Do you think GT5 has made you a better driver?

[Lambob]

My existing driving has made me a better GT driver. But GT has added some day to day fun to my drive to work, as I take overpass ramps far faster than ever before, and with settled geometry, maintaining good speed, passing cars on the outside lane, also looking far ahead, planning some manouevers, never in a hurry, just driving efficiently, here and there.

But I still am a ticket magnet, racked up $900 this year. contesting them this winter.

 

[iamsupernasty]

But I still am a ticket magnet, racked up $900 this year. contesting them this winter.

Why are you contesting them? Were you not actually speeding?

 

[MrWednesday]

Do you drive in Chump and/or Lemons?

I've driven in both series in TX races (TWS, MSRH, H2R, ECR, NOLA). I find things to like in both series and would like to continue racing both, but my teammates are gravitating more towards ChumpCar right now (which is weird because our car will never win anything in CCWS with the current engine, but could sneak a class B win in LeMons).

Feel free to add me on PSN if you'd like to join some clean races online this weekend. Always good to meet fellow budget racers...

I don't know if I'll have any time to play this weekend, but if I do, I'll do so.

 

[iamsupernasty]

I've driven in both series in TX races (TWS, MSRH, H2R, ECR, NOLA). I find things to like in both series and would like to continue racing both, but my teammates are gravitating more towards ChumpCar right now (which is weird because our car will never win anything in CCWS with the current engine, but could sneak a class B win in LeMons).



I don't know if I'll have any time to play this weekend, but if I do, I'll do so.

Are you running the Lemons season ender at ECR? I'm not towing my car down, but I am flying in to drive a buddies car. Lemme know if you'll be there.

--

Yea man, either way. Look forward to seeing ya on!

 

[LVracerGT]

Yep, you sure do! 2013 Schedule is being posted soon, so I'll let you know once we figure out which ones were attending; next one will likely be in Michigan in early April. Always looking for drivers.

Yeah definitely keep me posted. I've got a guy at work who said I can borrow his equipment if I need to until I get my own.

 

[tomcat66]

Back the OP. I think we must make a definition for "better driver" to answer the question. Is a better driver:

- a more experienced driver?
- a faster driver?
- a safer driver?

First I want to point out that I think it is necessary to have the same input device for your game/simulator as in real life. And that means you have to use a wheel and pedals for you playing.

I think that GT5 has made me a very experienced driver. I do drive cars and bikes for more than 30 years - on the road and track. But I would never be able to drive all those different cars in real life. So I have build a fast expereince for different cars on different tracks and conditions.

I also think that GT5 can help you drive faster. And especially save yourself and the cars in some difficult situations.

What GT5 lacks completely is making safe drivers. In many situations you will be rewarded for unsafe and bad driving in GT5 (especially hiting other cars). For me that is by far the most negative point in GT5.

 

[madmax2069]

No it doesn't make me a better real life driver, I'm already a good real life driver, no way is a game going to improve on it.

 

[Haitauer]

I think it has in some ways. Im even more proactive in my driving and even more aware of the different conditions. (well that comes also just by driving in finland around the year since age of 5.. and going through the finnish driving school 💡 one should see the Finland -episode of top gear to understand:tup

Also I think it improves ones reaction time and readines to solve surprising events and make me more awake / aware of my surroundings. Must make a note here that I have always been a proactive kind of driver and have had my father who drives for a living to school (brain wash) me on proactive driving since I learned to speak..💡👍

Obviously gt5 makes one atleast a quicker learner in actual racing on track just by teaching driving lines and techniques in theory.

I must also add, that videogames / gt5 doesnt make one a better driver as a default. It depens on ones attitude against driving. If one is a hot head, the games make you just worst by provoking racing -like behaviour on open roads / traffic and even make you forget the (oh so unforgiving) laws of physics. Just if one is some what a responsible "adult" may he/she learn something valuable by playing racing games. 👍

ps. I just figured this subject could actually be studien in practice. Take two groups of people with similar level of driving skills between the groups but different level of skill inside the group, Take one short(ish) track and steady conditions. Make the individuals of both groups drive one lap in the same car. Make one group play GT5 for a while and bring both groups back for another round of laps. Repeat this for few cycles and you start to see the difference. Top Gear, Fifth Gear, anyone?

 

[tomcat66]

ps. I just figured this subject could actually be studien in practice. Take two groups of people with similar level of driving skills between the groups but different level of skill inside the group, Take one short(ish) track and steady conditions. Make the individuals of both groups drive one lap in the same car. Make one group play GT5 for a while and bring both groups back for another round of laps. Repeat this for few cycles and you start to see the difference. Top Gear, Fifth Gear, anyone?

Maybe you know this episode already. A rather old one with GT4: "Top Gear, Can you learn a track on a Playstation"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd0RlYjchc4

 

[another_jakhole]

No it doesn't make me a better real life driver, I'm already a good real life driver, no way is a game going to improve on it.

I think this is one of those threads where people interpret the idea of it in different ways.


Someone who's never played, doesn't have the benefits that iamsupernasty pointed out. Have you had experience outside of driving sims before getting your license? Did you learn as you went and figured out how to manhandle a car like you would have in a driving sim? That's (part of) the point of this thread. Not saying, "You're wrong for what you have written!" I'm saying, "You're wrong for what your last sentence implies!" All that iamsupernasty said plus what the OP mentioned, and you have a formula for an interesting driving school instructor.

LV hit the nail on the head. I've been racing video games with a wheel for 15 years or so, but only got my license about 7 years ago. On the street, you constantly use the instincts and reactions that you learned in GT5. Oversteer in the snow? No problem. Understeer on a wet onramp? No problem. People who get into a car cold and learn street driving only, never learn accident avoidance and car control instincts.

Also, I race cars in real life. I'm not going to say real racing and GT5 are an apples to apples comparison, but I will say that somebody who is an experienced sim racer will have an enornous advantage over somebody who is trying to learn racing from scratch. These are facts that I can verify with lap times.

I think it has in some ways. Im even more proactive in my driving and even more aware of the different conditions. (well that comes also just by driving in finland around the year since age of 5.. and going through the finnish driving school 💡 one should see the Finland -episode of top gear to understand:tup

👍

 

[madmax2069]

I think this is one of those threads where people interpret the idea of it in different ways.


Someone who's never played, doesn't have the benefits that iamsupernasty pointed out. Have you had experience outside of driving sims before getting your license? Did you learn as you went and figured out how to manhandle a car like you would have in a driving sim? That's (part of) the point of this thread. Not saying, "You're wrong for what you have written!" I'm saying, "You're wrong for what your last sentence implies!" All that iamsupernasty said plus what the OP mentioned, and you have a formula for an interesting driving school instructor.






👍

Dude, I was behind the wheel at 5, my experience came from handling a real car. A simulator/game can not teach you like real life experience can. Just saying.

 

[Max911]

Dude, I was behind the wheel at 5, my experience came from handling a real car. A simulator/game can not teach you like real life experience can. Just saying.

It depends.

I have a G27 wheel and GT5. Playing this game taught me how to do a controlled series of drifts, albeit in the rain, in my actual car. The physics in the game and real life have differences, but they are essentially the same. The only thing the game can't teach you is to rid of your fears of crashing completely. That has to come with actual driving experience. Then again, I grew up driving ATV's and Snowmobiles aswell as other machines, so I'm kinda used to it.

Yes, to an extent, a sim can teach you how to be a better driver, but the real deal helps you get over your fear and used to the G forces.

 

[Hypergolem]

Yes, after GT5 I'm a much better driver. In fact now I crash much less often on my way to work on the I95...

 

[Odyofil]

GT5 just teaches the RPM-Speed related things, changing gears, real life driving is nothing like sim games, if you do left right left right in real in 100 kmh, you die. in gt5, you can do it with 200 kmh, nothing happens, you just take control again.

 

[LVracerGT]

Dude, I was behind the wheel at 5, my experience came from handling a real car. A simulator/game can not teach you like real life experience can. Just saying.

I've been behind the wheel since I was 6, and GT has helped me a lot. Of course it's not the same as real life experience, but that's not what the thread is about.

Your not even at 20 posts yet and you're already trolling. Not a good way to start your reputation on GTPlanet 👎

 

[Spagetti69]

Mad Max - I've been behind the wheel since I was 6, and GT has helped me a lot. Of course it's not the same as real life experience, but that's not what the thread is about.

Your not even at 20 posts yet and you're already trolling. Not a good way to start your reputation on GTPlanet 👎

I think that's a bit harsh. I don't think he's being argumentative.

I think there's some credibility for a person who has never driven in his life to grasp the mechanics of driving. A G27 with h shifter and clutch mimics the basics of a car very nicely.
The person could gain the muscle memory of clutch, gears, brake etc. Although they will likely stall when they first brake in real life by forgetting to apply the clutch at the end lol.

The opposite effect could impart on experienced drivers.
People thinking they can suddenly drift round a bend because GT ( or any other game ) says they can.
Could put some dangerous drivers onto the road.

Where games can aid a driver is when learning a real life circuit.
I remember Lewis Hamilton saying he had run a circuit in a game. Can't remember which, may have been Austin. So he can learn the corners and flow of the circuit.

I've never been on track in my life. If I went to Leguna Seca with someone else who had never been on track I would have a very slight advantage in knowing I'm coming off at the corkscrew lol.

 

[hennessey86]

Driving simulators in general can help a lot with certain aspects of real driving/racing, like learning circuits for example. But a simulator cannot teach you everything, like the fitness levels needed to drive a high speed car or the g forces you will be subjected to. Throwing the car around the corner like you do on gt5 would not be a pleasant experience in a real car.

 

[madmax2069]

I've been behind the wheel since I was 6, and GT has helped me a lot. Of course it's not the same as real life experience, but that's not what the thread is about.

Your not even at 20 posts yet and you're already trolling. Not a good way to start your reputation on GTPlanet 👎

Just because I see a game not improving my driving skills automatically makes me a troll due to my post count, post count has nothing to do with this subject. I am 33 years old, I drive a 5 speed, I have since day one since owning my permit. I have been on a track a few times in my life. I can say that a game can not prepare you what you have to deal with in real life. About the only thing I can say about playing a simulator racing game is it allows you to get to know a tracks layout, if its correctly portrayed in the game.

You can say what you want, it still wont change the facts. If you believe that a game can make you a better driver that's fine, just keep on thinking that if it makes you sleep better at night. Because it will never make you better then doing it in real life.

 

[LVracerGT]

But a simulator cannot teach you everything, like the fitness levels needed to drive a high speed car or the g forces you will be subjected to. Throwing the car around the corner like you do on gt5 would not be a pleasant experience in a real car.

Again, not what the thread is about. It's not about whether driving in GT is the same as real life. It's about whether or not you think GT has made you a better driver in real life.

 

[hennessey86]

Again, not what the thread is about. It's not about whether driving in GT is the same as real life. It's about whether or not you think GT has made you a better driver in real life.

Well in that case no, but I was just trying to highlight some of the things GT5 could assist you with.

 

[Mrjones]

Just because I see a game not improving my driving skills automatically makes me a troll due to my post count, post count has nothing to do with this subject. I am 33 years old, I drive a 5 speed, I have since day one since owning my permit. I have been on a track a few times in my life. I can say that a game can not prepare you what you have to deal with in real life. About the only thing I can say about playing a simulator racing game is it allows you to get to know a tracks layout, if its correctly portrayed in the game.

You can say what you want, it still wont change the facts. If you believe that a game can make you a better driver that's fine, just keep on thinking that if it makes you sleep better at night. Because it will never make you better then doing it in real life.

^This. LOL, right all the GT Academies have been fake & all the drivers were real race car drivers not ppl who grew up racing sim games. I think it pretty obvious that these games DO have transferable skills to real life.

I will leave you with a question, Do think that the Air Force uses flying simulators & Army uses Tank simulators because they dont work? Plz give your head a shake & give me some of what your smoking.

 

[LVracerGT]

Just because I see a game not improving my driving skills automatically makes me a troll due to my post count, post count has nothing to do with this subject. I am 33 years old, I drive a 5 speed, I have since day one since owning my permit. I have been on a track a few times in my life. I can say that a game can not prepare you what you have to deal with in real life. About the only thing I can say about playing a simulator racing game is it allows you to get to know a tracks layout, if its correctly portrayed in the game.

You can say what you want, it still wont change the facts. If you believe that a game can make you a better driver that's fine, just keep on thinking that if it makes you sleep better at night. Because it will never make you better then doing it in real life.

I worked for Skip Barber Racing Schools and I have experienced the effects of taking racing techniques between the real world and racing sims and have seen the results in dropped lap times first hand.

But you're right, you stating your own opinion as fact isn't trolling at all. And neither is coming at me with immature comments.

Point proven. Move along.

 

[madmax2069]

^This. LOL, right all the GT Academies have been fake & all the drivers were real race car drivers not ppl who grew up racing sim games. I think it pretty obvious that these games DO have transferable skills to real life.

I will leave you with a question, Do think that the Air Force uses flying simulators & Army uses Tank simulators because they dont work? Plz give your head a shake & give me some of what your smoking.

Omg, dude had the skills before he played gt5. Gt5 didn't make anyone a racer. You guys are thinking the impossible.

I worked for Skip Barber Racing Schools and I have experienced the effects of taking racing techniques between the real world and racing sims and have seen the results in dropped lap times first hand.

But you're right, you stating your own opinion as fact isn't trolling at all. And neither is coming at me with immature comments.

Point proven. Move along.

Drop in lap time in the game or in real life?

Does any paperwork ask the question if you play racing games, or somehow mixes real life experience with a racing simulators, does anyone that works for that school ask if a person plays video games.

Because I have seen officials state to a person that being overconfident and cocky because he plays racing game isn't really a good thing. They do not see simulator time as experience, they only see real life track time as experience.

 

[LVracerGT]

Omg, dude had the skills before he played gt5. Gt5 didn't make anyone a racer. You guys are thinking the impossible.

You know for a fact this particular person you're referring to who has yet to be named had real world experience to allow him to win GT Academy.

Furthermore, let's theoretically pretend you're statement is true, he would have had to take his experience and transfer it to GT5 proving the real world and racing sims translate with each other.

Why don't you go think about your next post REAL hard before you type it and hit send.

Drop in lap time in the game or in real life?

Does any paperwork ask the question if you play racing games, or somehow mixes real life experience with a racing simulators, does anyone that works for that school ask if a person plays video games.

Because I have seen officials state to a person that being overconfident and cocky because he plays racing game isn't really a good thing. They do not see simulator time as experience, they only see real life track time as experience.

Both real life and racing sims. And why would paperwork ask if you've played sims? Oh you've raced sims? No sorry you can't go on track because sims make people overconfident and cocky.

I'd rather be on track with someone who has sim experience than someone who limits themselves to little real track time.

Have a look at some of the iRacing testimonies from drivers and teams. There is even a full motion iRacing simulator at the Skip Barber headquarters at Road Atlanta. And btw, Formula 1 teams build their own simulators for their drivers.

Seems like you're just trying to come up with BS for the sake of arguing. And yes, I played GT with some of the instructors.

 

[Spagetti69]

I remember Webber being schooled in GT.
As a real life racer he openly admitted he didn't play games and was rubbish at them.

I bet there's guys around here who would humiliate Lewis Hamilton at F1 2012.
Put them on track and it would be a totally different story.

 

[MOTORTRENDmitch]

As LVracerGT has stated.. He is highlighting the ways in which playing a racing sim can improve your driving. By "Driving", It doesn't mean commuting. It means driving. Using race techniques that you leaned on a simulator, in real life, is better than not knowing any technique at all.

LVracerGT is one of the most respectable racers I've ever met, and when you hear his back story you wouldn't be suprised.. Part of the Redbull driver search when he was 18, forced to pull out of it because of school. Worked for Skip Barber School for years, as well as Shelby America. He can race, real life and in-game. He's right.

 

[MockngBrd]

Yea, it gives me my speed fix so i dun drive like an ass in real life.

I think it also helped contribute to me getting the fastest timing in a timed slalom event.

 

[Haitauer]

Just because I see a game not improving my driving skills automatically makes me a troll due to my post count, post count has nothing to do with this subject. I am 33 years old, I drive a 5 speed, I have since day one since owning my permit. I have been on a track a few times in my life. I can say that a game can not prepare you what you have to deal with in real life. About the only thing I can say about playing a simulator racing game is it allows you to get to know a tracks layout, if its correctly portrayed in the game.

You can say what you want, it still wont change the facts. If you believe that a game can make you a better driver that's fine, just keep on thinking that if it makes you sleep better at night. Because it will never make you better then doing it in real life.

Here's a guy not getting the point of the thread. Yes - surely 100 laps at actual laguna seca teaches one MORE than doing 100 laps in gt5 version of the track, but that doesnt mean gt5 couldnt teach ANYTHING/improve your driving. It not a black and white kind of thing here - but then again, for some people everything is.

 

[sporkface69]

Man I've just been sitting back and watching where this thread would go. And I think I've realized something. While it will not teach you the actual skills you need to drive fast IRL, if you take it serious enough, and try to really understand the underlying mechanics of driving in the game(racing line, weight transfer, etc.), it will make it easier to understand those same mechanics IRL. It doesn't teach them to you, but you will learn alot quicker because you are already "programed"to get it.

 

[Haitauer]

Man I've just been sitting back and watching where this thread would go. And I think I've realized something. While it will not teach you the actual skills you need to drive fast IRL, if you take it serious enough, and try to really understand the underlying mechanics of driving in the game(racing line, weight transfer, etc.), it will make it easier to understand those same mechanics IRL. It doesn't teach them to you, but you will learn alot quicker because you are already "programed"to get it.

On the point. Like reading a book about racing - teaches one the theoretical side of things.

Could say that when you go irl the gt5 wont have teached you how the car behaves, but you sure have a clue WHY it behaves the way it does - and at the best case you might even have a clue how to make it behave differently. 💡