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04-08-2007, 02:22 PM
I've been looking for a game in the endless sea of driving games that would have realistic physics and tracks that I know. Then I would be "studying" when I play rather than goofing off. Sure, I could play Nascar 2007 and "sort of" drive The Glen -- but without one of the most enjoyable parts, the Boot, what's the point? It's like driving a non-turbo 944. Then there are other games, like Project Gotham Racing (1 not 2) for the Xbox that are fun to play, but the physics are totally wrong. They actually give you points for drifting and scrubbing off speed! Gran Turismo on the Playstation and Forza on the Xbox are both great physics-wise, but other than Laguna Seca and Road Atlanta, neither of which are close to use, what tracks will most of us know?
The game I found was GTR2 for the PC. Out-of-the-box it has only tracks from the FIA GT series. Initially the appeal to me was that I've driven on one of the tracks, Hockenheimring, and watched a race at Spa, so those tracks were a lot of fun to me. Then the other night I realized that there are many many tracks, hundreds, available on the Internet, created by people who obviously have a Love of cars, and probably more silicon based friends than carbon based ones.
Reading online Driving Sim forums, somewhat appropriately, I found a downloadable version of the first track I ever drove -- Watkins Glen. (As an aside, what if I the first track I drove was Pocono North -- would my primary daily driver have 4 wheels instead of 6??). Of course the quality of these tracks varies widely. The Glen happens to be very well done.
I've also found track files for VIR, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Road America, Mosport, and Limerock. I seem to have an issue with getting VIR and Mid-Ohio to work that I'm currently working on. The fact that people are out there continually creating/updating these tracks is just amazing to me. I also downloaded the Australian GP add-on that I'm looking forward to trying out.
As an added bonus, I found that my Playstation 2 driving wheel works great with the PC! The wheel I have is called the Driving Force Pro and for those of you who don't already have one, they are available on ebay for about $65.
As with any of the new generation games, this one is playable on the Internet. At any time I can log on and see players around the world, gathered together preparing for a race. These start as a practicing session, followed by qualifying and a race. I envison an RTR room, at our favorite venue, Watkins Glen. And yes, I'm taking the esses flat
Any questions, let me know. Any other driving games anyone enjoys??
Link to Amazon for GTR2 ($20!!):
http://tinyurl.com/2ptpfk
Link to Ebay for Driving Force Pro Wheel ($65):
http://tinyurl.com/2nws8n
-Darren
The game I found was GTR2 for the PC. Out-of-the-box it has only tracks from the FIA GT series. Initially the appeal to me was that I've driven on one of the tracks, Hockenheimring, and watched a race at Spa, so those tracks were a lot of fun to me. Then the other night I realized that there are many many tracks, hundreds, available on the Internet, created by people who obviously have a Love of cars, and probably more silicon based friends than carbon based ones.
Reading online Driving Sim forums, somewhat appropriately, I found a downloadable version of the first track I ever drove -- Watkins Glen. (As an aside, what if I the first track I drove was Pocono North -- would my primary daily driver have 4 wheels instead of 6??). Of course the quality of these tracks varies widely. The Glen happens to be very well done.
I've also found track files for VIR, Mid-Ohio, Laguna Seca, Sears Point, Road America, Mosport, and Limerock. I seem to have an issue with getting VIR and Mid-Ohio to work that I'm currently working on. The fact that people are out there continually creating/updating these tracks is just amazing to me. I also downloaded the Australian GP add-on that I'm looking forward to trying out.
As an added bonus, I found that my Playstation 2 driving wheel works great with the PC! The wheel I have is called the Driving Force Pro and for those of you who don't already have one, they are available on ebay for about $65.
As with any of the new generation games, this one is playable on the Internet. At any time I can log on and see players around the world, gathered together preparing for a race. These start as a practicing session, followed by qualifying and a race. I envison an RTR room, at our favorite venue, Watkins Glen. And yes, I'm taking the esses flat
Any questions, let me know. Any other driving games anyone enjoys??
Link to Amazon for GTR2 ($20!!):
http://tinyurl.com/2ptpfk
Link to Ebay for Driving Force Pro Wheel ($65):
http://tinyurl.com/2nws8n
-Darren
hock:
