I thought I'd get your opinion on the subject.

We all heard about GT Academy where X-Box gamers went on to drive real racing cars in real racing series aroubnd the world.

We all know how extensively F1 drivers use simulators.

I was wondering if using a Logitech G25 wheel (the best on the market) and "games" like rFactor would be of any benefit for say a track day ( http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/261259-how-fast-are-briskoda-3-1st-june/page__st__210 ) ?

I can the actual Bedford Motodrome West track to drive on. It is obviously rather removed from the level of sophistication F1 symulators enjoy but using that wheel I found other driving games rather realistic.

What do you think?

A similar thread on another site with some interesting viewpoints...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=154&t=1101168&mid=87877&i=0&nmt=Do+computer+games+make+you+a+better+driver%3F&mid=87877

Chris

Chris, have mercy, 5 PAGES!

I am interested in your views and other interested briskodians.

I've never found much if any benefit, but then I was surprised to realise just how much I rely on feedback through the controls when I first tried a "realistic driving simulation".

I have used the Logitech G25 wheel on a couple of games. Mainly on GTR2, but on other games like rFactor. Most of these games can have additional cars and tracks to be less of the race cars, and more of the normal cars, which is often more fun.

Many of the tracks are user made, and often lack detail, but there are some users out there, which take a long time designing the tracks, and produce decent results.

I feel that they produce some simulation, especially with the force feedback in the Logitech G25 wheel, and also that it is a place to test out as far as you can, without breaking anything.

Worth having a look at an older Top Gear episode, where they were taking the NSX around Laguna Seca on the track and on a game.

I think it just helps to raise awareness of what to look out for, and be more prepared if something does happen.

I think it is partly down to the quality of kit you are using as cheapo wheels are more than useless and frankly quite irritating. When I play those sims I do dinstictly miss the snesation of a car moving underneath me and I found my body actualy expecting such movement, muscle groups working as if the slide was really happening or the tank slapper snap oversteer about to hit me! When I was at the Motorshow in Birmingham in Jan there was a firm which was exibiting a simulator, using just a normal large TV screen but with extremely realistic hydraulicly actuated "chair" - Since then I was not able to find it on-line but I hope one day I will as it was sensational!

I was wondering if using a Logitech G25 wheel (the best on the market)

What about the G27? I am toying with the idea of a G27 at moment but I am too tight. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-941-000046-G27-Racing-Wheel/dp/B002N6FU4A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1364285519&sr=8-1

I think it is partly down to the quality of kit you are using as cheapo wheels are more than useless and frankly quite irritating. When I play those sims I do dinstictly miss the snesation of a car moving underneath me and I found my body actualy expecting such movement, muscle groups working as if the slide was really happening or the tank slapper snap oversteer about to hit me! When I was at the Motorshow in Birmingham in Jan there was a firm which was exibiting a simulator, using just a normal large TV screen but with extremely realistic hydraulicly actuated "chair" - Since then I was not able to find it on-line but I hope one day I will as it was sensational!

I think this about sums it up - yes there are some decent quality simulators out there which feed all your senses and surround and immerse you, but I've yet to use a home setup that can even get close to that. Computing power is increasing and becoming more accessible every year though so it wouldn't surprise me if they become common place in the near future. I suspect it will be a welcome relief to be able to drive a "proper" car in the confines of your house rather than a nanny-state car on the road

Chris

What about the G27? I am toying with the idea of a G27 at moment but I am too tight. http://www.amazon.co...64285519&sr=8-1

G27 is a follow on from G25 and as good as it predecessor an if you believe the marketing hype much better. When I bought G25 I paid £250 for it, massive amount of money for essentially a games controller but I can tell you it was worth every single penny!

@Chris

That's right, it allows more and more life like rendering of the virtual environment producing even more immersive experiences. It is only going to get better but will always be an approximation. The only "real" simulation would be when we start connecting directly to our cerebral cortex feeding stymuli diectly to the relevant brain centres bypassing our senses. It is already being worked on within cyber prosthetics industry . Matrix anyone?

I have just seen the G27 is in Currys at £179 at moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so tempted, the only issue is I don't have a gaming machine at moment just a couple of now fairly low speced laptops lol. http://www.currys.co...031937-pdt.html

My favourite sim at moment as weird as it may sound but free full game demo if you download for it.

Euro Truck Simulator 2

The software is actually fantastic, its scary real, physics are very very good. I can't recommend it enough there are so many custom modifications to it to spice it up its hard to explain how such a seemingly boring concept for a sim is truly addictive. Try the demo its on steam or their own site etc. I would think 99/100 people would dismiss the idea of trying the sim but its pure genius and so well made, trust me!

These guys site and channel is very informative

This is my intention I actually have that keyboard already so im half way there :( G27 went out of stock on Currys since I saw it earlier :( and on amzon its been £228 then £218 for weeks but today its price changed to £300!!!!! Devastated I didn't just buy one soon as I saw that price now.

We have both, a G25 and a G27.

The G25 has the additional sequential gearshift over the stick, the G27 doesnt have this anymore. But the H pattern of the G27 feels more solid.

G27 also has the LED band as rev counter.

G27 feels more solid, but that can be because our G25 was used at least a half a million kms on GTR and rFactor.

Must admit, most of them by my son. I just asked him his conclusion of the two wheels.

This is my intention I actually have that keyboard already so im half way there :( G27 went out of stock on Currys since I saw it earlier :( and on amzon its been £228 then £218 for weeks but today its price changed to £300!!!!! Devastated I didn't just buy one soon as I saw that price now.

Is that your setup at home ?

That's one amazing accesories shop, check it out!

http://www.simracinghardware.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3

Some of them could probably be installed in our cars!

I got the G25, don't use it half as much as I would like too though.

I did the pedal mods to make the brake feel more realistic, does the trick too.

There must be something in the sim world that relates to real though, Jann Mardenborough is now up to F3

http://www.gtplanet.net/gt-academy-winner-mardenborough-impresses-on-f3-debut/

Thrustmaster is awesome

If you think about it, the sims grow more and more detailed with each release. Car behaviour physics is getting more and more life like - afterall F1 drivers use in a pro capacity. So you have the same inputs as you do in a real car (depending on your kit), car on screen behaves ver close to reality but you are deprived of massive amount of imput and have to compensate. When you do sit down a real car a sensory overload may occure initially but then after getting used to it you should be better than "bred" racers - and it is breading! Thsese days if you do not start at the age of 5 (minimum allowed) you stand no chance

I played on Trhustmaster Ferrari Wheel of whatever was it called and compared to my G25 it'd rather do k'board

The only exception to the rule is Kimi. He flat out refuses to use them and can learn a track within a lap or two

The only exception to the rule is Kimi. He flat out refuses to use them and can learn a track within a lap or two

I think this why he has naps befor each race. His corporeal body is left napping while his astral self "drives" the track !

Having done Hot laps round the Nordschleiffe for real and then later done the same race simulation using the Official GT Force feedback Stearing Wheel and Analogue Pedals i can honestly say it doesn't do it any justice what so ever. That said if i had learned the layout of the track beforehand i might have saved myself from soiling my pants every time i went airboune over a crest only to find a hairpin bend the otherside lined with massive fur trees and my brakes had fade due to the high temperatures built up over the lap. Also might have prepared me a bit for the two concrete carousel sections which i also crapped myself at first time round. Although it can't prepare you for the viloent vibration as you car goes around the banking flat out. Lap times were better on the computer though . I would say its a good tool to prepare you for a run at a specific track if you haven't been before but if you know the lines of the track then its next to useless unless you have high end tuneable simulation equipment.

Is that your setup at home ?

No it's just a pic off google but its almost exactly what I would like to do.

Ah, I thought I'd be visitng you soon LOL

Right, finally I managed to install rFactor and these two little gems . Bedford here I come, and in Fabia!!

http://www.rfactorce...Fabia Cup2 2012

http://www.rfactorce...dford Autodrome

Enjoy your game.

Enjoy your trackday.

Please don't try and carry any memories forward from one to the other. It's tantamount to saying you're going to drive the track with your eyes shut because you have the muscle memory to deal with the corners without needing to look out through the windscreen. Obvious bolleaux. Just enjoy the game, then try and forget it. When you get to the track, treat it the same as any section of unfamiliar road - look for limit points, wait for vision to develop before burying the throttle, judge speed into corners and feel how the car responds, building up a bit at a time. That way you'll stay in one piece.

If you're lucky, some memory will remain in your subconscious, and will help you out a bit. Try not to rely on it.