If you like driving and have a PC capable of playing 3d games (and a broadband connection) then you have to get a copy of GTR2. This is a PC based simulation, based on the FIA GT series, that allows you to race against people from all over the world, online driving some of the best GT cars like the 575 Ferrari's, Maserati etc.
And this is no arcade special - it is a simulation, which means you have to drive them just like you were actually on the track. ie. you have to use the brakes and make the most of the available grip. There is a novice mode and there are novice races as well which makes it easy to get into right thru to full simulation with full damage model (things break and can fall off the car), you can even do the complete LeMans 24hr!!
The cars drive brilliantly and you "feel" every bump and having driven a GT3 spec 550 it is uncanny how similar it is. Just the way the car reacts simulating the feeling on slicks is amazing.
You can use keyboard or Xbox type controller but the way to go is a Logitech Momo steering wheel/pedals ($150 from most PC shops or online) which has force feedback and I swear the feedback thru the wheel is soooo real it it amazing.
The graphics are also amazing - the cars and their interiors look fantastic, as is the sound - the cars sound great, engines, gearboxes...the cars shaking under brakes.
Another neat thing is that it comes with full Motec data logging - yes you read correctly - laps are logged and you can open up the full Motec interpreter and analyse your performance - then you can go to car setup and make adjustments to EVERYTHING from spring rates to bump/rebound, wing, tyre pressures, camber......everything.
Trent and I raced 575's at Valencia last night in a 65 lap novice race - we were both doing great until we ran out of fuel - we forgot to pit and refuel!!
The web site is: http://gtr-game.10tacle.com/index.php?id=246&L=1
And if you like Touring Cars - then in a few months the same people are releasing "RACE" which is basically the same game but for the WTCC and includes the all conquering 156's!!! I can't wait to smack BMW's.
The web site is: www.race-game.org
And if that is not enough there is "GT Legends" same as GTR2 but with the historic GT, Sports and Touring cars including; Alfa 105 GTA, GT40, Lotus Cortina, Mini, Capri, E-Type, Mustang, Lotus etc from the 60's and 70's. In this you can run career mode were you start with the slower cars and win races to allow you to buy better cars - it is sensational.
The web site is: www.gt-legends.com
This sound like an ad but they are really that good!!
If you are interested in maybe some organised racing in GTR2 or GT-Legends - let me know and we can look into organising some regular races.
Yeah very cool game, to be honest I had never heard about the game until Scott told me and im glad he did because its unbelievably realistic. You can hear the diff whine while you accelerate, the car shutters under heavy braking and while understeering, it even moves around over bumps and its got Ferrari' aswell.
Maybe like Scott said we can organise through this forum a group of people and we can set up some regular races and maybe even a championship over the internet. ;)
Let us know if you have it or are getting it.
I've been itching to buy a logitech momo for about 6 months now - I've played the demo's for GT Legends and now 'Race' and they look and sound amazing but without a steering wheel it's completely useless. Now that I know you chaps are online and we could have a little AROCA online racing I'll be saving my spare pennies...
If only I didn't spend so much on my REAL car...
YES! YES!
The Logitech Momo Wheel is the one - short of the HyperStimulator it is the way to go. This is the later model with the rubber wheel. There was an earlier model a few years ago which had leather etc but these are now out of production. The average price is $149 but I have seen them as low as $130. This is great value. Check out these vendors:
http://atomicmpc.shopferret.com.au/buy/game_controllers~p-179648.html
Logitech Web Site
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2217,CONTENTID=6030
Remember guys it's only a game and not realalistic untill they make one with a credit card swipe and eveytime you have a shunt it automaticely bills you card 100K.
yeah - but it is still a sh#tload of fun.
Good thing is we can get grass and it doesnt matter whether we spin off because you just press reset and its all good.
I cant wait until more people get it so we can set up a Championship.
My MOMO wheel is on it's way, and a copy of GT Legends will be soon...
It's all coming together!
I reckon one of these would be pretty cool:
http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/
GTR2 is a graphical improvement over GTR, but unfortunately the physics has gone backwards to a slightly more arcade style which is easier to pick up and play (a subject well document on race sim forums) - a result of the developers desires to appeal more to the mainstream.
GTL however is fantastic, although Simbin's poor netcode have meant that online servers have always been near empty which is disappointing for a game that offers such close racing. GTL is my favourite race sim ever, and is pretty bang on accurate.
All three games are well supported by the modding community (including myself on occasions), to the point where I have over 200 cars and 50 tracks on both GTL and GTR. The RACE demo is now also available for download and looks good but once again, the general consensus is that the physics have been dulled down a tad, and that the sim "hand-holds" too much. I deleted it after a few days, although the lack of the 156 in the demo may have contributed to that.
For some great add-ons for these games I would recommend the following sites. Beware though, you can only use cars original to the game when using online servers.
Race Sim Central Forums - www.racesimcentral.com
No-grip Downloads and Forum - www.no-grip.net
Blackhole Motorsports - www.bhmotorsports.com
TeamSSR - www.teamssr.tk
GTR4u - www.gtr4u.de (In german, but if you know where to look this site has a lot of good stuff not found elsewhere)
Here are some screens of cars I've skinned for GTL.
Brian Foley's Chesterfield Alfa, Andy Clempson's Aussie Grp N Mustang, the Mini I used to own.
BTW, I have a MOMO too, so let me know when it's online GTL time, that'd be great fun.
This is the extent of what can be done with GTR especially - LM70 mod, with 917K, 917 Lontail, Ferrari 512, Matra Ms650 and the like.
This is the 33/3 obviously with added aged look :)
Quote from: Scott Farquharson on November 02, 2006, 11:34:58 AMyou can even do the complete LeMans 24hr!!
Errr, actually it's the Proximus 24hr of Spa, not Lemans. The Lemans 24hr is not an official FIA-GT event, it's organised and run independently by the ACO (Automobile Club l'Ouest) who own the La Sarthe circuit. Hence why competitors come from both european FIA GT championships and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). FIA-GT has no LMP class (Audi R8, Porsche Spyder RS etc) but the ACO and ALMS allow LMP.
Just thought I'd clear that up :)
Hi Peter,
That is all fantastic! We have three Hyperstims as well and used to play GP Legends a fair bit, but haven't really been doing much for a while now and have therefore lost track of the sim world. GTR, GTR2 and GTL have been revalations and have inspired us to get back into it. The PC's for the Hyper's are not spec'ed up enough to play GTR or GTL so I have a bit to do before we can use these with these games. Disapointing that RACE doesn't live up to expectations.
In any case we have a few that are interested in some online action so it won't be long before we can set something up. You advice and participation would be most welcome as we progress.
Thanks
Hyperstims are great, although I recently tested a setup at the Sydney Motor show which is better for GT and V8S style cars, as it is more "sit up" than lie down F1 style. A fraction of the price too. I'll have to hunt down the piece of paper I had from them - im sure a few people might be interested. They are a tubular steel frame with an Autotecnica racing seat and a tray in front for wheel and screen. Also set up for 5.1 surround. I'll see if I can find something.
Found it - Gamer's Cockpit.
www.gamerscockpit.com.au
Sydney based company but they have a distributor in melbourne. You can configure it how u want depending on what equipment you already have and how big your wallet is I suppose. I can vouch for these being really nice to drive in. Compatibile with PS2/PS3/XBOX/XBOX 360 and of course PC.
Have wheel, have GT Legends, have NO code to play online. I'm on to Atari support to find out why it wasn't in the box. Great to play in single player mode though - the mini is a blast to chuck around!
Peter, Do you know anything about West Racing - Racing Legends? Will this ever come to fruition - it seems it has been in development forever? It looks great.
Evan, great news, you are nearly there!
Haha.. yeah.
It was started on a quasi-GPL platform some years ago now, I think as early as 2002 perhaps - and put out some stunning cars - but always renders (screenshots from the game or from a 3d modeler program that have been significantly modified) and never any real in game screenshots or beta releases.
People in the sim community obviously started to get suspicious and gradually the content dried up significantly before it dropped off the radar completely. I believe the website is still up but it always just says they are working on it, and the times ive been ive seen no new content.. In the end it seems that the models probably were made, but all the shots were of renders and it is doubtful that the GPL platform would have been able to sustain car models with such high level of detail - i.e high polygon count.
It was probably one guy's dream to create, in effect, a super-detailed "GPL2" that never really saw the light of day. Still, great eye candy on the website nonetheless.
Hey there all
Anyone wanting a Logitech Momo steering wheel, I am about to pop down to the store to pick one up and if anyone wants one, I might see about a deal on more than one purchase.
Email or contact me somehow, neil_choi@optusnet.com.au
My copy of GTR2 is being shipped now. Probably Damon and Cailum will be on it most time.
Now where can I get a copy of GT Legends? Any advice.
Neil
Quote from: Peter Young on November 10, 2006, 11:13:31 AM
Found it - Gamer's Cockpit.
www.gamerscockpit.com.au
Sydney based company but they have a distributor in melbourne. You can configure it how u want depending on what equipment you already have and how big your wallet is I suppose. I can vouch for these being really nice to drive in. Compatibile with PS2/PS3/XBOX/XBOX 360 and of course PC.
Saw them at games expo in Melb on the weekend - look good!
Neil:
ebay always has a few copies, otherwise try ringing around a few EB stores, Ive seen leftover stock there a couple of times.
Ciao
I got the last one from the shop on elizabeth St (corner Lonsdale) so NYER! What a great bloody game I'm having a fantastic time. Didn't realise I was so crap at driving rear wheel drive cars! I'm so used to lift-off-oversteer and various other fun front-wheeler traits now having driven the Sud on the track for ages I'm just all over the place now in my Alfa GTA...
I will place an order for GTR2 tonight - I've also downloaded R-Factor and played the demo Williams F1, that is fully frightening!
Love the momo wheel it's the best thing since sliced bread! Forget spending money on my Alfa now...
Oh and another thing - I'm on the XFire messaging system (http://www.xfire.com). You download and install this program and it's an instant messaging program much like MSN or Yahoo messenger. You add friends (or acquaintances) to your list and then you can chat to them, especially to invite them to join you in an online computer game. The best part about xfire is that it works inside your computer game, so if we are in GT Legends we can still chat to each other on xfire.
If anyone plays GT Legends and wants a race, get on xfire and add me to your list - I'm 'bottch105'.
What does Fiona think of it....
PS Logitech have just released the G25 wheel - the high end wheel that sits above the Momo - it is hot. Leather, H pattern gear shift, clutch pedal - but by the looks of the US pricing it will be $400 here!!
Check it out - http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2217,CONTENTID=11867
Also I found an online sim racing club that looks interesting - http://www.asrg.org/
I also downloaded r-factor and it looks pretty good - I can't believe how many great racing sims there are out there! http://www.rfactor.net/
$450 looks like the price: http://www.shopferret.com.au/buy/game_controllers~p-1215868.html
Should go on sale Jan 2007.
Scott:
Make sure you download Team Orsm's V8Factor too - whether you like V8s or not its a great reproduction and it comes with probably the best Bathurst yet made for a racesim.
www.teamorsm.com
The one I am looking out for is Touring Car Legends which is currently WIP stage for rF, it will have all the GrpA honeys in it from the late 80s.
Rover SD1, Volvo 240T, VL Commodore, E30 M3, BMW 635csi, Mitsu Starion, Sierra, Supra, Corolla, MG Metro turbo, Skyline R31 & R32, Maserati Biturbo..... and the most beautiful thing of all? Alfa 75T and GTV6 :D
QuoteThe one I am looking out for is Touring Car Legends which is currently WIP stage for rF, it will have all the GrpA honeys in it from the late 80s.
Rover SD1, Volvo 240T, VL Commodore, E30 M3, BMW 635csi, Mitsu Starion, Sierra, Supra, Corolla, MG Metro turbo, Skyline R31 & R32, Maserati Biturbo..... and the most beautiful thing of all? Alfa 75T and GTV6 Cheesy
Now we're talking. I might be persuaded to part with my hard-earned for that.
Dunno about MG Metro turbo though? You may need to get out more Peter.
I take it the XJS and Mustang will be there also? yes, YES!!!
Oh, sorry.
Quote from: Sheldon Mcintosh on November 23, 2006, 09:24:55 PM
Dunno about MG Metro turbo though? You may need to get out more Peter.
I take it the XJS and Mustang will be there also? yes, YES!!!
I think the Metro was included because it was quite succesful in the lower classes of BTCC, and since most of the devs are brits it's being included. I think there will be ATCC, BTCC and ETCC carsets released for the circa 87/88 era.
Mustang (Dick Johnson style) has been done too, XJS is on the cards but I havent seen it yet.
I would love to get out more, but my Berlina's clutch failed on tuesday night so i'm semi-stranded :(
Sounds great.
I have started another forum with some details about the AROCA GTR2 championship.
My copy of GTR2 is on it's way. In the meantime here is a screenshot of me driving the GTA on my way to victory (admittedly in the introductory races at 'amateur' level)...
Evan - let me know if you'd like a skin, either for that GTA or by the time you get GTR2.
Evan, Congrats on the big win!
Oh yeah I had a huge win tonight at Donnington in the Mini Cooper. Titanic struggle with one of the Lotuses (or is that Lotii?) - he kept taking me on the straight then I'd go under him into the next corner. This carried on for all 5 laps. Reminiscent of your battle with that Ford at Queensland Rwy. Except I wasn't in a driving suit.... oh and I had a nice glass of wine with me.
It sounds so much more civilised.