Any good racing games left?

[uOpt]

In ca 1994 I played a great F1 game with adjustable wings and whatnot. Is anything like that around these days?

I'd like something, in order of importance:

• no console crap interface
• steering must not be just on/off left/right like on a controller, it must be joystick with actual values
• ideally something to tinker with, making changes to the car and trying them out

 

[mmntech]

There's F1 2013, which actually just came out last week. Don't know what it's like, but reviews for it are decent.

The last really great, fully customizable racing sim for PC that I remember was GTR 2.

 

[CuriousMike]

There's F1 2013

Or, F1 2011.
Or, F1 2012.

If you're on the fence, 2011/12 are pretty similar and will be cheaper to try than 2013 ... I can't imagine 2013 is that different.

 

[Soundmanred]

I don't think controllers have been on/off for quite some time...

 

[Fire&Blood]

I bought F1 2013 lat week and despite having both 2011 and 2012, it's actually been cutting into my BF4 time.

The newest game is very much like the previous versions so if you want to jump in with a minimal investment, pick up the last year's version.

You need a wheel to get the most out of the game. I have a controller and I've been struggling for traction as it's really easy to lose control because of the "on/off" nature of controller input.

Welcome to career mode. Turn the noob assists off and watch the game fight you to the last breath to prevent you from scoring big in your first season.

If you do career mode with full qualifying weekends, you will be able to do R&D events in practice runs before qualifying. It's not every weekend so it's easy to go into routine and miss out on the R&D events. They show up on practice runs when you select the engineer, below the car setup and go to track options. To really influence the research path, you need to become the nr.1 driver in team, when you start out, the AI controlled nr 1 team driver determines the upgrade path. The parts don't have a huge impact but they do make a difference, for example, getting reduced drag and reduced tire wear matters.

To sum it up, the career modes in F1 games are very time consuming but IMO totally worth it.

 

[HeXen]

I always use a a decent Wheel. Seems stupid to me to get a simulator racing game and use a gamepad or kb/mouse which can't even properly simulate controlling a tricycle. Only big issue I hate is all the manual configuring and calibration it takes to setup where as on console it's just plug n play. I use the G27 with the Wheel Stand Pro which makes it way easier and faster to setup and take down when not in use.
Project Cars seems to have the most potential for PC racers but damn it's taking forever for them to finish it.

 

[Lonyo]

There's F1 2013, which actually just came out last week. Don't know what it's like, but reviews for it are decent.

The last really great, fully customizable racing sim for PC that I remember was GTR 2.

Race 07 and addons/semi-sequels are based on the same as GTR2 but updated, and also support lots of mods and addons like GTR2 did.

http://www.nogripracing.com/files.php

That's a nice list of moddable games ^^ Plus the actual mods (although you need to register, and if you want to download lots, you have to either way or pay as there are download limits).

 

[murban135]

Race 07 and addons/semi-sequels are based on the same as GTR2 but updated, and also support lots of mods and addons like GTR2 did.

http://www.nogripracing.com/files.php

That's a nice list of moddable games ^^ Plus the actual mods (although you need to register, and if you want to download lots, you have to either way or pay as there are download limits).

If you want to try Race 07 and it's DLC, GTR Evolution, is part of this bundle for $3.50

http://www.bundlestars.com/

 

[Stringjam]

Project Cars seems to have the most potential for PC racers but damn it's taking forever for them to finish it.

I'm stoked for this.


FWIW, Shift2:Unleashed (with the handling mini-mod) is a good game. It's not a sim, but it does have quite a bit going on with car modifications and settings. I personally like it better than GTR Evolution.

I've seen it pop up on Steam for dirt cheap often as of late.

 

[manimal]

try Shift 2 with the no grip community patch and a decent wheel. If you want to go hardcore there are some amazing mods on no grip for shift and shift 2 among all the other titles.

If you turn off all aids and use the highest physics setting its gets REALLY good.

F1 2013 is quite good for a newer title.

 

[Fire&Blood]

I have 4 races left in first season of the career mode. Compared to previous 2 versions, F1 2013 AI is a lot harder. Cars are easier to lose control of and tires became an issue faster and the in race condition of tires is more relevant than in prior F1 games.

This game is begging for a good wheel but even more than that, pressure sensitive throttle and brakes. Turn off noob assists annd you can squeak by with a controller, make the game any more difficult than that and playing with gamepad is an exercise in futility.

Even had one easy win but only because of luck/timing, AI drivers caused an incident, safety car got on the track for a lap or two and I passed it about a second before it became active and had track at full speed for a lap while everyone else was stuck behind it :biggrin:

 

[SPBHM]

any game considered a "sim" (like the GTR2, Race 07, Rfactor with good mods, Iracing) will deliver what OP wants, but most of the time they are really hard to learn, and mostly directed towards online racing, AI is normally not a lot of fun, and the game is totally dedicated to racing, no other objectives...

Grand Prix 4 was the last "serious" (detailed simulation, not much distraction with the outside of the track things like the current codemaster games)F1 game for the PC.
but it's from the early 2000s, in terms of driving, Iracing have probably the best F1 simulations (not considering professional stuff or mods), with the 2009 Williams, 67 and 78 Lotus, but it's not like F1, everyone racing with the same cars, not all the right tracks, and... expensive, hard to learn.

games like Shift 2 have console interface, and handling is pretty bad, they made the game to be played with gamepads and overly aggressive inputs, a lot of sliding.

Assetto Corsa have the potential to be a more user friendly sim with good graphics, but they only say they want to release this year, no other release date announced.

honestly I think the consoles are much better if you don't want a hardcore sim, but want a serious racing game, Forza and GT are good at that... Shift had the potential, but they made some bad choices,

 

[HeXen]

I think ones like GT and Forza are more fun to play overall. The hardcore stuff needs to focus on other aspects of simulation outside of physics and handling, like seeing pit crews do their stuff, spectators and perhaps more types of racing where more variety of cars can be used, those are some of the little details I always liked about GT and Forza, too bad they never even try at physics. Seems no one has tried to create the ultimate racer yet, maybe Project Cars when finished.

 

[uOpt]

Thanks, guys. I plan to use a joystick, I think it should do well enough with the throttle.

F1 2013 looks like a straight console port with console UI to me, or am I mistaken?