Man, I suck at this game...F1 2010-2016

[porkchop87]

I've been racing a long time, and lately I've been getting into F1, especially after one of the best seasons ever. So I picked up F1 2010 to give my self a break from GT5.

I started on expert, I felt pretty confident since I've played racing games for a long time. Plus, I've heard this game isn't very sim and I'm also using a steering wheel.

I signed with Virgin in hopes that they would have low expectations for me. That way, I could ease into the game. Before starting my career, I played some Time Trial so that I could learn the game's physics and mechanics.

I did very poorly, but I thought I recorded some decent times, especially considering I had all assists off and this was my first time playing.

Started the Bahrain GP, practice was okay, but then I only managed to qualify 24th. When the race started, I was able to overtake several cars on the first turn, but after several laps, as soon as I pit and switched out to prime tyres, I'm back in 24th and I'm never able to catch up. Same thing happened in the Australian GP.

With the Malaysian GP I got a little bit lucky with the rain. For some reason I had an easier time dealing with the rain than the AI and I qualified 11th. I maintained 8th for most of the race until I had a major f-up smashing into another car that spun out... retiring to 24th.

So... 24th the first 3 races. I really want to improve before the Chinese GP, so I think I'm switching the difficulty to Pro from Expert. But at this point I refuse to turn on any assists...

I've never struggled this badly in a game and put up with it before... I'm having a blast... as strange as that sounds.

BTW, my teammate sucks, fortunately (unfortunately?) he's only finishing 23rd. Go Virgin....

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Yeah, I've been sucking pretty hard at this game too. My engineer keeps saying "You're lapping considerably slower than Kamui. You should come in so we can check your setup".

What he should of course be saying is "You're lapping considerably slower than Kamui. Maybe if you could keep it down to just the one spin per lap you would go faster".

 

[porkchop87]

Yeah, I've been sucking pretty hard at this game too. My engineer keeps saying "You're lapping considerably slower than Kamui. You should come in so we can check your setup".

What he should of course be saying is "You're lapping considerably slower than Kamui. Maybe if you could keep it down to just the one spin per lap you would go faster".

lol, yeah I love that... you've got no idea how many times I've heard that. I try to take that advice and change my setup, but it never helps much.

I'm not spinning out so much anymore... but only because I'm driving more tentatively... which is negatively affecting my lap times... I can't keep up with these Expert AI drivers!!

 

[herburt]

Here's my story. I'm no stranger to racing games although I haven't played them in a couple of years.I got F1 2010 for Christmas I play on expert, AI on legend, no assists and play in the cockpit view.
I have qualified last in every race up to Montreal which I haven't qualified for yet. I've finished every race in last, the ones I didn't crash out of. I've seen blue flags in every race so far. I've been told " your much slower than Bruno" in every race. I realize I'm in a learning curve, not very fun.
A glimmer of hope has appeared. I did the Montreal practice finished in 19th. You might not think this is a big deal but, I am quicker than Bruno by 6/10th.
Now I'm not getting y hopes up for the rest of the race weekend this could all end in disaster.

 

[icelt]

Prior to the release of the 1st patch many felt that the Fuel & Tim Sim features of the game were pretty broken. I definitely recall on the Fuel Sim end that the conclusion was that the CPU cars were NOT carrying the extra weight they should in longer distance races (like 50%+ IIRC) unlike the player's car. I believe the pre-patch Tire Sim issues were primarily related to excessive tire punctures.

Post patch, my recollection is that the puncture issue was corrected but I'm thinking there still might be problems with how the CPU cars are handled with the Fuel Sim on. JIC you guys want to thumb through the official forums here's the link:
http://community.codemasters.com/forum/f1-2010-game-1316

I can definitely tell you (as a Fuel & Tire Sim off/Legendary AI racer) that once you know the tracks, even racing in the Lotus, the AI with those settings is really not all that competitive.

So to make a long post short, I think the main problems you guys are having are related to the way the game handles the CPU cars with the Fuel Sim on. It would be interesting to hear back how a GP session goes for you, at Bahrain let's say, by only turning the Fuel Sim off.

 

[herburt]

I have for the first time qualified higher than 20th and faster than Bruno. The race lies ahead where anything can happen

 

[F1Addict]

It'll take a while getting used to F1 speeds. GT5 is mainly cars which handle and drive differently to F1 cars. Considering you've been playing racing games for a while, it shouldn't take too long to get used to the F1 cars. Try Time Trial mode and put some laps in and see where you stand in the leaderboards. Anything ranked in the top 1000 is a good time. Top 500 awesome time. Top 100 exceptional time.

 

[NITROVIOUS]

Try turning off the tire wear , you'll be amazed how much faster you're lap times are .

 

[Wall_Rider]

once I got some good tunes I became much faster...

 

[FLIGHT50]

It'll take a while getting used to F1 speeds. GT5 is mainly cars which handle and drive differently to F1 cars. Considering you've been playing racing games for a while, it shouldn't take too long to get used to the F1 cars. Try Time Trial mode and put some laps in and see where you stand in the leaderboards. Anything ranked in the top 1000 is a good time. Top 500 awesome time. Top 100 exceptional time.

You said that right. This is the only game outside of GT5 I have played on the PS3. I haven't played any PC racing sims. I found it very difficult in the beginning to get the hang of this game. I didn't dare start in expert though. I don't remember the classes but since I knew I'd get better, I didn't start at the lowest either.

I am 3/4 of the way thru my 1st season and I am ranked 9th and my team HRT is ranked 6th. But I was doing great until I hit the Singapore track. This tracks has kicked by butt. I haven't played it since the GT5 1.05 patch so I am sure I am rusty. I need to get back to it. I was having a blast before I went back to GT.

 

[smithda86]

I agree I'm finding this game very tough. I don't get how some people are saying this game is ridiculously easy, either they are making it up or they are simply brilliant drivers. This game is certainly a challenge.

I think the car has a significant impact though, do a single grand prix with one of the better cars and it seems much easier to compete.

 

[JGW]

IMHO, regardless of bugs and a few oversights....this game is way under rated by a lot of people.

The more I play it, the more it offers. There are quite a few nice touches in this game and more than a few surprises. (I always seem to notice them when I least expect it).

I have a feeling 2011 will offer more depth (and hopefully, less bugs) and am looking forward to it later this year.

 

[Minardi]

I called It easy when comparing the driving with other games. For instance Spa. Eau Rouge, feared by many real life drivers, is relatively easy in F1 2010, even with all assists off. But, winning a race is not easy. The slightest mistake or contact can put you the wrong way around. I almost gave up on this game, but picked It up recently and actually enjoy It more and more.

 

[FLIGHT50]

I will buy F1 2011 after I read some reviews. Same with GT6, I need to see a few reviews first. I took a chance on F1 2010 based on the customer ratings I saw on Best Buy's website and I made a good choice. I just jumped back to it last night. I appreciate the upgrade system better. You research and develop vs you going out and making a track monster up front. The A.I. makes mistakes. F1 is all about skill and strategy. GT5 is about having a more powerful car with a decent tune.

Spa is not that bad. The Ring is worst than Spa and I love the Ring. So therefore I love Spa now. Before this game I had no idea what Spa offered. The whole track is great. Even that last small S turn before you hit the home stretch. I just finished Suzuka and I have a few more races left. Then I can go back and rate the tracks. So far Singapore was my worst but I am getting better. Monaco was bad for me as well. I know it well from GT4 but in F1 the cars are faster and this track is hell as well. Very tight and narrow so passing is a task all by itself with a grid of F1 size.

All in all, I believe by my 3rd or 4th season, it will be smooth sailing. I definitely want a contract with one of the top 3 teams so hopefully I can finish at least one career before F1 2011 releases.

 

[Ech0Ambar1]

I've heard some pretty great things about the difficulty and skill of this game. I may very well go pick up a copy in the next few days.

 

[blacbul67]

I called It easy when comparing the driving with other games. For instance Spa. Eau Rouge, feared by many real life drivers, is relatively easy in F1 2010, even with all assists off. But, winning a race is not easy. The slightest mistake or contact can put you the wrong way around. I almost gave up on this game, but picked It up recently and actually enjoy It more and more.

Picking up on Eau Rouge, on the BBC's coverage David Coulthard made the point that in the cars he drove at the end of his career (the mid-field Red Bull) Eau Rouge was a lot easier to take flat out than the Front running Williams and Mclarens he drove at the beginning of his career, Anthony Davison would also have been aware of this when he tested the game as a technical consultant. This is why I believe this more a reflection of modern F1 than a failing of the game itself.

 

[icelt]

I don't get how some people are saying this game is ridiculously easy, either they are making it up or they are simply brilliant drivers. This game is certainly a challenge..

I'd never call this game "ridiculously easy," however once you get used to the driving mechanics/physics and course layouts it is curious how off the pace the CPU cars can be.

For example I just completed my 1st career season with Lotus by winning 15 of the 19 races, sometimes with leads as big as 20-30secs. To be honest, although I am playing on Legendary AI, I do keep both the Tire & Fuel Sim off and drive with ABS on and TC at Med. All that being said, the CPU cars should have all the same advantages I do yet their pace is wayyy lacking.

Now it is possible the CPU cars' pace programming always accounts for Tire Wear and/or Fuel loading, which if true might account for the discrepancy. Based on the consensus from the Official forums, I do believe there is funky stuff with the Tire & Fuel Sim programming. I just don't know how much, or if, it relates to the CPU's speed when racing with those settings turned off.

In conclusion, depending on the difficulty settings used, I would agree that the game can be rather "easy."

Edit...
Just ran a test in GP mode. As Abu Dhabi was the last track I raced in career I set everything the same except I turned the Tire and Fuel Sims on. Using the same car, well kinda the same as I'm guessing GP mode uses the "default" chassis, in Career mode I qualy'd in P3 with a mid 1:41" lap time. In GP mode just now I qualy'd in P19 with a 1:45.0" lap time.

So even if the lack of career chassis improvements in GP mode account for a full second of that time differential it still seems pretty clear that the Tire and Fuel sims significantly slow one down. To be expected naturally.

Lastly comparing the P1 qualy times of the CPU cars between the modes they actually look pretty consistent. I believe the career P1 was a low 1:41" and sure enough the GP P1 qualy was a 1:41.1". Similarly if this time I were able to post a mid 1:41" that would have grided me anywhere from P4 to P6 depending.

It is only one little comparison test, but I get the feeling that in career mode the CPU cars are always running their laps as if the Fuel and Tire sims are on regardless of the user settings.

 

[porkchop87]

The A.I. makes mistakes.

And that's what I'm starting to love more and more with this game... the mistakes and crashes by the AI are not scripted and seem to occur like they would in real life... it's a really nice touch and change from most racing games where AI simply follow the line and will never veer off of it or crash-out. Oh, and the AI are actually aware of your positioning! If you're overtaking on the inside, they'll veer off and give position if they must... or sometimes put pressure...

I turned fuel sim off and it did nothing for me. Still struggling, especially on qualifications. I refuse to turn tyre sim off though. It seems whenever I put down a great time, the AI will put down a better time no matter what. I just can't qualify better than 24th... and I'm only missing out by tenths of seconds... I'm wondering if I should wait until like the last 2 minutes to put my best time down? Because the AI instantly brings me down to 24th no matter how many times I improve my time....

Anyways, completed the Turkish GP at Istanbul and this is my favorite track so far since it's the one I've had the best results with pertaining to my setup.

I somehow got up to 13th (after only qualifying 24th) and I maintained incredible pace (I had the fastest best lap time), and a different tyre strategy helped me stay in this position even after I pitted! Until I had a bad spin with only 4 laps to go... the AI would not let up and I dropped down to 23rd after many more mistakes... I couldn't handle the pressure I guess... This was my first dry race where I didn't get blue flagged... I guess it's a sign I'm getting better?

This race was thrilling... I'm serious, no other racing game has been this intense for me... I felt exhausted after this long race... this is definitely one of the best racing games I've ever played.... but I still suck at it...

 

[Minardi]

And that's what I'm starting to love more and more with this game... the mistakes and crashes by the AI are not scripted and seem to occur like they would in real life... it's a really nice touch and change from most racing games where AI simply follow the line and will never veer off of it or crash-out. Oh, and the AI are actually aware of your positioning! If you're overtaking on the inside, they'll veer off and give position if they must... or sometimes put pressure...

I agree, If you are talking off line. On line AI really is bad. It's almost as If they don't see you, even in qualify.
On another note, If you are looking for a game which also has brilliant AI, and you like touring cars, try Superstars V8 Next Challenge. Very intense racing from beginning till end.

 

[icelt]

I turned fuel sim off and it did nothing for me. Still struggling, especially on qualifications. I refuse to turn tyre sim off though. It seems whenever I put down a great time, the AI will put down a better time no matter what. I just can't qualify better than 24th... and I'm only missing out by tenths of seconds... I'm wondering if I should wait until like the last 2 minutes to put my best time down? Because the AI instantly brings me down to 24th no matter how many times I improve my time....


This race was thrilling... I'm serious, no other racing game has been this intense for me... I felt exhausted after this long race... this is definitely one of the best racing games I've ever played.... but I still suck at it...

Yeah turning the Fuel Sim off shouldn't have that much impact on your qualy times as you're already running pretty light, typ less than 5 laps of fuel. However keeping it off for the race should definitely help you out measurably over at least the first 3/4 of the race

Anyway, well I for one definitely feel for ya. I think we've all been frustrated with "sim" style racing games at one time or another. If you stick with it though you will continue to improve, as you've already proven to yourself at the Turkish GP.

Regarding sim racing in general, and especially this game, smooth is fast. It may not always feel like it, but slowly it will jump out at you as you improve against the AI. Even more so if you happen to beat one of your PB ghost times by a fair margin. It is one of those moments where everything kinda clicks, "I sure didn't really feel that much faster but dang if I didn't pick up 5+ car lengths on that 1 corner alone."

Keep working at it, you'll get it 👍

 

[porkchop87]

Yeah turning the Fuel Sim off shouldn't have that much impact on your qualy times as you're already running pretty light, typ less than 5 laps of fuel. However keeping it off for the race should definitely help you out measurably over at least the first 3/4 of the race

That makes sense, I guess I should have thought about that. Thanks for the tips/response.

Anyways, I won't be playing the game until my new Playseat comes in the mail, until then I am looking forward to racing in Montreal... a homecoming for me, maybe it'll bring me luck (i doubt it)...

So far with Virgin racing.... no assists and AI on legend (except for Fuel Sim off from now on)... Long weekends, 100% races...

Bahrain Q - 24th, R - 24th(blue flagged)
Australia Q - 24th, R - 24th(blue flagged)
Malaysia (Rain) Q - 11th, R - 24th(retired)
China Q - 23rd, R - 24th(blue flagged)
Spain Q - 24th, R - 23rd(blue flagged)
Monaco Q - 24th, R - 24th(retired)
Turkey Q - 24th, R - 23rd

 

[maciej908]

I find this game very good... especially the multiplayer...
I've started playing it again after 3 months off and i needed to get used to the steering as (my wheel in GT5 900 degress, in F1 2010 180 degress) but then i raced online and won 3 out of 4 races...

I enjoy this game even tho GT5 is better...

 

[upuaut]

When I back to F1 2010 after 2 months in GT5 - same here - I suck. Need time, to recover feeling with F1 cars.

BTW - a look for set up, to on line GP on Suzuka. Someone help me with this?

Regards

 

[Andy-LK]

My wife has just brought me this game, man am I struggling

Ive been playing racing game for many many years and consider myself to be quite good at them but this I'm really finding hard to enjoy

For the people that say this game is easy all i can say is boy you must be good and I must be poor

I have never quit a game before and have seen them through I even complain that GT5 is just way to easy which I feel it is but this game seems to go to total other way being well hard lol

What am I doing wrong guys?

I'm not sure what level I'm trying on it just say`s custom? I can not drive with assets like brake assist so that is turned off, traction is now set at med and abs is one , but no matter what settings I try I always come about 20 in the first practise , Ive got no further lol I start off with places like 2ND but they soon knock me down back to my 20`s

Really thinking of chopping this game in, which is a shame as it looks to be a cool game

Any pointers guys would be well accepted.
Cheers
Andy

 

[Shaggy Alonso]

My wife has just brought me this game, man am I struggling

Ive been playing racing game for many many years and consider myself to be quite good at them but this I'm really finding hard to enjoy

For the people that say this game is easy all i can say is boy you must be good and I must be poor

I have never quit a game before and have seen them through I even complain that GT5 is just way to easy which I feel it is but this game seems to go to total other way being well hard lol

What am I doing wrong guys?

I'm not sure what level I'm trying on it just say`s custom? I can not drive with assets like brake assist so that is turned off, traction is now set at med and abs is one , but no matter what settings I try I always come about 20 in the first practise , Ive got no further lol I start off with places like 2ND but they soon knock me down back to my 20`s

Really thinking of chopping this game in, which is a shame as it looks to be a cool game

Any pointers guys would be well accepted.
Cheers
Andy

To be honest, I find it quite hard to believe that someone who has played racing games for many, many years and finds GT5 'too easy' could possibly struggle with F1 2010. IMO it is one of the most accessible, and easy to drive sims out there.

My guess though is that you're just unfamiliar with the tracks and the best way round them. If you watch the onboard videos on the official F1 website it gives you a good idea of how to take them, or icelt's thread is just as good.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=130765

F1 2010 is remarkably accurate in terms of which racing lines are fastest, I found watching real on-board laps genuinely helped.

 

[Andy-LK]

To be honest, I find it quite hard to believe that someone who has played racing games for many, many years and finds GT5 'too easy' could possibly struggle with F1 2010. IMO it is one of the most accessible, and easy to drive sims out there.

My guess though is that you're just unfamiliar with the tracks and the best way round them. If you watch the onboard videos on the official F1 website it gives you a good idea of how to take them, or icelt's thread is just as good.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=130765

F1 2010 is remarkably accurate in terms of which racing lines are fastest, I found watching real on-board laps genuinely helped.

Must just be me then, cheers for the link I`ll have a look thankyou.

 

[deftonesmx17]

As shaggy said, learning the tracks is key.

 

[BlacqueJacques]

Traction at medium slows you down!

Great racing game!

 

[fissionproject]

The hardest part for me so far is not actually driving the cars

its knowing how hard and fast I can take them through the tracks I don't know well enough - I just need to put in practice time

 

[KWZX10]

Lol, at the beginning i've sucked too, but it's going better... i'm in the lotus, with trulli. 3° in china, 1° in catalunya...at the last corner. Now well, i'm at montecarlo ... i hate that track.