Fuel

I searched for threads on this particular subject yet didn't find one that delved into the concept. Perhaps I didn't look hard enough, my apologies if I didn't.

For some time now I've had the idea of fuel being a factor in GT, more than usual at any rate.

Question is: How could it be added?

What would be the technicalities of it? Endurance races would most likely be the only ones to host this addition; a pit window would be needed, maybe processed by the game regarding the amount of hp the car in question would have, its type of engine, etc. The technology seems a bit far from reach right now, I admit.
But if the game could figure out how much fuel a car would "eat", then how would it all work at the pits? I've thought of a menu popping up while the car is coasting through pit lane with options like:

• Fuel & Tires
• Just Tires
• Just Fuel

To a further extent, could refueling time fall in the hands of the player? The "select" button appears and disappears the ghost in a free run. In a race it does nothing. Pressing "select" while the game refuels could be the cut-off, then one could be released and on the way again. I’ve also thought of stuff like pressing a certain button rapidly to improve the time with which the tires are changed, but that’s different.

And last, but certainly not least, what if you run out of fuel on lap 96 of the 100 in the Tokyo R246 enduro? (to state an example, a painful one at that) This would have to be the biggest hurdle to get by if the gasoline factor was even thought of being added. One would have to obey a pit window to avoid such a catastrophe. Or else risk ‘saving fuel’, which would be another story.
In any case I sure wouldn’t like wasting 2+ hours just to run out of methanol with a few laps to go.
All this banter of mine may seem silly, however by all means I'm not saying: "woouldnt it be cOol i f gt4 could haf gasoline?!!!!11!"
Personally, I'm happy with how the GT series has performed since Gran Turismo 1. I'm merely letting my mind wander.

I think you bring up a valuable point. For some people the addition of fuel would add to the overall driving experience, adding another variable that you would have to think about before putting your car on the grid. However, I think the number of people that would argue that the addition of fuel would complicate the game and reduce the level of enjoyment would outweigh the former.

Personally, I think fuel would add another layer of realism and detail to an already superb game. I would find it fun to work out just how much fuel I needed to get round a circuit in a certain amount of laps and adapt my driving to lean out the fuel consumption when leading in the closing stages of a race. Fuel consumption and tank capacity would also be an important factor when choosing a car to buy and modify.

If fuel was put into GT, it would have to be implemented perfectly otherwise not at all. However, I have a feeling that we won't see it, at least in the next couple of incarnations of the 'beautiful game.'

Originally posted by Sleek Stratos
how would it all work at the pits? I've thought of a menu popping up while the car is coasting through pit lane with options like:

• Fuel & Tires
• Just Tires
• Just Fuel

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Yes, I think that would be the best way, that is how the NASCAR games do it.

Adding fuel to GT would only add to the enjoyment of the GT series. I don't think it will complicate to much. The NASCAR games had fuel consumption as far back as I can remember, so I don't think it will be too much trouble. The same people who would whine about fuel consumption are the same people who want body kits and skid pads for "drifting."

i agree with his point though what if you run out of fuel. does it just make you lose or does it let you coast into the pits at some slow speed or what.

Now we have to deal with tires, gears, aerodynamics, steering, suspension and so on

I think that fuel is needed for those who enjoy sim racing.

Great idea!!!

Originally posted by gt4
i agree with his point though what if you run out of fuel. does it just make you lose or does it let you coast into the pits at some slow speed or what.

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Maybe the 'pace car' as seen in GTC could come in and give ya a tow

If you couldn't be bothered with much fuel management just make sure ya keep the tank full all the time Fuel weight shouldn't be too hard to implement since it would just load more weight onto the back of the car.

Yes, we have found evidence that fuel will be in GT4 (see pic). I think it would be a fantastic addition to GT4 for endurance races, and particularly online racing. For qualifying, you could put super-softs on, and just enough fuel to give you a flying lap. Then, in the race, you could calculate how much fuel you would need, it would be fantastic (sorry, I really enjoy strategic racing). Also, if you run out of fuel, you run out! They would probably do what, like Viper Zero said, they do in NASCAR games, and you would be towed back to the pits (it would be a pop-up option) or you could try to coast back to the pits, once in there, your pit crew could push you into the pit stall.

Whoops, forgot the pic

hmmm very interesting, thanks for posting the pic Majarvis, We could very well see feul in GT4 and I for one would love it alot, because like alot of you said it would add alot to the realism and since this is a simulation game I think it would be great, makes you pay attention to the road, tires and now you feul , now that would be awesome yea an extra thing to worry about but just like driving a car you have to worry about these things so why not and since we wont see GT5 for another 2-3yrs til the PS3 is released why not add another nice feature to GT4 to keep us busy. But one question..when we re-feul will we have to pay for the gas like the oil change or will it be free? Id assume that we'd have to but what do you guys think?

I think you should have to pay for fuel, would be more realistic, plus people with their 6+ litre muscle cars would all be broke

Would also be another strategic element in balancing vehicle costs, e.g. my Uncles Westfield kit car has a 1.6 litre Ford Escort engine but it is so heavily tuned it gets a measly 17mpg whereas something like an Integra would probably get more mpg.

So running a heavily tuned small car (e.g. a Demio) would have higher running costs than a standard 'bigger' car (e.g. a Type R Civic).

now my problem with fuel in the game is... how fast will it be consumed. This game is supposed to be the most realistic racing sim out there right, well I dont see a car using all its fuel in any of the races that were in GT3 except for the endurance races so does that mean there are going to be longer races in regular leagues or what?

If fuel usage is in, it will probably only be a factor with race cars, and endurance races. A Civic, for example, would not run out of gas in an endurance race. But you have to keep in mind that when you upgrade an engine, it takes in more air, which then requires more fuel to compensate for that added air, to keep the air/fuel ratio the same, so gas mileage will be important in any car. Even if the car doesn't run out of fuel, it should affect the peformance as less fuel, of course, equals less weight.

A civic would run out driving flat out for 2 hours no doubt about it, I dive a Civic 1.4 and like almost any car, flooring it drops the MPG's really low.

Well, it also depends on the length of the enduro. I'm talking about the current 7th gen Civic (2001+) that I drive, it would, without a doubt, last a 100 mile enduro no problem, stock of course. But you get my point, right? Some cars would last longer than others.

Thanks chaser_fan for bringing up another major factor, the tank capacity, appreciate the pic too Majarvis.
We don't know just how much PD went for realism but the weight of the car plays out a part as well. I've also considered that smaller cars would last much longer, yet their speed isn't that great that it could win an endurance race so their usage would most likely be out of the question.
Coasting around the track at a limited speed after running out of gas would be a good way of solving that problem, wouldn't be as realistic as could be, but still I don't want to imagine the pain of running out of gas after completing the vast mojoriy of a race.
I wonder if conserving fuel while running decent average laps will be possible? The DS2 is pressure sensitive after all. In most endurance races we lap the field often enough while running flat out which indicates one could take it easy from time to time.

Yep, the beauty of short-shifting

Originally posted by Majarvis
Well, it also depends on the length of the enduro. I'm talking about the current 7th gen Civic (2001+) that I drive, it would, without a doubt, last a 100 mile enduro no problem, stock of course. But you get my point, right? Some cars would last longer than others.

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Yeah I agree with that.

I think it would be cool if you had to fill up your cars at the GT auto menu, just like oil changes. Then, each of your cars would have a gas gauge that would lower everytime you drove the car (even in free run). Even without the gas gauge, you could just have the fuel light and you would know that in 15 miles or so you would have to get gas.

If you started any race (even a short one) and forgot to get gas before the race, you'd have to pit if you got low.

Also, I think that pit strategy is a great idea for GT4. I think whenever you pit, a menu should come up asking what specific changes you'd like to do (such as fuel, tires, both, taking a turn out of the wings or adding more downforce, etc.....). I don't know about button mashing to make the process faster, but it might be cool.

I think you should also be able to hop out of the car and run over to the leader's pit area and shoot them with an uzi or RPG and then pick up a whore and.......um, wrong game! JK!

I think that's an excellent idea, just like how the oil situation works, even on short races, it all adds up, and fuel could work the exact same way!

i've seen on some Japanese site a few interesting GT4 pics, and i was very surprised 2 c
http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20031022/gt4_10.htm
i don't know what this means 4 u guys, but i'm pretty confident about the addition of fuel

Thats part of a CG movie or a rendered pic, it's not ingame. It does hint a fuel yet again, so I think it's going to be in, it also confirms pit crews are in for thoes who don't know PD already have.

I know fuel is great addition to GT4, I don't think it's possible anymore for PD team to add fuel gauge just to see how much fuel left. Just my idea anyway.

my guess is that it would probably come on when you had like a 16th of the tank left so that way you could get back to the pits in time to refuel

Originally posted by altezza
I know fuel is great addition to GT4, I don't think it's possible anymore for PD team to add fuel gauge just to see how much fuel left. Just my idea anyway.

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Why wouldn't it be possible? If other games can do it, like the NASCAR series by Papyrus, Polyphony Digital can do it, no sweat.

this will make the insight and prius be dominant, lol

I'm so gonna a make a hot rod Prius, cause Hybrids are awesome!!! SERIOUSLY, they are.

Fuel will be good... those people that want to race me with their Vipers will suffer the wraith of displacement

Damn, nice to see people still search, but this is quite an old thread! lol 💡

Haha yes it is. In my personal opinion i think the the whole fuel thing should be kept as an option like the steering asset.

-Mike

But its just like tire wear...

You're just wanting it as a option causes rotaries devour gas

It's been mentioned in some interviews that you will be able to choose your fuel load, as well as your type of tires.

Are you sure you searched? I can bet I made a thread especially about this...