help needed to make a choice on GT5 or not

[onboardvision]

Hi guys, this is my first post, so please be gentle!

I have been gaining a great deal of insight from GT planet about a few different things, most interestingly, the set up for 3 screen gaming in GT5!

However, here is the crux of my question and the reason why I'm asking the question.

I intend to buy up to 4 racing cockpits and equip then with PS3's, G27's and a Samsung LED panel of some description (27 inch probably). this is for my clients so that when they are visiting my facility they can either free play or compete with each other when we have idle time through the day.

All of these choices were easy, but i had been down the Fanatec route for pedals, wheel etc as they look the best, but are expensive for "just fun" hence why i have elected to go with the G27.

Now to the questions. I need to know is GT5 if the most appropriate game to select to be played by these guest?

will it allow free play (i don't want them hung up collecting trophies and being in the middle of a career game when its time to get back to the real reason for their visit). will it allow racing offline, I.E. i would love them to line up on the grid for a 5 off lap sprint.

Can it operate in a mode that allows lap times to be achieved around a circuit and then record the fastest lap time so that there can me a competition rather than a straight race.

I believe that the 4 x PS3's can be connected to their own network via LAN cables and a fast network switch. I do not want to be connected to the internet and do not intend to race "on line".

How is it possible to show the overall position of all cars in the sprint in an "overview" so that spectators can see whats going on overall.

It may be that there is a better game that would provide this sort of entertainment and i sincerely would appreciate any input on this subject.

I have heard that Racing Grid might be good for this, but as i still have not purchased the PS3 or any of the other equipment, I Know nothing at all.

D.

 

[dan0543]

sounds like a formidable setup. wish i had money like that...

I beleive gt5 would be the best game for it. While i have played it (alot) i haven't had the kind of experience you are trying to create. so please dont treat me as an expert!

with the racing hardware, i dont think the g27 would be the very best route. I dont think gt5 officially supports it, but it would still be functional.

on arcade mode time trial, players can set fastest lap times and they will be displayed on a leaderboard. This can later be erased, and shows the date and time of each record.

good luck with this project, sounds very fun

 

[Energizerrr]

Looks like you need LAN and for that you should contact GTPlanet Administrator Famine (because I hear he knows a lot of things about LAN).
He should be easy to find.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Either Forza or GT5, both beeing relatively easy to start, if you put drivers aids. Forza will provide online leaderboard and lots of nice online/offline feature like cat and mouse game, football with cars (yeah) and fully modelled cars. Also it's probably a bit more non gamer friendly then GT5. GT5 could piss people off with loading time, screen tearing, overcomplicate menu (some friends told me they never start gt5 because it was too complicate, he wasnt a racer tho) etc.. It's still a good game really but if I had to choose between both for a game that casual gamers will play I would rather take forza4.
As for the wheel a G27 is really nice but it wont go for forza, you'll need a fanatec for it. The only big problem with Forza is that you need to pay to use the online feature but seeing how much money you would put into this, I guess that 200 dollars per year for xbox gold subscription wouldnt be a problem.
The AI is better in forza4, still not at the level I wish he was but it's suppose to adapt to your level.

 

[daan]

I believe that the 4 x PS3's can be connected to their own network via LAN cables and a fast network switch. I do not want to be connected to the internet and do not intend to race "on line".

GT5 needs an online connection in order to create a race using multiple PS3s. It cannot create a race over a LAN.

 

[onboardvision]

Either Forza or GT5, both beeing relatively easy to start, if you put drivers aids. Forza will provide online leaderboard and lots of nice online/offline feature like cat and mouse game, football with cars (yeah) and fully modelled cars. Also it's probably a bit more non gamer friendly then GT5. GT5 could piss people off with loading time, screen tearing, overcomplicate menu (some friends told me they never start gt5 because it was too complicate, he wasnt a racer tho) etc.. It's still a good game really but if I had to choose between both for a game that casual gamers will play I would rather take forza4.
As for the wheel a G27 is really nice but it wont go for forza, you'll need a fanatec for it. The only big problem with Forza is that you need to pay to use the online feature but seeing how much money you would put into this, I guess that 200 dollars per year for xbox gold subscription wouldnt be a problem.
The AI is better in forza4, still not at the level I wish he was but it's suppose to adapt to your level.

Hmmm the problem with this is that we might take it mobile when we do exhibitions and i really don't know if we can get a connection to the internet that would be fast enough!

D.

 

[salikriaz]

The choices for cars would be extremely limited at the begining.... i havent tried arcade yet but don't you already have to have the car to use it?

 

[crcn11]

Arcade in GT5 would be good enough I think, that's certainly what I'd do.

 

[RX-7_FD3S]

Hmmm the problem with this is that we might take it mobile when we do exhibitions and i really don't know if we can get a connection to the internet that would be fast enough!

D.

Honestly I never tried Forza4 wihtout internet, I dunno what you can do or not.

 

[Famine]

Hmmm the problem with this is that we might take it mobile when we do exhibitions and i really don't know if we can get a connection to the internet that would be fast enough!

Even dial-up is fast enough if you're running a private lobby in GT5 with local machines. All the network traffic runs from console to console through your cables and switch - just about nothing goes to or comes from external sources. The internet connection is simply for setting up the lobby to start with (which would probably take a while on dial-up, admittedly) and maintaining a connection to PSN (which requires almost no traffic at all).

However, if this is a business venture, you'll be wanting to speak to SCEE before you start lest you go the way of GT Racing Point.