[Toshi]

Now that I have my newfangled Hackintosh with a decent graphics card I can get back into racing. For those who have a short RM memory, I used to be way into Gran Turismo 4, running a weekly tournament (usually sparring for the lead with BMXman) and completing the game in toto (redundant? nah ):

I asked "what games? and what wheels?" over on a more active forum and here are the responses laid out neatly. The games that got the most consistent recommendations (excluding Grand Prix Legends for its tire model and iRacing since it's a subscription game), in alphabetical order:

F1 2010

- live for Speed
- netKar Pro

Race On - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:Race_On_Cover.jpg" class="image"><img alt="Race On Cover.jpg" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/45/Race_On_Cover.jpg/250px-Race_On_Cover.jpg"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/4/45/Race_On_Cover.jpg/250px-Race_On_Cover.jpg
(Race On also includes Race 07 and STCC - The Game)

rFactor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia@@AMEPARAM@@/wiki/File:RFactor_Logo_Colour_Long.png" class="image" title="rFactor Logo"><img alt="rFactor Logo" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/ef/RFactor_Logo_Colour_Long.png/250px-RFactor_Logo_Colour_Long.png"@@AMEPARAM@@en/thumb/e/ef/RFactor_Logo_Colour_Long.png/250px-RFactor_Logo_Colour_Long.png

- Richard Burns Rally with the RSRBR 2010 expansion pack

Wheels:

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- G25, G27: good luck finding a deal
- Driving Force GT dented box deal for $75 shipped + tax--use the promo code at the link else it won't show up with the reduced price
- Earlier wheels without 900 degrees, etc. work as well: Momo, Wingman Formula Force

 

[Toshi]

The wikipedia auto-formatting is kind of an eyesore, eh? Anyway, the content is there, albeit all uglified now. I ordered a dented-box Driving Force GT and will start with one of the games from the list above when it arrives.

 

[IH8Rice]

i just got F1 2010 today and about to start it...

 

[Kevin]

Picking up f1 2010 (ps3) this week, havent played a f1 game since f1 World Grand Prix on N64 but Ive been looking forward to this one...
As good as they say?

G27 ftw, or g25 for a budget...

 

[allsk8sno]

i have Richard Burns, didn't know there was an expansion though, out of all the driving games i've played, that is the best!! i also have GTR, which was pretty good too, most of the games nowdays are too much games...not enough SIMULATION!!!

and if you don't have a wheel your aren't driving!

 

[IH8Rice]

F1 2010 is okay so far. theve dumbed down the level of adjustments you can do to your car, since knowing each track's particular setup would be a huge undertaking.
starting out with a bottom-tiered team does make it a bit of a challenge, but still fun non-the less

 

[ebarker9]

I'm not too up on rFactor or iRacing, but my favorite is still Live For Speed. It's not graphically amazing but I think it does a better job of replicating the feel of actually driving a car than anything else.

 

[BMXman]

maybe it's time for me to get back into action

 

[Toshi]

maybe it's time for me to get back into action

I bought the wheel (Driving Force GT open box, $75) and built the computer but still am too engrossed in Civilization 5 to drive at the moment...

 

[ridiculous]

Was thinking about picking up f1 2010. All F1 fanboyisms aside is it worth it? compared to other 4th qtr game offerings you think?

 

[IH8Rice]

Was thinking about picking up f1 2010. All F1 fanboyisms aside is it worth it? compared to other 4th qtr game offerings you think?

its gotten pretty boring now. the tracks are the best thing about the game really.
its not really a simulator though, but the handling characteristics are pretty good

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

i used to play a lot of racing sims.
- richard burns is top notch.
- i loved grand prix legends.
- nascar racing 2003 is very good too (plus all its mods).

live for speed is really good too. the online racing is great.
but i didnt like the lack of tracks.

 

[jekyll991]

F1 2010 is on sale on steam for $27. Just sayin'.

 

[IH8Rice]

F1 2010 is on sale on steam for $27. Just sayin'.

i was one race from finishing my season in 1st place and had to start over because my dying PS3 remote signed a contract with a crappy team that i didnt want.

 

[Toshi]

F1 2010 is okay so far. theve dumbed down the level of adjustments you can do to your car, since knowing each track's particular setup would be a huge undertaking.
starting out with a bottom-tiered team does make it a bit of a challenge, but still fun non-the less

F1 2010 is on sale on steam for $27. Just sayin'.

So it's worth it at $27?

 

[IH8Rice]

So it's worth it at $27?

at $27 yes. at $59 that most games are, no. i dont know how much different the PC version is from the console games, but i cant picture it being that different.

 

[ridiculous]

whoa I might have to check that out. Do you play with a controller?

 

[Silver]

Sweet ****ing Christ, the windows live updates that need to be applied are a little excessive.

 

[IH8Rice]

whoa I might have to check that out. Do you play with a controller?

yeah, i use the PS3 controller.

 

[ridiculous]

ahhh I totally forgot I could do that. Do you need the USB cable or does it work over bluetooth?

Thinking about picking this up for my laptop for business trips and long flights.

 

[IH8Rice]

ahhh I totally forgot I could do that. Do you need the USB cable or does it work over bluetooth?

Thinking about picking this up for my laptop for business trips and long flights.

sorry, i mentioned earlier im actually using a PS3. (PC and PS3 game versions are pretty much the same)

but you can use your PS3 remote with your computer. theres a ton of step-by-step instructions online showing you how to do it

 

[Toshi]

at $27 yes. at $59 that most games are, no. i dont know how much different the PC version is from the console games, but i cant picture it being that different.

F1 2010 is $40 usually on Steam, and the current sale is for 33% off. I just bought it and it's downloading now at a steady 3.0 MB/s. (Yes, big B. FiOS.)



rFactor 2 seems like vaporware and the other ones all seem a bit old, so I think I'll play F1 2010 until I finish it, get bored with it, and/or something new comes out.

 

[Toshi]

Sweet ****ing Christ, the windows live updates that need to be applied are a little excessive.

I didn't understand this post, but I now do. Ridiculous. Combo update + streamlined interface would make it so much better. I think I have relaunched the game 4 times now and haven't even got past the signing into live process. Furthermore, the link from within the program to establish a gamertag was broken. Gah. I paid for this?!

 

[Silver]

Yeah, calling it clunky would be an understatement...the game is pretty fun though. The tracks are amazing. You really get a feel for the ****ty Tilke designs. I haven't gotten to Turkey yet though...

 

[ridiculous]

jesus fin christ , can I play yet? To make matters worse the game isnt recognizing my controller.

 

[Toshi]

Ok, so I finally logged some F1 2010 time today. First attempt with all the updates and then the horrible default auto-brake/high traction control settings sucked balls, plus I found the interface confusing. For instance, it took me a bit to figure out how one is supposed to stop practice. (Answer: Finish a lap, pull into pits--can't go directly from the start-button menu.) All that, plus I was feeding my Civilization 5 addiction, now temporarily sated.

In any case, I finally started my "career" for real today, logging 75 minutes, figuring out the interface, turning some of the driving nannies off (auto-brake is truly horrible, also turned traction control to medium), and getting some points in the drivers series. I won't be able to play again for a week due to a business trip but so far I've logged 2nd qual/1st race in Dubai and pole/1st in Sydney. I imagine things get harder further on in the game, but it's a nice way to start one's rookie season and the driving itself isn't that bad.

 

[IH8Rice]

For instance, it took me a bit to figure out how one is supposed to stop practice. (Answer: Finish a lap, pull into pits--can't go directly from the start-button menu.)

I imagine things get harder further on in the game, but it's a nice way to start one's rookie season and the driving itself isn't that bad.

in the PS3 version you can go to the pause menu and end practice there by going to the "garage"

after finishing a season on the medium level and dominating the 2nd place driver by over 175 points, it doesnt get easier unless you turn the difficulty up. i turned it up to the next hardest level and competition was equal.

 

[Toshi]

Easy/medium/etc refer to driving aids, no? It changed my difficulty to "custom" once I took off the aids that I mentioned above. As I have no real interest in trying to modulate fake non-ABS brakes by looking for tire smoke I'll be leaving that on. Same with hitting the flappy paddles 100 times per lap.

I'll try that go to garage option. Before I had selected "go to paddock" which totally kicks you out of career mode, changes unsaved.

 

[IH8Rice]

I'll try that go to garage option. Before I had selected "go to paddock" which totally kicks you out of career mode, changes unsaved.

yeah, you have to "go to garage." that will take you to the in-car menu in the garage.

 

[Toshi]

Spa = awesome track, reminiscent of the Nurburgring.

Monza = suck-ass. A few sweepers, some straights, and some chicanes. Blah.

I've clinched the championship prior to Monza but haven't accepted a contract yet for the upcoming season. I want Red Bull, Ferrari, or McLaren.

 

[IH8Rice]

I've clinched the championship prior to Monza but haven't accepted a contract yet for the upcoming season. I want Red Bull, Ferrari, or McLaren.

you havent had a offer yet from any of them? whats your level at?

 

[Toshi]

McLaren offered a few races ago and I just accepted. I'm just shy of topping off level 21 reputation after winning at Singapore. (That was a tough one, btw. Ugh.)

 

[Toshi]

Ok, so I finished my first full season last night. 475 driver points, took the constructor's championship as well. Is there any further replay value at all in Career mode since I already, uh, literally won everything? Why should I care about a season goal of 4th place or higher with McLaren since I already beat that with an ostensibly-bad team?

Blah.

I guess I'll dip my toe in the multiplayer waters next, but I can't see that fostering the same level of long-term obsession as the GT franchise, with its world of cars, tracks, and races.

 

[Toshi]

Tried multiplayer F1 2010 tonight, meh. Not my thing. Also tried the demo versions of Dirt 2, Race 07, Race On, and Race GTR or whatever that other variant was called. Dirt 2 didn't work with my wheel at all so was immediately out the door. The other ones picked up steering from the wheel but not pedal inputs, plus their graphics blew goats. Also out the door.

Underwhelmed, I am.

 

[Toshi]

... and now rFactor just got the boot, too. Not a fan of the interface (1024 x 768 intro movies really date the software), graphics, sound, or poor force feedback implementation.

/me is the grinch

 

[ridiculous]

Man I thought it was just me. F1 2010's piss poor performance has me looking for another game already. Im about to just buy civilization.

 

[IH8Rice]

Man I thought it was just me. F1 2010's piss poor performance has me looking for another game already. Im about to just buy civilization.

it was fun for maybe one full season, but after that it gets monotonous and unappealing to me.

 

[Toshi]

Man I thought it was just me. F1 2010's piss poor performance has me looking for another game already. Im about to just buy civilization.

Civilization has had about 10x the appeal, judging from the relative number of hours I've played each.

F1 2010 lost its appeal after 19 hours per the Steam console. I'm ok with a little over a buck per hour, I guess, but now it's just the same thing recycled in season 2.

 

[Toshi]

It's kind of sacrilege, but I actually downloaded the demo of Need For Speed: Shift and will try it out on Saturday. It seems like a 1/10th scale version of Gran Turismo, at least on paper. We'll see.

 

[IH8Rice]

It's kind of sacrilege, but I actually downloaded the demo of Need For Speed: Shift and will try it out on Saturday. It seems like a 1/10th scale version of Gran Turismo, at least on paper. We'll see.

Shift was actually great IMO....1000x better than the new one, Hot Pursuit. i played Hot Pursuit for 10minutes and put it promptly back into the return sleeve for Gamefly. horrible.
Grid is also pretty good too.