So, racing games...

"ddavidn" (ddavidn) 08/08/2013 at 15:22 • Filed to: Gaming

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Not going to worry about junking up Oppo today, because some bad joke thursday nonsense has done it for me. I was just wondering, what racing game should I play on my PC?

Background: Yes, I love GT5 very much. However, with my current setup I cannot play with my wheel on my PS3. It just won't clamp comfortably on anything I have. Yes, I would love to rectify this situation, but it will cost a few dollars. I wanted to race so badly last night, but SimRaceway wouldn't let me track my E30 M3 due to beta software bug shenanigans. I ended up messing around with Dirt3, but that isn't really what I wanted to do. Anything exciting on the PC racing front lately? Looking for something that isn't going to cost me what iRacing would, though I would love to try it. It's still like $12/month, right? I can barely put gas in my real car.

Answers? Comments? Snide remarks? Jusbait/Automatch bait to un-boring my lunchbreak?

Jagvar > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:25

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The only driving game I have on my PC is GTA IV, though that's rather old now.

Chech > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:32

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Race Injection

Not hugely cheap, but not really expensive either. I bought it a while back, a few different racing series, not as expansive as Forza or Gran Turismo, but I enjoyed it. Can be played with a pad if you need to.

KnowsAboutCars > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:35

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I would advice to keep eye on the development of BeamNG DRIVE.

There's not that much to do yet in alpha release but there is lots of stuff coming in free updates in future.

ddavidn > Chech 08/08/2013 at 15:35

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I didn't know about Race Injection. Thanks for reminding me that I already have Race 07 and the Retro Pack. I might check this one out too. Race 07 felt a little mechanical, not sure if they update physics/effects in the expansions?

ddavidn > KnowsAboutCars 08/08/2013 at 15:38

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Oh yeah, people have been talking about that. I should give it a whirl.

ddavidn > Jagvar 08/08/2013 at 15:39

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Sorta want to stick with racing. GTA is fun, though.

Chech > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:40

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I never had 07 before picking up Injection. Only found it last year at a EBGames for $5. It's SimBin, so I'd say they may have tweaked it, but otherwise it would remain the same, they also have RaceRoom out, which is a free to play game with micropurchases I believe. But other than this, I don't really have many PC racing suggestions.

bozla > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:41

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LFS, or better known as Live For Speed. It'll comfortably run on any modern PC, the physics are reasonable, the demo is pretty good (and you can play online) and it's cheap to buy.

ddavidn > Chech 08/08/2013 at 15:44

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Gotcha. I might try raceroom, at least to see what it's like.

ddavidn > bozla 08/08/2013 at 15:47

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Looks pretty nice. I'll have to check out that demo. Thanks!

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:57

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iRacing costs aren't as bad as people make them out to be. I got 2 years for $99 that's $4.13 a month. Just make sure you get in on a promo. They're always running some sort of new member promo.

Other sims I'm less familiar with but project Cars looks promising.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 15:59

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I've heard people saying good things about Project CARS . Not sure what it costs to be able to play though.

ncasolowork2 > ncasolowork2 08/08/2013 at 16:00

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In case my edit didn't stick I just got 2 years of iRacing for $99 which is $4.13 a month. Just look for a promo. There's always promos. Content can add up, but if you're smart about your buying choices it isn't as bad as you would think.

Bakkster, touring car driver > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 16:04

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If you want to play multiplayer, you still want iRacing hands down. More expensive, but anything else will be annoying enough that it isn't worth bothering outside of a league. It's only $12/mo if you pay by the month. They just finished their semi-regular discount of $99 for 2 years. If you're really scrounging for cash, I think they usually send out renewal codes for $12/3 months if you let your account lapse.

Otherwise, look at netKar Pro for high accuracy single player (no AI), or rFactor and Race Injection if you want AI and the option for leagues.

Z_Stig > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 16:12

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We have a Raceroom in my town (the only in the US still I think!) and it's not bad. Sometimes the cars feel as if they have too much grip, but I'm not sure if there's a difference between the physical Race Room locations' software and the desktop version.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/08/2013 at 16:17

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Yeah, I have absolutely no problem with what they charge. If I had enough for a whole year, I'd easily drop it on iRacing. But there are sometimes more important things to buy.

ddavidn > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 16:20

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$12/3mo is something I could do. Thanks for the tip. Might hit up that free trial.

ddavidn > You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much 08/08/2013 at 16:21

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I'm not sure if it's buyable right now. Otherwise I'd want to try it.

Bakkster, touring car driver > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 16:29

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There would be times you couldn't race (while waiting for the 'please come back' email), but well worth it if you want to race against other people.

ddavidn > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 16:32

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Yeah, I can definitely do that. Taking a break while waiting for a discount is no problem. I just signed up for iRacing via the Cadillac three-month free trial. W00t?

Bakkster, touring car driver > ddavidn 08/08/2013 at 16:37

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Huzzah! And there should be the three extra tracks still included, right? The rookie content is great fun, if you aren't picky. Racing is racing.

Let me know if you have any questions, it can get a bit confusing when you're starting out. Read the beginner guide and watch the training videos.

ddavidn > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 16:38

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Yeah looks like it. I'll install it soon as I get home late tonight. Will keep you in mind.

Z_Stig > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 18:22

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We need to hold an iRacing Race of Opponauts one of these days!

Bakkster, touring car driver > Z_Stig 08/08/2013 at 19:32

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Agreed, too bad ncasolo will beat us all... :(

Z_Stig > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 19:37

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Awww darn :(

ncasolo > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/08/2013 at 21:01

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maybe not. If there are right turns I probably will though.

ncasolo > Z_Stig 08/08/2013 at 21:02

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I could agree to start last :)

Z_Stig > ncasolo 08/08/2013 at 22:04

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With success ballast as well? ;)

ncasolo > Z_Stig 08/08/2013 at 22:16

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Depends on the car. FW31 sure.

ddavidn > Bakkster, touring car driver 08/09/2013 at 01:34

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Wow. iRacing is amazing. Why didn't anyone tell me? ;)

I guess I'll just subscribe for life.

Even though I can't really drive a racecar very well, apparently.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 08:20

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The MX-5 takes a little getting used to. Once you figure it out it is actually easier than Forza or Gran Turismo because it reacts in a predictable way with more realistic grip levels... ie you don't have to walk on egg shells (GT5) or you don't have to throw it around like a madman (forza).

One thing I've really learned in iRacing is you have to get your braking done in a straight line and be very careful about trailbraking and getting on the throttle too early out of a corner.

Before you since tons of money into additional content (because you know you'll want to) ask questions. Also feel free to add Ryan Terpstra to your "myRacers" tab as a friend. I'll answer any and all questions you can come up with. And there will be many.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/09/2013 at 10:30

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Thanks for the tips! I actually went to the Miata after trying the Cadillac. Miata was pretty easy, as I suspected. Definitely a real feeling of grip. Luckily, I already have a habit of braking pretty straight, due to habits picked up in the GT6 preview and F1. Definitely different to get used to from GT5. The biggest thing I've still not gotten used to is the tight steering range. I like it, though. No more mindless wheel spinning like an idiot.

I'll go ahead and add you, thanks! Going to see if I can get my name changed, as it's messed up on my PayPal account (and they won't help me change that one)

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 10:35

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email support@iracing.com and they'll take care of it no problem.

Yes the Cadillac is a lot harder to drive than the Miata. It is a pretty fun car though when you're up to it.

I would kind of recommend figuring out if you're an open wheel fan or sports car fan. The Skip Barber Formula 2000 is an amazing start to open wheel racing. The Miata and Cadillac are great starts for sports cars.

I have it on good authority that Mount Panorama is due out soon.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/09/2013 at 10:41

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I'm definitely a sports car fan. I do enjoy open-wheel racing quite a bit, but sports cars are easier to wrap my head around. To get to Le Mans is a dream of mine. The Miata will keep me entertained for a while.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 10:43

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Don't completely overlook the oval racing content either. You'd be surprised just how much fun oval racing can be on a sim. Watching it is a different discussion.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 10:45

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If you're a sports car fan the McLaren GT3, Riley Daytona Prototype, and Corvette GT1 cars are probably the 3 I would recommend for you. The LMP2 car is more like an Openwheel car than a sports car. The Mustang and Ford GT are medicore (don't tell $kay I said that). That's farther down the road, but if you like sports cars I think you'd like those cars.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/09/2013 at 10:47

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Watching oval racing is the worst. Playing it is pretty nice, I used to have a great online racing game that included some oval races (including endurance races up to 8 hours long) and I enjoyed that.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 10:53

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I don't think there are any iRacing official races that are less than 20-25 minutes in length. None of that GT5 3 lap stuff. iRacing has some world tour events each year that simulate (or partially simulate) some of the more significant races worldwide. The Daytona 500 and Indy 500 are both 500 miles. I think the Indy race usually takes 3-4 hours depending on how many yellows. There's a race coming up shortly that'll be "120 minutes of Thunder at the Glen." Cadillac, McLaren, and Daytona Prototype in a 2 hour race at Watkins Glen. That'll probably require at least 2 pit stops for the Riley.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/09/2013 at 10:57

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Sounds like fun. I need to get away from the 3-5 lap quickies in GT5 and all the other arcade games. It's fun and fits my schedule, but it's not making me a very good driver. I'm going to make iRacing 90% of my gaming (still not very much) for the next 3 months and see what happens.

Someday, I'll enter that (virtual) Indy 500. Sounds like fun.

ncasolowork2 > ddavidn 08/09/2013 at 11:10

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I've finished 2nd twice in the virtual 500 due to stupid mistakes. One was a pit lane speeding penalty. The other was a pit lane speeding penalty. The second one though was because i released the pit limiter before pit exit under yellow. That one was so stupid.

The nice thing about all of the iRacing official races is there are qualifying sessions all week (your time is retained for every race you enter and you can try to improve your qualifying time as many times as you like) and there are races every hour for the rookie series.

Just realize that you are racing other rookies. Rookies make rookie mistakes. Know that the racing is better in pretty much every other series and you can still have some pretty good races in the rookie series.

ddavidn > ncasolowork2 08/09/2013 at 11:22

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I'm perfectly happy in the Rookie series for now. I'm anxious about racing with other people due to my lack of experience in sims. I will probably just putt around behind the pack for a while. I'm slow like that.