GTPLMS S2 Round 1 Race - Yokohama Grand Prix of Suzuka *RESULTS POSTED*

[ERacer]

I just remembered another good tip from Neil: turn the race music off! 👍 Background music is nice for replays, but not when you are racing. You can hear your tires screeching around the turns much better without music. I turned off the race music and can smooth out my braking and cornering much better now. Makes sense. After all, I'm not going out for a Sunday drive around Suzuka with the windows down and the volume cranked to 10 ("these go to 11") But when I do open the garage and take the occasional fun car out around the tracks, well, that's a different story

ERacer

 

[ZOOSO]

I just remembered another good tip from Neil: turn the race music off! 👍 Background music is nice for replays, but not when you are racing. You can hear your tires screeching around the turns much better without music. I turned off the race music and can smooth out my braking and cornering much better now. Makes sense. After all, I'm not going out for a Sunday drive around Suzuka with the windows down and the volume cranked to 10 ("these go to 11") But when I do open the garage and take the occasional fun car out around the tracks, well, that's a different story

ERacer

Delfino turned the 'race music' off .. on day 1 .. nothing but a waste of space { and he'd prefer to have the option to get rid of the 'wind' in GT5 }
Has anyone tried a Logitech G25 Racing Wheel ?

 

[chollo9]

@ danny12

I can't imagine NOT using a wheel. Having come from driving to computer games instead of the other way 'round has a lot to do with my point of view, and anyone that can go quickly with a controller impresses the hell out of me!

From the tons of research I've done, the DFP is said to be the best thing out there for the money. If you're patient, you can get one for around $70, either refurbished or lightly used. I'm sure others here can give good first-hand info.

 

[Tyre King]

I started out, like everone does, using the DS2 controller.
Got to be fairly good with it, even if I do say so myself.

But when I found GTPlanet, in WK1 of GT4 WRS(25 months/107 weeks ago) I bought a Logitech Driving force wheel. Not the DFP, but the red one. I played with that for about a month and a half, till I heard more about the DFP.

Went to the local branch of PC World for something else, and they had 3 DFP's sat in the games Dept on special offer, so I snatched their proverbial hands off, right then and there and bought one.

I have never looked back since!
It's by far and away, the best tool for the job!👍
900 degree rotation, good feedback, responsive pedals, lots of options for the strength of the feedback, and very little maintainance.
I have had to strip the pedals twice, to clean out the fluff/dog-hair/dust, and re-grease them.(20 minute job)
And I have had to replace one of the micro switches (the one for the right-hand paddle-shift) which took me about an hour.

But that is all I have had to do to it, in all that time.

Overall, it's been the best £80 I have spent, and is still going strong.👍

Neil

 

[ERacer]

do you guys think the lap times will get better with a racing wheel??? if so which, is the best one???? for ps2 and ps3... i have the MC2, used twice in 3 years and now is not working.....

I have not tried the G25, but great things have been written in this forum about the G25 as well as the DFP. I have a PS2 - no PS3 yet, so I cannot comment on wheel compatibility with the PS3. Generally speaking, both the G25 and the DFP are top of their class with the G25 being more expensive but also offering a more realistic experience due to the better configuration and more robust materials used, the separate six-speed gated shifter and metal gas-brake-clutch pedals. Be careful though, not all games support the added functions of the G25 - yet. I drive the DFP. I'm very happy with it and will never go back to controllers. With the DFP you gain much more control and "feel" of your car, in every aspect of racing, which the controller simply cannot match. Lap times will improve. 👍

Be warned - one thing will lead to another! I got the GT4 disk as a gift about 6 months ago, then bought the DFP, then bought a fantastic cockpit, then a 50" HDTV, then a 5.1 audio system, then a ButtKicker, then a new racing seat, then gloves, shoes and recently, a Vox racing helmet (yup). I need help! Talk about obsessive immersion!! Help me!!!

ERacer


Edit: I think I'm experiencing a mid-life crisis. On the bright side, at least I'm not buying a real Porsche for my garage.

 

[C-H-A-R-G-E-R]

Yes I'm using a DFP, but mainly it's my driving style. I am very Smooth, I brake gently without overstressing the tyres, and make sure to hit the right apexes.

That's why they call me the 'Tyre King'
On some tracks I can keep tyres good for 2 laps or more, over what some can do, and still be as fast.

Neil

Ok. I'm thinking about G25 for PS3... It lookes like the best one for GT. They say that wheel is an advantage, but anyway there should be experienced racer with perfect racing style and skills first of all (someone like you)
As 4 me, I'm still doing my best with DS2, 'cause MC2 is not the answer on the tyrewear problem...

 

[ZOOSO]

I have not tried the G25, but great things have been written in this forum about the G25 as well as the DFP. I have a PS2 - no PS3 yet, so I cannot comment on wheel compatibility with the PS3. Generally speaking, both the G25 and the DFP are top of their class with the G25 being more expensive but also offering a more realistic experience due to the better configuration and more robust materials used, the separate six-speed gated shifter and metal gas-brake-clutch pedals. Be careful though, not all games support the added functions of the G25 - yet. I drive the DFP. I'm very happy with it and will never go back to controllers. With the DFP you gain much more control and "feel" of your car, in every aspect of racing, which the controller simply cannot match. Lap times will improve. 👍

Be warned - one thing will lead to another! I got the GT4 disk as a gift about 6 months ago, then bought the DFP, then bought a fantastic cockpit, then a 50" HDTV, then a 5.1 audio system, then a ButtKicker, then a new racing seat, then gloves, shoes and recently, a Vox racing helmet (yup). I need help! Talk about obsessive immersion!! Help me!!!

ERacer


Edit: I think I'm experiencing a mid-life crisis. On the bright side, at least I'm not buying a real Porsche for my garage.

Hey Racer .. this is almost exactly what i'd like to do , the cockpit , big HDTV and audio are on the shopping list { also waiting on the release of GT5 } could use my old karting gloves , shoes and helmet , but using them would be too 'immersed' ..... the family would arrange for the little 'blue bus' to take me away .... if you can Racer .... post a pic of your set-up ; it'll make most of us very envious .

 

[Tyre King]

I've got my PS2 hooked up to my PC, via a TV-tuner card (AV of course), playing through my 19" LCD monitor.
A fantastically comfy high-back leather chair (with tilt & rise, and lumbar support), my wheel clamped to the desk at the perfect height, pedals in the foot-well & a 5.1 soundcard doing the audio. Plus a good coffee machine and a 72 can beer fridge within arm's reach!
Means I can surf, post on here, race, listen to music, watch movies, have a brew (of either kind) without moving very far.
Also got Sky+, DVD player and VCR hooked up to the TV in the room too!

Next purchases will be a HD 24" widescreen LCD TV/monitor and an HD tuner-card for the PC. Gonna wait for the PS3 till the idiots at Sony remember that us europeans would like to be able to play GT4 on our PS3's (buggers didn't include the emotion engine in the EU versions of the unit), also waiting for the price to drop below the £425 mark they are stuck at, at the minute. Also will wait till GT5 comes out, I mean, what's the point? The only games I play on the PS2 are GT4, TT Superbikes and Tourist Trophy.

£425 for a machine that won't play any of the games I want to play, just to say that I have one! Now that's just plain crazy!

Neil

 

[ICallShotgun]

I've got my PS2 hooked up to my PC, via a TV-tuner card (AV of course), playing through my 19" LCD monitor.
A fantastically comfy high-back leather chair (with tilt & rise, and lumbar support), my wheel clamped to the desk at the perfect height, pedals in the foot-well & a 5.1 soundcard doing the audio. Plus a good coffee machine and a 72 can beer fridge within arm's reach!
Means I can surf, post on here, race, listen to music, watch movies, have a brew (of either kind) without moving very far.
Also got Sky+, DVD player and VCR hooked up to the TV in the room too!

Next purchases will be a HD 24" widescreen LCD TV/monitor and an HD tuner-card for the PC. Gonna wait for the PS3 till the idiots at Sony remember that us europeans would like to be able to play GT4 on our PS3's (buggers didn't include the emotion engine in the EU versions of the unit), also waiting for the price to drop below the £425 mark they are stuck at, at the minute. Also will wait till GT5 comes out, I mean, what's the point? The only games I play on the PS2 are GT4, TT Superbikes and Tourist Trophy.

£425 for a machine that won't play any of the games I want to play, just to say that I have one! Now that's just plain crazy!

Neil

Yes folks, Neil's Gran Turismo room will be nicer than my (and probably a few others) living rooms.

 

[ERacer]

Hey Racer .. this is almost exactly what i'd like to do , the cockpit , big HDTV and audio are on the shopping list { also waiting on the release of GT5 } could use my old karting gloves , shoes and helmet , but using them would be too 'immersed' ..... the family would arrange for the little 'blue bus' to take me away .... if you can Racer .... post a pic of your set-up ; it'll make most of us very envious .

I'd be glad to post a few pics of the set-up and with me in my racing gear. Yeah, I'm expecting the little "bus" any day now, but I'm having so much fun till then I'll get my brother's digital camera but need to figure out how to post pics.

I'll also post links to the products/companies that make up the whole set-up, but I need to find out how to do that too.

ERacer

 

[Tyre King]

Quick lesson in posting pics and links is called for then?

To post a pic.

Take the photo and transfer to your PC,
Use a photo editting package (photoshop, paintshop pro, etc) to edit the pic's size down to a reasonable size (480x420,640x480) to cut down on load-times,
Create a post, scroll down the page to the 'upload your images to imageshack' bit at the bottom of the page, and click 'browse',
find the pic on your PC and select it,
Click the 'host it' button,
Wait for the site to load in a new tab (if you are using Firefox) or a new window (if you are using IE), and then single click the 'direct link to image' link (it'll turn blue),
Right click on it, and select 'copy',
Switch back to the post you are writing, and click the 'insert image' button in the post toolbar (looks like a pic of a mountain),
Right-click on the bit that has a partial 'http://' entry, and click 'paste' and then 'OK'

There you go! First picture posted on GTP!

To post a link

Similar proceedure, to the pics,
Write post, open new window/tab,
Find the site you want to link to,
Right click on the address bar and then click 'copy',
Switch back to the post you are writing,
Click the 'insert link' button (looks like the earth with a piece of chain in the btm/right corner),
Right click, and then paste the website's addess into the entry point,
Click OK,

Job done!

Neil

 

[ERacer]

Wow!! Perfect. Thanks for the instructions Balls! Easy peasy then 👍
I hope to have this up here, or probably in the "Steering Wheels & Racing Cockpits" section, this weekend. I may just go ahead and buy a digital camera of my own instead of borrowing my brother's. I think its about time anyway

Thanks again 👍

ERacer

 

[danny12]

@ danny12

I can't imagine NOT using a wheel. Having come from driving to computer games instead of the other way 'round has a lot to do with my point of view, and anyone that can go quickly with a controller impresses the hell out of me!

From the tons of research I've done, the DFP is said to be the best thing out there for the money. If you're patient, you can get one for around $70, either refurbished or lightly used. I'm sure others here can give good first-hand info.

👍 👍 today i tried the wheel after three years and you were right, it is much better and you got more control ( after some calibration ), the difference between the DS2 and the MC2 is .2 seconds, but with more practice the MC2 will better the DS2 in no time.., tire wear maybe an issue but for now i will try both... thanks

 

[chollo9]

👍 👍 today i tried the wheel after three years and you were right, it is much better and you got more control ( after some calibration ), the difference between the DS2 and the MC2 is .2 seconds, but with more practice the MC2 will better the DS2 in no time.., tire wear maybe an issue but for now i will try both... thanks

I'm feeling it too! Making the switch this week from the MC2 to the DFP isn't easy. FFB is nice, but a big change. The DFP is way more accurate, and I can go where I want to now (well, at least most of the time ), and the brakes are WAY better and easier to modulate. But the 900 degree steering is killing me sometimes. Turns 1 & 2 are a little tricky, but getting through the chicane after the back straight takes a big swing to get back for the left hander . Ideally, I wish it were 540 degrees (1.5 lock to lock), but I'm sure I'll adapt. It's a huge improvement though, and worth every penny!

 

[Tyre King]

I'm feeling it too! Making the switch this week from the MC2 to the DFP isn't easy. FFB is nice, but a big change. The DFP is way more accurate, and I can go where I want to now (well, at least most of the time ), and the brakes are WAY better and easier to modulate. But the 900 degree steering is killing me sometimes. Turns 1 & 2 are a little tricky, but getting through the chicane after the back straight takes a big swing to get back for the left hander . Ideally, I wish it were 540 degrees (1.5 lock to lock), but I'm sure I'll adapt. It's a huge improvement though, and worth every penny!

Mate, you must be REALLY working your front tyres steering that much!

Mine doesn't usually go past 90 degrees, except in very tight hairpins where maybe 110-115 degrees goes on!

You must be going in hellish fast to have to turn it much further than that, or be taking some fairly drastic lines. Wish I could see your replays!

Neil

 

[chollo9]

@Neil

It's only when I get it wrong that I notice it, really. When I'm on the right line it's good, I just think a little quicker "rack" would be better, that's all. No need for that much steering lock in a race car.