A new system for gear shifting which includes neutral gear and clutch. It could work like this:
L2 Shift Down
R2 Shift Up
No more reverse button, you have to engage the first gear, then shift down two times, skipping neutral. The complete sequence could be:
R-N-1-2-3-4-5-6....
Because of the fully analog controller, we can use the shifting button as "clutch levers" too. Totally pressed: clutch disengaged. Totaly depressed: clutch engaged. There will obviously be transitions between these extremities to simulate a real clutch. The clutch/gear shifting buttons will work during gear changes, and you will have to press the buttons gently and/or use some throttle to keep the car from losing control, exatly like in real cars. Pressing L2+R2 will engage the neutral gear, regardless of the current gear.
An Example:
To Start/Shift gear UP
-Start line, neutral gear engaged.
-Fully press the shift gear up button to engage the first gear and the clutch
-Apply some throttle while at the same time slowly depressing the gear button (you're disengaging the clutch)
-Don't do it too harshly or the engine will stop and you'll have to start it again (see below)
To shift gear DOWN/Stop
-Completly press the gear shift down button. You'll engage the clutch aswell
-Apply the amount of throttle necessary to match engine Rpms with those of the shorter gear. If you did this 100% correct you could depress quickly the button to engage the gear the fastest way. If you didn't perfectly match the rpms, you will have to slowly depress the button to let the revs "dissipate" through the clutch.
-To stop and avoid engine stopping the engine, engage the neutral gear or shift to it, if you're in first gear. You may brake to complete stop.
This procedure is intended for beginners (the slow shifting, ecc), when racing you'll have to act much faster but not so fast that the wheels will spin uncontrollably (ruining tires, clutch, making the car lose control, etc), expecially with high powered cars.
Since now we have a free button (triangle), we can use it for more functions. If you're using two sticks for steering/throttle/braking, you can easily press it using the right index finger. A combo of triangle + other buttons could be used to activate left/right turning signal, even if not really necessary in GT (ex: triangle+r1>right turning signal, triangle+l1, left turn.sig.), the horn (triangle+up digital button), an engine starter button, and so on. If these button combinations may look awkard to pull off, just thing that while racing in real life you have, most of the time, to keep both hands on your steering wheel and/or the gear level, and you don't have much time to do many other things.
What do you think of this? Wouldn't it be a great controller setup for Gran Turismo? PD look at this!
