What PC simulators should I try next?

  • Thread starter RReed43
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RReed43

RReed43

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Aubrey, Texas
I have only been a console sim racer. I have a PS3 with GT6, and X360 with Forza 4 and F1. I only use GT6 at this point. I drove on Forza a lot but I never liked the driving experience as much as I did GT 6. The sameness added to the intensity needed to perform well in the F1 series caused me to drop it also.

I am waiting for the arrival of my CSW V2 and I am in the process of building a PC for racing. The PC should be pretty capable (i7 3.7G Hz, eVga GT 780 sc graphics and 16 GB memory) I have a PlaySeat with tactile transducers mounted, CSP V2 pedals and a CSS V1 gear shift. I will start with a single monitor but will move to triple monitors over time.

The question I have is what PC simulator should I go to.

I'm not into live racing but I enjoying the challenges that GT6 or Forza provides. I like to drive different cars but having a vast number as provided by GT6 isn't that important to me. I like to learn different tracks and I really like the variety that GT6 provides.

I understand that what people like in a simulator is pretty subjective but I'm looking for some advice and info on what experiences are provided by the available PC simulators so I can select one to start on when I have all the components of my new rig assembled.

Advice and comments please.
 
Hi Reed,
I just made the move to PC myself and have tried a few titles now, but the one I love most is Assetto Corsa. It's got great looks, great sounds, great handling and it's not even finished yet! Infact I play it exclusively now.
I won't be going back to GT6 and I was a fan from the beginning.
In March Project Cars is to be released, these were the two titles I got into PC gaming for. Can't wait!
 
I also recommend Assetto corsa as the nr. 1 choice to learn car behavior, tracks and racecraft, then get into Pcars in spring. These two sims got you covered all the way to consumer VR and onwards.
 
RReed43
I have only been a console sim racer. I have a PS3 with GT6, and X360 with Forza 4 and F1. I only use GT6 at this point. I drove on Forza a lot but I never liked the driving experience as much as I did GT 6. The sameness added to the intensity needed to perform well in the F1 series caused me to drop it also.

I am waiting for the arrival of my CSW V2 and I am in the process of building a PC for racing. The PC should be pretty capable (i7 3.7G Hz, eVga GT 780 sc graphics and 16 GB memory) I have a PlaySeat with tactile transducers mounted, CSP V2 pedals and a CSS V1 gear shift. I will start with a single monitor but will move to triple monitors over time.

The question I have is what PC simulator should I go to.

I'm not into live racing but I enjoying the challenges that GT6 or Forza provides. I like to drive different cars but having a vast number as provided by GT6 isn't that important to me. I like to learn different tracks and I really like the variety that GT6 provides.

I understand that what people like in a simulator is pretty subjective but I'm looking for some advice and info on what experiences are provided by the available PC simulators so I can select one to start on when I have all the components of my new rig assembled.

Advice and comments please.
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surprised no one has mentioned iracing.com cars and tracks lazer scanned, very accurate, within 40thou of real tracks great feel with cspv2 pedals and g27 wheel,only thing you don't feel is gforces. not cheap though. but well worth it.
 
tosue
surprised no one has mentioned iracing.com cars and tracks lazer scanned, very accurate, within 40thou of real tracks great feel with cspv2 pedals and g27 wheel,only thing you don't feel is gforces. not cheap though. but well worth it.
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Worth a look but probably just trial initially, as it can get expensive
 
Yeah I tried iracing, bought a few cars and tracks then realized that it would cost a small fortune to own all the tracks and cars plus membership. I also couldn't commit to a series with my shifts changing weekly.
 
After the investment in a PC and high quality wheel, the only correct answer is: "buy/try everything, it's not as if it costs much money compared to your hardware".

The very minimum you should experience is: Assetto Corsa, rFactor 2, Raceroom Racing Experience, iRacing trial (you can hotlap and experience the quality of the sim with a few month free trial, why not...), Live for Speed, Game Stockcar.

If you are after a structured career mode, then you basically end up with Assetto Corsa (it currently has a limited size career mode which is expected to be extended soon and you can even mod your own career experience), Codemasters games (GRiD Autosport and DiRT 3 are both fun, look good on the PC, have nice AI, but more simcade) and pCARS when it arrives.
If you are happy to just set up races against the AI then Game Stockcar, rFactor 2 and Raceroom (DTM or ADAC GT licensed series) offer good quality AI to fight against.

If you decide you miss the kind of massive car collection and tuning to be found in Forza and Gran Turismo, don't forget that the CSWv2 will feel awesome in GT6 with the recently introduced improved FFB.
 
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Richard Burns Rally + RSRBR2014 is worth trying and was not mentioned here before. The game is old, but fortunately there has been active modding community producing cars, special stages and tuning game physics for RWD-cars, etc.
There is some tinkering to get everything working, but RSRBR has proper installers for packages. Easily worth the effort, only proper rally sim in my opinion. :)
 
RBR is very very awesome, but you really do need to tinker to get it working on a modern PC, and you have to hunt places like EBay to actually buy it. I regard that kind of thing, plus modding for rFactor2/AC is "advanced" PC user activities. Best to start off with the games in their standard form....
 

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