Driving Simulators

[Allen]

Are there any decent driving simulators out there are the moment? I have been watching my flat mate play Gran Turismo 5 and despite the lack of realism, it's not a bad game. However, I want something on the PC that will rival that, and include realism.

I have tried Shift 2 Unleashed, but unfortunately there appears to be an unfixed bug with Xbox 360 controllers where there is a massive dead zone which can't be fixed using in game settings, so it's not too different from using the d-pad controls to turn. Dirt 3 is awesome and controls really well, but I want car customisation and a career to progress through by buying small cars and working my way up, much like Gran Turismo.

I would love to try Forza but I don't have, and can't afford, an Xbox 360.

So, any suggestions? Even if it isn't a recent game but has decent graphics, as long as the game play is good I will consider it.

[Flibb]

Heres one of the main websites for sim racing
http://www.simracingworld.com/
just a warning, most of these games are true sims, so a wheel is pretty necessary.

[Allen]

Is that even up to date? It lists Gran Turismo 5 as still in development and due to be released in Nov 2010! :S

Anyway, thanks for the list, I will look through it and see if I can find anything that matches my criteria.

[Flibb]

Yep its up to date. Gran Turismo 5 isnt really a sim. latest news was last month.

[abaxas]

On the PS3 supercar challenge is quite 'real'.

[kalniel]

I have tried Shift 2 Unleashed, but unfortunately there appears to be an unfixed bug with Xbox 360 controllers where there is a massive dead zone which can't be fixed using in game settings, so it's not too different from using the d-pad controls to turn.

I'm not encountering that myself :/ You could always try third party X360 pad drivers, I used to do that for some older games - XBCD I think.

Dirt 3 is awesome and controls really well

Really? Doesn't seem at all realistic to me - it's a fun arcady blast but the handling is definitely codemasters!

So, any suggestions? Even if it isn't a recent game but has decent graphics, as long as the game play is good I will consider it.

Project C.A.R.S.
rFactor
iRacing
etc.

[Betty_Swallocks]

Any of the Simbin sims are way more accurate than any of the console games and they have the advantage of a prolific community producing a huge amount of new content for them.

rFactor is similar and has similar amount of user created content.

As Flibb says though, these are sims not arcade games so don't expect them to be as pretty as the less serious console or pc games and you will really want to budget for a decent wheel if you haven't already got one.

[MarcLister]

I was going to mention rFactor as well. Although its simulator and not arcadey as has been mentioned. rFactor 2 is due out in 2012 so I've read. It's looking like a massive improvement on rFactor and that wasn't too bad itself!

[Behemoth]

If you don't mind so much the lack of real cars then Live For Speed is very good, as others have said you can't go wrong with either rFactor or anything from SimBin

[mitchgixer6]

Always loved Simbin's efforts, GTR, GTR2 and GT Legends. Never tried rFactor, but I will be buying rFactor 2 when it shows up. Looks like the best yet in terms of driving Sims, and should be out VERY soon.

[Andy3536]

Iracing have recently done a couple of races using real world racers. Road and Oval racing. Well worth a watch even if it's not the best place to start as a beginner to sim racing with no wheel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmR0SzNkH6w

As said the sim bin games are a good place to start. Dirt cheap now as they're getting on.

Ferrair virtual academy can be picked up with the cheaper variant and less 10 euro, that will give you a good idea of a sim, laser scanned tracks and the 2 recent F1 cars aswell as a 458. But it is just hot lapping.

http://www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com...n/download.jsp

Rfactor 2 will probably be a must buy if/when that ever comes out, it's been coming out soon for at least 18 months.

Truck racing by Renualt is a good bit of fun too and free

http://www.gameseed.fr/free/tr/produ...21&language=en

[jim]

It really does depend what you want. GT claims to be a simulator, but can't really hold a candle to the real simulators out there for PC.

Having said that, I find GT fun, mainly because of the career mode, and would have absolutely no interest in an actual sim. Spending loads of money on a wheel and then spinning out on every second corner isn't my idea of fun.

That middle ground where GT, Forza and that sort of thing lie is a more tricky market to cater for - I can't of any obvious choices right now. GRID has a decent career mode, but I would never describe it as realistic.

[kalniel]

That middle ground where GT, Forza and that sort of thing lie is a more tricky market to cater for - I can't of any obvious choices right now. GRID has a decent career mode, but I would never describe it as realistic.

GRID has no upgrading or tuning, which is a key part of the enjoyment of GT/Forza and the rubber-banded/cheating AI really got on my nerves. The closest PC game is Shift 2, and I do find it very enjoyable, but OP has some weird control issue with it. Best bet might be to try and fix that.

[Allen]

I'm not encountering that myself :/ You could always try third party X360 pad drivers, I used to do that for some older games - XBCD I think.

Well, I downloaded them, followed the instructions and when plugging my controller back in it seemed to re-install the Windows drivers, however it appears to have helped and I'm finding the driving in Shift 2 much better now, thanks for that.

As for the other suggestions, I didn't realise such realistic driving sims existed out there and they are way beyond my skills with a controller. I tried the rFactor trial and the graphics were poor but the driving was insanely hard and I had to setup almost each button on the controller before I could go anywhere. I think I will stick to the likes of Shift 2 or wait until I can afford an Xbox and get Forza as that looks really good.

[MadduckUK]

firsty, i love GT and Forza. but.

when you get rfactor/GTR pinned down though it is amazing, you dont have to be setting particularly good times but being able to make clean, attacking laps on circuits without messing up feels like an achievement - on gt and forza its like staying on the track is almost a given, and from there its just about getting faster.

you should stick with it, you'll never see console racers in the same way again.

[kalniel]

I tried the rFactor trial and the graphics were poor but the driving was insanely hard and I had to setup almost each button on the controller before I could go anywhere.

In that case try the Race07 series of games. They're a step behind Shift etc. for graphics, but have the GTR sim aspect combined with some decent presets for controllers so there's less faffing about if you don't have a wheel. I'd hop in at either GTR Evo or RACE Injection.