haven't managed to royally cock things up somewhere between Outrun 2006 and here.

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:33 am

With apologies for the cheap pimp, I've found a game I love so much it's moved me to write my first sensible game review since I was a staffer at the old-style Calvert Games.

Am I the only person playing New Star Grand Prix, or just the only one loving it to death? Of course I love NR2003, LFS, rFactor and GPL but sometimes I can get away without force feedback (PK, New Star isn't RealFeel compatible. I did check), stunning car models and slavish devotion to realism. Sometimes I just want a game that'll make me feel happy, and there are few that make me happier than New Star Grand Prix does right now.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:34 am

Superstars V8 Racing (PS3/X360/PC) - New Screens

http://www.worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=61608

pigpen81 · Post by **pigpen81** » Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:45 am

GB_Simo wrote:With apologies for the cheap pimp, I've found a game I love so much it's moved me to write my first sensible game review since I was a staffer at the old-style Calvert Games.

Am I the only person playing New Star Grand Prix, or just the only one loving it to death? Of course I love NR2003, LFS, rFactor and GPL but sometimes I can get away without force feedback (PK, New Star isn't RealFeel compatible. I did check), stunning car models and slavish devotion to realism. Sometimes I just want a game that'll make me feel happy, and there are few that make me happier than New Star Grand Prix does right now.

I downloaded it...but the screen won't load on my non-video card CPU.

I desperately want to play it though.

Great read!

Thanks!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:56 am

This is a very cool concept. Participating in an actual race from your PC:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTlsGWfEp4I

http://www.virtualr.net/iopener-beta-test-signup-open/

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:14 pm

Adelaide 1988 for rFactor, courtesy of carrera.4:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... ide%201988

Since I'm not all that keen on the Adelaide layout the V8 Supercars use these days, I've been waiting ages for this release of the old F1 track, a favourite of mine in spite of the way it used to treat my countrymen.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:51 pm

GB_Simo wrote:Adelaide 1988 for rFactor, courtesy of carrera.4:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... ide%201988

Since I'm not all that keen on the Adelaide layout the V8 Supercars use these days, I've been waiting ages for this release of the old F1 track, a favourite of mine in spite of the way it used to treat my countrymen.

Carrera's tracks are usually epic for his 1988 F1 mod. Best sounding cars in any F1 mod and there are some good ones out there.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:15 pm

Too bad the 1988 F1 mod doesn't work worth a sh*t with RealFeel. But the mod sounds and looks so damn cool that I'm tempted to reinstall it and use Leo's, even though I much prefer RealFeel.

Take care,
PK

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:27 pm

Rodster wrote:Carrera's tracks are usually epic for his 1988 F1 mod.

This one is no different, mate. Didn't actually try it with the 1988 mod, but the 1991 LE mod is fabulous around Adelaide. Those cars let you get away with a certain amount, which is just as well because the track seems to have been modelled with fairly low grip, but little slides really hurt the lap time. You've got to be absolutely dead nuts everywhere to put a fast one on the board, and while it's a challenge to thread your way between the walls and the high kerbs (I've got the first two sectors down alright, but the final sector slaps me in the face every time), it's an awful lot of fun too.

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:02 pm

Race On Screens and Trailers

http://worthplaying.com/article.php?sid=62084

bdoughty · Post by **bdoughty** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 4:12 pm

New MotoGP in Development
Next game to allegedly take series in a different direction.

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/976/976899p1.html

April 28, 2009 - In development by Monumental Games, the new MotoGP game is being built for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. No information regarding a potential release date was given, and only vague information about the title was made available through the press release. Also according to the press sheet, the MotoGP team at Monumental Games is comprised of some members from longtime series developer Climax Studios. For more on Monumental Games you can check out its official site.

According to Capcom's sheet, the game will "take the series in a totally new and exciting direction, whist remaining faithful to the world's premier motorcycling championship." It seems there'll be more a more robust reward structure as well, along with gameplay modes built for online and offline play. At this point that's the only information available, so we'll have to wait and see exactly what it means.

CEO of Monumental Games Rik Alexander commented, "We're working very closely with Capcom to take the MotoGP franchise to new heights. No-one would question the experience of our team - what's amazing is the sheer energy which they're bringing to the project. Like Capcom, they want this to surpass everything that's come before, and so far they're very much on track."

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:16 pm

You've got to download it from the mod-maker's website, there's only one working link, it takes several eons to download and so I've run out of time to actually play the bloody thing and find out if it's worth it, but:

http://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cf ... 1997%20WCP

1997 F1 mod for rFactor. There's also a new version of CTDP's excellent Bahrain track on the go, as well as an updated Phoenix '91 layout and a bundle of updated GPC 79 tracks including DSP's favourite high-speed Austrian demolition derby venue, the Osterreichring.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri May 01, 2009 11:49 pm

I can attest that the Phoenix track is insane. I like how they included bumps in the surface. It makes driving those 1988 F1 cars a lot of fun.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:59 am

Has anyone other than PK installed the Revamped Nascar tracks? I'm trying to figure out where to:

a) Where do I install the Shared Folder for some of the tracks?

b) Where do I put the PapyAI.ini file?

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:16 am

Rodster wrote:Has anyone other than PK installed the Revamped Nascar tracks? I'm trying to figure out where to:

a) Where do I install the Shared Folder for some of the tracks?

b) Where do I put the PapyAI.ini file?

a) In your NASCAR Racing 2003 Season > Tracks folder

b) In your main NASCAR Racing 2003 Season folder

At least, that's where mine are, and everything works.

Rodster · Post by **Rodster** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:28 am

Thanks Adam i'll give it a try.