Is Leveling Really Necessary?

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DEATHSARTHE

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THE_LAST_FAOLIU
I don't know if a lot of people are in the same boat I am, but I have noticed that quite a lot of GT gamers aren't even level 30. A lot of my friends, who've been in my friends list for at least a good 3 or 4 months or so are just now "level 30ish."

I myself have stopped caring about leveling altogether since I hear the only way to achieve level 40 is to grind out enduros... and that just simply isn't happening.

Instead I'm content with my 32 levels of progression since I can drive and aquire any car in the game, most importantly my favorites, and also make mad loots simply grinding the events.

I look back at when I started and the main motivation for me to level was to unlock the cars that I wanted to drive. Once I got to a high enough level to buy whatever, the second movitation was to unlock higher paying events for easier grinding. Now, 6 months later I'm at sort of at a loss as to what exactly the point of leveling in this game was?

It doesn't take long to get from 0-(to whatever level you have to be to unlock every car in the game and every event). It literally took me a week to unlock most if not all cars and maybe a week and 1/2 later to unlock all Extreme A-Spec events and some enduros. The leveling system is very short. I made Lvl. 9 in a 4 hour sitting just so I could drive a Corvette Z06. I think 4 hours later I was driving the C6 ZR1 around too. A week later I'm grinding American Indy in Ford GT Spec II...

And so I argue, since it is so quick to level - it doesn't really help you improve skills at all. For example, in previous GTs you had to obtain lisceneses to unlock the next tier of events. You did this by using techniques, experiences, and skills gained upto this point to pass the tests and the goal was to make you a more complete driver for the next set of events. Mindless grinding to the next level may even have reverse effects.

There are no Online filters to make specific events for specific levels. You'd think this might be a good filter to help provide a more balanced race.

Leveling serves little purpose after 30 or so, since all cars are driveable and Extreme events are unlocked and here is where the best credit per hour is...

For people who could careless about endurance racing, there's nothing but perhaps a trophy at Lvl. 40 - and maybe a car ticket but of course nothing we couldn't just buy at 30.

I mean leveling wasn't even really rewarding for me, since it just stood in my way keeping me from doing things I wanted to do from the beginning.

Looking back now, it just seemed like a pain rather than something fulfilling. It was so quick that the game nor the player benefits from it and past GTs never used a leveling system but rather just the lisence tests. As you look back now, was leveling really necessary? Perhaps you've flip flopped on the subject as well, but then you could ask the question is flip flopping over leveling necessary? In which you should arise to the conclusion that of course not - but then doesn't that question the integrity of GT5's leveling system altogether?? Bad implementation perhaps? But past games have proven hugely successful and replayable without it... sooooo... Discuss.
 
I agree. I liked the days of when having the license meant something and no matter what that was your motiviation for the game along with winning multiple races and cars.
 
I liked GT4 a lot. You didn't have to level up and you actually had to get you licenses in order to race.
I also really miss the challenges. They were a lot better then the special events in GT5.
 
Well i had a Aspec 38 account , but sadly i had to creat new PSN , so now i'm 33 and leveling is not so fun as was at my first acc , but i dont give up and i need gt5 platinium :)
 
I want PD to remove the leveling system, and compensate this by make the events regulations even stricter, so to participate in specific races, GT players just need to bring their pure skill and the equipments they need (may be obtained from car dealers or by owning a championship).
 
What I don't get with gt5 is that its the only game ever made that doesn't reward you for leveling up. Look at nfs shift, every time you level up you get money or a car sometimes why doesn't gt5 have this!
 
I stopped trying to level up once I reached level 30, I've unlocked everything now, so levels 31-40 are pointless. I'm just enjoying the driving now and trying events with different cars, earning credits through fun, not grinding. I do think that PD need to either remove, or improve the leveling system in GT6. If they're going to keep the leveling system, then they need to improve it by giving us extra credits or prize cars every five levels, for example.
 
I don't play the game to reach Level 40, although I do want to get there one day.

I don't 'grind' to reach new levels, I just race what I want to race, how I want to race, and when I reach a new level then I'm happy but there is absolutely no rush for me in reaching L40.

Whether I fancy Online, Seasonals, Championships or an endurance, I will race as appropriate, always tuning (or downtuning) the car I want to drive to make the competitive competitive.

This has got me to mid L33 and has helped me really enjoy the game because I've played it how I want to play it.

Each to their own though hey, I just don't see the point in playing a game like this, just to complete it - where is the fun in that?
 
I'm just trying to get to 35 in Bobspec. A nice gift is waiting for me there. I don't have patience for vettel challenge LOL!
 
I guess the leveling system is needed because there is no story in the game. If there was a story mode, then we wouldn't need a leveling system.

I am level 34 A-Spec, 30 B-Spec and I'm not going to bother with levels anymore.
 
I've never bothered with the levels. I just play and they go up on their own. Maybe if I play enough I'll reach level 40 but I'm definitely not going to grind for it.
 
Im sat on lvl 28 or 29.. if it goes up one, great. But i wont be busting a gut to get it to level 40, there is no incentive for me to do so. Ill just let it happen naturally whilst i enjoy my driving:)
 
I haven't grinded at all and I think a lot of people appear to be doing the same. I've raced through A-Spec to the endurances (next up is the suzuka 1000km) but won't bust a gut lapping indy when I don't enjoy it. B-Spec is at level 23 I think, haven't bothered with that too much. Again, don't enjoy it and don't get it really. If I wanted someone else to drive my cars I would give them my copy of GT5...

The seasonals have helped with this too, 5 new races a week mean that you should never (in theory) be repeating races just to reach the next level (repeating races for enjoyment is different of course). These are bonus races yet a lot of people seem to be taking them for granted now and always want more from them, but I'm just happy to have new interests and to show me previously undriven gems
 
What is the motivation to get to the maximum level? And what is the reward?

(Just finished the Formula GT Championship and my freaking reward was a standard Caterham)Boo! Come on.

I play GT5 mostly and I am only level 31. I will not grind a race to achieve a higher level either.

It doesn't make sense why you level up quickly at the beginning and then it just does what a crappy old car does and just stalls out. I love playing but I don't love playing the same race over, and over, and over just so I can say I am at a higher level blah.

Lets pray this next update is a major one. And it won't hurt my feelings if it takes 2hrs to download. :(

I was using the seasonals to gain money and level up but I just don't see the need to level up so if I never get to level 40 I really don't care at this point.
 
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DEATHSARTHE
The leveling system is very short. I made Lvl. 9 in a 4 hour sitting just so I could drive a Corvette Z06. I think 4 hours later I was driving the C6 ZR1 around too. A week later I'm grinding American Indy in Ford GT Spec II...
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Remember at its worst with the ultra high paying seasonals where it was possible starting fresh to get to level 19 within an hour. SUPPOSEDLY you are then halfway through the levelling system, yet in fact you are far from it. I complete a race these days, and you can't even see on the bar the effect it has had, despite it flashing... Its too quick to start, too slow at the end.
 
I think there's no point at all to the leveling system & couldn't care less what level I am at, like you I have enough money for most of the cars I'm interested in so that's that. I guess the levelling thing only appeals to hardcore RPG type gamers who are obsessed with "getting to level 40" purely for the sake of getting to level 40. I think it's a bizzare & downright stupid thing to add to a driving simulator, I much prefered the 'get a licence to unlock race events' dymanic from previous games, at least that's slightly more realistic as a real racing driver would need certain licences to particpate in certain events.



👎
 
The levels mean absolutely nothing thanks to people resorting to auto-grinding A-spec to buy those expensive cars that they can't trade for. Poor game design is to blame here though. I'm not opposed to people grinding/cheating.
 
I did achieve level 40 on both A and B-spec some time ago, mainly due to too much playing and to be honest it isn't really worth striving for since the only thing it brings is being able to participate in the Nürburgring 24 hour event (which is relevant but I won't enter it until a save-function for endurance races is finally implemented), a few trophies and being able to buy a X2010 in the dealer section (which I'm not planning to do anytime soon).

What's more annoying is that the level-up screen (or whatever it's called) still keeps appearing after you've received the credits, showing no XP points (obviously since they're now useless which makes that screen useless too).

Besides, the whole meaning of this level system is non-existent or at least irrelevant, perhaps early on it could indicate raw talent (which I most probably lack) when some people got a lot of XP-points by beating the challenges, now it mainly indicates that you spend a lot of time playing (which ofcourse indicates experience as in time, whether time wasted or time well spend) or that you used one of those online glitches....
Not saying a level system couldn't work (this one is flawed) but I'd rather see the license tests being reinstated as they worked in previous GT's although that's just my opinion not shared by everyone here.
 
Rico_S
I want PD to remove the leveling system, and compensate this by make the events regulations even stricter, so to participate in specific races, GT players just need to bring their pure skill and the equipments they need (may be obtained from car dealers or by owning a championship).
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This exactly. The whole levelling system was only added to GT5 since every other game these days seems to be taking it's cues from WoW and other RPG games (even bloody FPS like to have levelling up your character nowadays?!). I find it rather boring and pointless, especially the level of playing required (grinding) to actually achieve a high level in the game, it's not very user friendly and a kick in the teeth to those that paid money for a game but can't get acces to some of the content within the game, even after months of playing, simple because they can't sit in front of their TV for hours on end every night to slowly creep up in their Level.

I hate it, simply hate it. Just have events that require certain cars, actually make them more and more difficult, requiring more and more ACTUAL skill, rather than some arbitrary number which only reflects how insanely dedicated you are to playing the game...
 
Leveling - you mean playing A-Spec. For me the CR & Level system go hand and hand. You can earn cash in other ways of course, specials, online, remotes, seasonals. You do have to level to have access to certain cars. You also get free cars (so you can save your hard earned credits) by leveling. It's not necessary, but it sure does save a ton of cash.

The "Flip-side" of that is the challenge. I do like challenges. So getting to level 40A/B for me is a gotta do. It would be nice to get the platinum trophy!

I don't WANT all the cars, and am struggling with that debate of should I or shouldn't I. Too many of the same cars, Fairladys, NSX's, Silvias, RX-7's. What I will probably do is buy everything but and save them for the end.

I'm thinking PD made the system the way the did; not having to prove your skill to get to the next event, to make it more universally appealing. People who can't drive very well can still enter higher events and challenge themselves driving. Not having to do a license test. I know I don't want to have to spend days griniding a license or a special just so I can race, though I'm not bad racing. I even use cars with substantially less HP to try and make the race competitive.
 
Completely useless system. So many endurances I would do if some stupid level system would let me. I'm stuck at 29 and feel like I'm making no progress. All I want is LVL 30 and I won't care from there.

And yeah, if your going to have the system, reward users for it!!
 
OK, here's a great thread where I can get on my soapbox.

Just like the driver temperament level bar in B Spec, players of this sim can be put on a bar as well, e.g.,

HARDCORE <<<--->>> CASUAL

Hardcore are your gaming zombies, equipped with a mini-fridge full of Red Bulls by their 4th PS3 (burned out their first 3), obsessed with nothing other than platting every game and making their online or PSN profiles look impressive. May or may not be ultra competitive, or even good drivers, they simply are on a finish-or-else mentality.

The extreme right has your people that just play the game occasionally and don't care much about "winning" or amassing all the trophies. Less to the right sounds like the majority of posters in thus thread. They derive enjoyment from simply driving and not caring about platting, but have enough skills to be successful.

I am on the left, about halfway or more. I don't play any video "games" (GT5 is a sim--when you use a wheel and pedals [how many cars have you driven in real life where there is a DS3 controller in front of the drivers seat?]). In the past the only other "games" I've played were NASCAR sims on PC or PS3. I'll admit I am kind of a checklist-driven person that thrives on accomplishment--get the job done right and move on [Next!].

That's one of the reasons I love this sim--the sense of accomplishment and the challenge of doing so. Some of the challenges may be beyond me though, but I don't give up on a task. Some of you said it got to be like work instead of fun in the higher levels, and to some extent it is.

I do think parts of the sim, leveling issues included, can be improved. Some are the extreme difficulty in licenses or challenges that are beyond most mortals. The levels at the top are so hard to obtain it takes crazy grinding (and PS3 wear) to get there--hence the "work" aspect. Why in the world do you have to be at level 40 to run the 24 hour Nurburgring? The XP earned is pointless, and it's a pantsload, too. Note: I am doing the 24 hours at LeMans in ASpec this weekend--and I don't drink energy drinks!

I agree on the idea of proving your skills to advance/level up versus simply grinding. The licenses should be tied to levels.

All in all, the graphics are a joy to watch, and the driving physics are pretty great too. I have been partially obsessed this last month with doing as much as I can--I'm levels 37/40 and have most challenges and licenses done. One B Spec driver almost to 300 races, about 400 cars in the garage--earned the hard way. Why do we need so many iterations of the same model anyway? Really, how many types of Skylines or Lancers are necessary?

Let me finish with this: I'm a driver, not a gamer. Folks this game is HARD, and it should be. Some tweaks will make it better (fix leveling/XP scale, move 24 hr 'Ring to level 39, more car variety, tie licensing to levels, etc.). I love the sim, and will keep on battling. OK, off the soapbox...

PS: Where can I find an Elise to drive in the Top Gear Challenge that doesn't have wet ice for tires??? :)
 
SoCal Senator
OK, here's a great thread where I can get on my soapbox.

Just like the driver temperament level bar in B Spec, players of this sim can be put on a bar as well, e.g.,

HARDCORE <<<--->>> CASUAL

Hardcore are your gaming zombies, equipped with a mini-fridge full of Red Bulls by their 4th PS3 (burned out their first 3), obsessed with nothing other than platting every game and making their online or PSN profiles look impressive. May or may not be ultra competitive, or even good drivers, they simply are on a finish-or-else mentality.

The extreme right has your people that just play the game occasionally and don't care much about "winning" or amassing all the trophies. Less to the right sounds like the majority of posters in thus thread. They derive enjoyment from simply driving and not caring about platting, but have enough skills to be successful.

I am on the left, about halfway or more. I don't play any video "games" (GT5 is a sim--when you use a wheel and pedals [how many cars have you driven in real life where there is a DS3 controller in front of the drivers seat?]). In the past the only other "games" I've played were NASCAR sims on PC or PS3. I'll admit I am kind of a checklist-driven person that thrives on accomplishment--get the job done right and move on [Next!].

That's one of the reasons I love this sim--the sense of accomplishment and the challenge of doing so. Some of the challenges may be beyond me though, but I don't give up on a task. Some of you said it got to be like work instead of fun in the higher levels, and to some extent it is.

I do think parts of the sim, leveling issues included, can be improved. Some are the extreme difficulty in licenses or challenges that are beyond most mortals. The levels at the top are so hard to obtain it takes crazy grinding (and PS3 wear) to get there--hence the "work" aspect. Why in the world do you have to be at level 40 to run the 24 hour Nurburgring? The XP earned is pointless, and it's a pantsload, too. Note: I am doing the 24 hours at LeMans in ASpec this weekend--and I don't drink energy drinks!

I agree on the idea of proving your skills to advance/level up versus simply grinding. The licenses should be tied to levels.

All in all, the graphics are a joy to watch, and the driving physics are pretty great too. I have been partially obsessed this last month with doing as much as I can--I'm levels 37/40 and have most challenges and licenses done. One B Spec driver almost to 300 races, about 400 cars in the garage--earned the hard way. Why do we need so many iterations of the same model anyway? Really, how many types of Skylines or Lancers are necessary?

Let me finish with this: I'm a driver, not a gamer. Folks this game is HARD, and it should be. Some tweaks will make it better (fix leveling/XP scale, move 24 hr 'Ring to level 39, more car variety, tie licensing to levels, etc.). I love the sim, and will keep on battling. OK, off the soapbox...

PS: Where can I find an Elise to drive in the Top Gear Challenge that doesn't have wet ice for tires??? :)
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Here, here!!! 👍👍👍

On the ELiSE; it's the course not the car. There are issues on the course that are not visually apparent, like the first turn. Why do I keep slidding off??? I thought the same thing initially. Gotta learn the course and then you can drive the car on it. Got better after about the 15th time trying it. Still work to be done on it.
 
SoCal Senator
I do think parts of the sim, leveling issues included, can be improved.
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There's a contradiction in terms! Leveling shouldn't even be in a driving sim because real drivers or racers never 'level up', prehaps PD should change the tag line to: "GT5, The Real RPG-Game Simulator"! ;) The licences were the right way to go because that's similar to getting a driving licence to be able to drive & getting various racing licences to be able to race in the real world. Same with drive through penalties & qually before races in GT4, I was hoping they'd add a championship points system to GT5 but alas they've taken real steps back regarding the realism of motor racing.

A sim is supposed to simulate the real world, not simulate levelling elements from RPG type games. But then again, GT has always been a bizzare game with many contrary aspects & has never really lived up to it's claim to be THE real driving sim. I guess only Japanese, RPG loving car enthusiasts are gonna really love it entirely, that's is what Kazunori San is after all.

Don't get me wrong all you GT fanboys, I love certain things about GT, always have done & always will, but there are things I'll just never get like this silly levelling thing.




👍:indiff:👎
 
VBR
Same with drive through penalties & qually before races in GT4, I was hoping they'd add a championship points system to GT5 but alas they've taken real steps back regarding the realism of motor racing.

👍:indiff:👎
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I agree fully here--the whole pitting sequence is whacked. Make the driver actually pit (A spec) and follow rules (no pit entry at 200+ mph) and make the timing right--refueling is a joke. Give penalties and allow for changes on pit road (wedge, tire pressure, damage repair). And darn it update the tuning to allow left and right side changes along with tire pressure and fix tire wear realism.
 
Knelly
I don't play the game to reach Level 40, although I do want to get there one day.

I don't 'grind' to reach new levels, I just race what I want to race, how I want to race, and when I reach a new level then I'm happy but there is absolutely no rush for me in reaching L40.

Whether I fancy Online, Seasonals, Championships or an endurance, I will race as appropriate, always tuning (or downtuning) the car I want to drive to make the competitive competitive.

This has got me to mid L33 and has helped me really enjoy the game because I've played it how I want to play it.

Each to their own though hey, I just don't see the point in playing a game like this, just to complete it - where is the fun in that?
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Sounds just like me! i too am at Level 33 just by driving in races I want, with the cars I want. The level and to a lesser extent the credits are now almost irrelevant.

I hope for GT 6 that PD does some sort of "fix" for this.
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
I agree. I liked the days of when having the license meant something and no matter what that was your motiviation for the game along with winning multiple races and cars.
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+1.

I used to dread license tests in GT games, but this one just flew by. At first, I just attributed it to all the time I invested in Prologue. Looking back, it all seemed too easy.
 
I did maybe one evening of repeating events (aka grinding) when PSN was down so I would have enough for the FGT. Aside from that, my online racing slowly progressed me to level 30+. Not once was I ever concerned about being at a specific level. Between special events, seasonal events, and license tests, I always had enough credits and experience to try the next event.

Grinding is for car collectors and trophey horders.
 
I'm not at all fussed about reaching level 40, whether it be A-Spec or B-Spec. As the OP said, by level 30 you can pretty much buy any car you could want to buy, with the exception of the Red Bull, but you can do the Event for that.

I'll admit, it would be nice to reach level 40. However, it's a long way off for me. The only time I earn exp nowadays on GT5 is grinding for cash, rather than grinding for EXP. I'll get there eventually. One day.
 

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