How many Gold do you have?

[Rockhound18]

I'm at 65 gold now. In the last 4 hours Ive picked up about 33 of them.

I got 100%, so I figured Id collect all the cars and get all the golds.

All I have left are the last 15. Everyone says the last one is hard, but I'm not that worried. I own the ring.

Edit: I shouldnt have voted. Another hour and Im up to 71. Shouldnt take too much longer.

 

[YuRiPa]

I'm at 65 gold now. In the last 4 hours Ive picked up about 33 of them.

I got 100%, so I figured Id collect all the cars and get all the golds.

All I have left are the last 15. Everyone says the last one is hard, but I'm not that worried. I own the ring.

Edit: I shouldnt have voted. Another hour and Im up to 71. Shouldnt take too much longer.

Last one is hard? Nah, if you know the track, you'll pass it easily. I've gold at that one already, my time being 7m05.xxx. The time for Gold is 7m07.700s. Don't do just like me one time, because I once had 7m07.777s there.

And one time at Trial Mountain guided lap run (A-15 I believe) I had 2m05.001s, where I needed 2m05.000.

 

[chug-a-bug]

It's all good, fruicake. I haven't improved to more than 4 golds. And if you want 100% completion and many of the unavailable cars, First go all bronze. Then all silver. And with practice, you will go all gold. It's very possible to carry more gold than a hip-hop star. Just have to keep at it, you dig? So keep on it if you want to join the all-gold club.

Thats true up to a point. But at the end of the day theres always going to the Michael Schumachers of this world and the also rans. Thats to say no matter how much you practise you just ain't going to get all the golds because theres one indefinable quality that no matter how hard you practise and how good your machinery is, if you ain't got that something called talent, it just ain't gonna happen. Now, I've never managed to get all gold in any of the GT games and I've played 'em all. And not for want of trying. I've practised all evening, for week after week, month after month, and the tally of medals doesn't change much. I can turn the odd bronze into silver with many hours practise, and sometimes get very close, but I'm never going to get all golds in all the test, not if I practise for an eternity. It just ain't gonna happen.

Now I do have talents, and I'm damn good at my day job, and get me in a pub quiz and if you want to be on the winning team then I'm your man, but behind the wheel...

Now there are people who can do it, and I say kudos to you, good luck, well done! I envy you tremendously, believe me I do. But it just ain't me. 👍

 

[Rockhound18]

And one time at Trial Mountain guided lap run (A-15 I believe) I had 2m05.001s, where I needed 2m05.000.

Yeah, the guided lap at the ring (iA-15 maybe?) I kept having to slow down so I wouldnt pass the pace car, and ended up beating gold by like 13 seconds. 👍
I was thinking it would be a pain to have to run the whole 9 minute lap a few times to get the gold, but now Im just so good on that track that I destroyed it on my first try.
I think I only have 5 golds to go now.

 

[FIDO69]

And not for want of trying. I've practised all evening, for week after week, month after month, and the tally of medals doesn't change much. I can turn the odd bronze into silver with many hours practise, and sometimes get very close, but I'm never going to get all golds in all the test, not if I practise for an eternity. It just ain't gonna happen.

I guess, it's just the ex-teacher in me, but I gotta ask. Were you trying HARD or were you trying SMART?

I don't consider myself very "talented" at racing, but I got all golds (spending about 2-3hrs per test on the harder ones). The key to every single "hard" test was this: I had to wrap my head around the idea that trying to do the same thing over and over, harder and harder wasn't gonna make my times go down. (I love to go hard and fast into a turn). The solution was invariably that i had to figure out what was it that I was *thinking* WRONG.

Mostly I solved my thinking problems by applying theory from good racing books/references (get Skip Barber's "Going Faster!") and looking carefully at the replays and demos.

IMHO, most hotlapping is more about using the brain than about using the hands and feet.

again, I don't consider myself talented, just well trained and motivated.

 

[Rockhound18]

I have a method for getting golds.

Step 1:
Run a fast lap. You should get within at least 1 second before doing step 2.

Step 2:
Go into the license menu for the test youre doing and select view demo run. Watch the replay in the "display" mode using the incar view. Pay attention to how well your ghost keeps up, and take note of where you fall behind.

Step 3:
Start running again. If you arent pulling ahead of your ghost in the area where the demo did, you arent running fast enough. If you have a chance to post a better time than the ghost, finish the lap. If you are falling behind, restart.

Repeat this process, emulate the demo runs style in the areas where you seem to be losing time, and eventually the golds will start rolling in. About 2 days ago I had about 15 golds. Now I have 75, and expect to be at 80 in the next 2-3 hours of gameplay.

Hope this process helps some people.

 

[chug-a-bug]

I guess, it's just the ex-teacher in me, but I gotta ask. Were you trying HARD or were you trying SMART?

I don't consider myself very "talented" at racing, but I got all golds (spending about 2-3hrs per test on the harder ones). The key to every single "hard" test was this: I had to wrap my head around the idea that trying to do the same thing over and over, harder and harder wasn't gonna make my times go down. (I love to go hard and fast into a turn). The solution was invariably that i had to figure out what was it that I was *thinking* WRONG.

Mostly I solved my thinking problems by applying theory from good racing books/references (get Skip Barber's "Going Faster!") and looking carefully at the replays and demos.

IMHO, most hotlapping is more about using the brain than about using the hands and feet.

again, I don't consider myself talented, just well trained and motivated.

Fair enough. I guess "hard" would be the answer to that.

I was just looking through some other threads I hadn't seen before and the "Goldjunkies" guides and I guess that I hadn't realised that a great deal of "smart" goes into it too. I guess I have some reading to do.

Thanks Rockhound I'd pretty much got that covered already.

 

[YuRiPa]

Start running again. If you arent pulling ahead of your ghost in the area where the demo did, you arent running fast enough. If you have a chance to post a better time than the ghost, finish the lap. If you are falling behind, restart.

this doesn't have to be the case at all times. Sometimes I'm way faster than the demo run at a certain part of the track, and still not get gold, because i lose a lot in other parts. So, you don't need to restart if the demo car is running away from you, maybe in a later part you'll be faster and overtake him, I've had this many times before.

I usually go slow into corners, and fast out of corners, I wanna have a good speed out of the corners for the straights after them.

 

[Rockhound18]

this doesn't have to be the case at all times. Sometimes I'm way faster than the demo run at a certain part of the track, and still not get gold, because i lose a lot in other parts. So, you don't need to restart if the demo car is running away from you, maybe in a later part you'll be faster and overtake him, I've had this many times before.

I usually go slow into corners, and fast out of corners, I wanna have a good speed out of the corners for the straights after them.

Well, if your ghost time was off by a second or so and you are falling behind, you arent going to be getting gold, because you just cant make up that much time in a 30 second license test.

If you ghost is say... .200 seconds off and youre right behind the ghost and you know you can do better in the latter portion, you should obviously keep going. Especially if its a full lap liscense test, which I generally find to be the easiest ones anyways. However, much farther behind and you arent going to have a chance.

Plus, sometimes when you do edge out your ghost by passing him at the end, you can actually be hurting yourself (if you didnt get gold). From then on, you're comparing you early times to a time which isnt fast enough in the early portions of the test. It's better to race against a ghost that runs better at the beginning, because that way you know that if you keep up, and you finish well, youll likely get gold.

They key to the whole thing is watching the demo though, understanding where it pays to be "smart" instead of "fast." Exit speed is key on a lot of tests, particularly where the finish is at the end of a long stretch following a turn.

But I do agree with you. I'm just saying, if you are a considerable amount behind of the ghost, its probably a waste of time unless you pull a big one out of the bag.

 

[FIDO69]

Rockhound,

I think your general process is right on. And I'm sure everyone is trying something similar, but from the rate at which you are picking up golds, I'm sure you are more "talented" than us.

And by "talented" I mean: you just *know* how to go faster when you see your ghost getting beat by the demo. You see that your line was not the biggest radius, you see that you braked late, you turned in early, you power-oversteered on your way out, etc. etc. For some of us, it takes longer, and for others, who don't know what to look for, they never figure it out.

For the record, I *believe* that anyone can get all Golds. I don't believe everyone has the talent to be a Schumacher. Some talents that I don't have: sensing when I'm going faster through a section by sight (no ghost, no computer analyzer), ability to concentrate for hours, ability to consistently feel my car's grip/speed/rotational velocity, etc. Those are true talents, but to get one gold on one test after 100 tries, you just need to know what you are supposed to be doing.

Am I wrong? Chug-a-Bug, please post a question on any test you are having problems getting gold on. Love to try to help.

 

[Rockhound18]

Rockhound,
And by "talented" I mean: you just *know* how to go faster when you see your ghost getting beat by the demo. You see that your line was not the biggest radius, you see that you braked late, you turned in early, you power-oversteered on your way out, etc. etc. For some of us, it takes longer, and for others, who don't know what to look for, they never figure it out.

One of the best ways to figure out how to do the turn better is to watch the demo very closely. Pay attention to his line, but pay more attention to the brake and throttle bars to see when and how much he brakes and feathers the throttle.

I use DS2 and throttle feathering is an issue on a number of the tests. It got to the point where I started using the analog stick for 1 or 2 sections of a test to get the amount of throttle just right.

True its hard to nail a tricky corner. On some ofthe harder ones, even if I know exactly how I want to do it, I can only successfully execute said turn 1 out of 5 times.

Seattle S test for example. Goooood lord. I spent an hour on it last night. I have never thrown my controller, and I wound up a few times last night . The throttle control was damn near impossible in a few places. Then I got that 1 run. I just let my focus down a little bit, and about halfway through started to bear down realizing I was close, and got it. Thank goodness thats over with.

Personally, I never thought I could get all 80, and I never tried. I just figured there was nothing else to do, so I should go for it. Perhaps the reason I'm having less difficulty is because I came back to do this after getting 100.0%, so I have a great feel for the games physics now. I know if I tried this before doing the missions or even getting all 100%, this would be A LOT harder.

 

[Rockhound18]

Just got number 80.

Ford Model T is nice... but I mean, cmon, was it worth it?!

I dont really think so. The satisfaction of getting all gold is better than the Model T. Oh well, now I just have to find those 5 cars that are hiding from me in the historic section. Then I'll have to figure out some other way to pass my GT4 time. Tuning perhaps?

 

[puckerman]

0

 

[ving]

golds are not important to me...

 

[ROB 256R]

Woohoo. Just got the last 2 golds i needed this afternoon; the Bentley speed 8 round Circ. de la Sarthe and the Motul Pitwork Z round Suzuka. Well pleased 👍

 

[olympia21_ca]

Congrats to those who completed all the liscence tests.

I, on the other hand, have gave up playing GT4 because it ate too much time of my life. I don't want to lose anymore time, so adios GT4. In a box the game goes, to come out again in 3-4 years.

Thanks for all your help GTPlanet members,
Peace,
Olympia

 

[Smallhorses]

I'm at 5.6% complete, 80 Golds and 33 missions complete. M34 on the NTSC version is way harder to win than any of the golds!

 

[FIDO69]

Just got number 80.

Ford Model T is nice... but I mean, cmon, was it worth it?!

I dont really think so. The satisfaction of getting all gold is better than the Model T. Oh well, now I just have to find those 5 cars that are hiding from me in the historic section. Then I'll have to figure out some other way to pass my GT4 time. Tuning perhaps?

Congrats!

I like the Model T. It's fun, you REALLY have to carry speed around corners AND up hills. There are hills on tracks you've never noticed before, until you start losing speed and start thinking WTF?

Come over to the Ring and give Tuff240 and me some competition:
https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showpost.php?p=1613928&postcount=235

 

[FIDO69]

Personally, I never thought I could get all 80, and I never tried. I just figured there was nothing else to do, so I should go for it. Perhaps the reason I'm having less difficulty is because I came back to do this after getting 100.0%, so I have a great feel for the games physics now. I know if I tried this before doing the missions or even getting all 100%, this would be A LOT harder.

Hmm, I hear this from many players. That its easier after you've played a lot of GT4 % wise. It doesn't apply to me. I found that if I went and did the "GT mode" racing, I came back to the tests and had a hard time bearing down and actually driving "balls to the walls". The regular mode is SOOO forgiving and the challenges so far apart, that I tended to pick up the habit of saying, bah, bad turn? NP, I'll just smoke 'em on the straights.

 

[Mr.Slow]

Got 3 gold. Wasn't trying for it as I wanted to get the bronze and silver cars first.

 

[Rockhound18]

Hmm, I hear this from many players. That its easier after you've played a lot of GT4 % wise. It doesn't apply to me. I found that if I went and did the "GT mode" racing, I came back to the tests and had a hard time bearing down and actually driving "balls to the walls". The regular mode is SOOO forgiving and the challenges so far apart, that I tended to pick up the habit of saying, bah, bad turn? NP, I'll just smoke 'em on the straights.

I hear ya on that one. I was really pleased to though, because I did all the missions at the very beginning, and then went for all gold at the end. I guess I got lucky that I decided to do it that way, becuase it saved the most exciting and challenging portions for the very beginning and end!

 

[FIDO69]

Yeah, I want to complete the driving missions and the endurance races. But I have to get to 25% to do the enduros. I find the races to be a waste of time, and am not looking forward to having to get there...

 

[chug-a-bug]

Rockhound,

I think your general process is right on. And I'm sure everyone is trying something similar, but from the rate at which you are picking up golds, I'm sure you are more "talented" than us.

And by "talented" I mean: you just *know* how to go faster when you see your ghost getting beat by the demo. You see that your line was not the biggest radius, you see that you braked late, you turned in early, you power-oversteered on your way out, etc. etc. For some of us, it takes longer, and for others, who don't know what to look for, they never figure it out.

For the record, I *believe* that anyone can get all Golds. I don't believe everyone has the talent to be a Schumacher. Some talents that I don't have: sensing when I'm going faster through a section by sight (no ghost, no computer analyzer), ability to concentrate for hours, ability to consistently feel my car's grip/speed/rotational velocity, etc. Those are true talents, but to get one gold on one test after 100 tries, you just need to know what you are supposed to be doing.

Am I wrong? Chug-a-Bug, please post a question on any test you are having problems getting gold on. Love to try to help.

Thanks. Well to be honest I've revised my opinion since yesterday. I'd qualify my previous comment by saying that it's a mixture of talent and technique, but I think I'll pass on whether I believe that everyone can get gold. Something someone said in another thread about the fact that some people can't "feel" the car and when it's about to understeer, or oversteer, summed it up for me. The car is "dead" for me I'm constantly surprised when the car overshoots, or undershoots a corner I can never gauge it accurately.

To be honest Gold is not really a realistic prospect, at least at present, and with that in mind I've spent this evening trying to get better than a bronze on A-10 the guide lap on Suzuka. After about 4 hours practise and watching replays I finally managed silver by .040 seconds about which I was ecstatic. And after that I also managed to finally scrape a silver on A-15 Trial Mountain which I'd been trying all yesterday to achieve.

But the final silver on the national A is the one which is eluding me and thats the Nurburgring section, A-16. I've been at it for hours and the best time I've managed is 56.549' and silver is like, 56'. In fact I'd only managed to finish the course once since I'd come off the track every other time and the speed is, frankly, terrifying, I'd ever attempt anything like that in real life I'm just not feeling suicidal(!) But I did manage to pick up this tip that if you press the R3 button then the blue-white-red accelerate-coast-brake line pops up and I found that a great help because actually finding the right line is hard enough never mind remembering where to brake etc so now I can at least finish the track, most of the time.

Ironically enough I found the IA-15 complete lap of Nurburgring easier because at least you have the guide car and can follow it's lines and brake when it does, etc. So I actually managed a silver on that, even though I only ever managed to complete the entire course once, heh.

Any help with this, and anything else, gratefully received, as always.

 

[FIDO69]

[Saving a space to respond after I've looked at those tests again.]

In general, if you can't "feel" over and understeer, I find it helpful to remember to NOT focus on the road right in front of you. Instead, focus on seeing the whole picture - and in particular, seeing the exit point.

Exit point - the point on the road after the apex which you want to just barely be able to hit.

I was lucky enough to go to a race school (Bob Bondurant) and they drilled this into us every day: Look at where you want to go, not where you are already going.

I find this really helpful in GT4: kind of soft focus and look at the sky. When you do the turn, you should see the sky spinning smoothly around you. If the sky starts to STOP spinning mid-turn, then that means you are understeering. LET UP ON THE gas or brakes (whichever you are currently pressing) until the sky starts to spin smoothly again. On the other hand, if the sky starts to spin too fast, you are oversteering. Again, ease off of whatever you are doing, and countersteer a little.

Hope that helps.

 

[FIDO69]

Hey Chug,

I see you've got 16 Gold now. Congrats!!!!

 

[Sti04]

13 Golds (accidently it just happened) and rest are Silvers. I am happy with that never thought about to gold everything, just trying to enjoy play the game. And have already lost enough sleep because of driving mission 34, my friends call me Panda now

 

[Toshi]

46 for me iirc. Funny how the spectrum is either 0-39 or 80. Few people seem to have enough dedication to get more than a handful who also possess enough control over obsessive tendencies to HAVE to go for all 80. I found the driving missions much more fun than trying to eke out golds in Super and the International tests so just took gold where it came easily and silver otherwise. I did make sure to Gold out B and A at least...

 

[Track_Veteran]

80 Gold.

Toughest was misson 34.
2'03.00 head start 👎
The rest were not as tough as I've heard.
Usually passed after 4-5 tries.

 

[ZeratulSG]

Okay, sorry if this is off-topic for this thread, but I couldn't find anywhere else in my searching that seemed more appropriate, and it seems the moderators didn't approve my thread on the subject, so here goes:

I need any tips or help for golding the National A Graduation Test (the RX-7 at the 'Ring). The PAL gold time is a 53.700 and the closest I can get so far is a 53.844. I've watched the AI demo, and that guy is almost drifting his way around, running up on the kerbs at dangerous speeds, and generally living on the edge hanging on for dear life.

This is not my driving style. I cannot replicate what the AI demo guy does (who manages a 53.500 or so), my style is more subtle and controlled. I've tried every conceivable line through Hohe Acht, and Eschbach still catches me out occassionally, but even when I manage to lay down a clean hot "lap" I'm still tenths down on the gold time! I'm starting to hear the RX-7 autodriving through Karussel in my sleep!

So while I realize this is a bit of an arbitrary question, any tips for golding this test, keeping in mind my driving style, would be greatly appreciated! 👍

 

[Toshi]

Zeratul, think of the margin: 0.144 out of nearly a minute is only 0.2%. Surely you can drive 0.2% faster... What helped for me was to anticipate the corners far in advance, and don't head into the tricky few with too much speed. It's general advice, but what do you expect?