| Author | Message | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 327 Registered: 4-2002 |
Pat, I have NFSPU and its a neat game with neat mods you can do to the car, but its a game not a sim. You will see what I mean when you try GPL. The physics engine in GPL gives it a "feel" that is light years more realistic, but also in a different league of complexity and difficulty. Any internet connection is fine, but higher speeds do help. I have a cable modem and it works great. Get GPL loaded and then search the community for all the upgrades. It can take a day or so to get the game modernized and fully updated. Then your ready to start practicing. It will take weeks of steady practice before your ready to race online. You dont want to race online until your capable of turning clean laps consistently. Guys tend to get peeved if you run around punting folks... | ||
| Pat Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 99 Registered: 2-2002 |
Terry I'm going to have to check out Gran Prix Legends sounds like a great game for the PC. Actually Need for Speed 5 Porsche Unleashed lets you change alot of different settings on the cars. They let you change: tire pressure, downforce on the front and the back and i'm not not sure on the camber but i think you can also change gear settings and what not. Also what does it take to play online for Grand Prix Legends (fast internet? subscription fee?) | ||
| Terry Springer (Tspringer)
Member Username: Tspringer Post Number: 322 Registered: 4-2002 |
Lets back up here and make a distinction. There are driving "games" and there are driving "simulations". A game is what you play on the xbox or any other console. Need for Speed and most other PC driving things are also games. They simulate driving really only in that they have steering a throttle and brake and its set inside a virtual car. Driving games like this can be lots of fun, are very quick to learn, require little to no real skill and there are tons of them out there. Now lets talk simulations. There have been a few out. Sportscar GT is a game trying to be a simulation but failing miserably. F1 2002 comes closer but is still flawed. A really good simulation models the actual physics associated with racecar dynamics and simulates the real world driving experience. Weight transfer, power, differential setup, steering input, camber changes in the road surface.... all of the real world complicated stuff that makes driving a racecar on the edge such magic. I have played racing simulations for years and currently participate in a very competitive online racing league. Today, there are really only 2 true racing simulations out there: Grand Prix Legends and Nascar Racing 2000 (and the newer ones developed by Papyrus). These simulations use a physics engine that is so incredibly realistic you will be blown away. You may also quickly be very frustrated due to the fact that going fast in a real racecar isnt "xbox" easy. GPL is my favorite. The game came out over 4 years ago but the online community is massive. There have been third part add-ons built that bring all the graphics and sounds to absolute cutting edge quality... all for free. There are over 100 tracks out there. Dozens of online leagues and a service called VROC (virtual racers online connection) where you can hook up with others wanting to race 24/7. GPL is based on the 1967 Formula 1 season. I usually drive a Ferrari 312 F1 car. I can tell you.... skinny treaded tires, 1300lb, no wings and 400hp make for a VERY tricky car to drive quickly. These cars are driven with the throttle as much as the steering wheel. Its the closest to how a real car feels on the edge on a track that I have ever experienced. It can take literally weeks of active practice to get familiar enough with the cars to turn remotely competitive lap times. Learning to be fast at the Nurburgring (all 14 miles and 176 corners of it) took me MONTHS. A good wheel and pedal setup are mandatory. The learning curve is VERY steep, but once up there the racing is incredibly intense. You can find copies of GPL for $10 on ebay or around online. All the updates are free. Its "THE" premier online racing simulation and even after 4 years the most realistic simulation of any type ever released for the PC. Get it if your hardcore.... otherwise go the console route if racing your kids is the goal.  Terry | ||
| Pat Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 97 Registered: 2-2002 |
You are correct Ross it is called F1 2001 by EA Sports. Here is the link to the site for the game. Oh also X-box has a feature called X-box Live which lets you race on the interenet if you have a fast internet line (Cable or DSL) http://www.ea.com/exphat.jsp?destURL=www.easportsf1.com/ | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 598 Registered: 3-2002 |
ok, thanks guys that helps a lot. actually sounds like i should get the xbox since i am not going to be playing every game under the sun (could frankly care less). but am i mistaken about there being a game for one of these 2 machines that replicates the whole f1 season? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 796 Registered: 8-2002 |
Thanks Pat, I did not know about the memeory cards. M | ||
| Pat Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 96 Registered: 2-2002 |
Matt- The X-box also has removable memory cards. But you are totally right on about the game selection PS2 has way more but the X-box is coming out with new games all the time and in the future i would imagine most every game coming out for PS2 will come out for the X-box. As far as the driving games go for X-box there are a couple good ones. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 is out and in that one you can even be the cop chasing everyone. Good graphics and playability. F-Cars= F50,360 Spider,550 Sega GT2002 is another good driving game although it has no F-cars in it. Project Gotham is the X-box poster child for driving games although i liked Need for Speed better this game is a good one to keep around. I have yet to pick up the steering wheel/pedals for the X-box hopefully Santa will bring some with him when he comes in Dec. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 795 Registered: 8-2002 |
The PS2 has great graphics but has Partick pointed out, the x-box has a physical hard drive for game storage. The PS2 has memory cards. They range in price from 19.99 for the 8 mg on up depending on size. It is great if you are going from place to place. With memory cards you can take your saved games with you. I bought my PS2 before the x-box came out. I like the x-box but there are not a lot of game sout for it, compared to the PS2. The PS2 also plays the PS1 games to the library is 5 times what x-box is. As for driving games go... PS2 has three very good ones. Grand Tursimo 3 has stunning graphics and acurate cars. It will take you months to complete all the levels and aquire all the cars. No f-cars however. 9.5 for graphics for the in car and a 10 for the replay. right down to the heat coming from the engines and the road. Oh and I forgot that the brake rotors glow and the fade. Nice touch. WRC - takes rally driving to a whole new level. Graphics are a 7.5 for the movie stuff but a 9 for the in-car stuff Ferrari 355 - Taken from the 355 challenge series. A lot of fun but gets redundant 8. for in-car stuff 8. for play back. I like the x-box a lot but the controller can get confusing in the heat of battle. PS2 is fairly intutive. It is also pressure sensitive. Hope this helps | ||
| Patrick Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 95 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ok Ross the two big choices are Playstation 2 and Microsofts X-Box. They both have wheel/pedals combos avail. Deciding between the two can get tricky. It is a matter of opinion and if you do some searches on the internet about the two consoles you will see that alot of people have problems deciding between the two. I have an X-box because of the graphics and hard drive space for saving games. I'm sure Matt can tell us more about the PS2. | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 794 Registered: 8-2002 |
Gran Turismo 3 /PS2 has a wheel/pedal option | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 594 Registered: 3-2002 |
not for the p/c, looking for something to play in front of a giant tv screen, w/ steering wheel and pedals for added realism | ||
| Racer 001 (Mr_0011)
Member Username: Mr_0011 Post Number: 384 Registered: 3-2002 |
Gran Turismo 3 is the best. | ||
| Patrick Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 93 Registered: 2-2002 |
Ross are you talking about PC games or console games? The Need for Speed game I was talking about is on the PC the game itself is made from EA Sports They also develope games for the consoles as well (X-Box, PS2) So the question is are you looking to play games on your PC? or Are you looking to buy a console? | ||
| Matt Lemus (Mlemus)
Member Username: Mlemus Post Number: 770 Registered: 8-2002 |
Playstation 2 - Grand Turismo 3, WRC | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 593 Registered: 3-2002 |
i actually need more advice than this. who makes the box that these games go into? which one has the best car games? i really know zero about this. | ||
| Patrick Pasqualini (Enzo)
Junior Member Username: Enzo Post Number: 91 Registered: 2-2002 |
I know I might get slammed for this on a Ferrari website but "Need for Speed 5 Porsche Unleashed" is the best driving game I have played on the PC with a steering wheel ever. It has a couple of different modes to it. 1. Where you start in the 50's and work your way through every car that Porsche put out by winning races and tuning your car and buying different upgrades for the cars. 2 Is where you are a factory driver getting to test cars through different courses. 3. Racing. | ||
| William Huber (Solipsist)
Member Username: Solipsist Post Number: 487 Registered: 9-2001 |
Depends on what your looking for. I'm a fan of Sportscar GT, but haven't played it in a while. I think you can get it now for less than $10.00. It helps to have a steering wheel for your PC. You can also download other tracks & new cars. I think you can still play it online. Here's a link to get an idea of what the game is all about. http://home.freeuk.com/jrknight/scgt/links.htm Good luck. | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Member Username: Ross Post Number: 584 Registered: 3-2002 |
i have never owned a computer game, but understand that there are some really great driving simulator games out now. i am thinking of getting one that can give me all the formula one circuits, adding the stearing wheel and pedals, and having a blast in the off season. who makes the best one? is it user friendly (i am no computer expert), and how much do they normally cost? |