Is it me or do controller have the advantage!!?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Racelow
  • 149 comments
  • 31,167 views
Never used a controller... appearances seem the controller is more forgiving... which is frustrating, as, at times the forgiving-ness (I realize that's not a word) appears to be an advantage.
Having said that, I cannot begin to imagine how slow and out of control i would be with the DS4. Pretty sure I would go straight to Dr.E/Sr.E.
I'll stick to wheel, and, every time I see a controller user running with me, passing, and running away, I just admire their skill with such an unnatural interface.
 
cleanLX
Never used a controller... appearances seem the controller is more forgiving... which is frustrating, as, at times the forgiving-ness (I realize that's not a word) appears to be an advantage.
Having said that, I cannot begin to imagine how slow and out of control i would be with the DS4. Pretty sure I would go straight to Dr.E/Sr.E.
I'll stick to wheel, and, every time I see a controller user running with me, passing, and running away, I just admire their skill with such an unnatural interface.
Click to expand...
Long time DS4 user here. It's a frustrating experience because on the limit being smooth helps, but smooth with a DS4 is very hard to do. It feels like I can go 95% of my limit on DS4 and the rest I need a wheel for.
A way around this is to tune the car to be very forgiving on-throttle, I gain a bit of time this way.

Reduced my DS4 sensitivity yesterday to help with snappy steering making the rear step out and suddenly I can't run through the Dragon Trail chicane like I used too because it just won't go left-to-right fast enough :/ #DS4Problems
 
The big advantage for pad users is they can use helicopter view, they don't need to watch their radar and the track, they can see how wide their car is vs the apex etc.

I doubt anyone using a wheel uses helicopter view, unless they like the 1980's nostalgia of ChaseHQ and Outrun.
 
I would love a wheel but just can't justify the expense at the moment. I have started using Kontrol Freek stick extensions and I am now finding it much easier to be smooth. They are pricey for what they are, but I wouldn't be happy without them now.
 
I think there would be a much bigger advantage if the PS4 used the DS3, because (at least for me) it is much easier to drive cars. It's one of the many reasons why I think the PS3 is better than the PS4.
 
GTWelsh
Long time DS4 user here. It's a frustrating experience because on the limit being smooth helps, but smooth with a DS4 is very hard to do. It feels like I can go 95% of my limit on DS4 and the rest I need a wheel for.
A way around this is to tune the car to be very forgiving on-throttle, I gain a bit of time this way.

Reduced my DS4 sensitivity yesterday to help with snappy steering making the rear step out and suddenly I can't run through the Dragon Trail chicane like I used too because it just won't go left-to-right fast enough :/ #DS4Problems
Click to expand...

This is my experience. I use triggers for brake and throttle and left stick steering. The throttle input from 45% to 60% feels less linear than early throttle to late throttle application. Very easy to over do it when close to half throttle. Added to this is trying to reduce your steering on corner exit to apply throttle can be unforgiving for me. Low sensitivity is great for consistent steering application but then you cant make quick adjustments. Higher sensitivity helps this, but then makes smooth cornering harder. I would tune this away with diff and toe settings but in sport this isn't an option (which I'm fine with) but I'm striving to be better, and a wheel is my only excuse lol.

I'm SR:S DR:A now and trying to stay consistent while maintaining pace is tricky.

I've just ordered a wheel which arrives on Tuesday. I'll be back to post my thoughts. I'm not expecting to be faster, but I am expecting to hold my faster times more consistently, without the wrist and thumb ache.
 
I doubt that the DS4 gives advantage, talking about playing without aid, with the exception of ABS in my case. The proof is that generically in the published tables one out of every ten sneaks in among the people who use the steering wheel. I believe that they are the exception that confirms the rule.
 
I do think the controllers have a level of assistance that you don't get with a wheel. I've tried racing the same car on the same track with both the DS4 and a T300RS.

There wasn't much in it, but I was penalised more for being brutal with the steering and braking when using the wheel. It's much much quicker to change steering direction with the DS4 (although that could be more to do with age :)) which makes the rallying easier.

It doesn't bother me at all though, as said above, it's more immersive and much more fun to use a wheel as it increases the realism. It's just a shame that the costs are prohibitive for so many.
 
Stu-Evo
Peeps, I was going to start a thread about this until I saw this one.

A couple of evenings play over the holidays, saving replays and watching other players from the onboard view has me convinced that in certain areas the way GTS is configured for the controllers means the controllers have the advantage. In *some* areas. Examples:

1) Long up hill L-R-L-R sections at Kyoto driving park – Yamagiwa and long uphill R-L-L-R at Maggiore GP: With a wheel (I have Logitech G29) the slightest correction means you stop gaining speed and/or lose a couple of MPH. With a controller I watched them twitch constantly whilst GAINING speed.
2) Trail braking zones: Most recently the Daily race yday at Kyoto/Yamigawa. Trail braking into T4 (the hairpin Left-hander) . There was a guy following me who kept over-speeding in, running wide and then was able to pretty much keep the same distance to me once we were up through 2nd, 3rd gears. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Over speed in with a wheel, you just have to wait wait wait for the car to straighten before you get on the power.

Anyway, just an observation. I think the more we play the more we see the odd tiny glitch in what is a totally immersive 10/10 game. I for one think this is the best racing game ever. I'm sure this is the final version that doesn't lead with VR also. I guess next one will be on PS5 and be mainly developed for VR mask with just 2d screen 2nd.
Click to expand...

I experienced this same phenomenon myself last night.

I spent a couple hours yesterday practicing Nurb GP on my wheel with the 911 RSR, getting all the tricky corners down, and finally setting a decent qualifying time (for my skill level) of 1:58:800. Then, out of curiosity, I grabbed the DS4 and tried to match that time.

I had to turn on TCS 2 right away because TCS 0 with a controller resulted in instant spins - and then it took me a few more laps to get the hang of the DS4 steering. But I was absolutely stunned how quick my lap times were with seemingly extremely sloppy, jerky, brute-force driving compared to the gracefulness of my wheel laps. I was doing 2:01 and 2:00 right off the bat, and after a few more laps of practice I nailed a 1:58:500. In less than 20 minutes I had beaten my best wheel time that had taken me well over an hour to achieve.

The DS4 definitely seems to have some artificial boosts over a wheel/pedals as you mention. Not saying this is wrong or unfair, just a little surprising.
 
@aedseed Recently (today), I got the PlayStation Move steering wheel, and I wonder:...
- Will it work with GTS?
- More importantly, will the wheel count as a controller and therefore get those artificial boosts, if they even exist?
 
aedseed
I experienced this same phenomenon myself last night.

I spent a couple hours yesterday practicing Nurb GP on my wheel with the 911 RSR, getting all the tricky corners down, and finally setting a decent qualifying time (for my skill level) of 1:58:800. Then, out of curiosity, I grabbed the DS4 and tried to match that time.

I had to turn on TCS 2 right away because TCS 0 with a controller resulted in instant spins - and then it took me a few more laps to get the hang of the DS4 steering. But I was absolutely stunned how quick my lap times were with seemingly extremely sloppy, jerky, brute-force driving compared to the gracefulness of my wheel laps. I was doing 2:01 and 2:00 right off the bat, and after a few more laps of practice I nailed a 1:58:500. In less than 20 minutes I had beaten my best wheel time that had taken me well over an hour to achieve.

The DS4 definitely seems to have some artificial boosts over a wheel/pedals as you mention. Not saying this is wrong or unfair, just a little surprising.
Click to expand...

If you turn off TCS, you'll go even faster :)
 
aedseed
Yep I use TCS 0 with the wheel, but had to set TCS 2 with the DS4 since I couldn't prevent spin easily enough with the joystick.
Click to expand...

I use TSC 0 and the triggers.

Personally, I think you'd need the best players to test them back to back. I posted in another thread, one about wheels making you faster, that I am 2 seconds off the pace of the best. I STRONGLY doubt that my lack of pace is due to the controller versus the wheel, and vice versa. It's more likely that I am simply not following the lines properly, missing apexes, etc.
 
I use a controller but have often wondered if using a wheel would improve the experience for me? This isn’t about whether I gain an advantage or not, I’m just wondering about the whole experience of it. I’m sure it’ll feel a lot more authentic that’s for sure.
After reading through this thread it appears that a wheel is the way to go, so my question is:
Which wheel and pedals would you lot recommend? As I’m enjoying the game so much, I just want to try and make it all that bit better so wouldn’t mind getting a wheel for this. Hell, it might make me want to play Project Cars 2 again. That game is gathering dust after all.......
 
cleanLX
Never used a controller... appearances seem the controller is more forgiving... which is frustrating, as, at times the forgiving-ness (I realize that's not a word) appears to be an advantage.
Having said that, I cannot begin to imagine how slow and out of control i would be with the DS4. Pretty sure I would go straight to Dr.E/Sr.E.
I'll stick to wheel, and, every time I see a controller user running with me, passing, and running away, I just admire their skill with such an unnatural interface.
Click to expand...

Motion control is easy. You can post consistant times with ease.

Stick control though is another matter..
 
Mr616
I've just ordered a wheel which arrives on Tuesday. I'll be back to post my thoughts. I'm not expecting to be faster, but I am expecting to hold my faster times more consistently, without the wrist and thumb ache.
Click to expand...

What have you gone for? I've just ordered a T300 which arrives tomorrow
 
LBDN123
Motion control is easy. You can post consistant times with ease.

Stick control though is another matter..
Click to expand...
Opposite for me. I tried the motion control for hours and couldn’t get a single clean lap. With the stick I’m usually within a second or so of the top 10.
 
I just got a wheel recently too. I'm faster with the wheel but it seems to be a lot easier to spin out with it. If I get a wheel off of the track there is a good chance of spinning out whereas with the ds4 it would just plow on through like a tank. This is with the same aids on for both. Actually after the last few patches it seemed very hard to spin out with the ds4.
 
I switched to motion controls on the pad and you 100% spin out more than analogue sticks, WAY WAY more, it's a completely different game.
It's almost impossible to spin out with the analogue sticks unless you push it.

So I imagine it's the same with a wheel. You NEVER spin out with analogue sticks and they are way more forgiving, but one slight over twitch and you spin with the motion controls on the pad.
 
How do people rub the tears from their eyes when getting overtaken, or pick their nose?

Wheel users have advantages too :D
 
After switching to motion controls I can't go back to Analogue. It's crazy all these years not having to cope with spinning out, it's like I was missing out.

giant growth
I just got a wheel recently too. I'm faster with the wheel but it seems to be a lot easier to spin out with it. If I get a wheel off of the track there is a good chance of spinning out whereas with the ds4 it would just plow on through like a tank. This is with the same aids on for both. Actually after the last few patches it seemed very hard to spin out with the ds4.
Click to expand...

With motion control on the DS4 you spin out easily if you go off track or turn too fast.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Pad is closer than ever in terms of lap times to a wheel on GT, but in the hands of a guy who's really used to it, and it's harder to be consistent with it. This is made possible because of a heavy sensitivity compared to steering wheels which needs to be turned a lot in some corners in this game, but a slight change in physics could completely break that away.

I don't think pad has an advantage, more like pros and cons I'd say.
 

Latest Posts

Back