FIA-GTR Game

Looks very promising. Is it being sold in the US?

 

Well, it looked so good, I went ahead and got one from the UK off ebay. The chance of driving a 575 GT is worth the quids.

 

I got the German version just after its release and found an English translation patch on the net...

...BEST GAME EVAR

 

This game is a gem, if you've played (driven) GPL, this is on a simalar plain in regards to challenge. Very rewarding when you pull a good lap.

Do you have a steering wheel/pedal setup Tifosi12?

 

Similar level as GPL? Uh, oh. Might be too much for me then. I think I still haven't completed one single GPL lap without a spin or a crash.

Yes, I have pedal/wheel setup. Actually complete with half a car surrounding it...

 

Don't cancel that order just yet Tifosi!

Their are varying game modes and you can turn aids on/off as well so I think you'll still enjoy it.

 

Sounds good. I'll definitely give it a try.

Just the comparison with GPL gave me shudders: I played GPL on the lowest level with all aids on and still can't get this stupid car to behave nicely. Actually I managed after a while, but it was never a joy to drive. It always felt like trying to steer a boat through a needle thread. You got no brakes and the car is all over the place, yet you try to go flat out.

I read once that the cars in GPL are actually way harder to drive than the real ones were. I believe that.

 

Tifo's if you dont like it i'll buy it from you.

Anyone do a comparison to any of the goof f199/ch/f1-2k mods?

 

LOL! It reminds me of my first time playing GPL - it took me several attempts before I could do a lap without being intimate with the trees and shrubbery.

Nurburgring is still painful for me today - i spin out once on 80% of my laps - I lose my concentration after 2 laps

 

I bet it will be better by leaps and bounds. I've played several of the mods and they're always missing something. Best so far is the P4 sim based on NASCAR racing. Good car representation, but still not 100% accurate and of course still using NASCAR driving rules.

Speedy_Sam: Not loosing your concentration is so darn hard, I know. When I do F1 GPs at a fraction of the real thing, not loosing my concentration is the thoughest part. Lots of practice and Red Bull during a pitstop helps.

 

i haven't been actively involved in driving sims for a year or so now, my last big thing was www.liveforspeed.net but haven't played it for ages.

hopefullly www.racesimcentral.com will be re-established soon, it's been down for about a month, but there was a huge simbin following there, and honestly, this thread is the first i've heard about the game being released as i haven't had my rsc to consult.

anyhoo, they've got a temporary community going, with already a decent GTR fanbase, plenty of info there: http://rsc.vadertrophy.com/forums/viewforum.php?id=9

 

oh, and blackhole motorsports is the next best driving sim community.

have you tried RFactor? i had a play the other night, and it's got a pretty decent involvement feeling to it. nicely laid out vehicle setup bits too.

 

Is this a computer game only, or is it available on PS2?

How does it compare to Gran Turismo?

 

How is the downloads and add-on features for FIA GTR? The best part about GPL was the infinite number of tracks and other enhancements you could d/l.

 

I just received my copy from Germany. This game is serious: 2 CDs and a thick manual. Calls itself the most realistic racing sim, chances are it is.

Also had a link to:

http://www.trackir.se/gtr/

I never even knew this existed: An IR based tracking device for your head movements. So the game switches to side views out the window if you move your head to see where your opponents are. Stunning. Has anybody tried this?

Stay tuned.

 

Ive only got the demo and I think it definitely has a lot of promise as a realistic game. My only complaint is that I cant figure out how to shut off the cues for the turns that pop up right in the middle of the screen before a braking zone. I absolutely cant stand that!

Can anyone let me know if they have found a way to turn that off? Maybe it doesnt happen in the 'Simulator' Mode which is locked in the demo?

One of my favorite parts of the game are the sounds...very impressive!

 

I have only the real game, not the demo, but from what you're telling I'd say you're in Arcade mode. Do you see the car in front of you?

Anyway, in sim mode there is no such thing. And besides you can turn this feature on/off in the Menu "Realism".

 

I was playing in Semi-Pro mode (the highest I can go in the demo). A couple of the options in the Realism menu are turned off in the demo so I fear Im out of luck.

Either way I think I might order this game!

 

The demo takes ages to load up the track on my home PC. Also if I run with 16/19 other players the screen freezes up for a couple seconds - particularly on Lap 1 when all cars are close together. Anyone else face this? My PC can tackle F1-2002/GPL pretty well in similar circumstances.

Nice graphics though. I didnt realize the SPA track is so bumpy. The Morgan was jumping about particularly on the straight.

Both cars are nice to drive - you need to be patient through some of the corners to prevent the car understeering out onto the guard-rail.

I played last weekend and was able to get around 1'20" or so in the Lister and 1'24" or so in the Morgan (I dont remember the exact time). The cars are hitting a max of about 165 down the straight.

I only played with the wing and gearing settings. Didnt touch the suspension yet.

I was able to turn off the turn off the cues ... cant remember where though. Anyway I 'm going to not be able to play it for a couple weeks till I get back home.

 

We'll see what my box says about that. In most cases it is your graphics card, not the PC itself. But I'm always worried when I get a new state of the art game, that I have to upgrade the hardware as well.

I had to reduce the number of opponents and graphics details in the P4 simulator, so I'm not holding my breath for this. Heck I even managed to bring the XBox into a stotter mode with Rallysport 2. The car moves faster than the CPU can update the screen.

 

I have not played a racing game since the old atari. (No bashing) But, this has got me interested again. What is the best Wheel / paddles / peddles setup for a pc?

 

Almost a religious question. Here my stab at it: I have gone through many wheels/pedals combos over the years. Thankfully technology has improved over the years and so today I would say it doesn't really matter that much anymore as the manufacturers have sorta caught up with each other.

My points of recommendation:
1) Make sure it uses USB on your Windows machine. Anything older is a hassle to setup.
2) Make sure it has force feedback.
3) Basically all wheels now have the F1 paddles, but some also offer the sequential shifter on the side. I like that to play different sims (e.g. F1 vs CART).

I used to use the force feedback sidewinder wheel from Microsoft. It looks odd (more like a space ship), but was technically very good, very precise, good feedback, easy to install and robust. A year ago I switched to a "NASCAR" wheel from Logitech. Real leather and the forementioned additional sequential shifter. It is very good, but to be honest the force feedback was better in the Microsoft wheel.

Of course as a Ferrari fan you should go with the Thrustmaster Ferrari wheel.
I just stuck a horse logo in the middle of my previous wheels. Good enough for me.

 

Simbin made a mod for F1 2002 called GT Racing 2002. It is a precursor to the stand alone GTR. For those who might already have F1 2002 it is a great download. If you don't already have F1 2002 you might be able to find a copy for sale somewhere. I highly recommend it. Especially for those people who may not have the computer horsepower to run GTR.