Where have you been having your fun?

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simsimsheree
Maybe it's just me, but if I were designing a game, I'd look at the game with the highest participation numbers and study long and hard what exactly it is that made their online so popular.

I agree... SMS seem to be very smart coders. And very dumb game designers.
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simsimsheree
You have an alternative description for people that can put together the basics for an amazing racing simulation, then cripple it on consoles by designing the worst online lobby system ever created? :rolleyes:
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You said it. SMS really need a good game designer on their team, especially one who can design multiplayer systems. GTS already shows that it's actually quite simple to design a really great multiplayer system:

- 3 random events per day,
- 1-click queuing system,
- start times every 20 minutes or so,
- standardized race rules,
- matchmaking based on DR and SR.

It literally only takes a few minutes to enter a well-balanced, full-grid online race in GTS. In PCars2, at least on PS4, there are hardly any lobbies with more than 6 players, it takes ages to navigate the crappy, always-out-of-sync menus, every player configures different rules (which is annoying because you then have to spend time setting up fuel loads, pit strategies, and stuff like that), the races are never well-balanced, and due to the sociological "de_dust effect", 95% of the chosen races are GT3 on Monza.
 
Been using the 1971 Ford Escort MK1 Racing VGTB around Ruapuna, not as fast as the Merc or BMW but out of the tight & twisty corners it's like an angry little wasp buzzing around waiting to sting you, (I have got it in yellow & black to) great fun indeed :)
 
CodeCmdr
You said it. SMS really need a good game designer on their team, especially one who can design multiplayer systems. GTS already shows that it's actually quite simple to design a really great multiplayer system:

- 3 random events per day,
- 1-click queuing system,
- start times every 20 minutes or so,
- standardized race rules,
- matchmaking based on DR and SR.

It literally only takes a few minutes to enter a well-balanced, full-grid online race in GTS. In PCars2, at least on PS4, there are hardly any lobbies with more than 6 players, it takes ages to navigate the crappy, always-out-of-sync menus, every player configures different rules (which is annoying because you then have to spend time setting up fuel loads, pit strategies, and stuff like that), the races are never well-balanced, and due to the sociological "de_dust effect", 95% of the chosen races are GT3 on Monza.
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In fairness, I am not a big fan of Sport Mode on GTS. I feel that any automated stewarding at the moment is simply not capable of getting it right, and the interminable game of Penalty Whackamole that PD are playing ('It's too harsh' - PD allow more contact - 'It's too lenient' - PD penalize more - rinse and repeat ad nauseam!) makes for a pretty schizophrenic experience. You also have the fact that there are at least an order of magnitude (or two!) more players playing GTS on PS4 than playing PC2 on it (this game desperately needs cross-platform gaming!), so the available choice of players on at any one time with comparable skills is enough to populate these Sport Mode rooms but unlikely to be as good in PC2.

For me, as a casual, non-League player (I don't have the schedule or the inclination to join a league), SMS have done EXACTLY what was needed to ensure that it is virtually impossible to create clean casual rooms on consoles. But in GT5/6, I was involved in those almost every day. Any spare time I had, I could fire up the ol' PS3, go to the online lobby system, see EVERYONE that was racing (whether locked or open rooms), read a room title to know what to expect, and join 'clean or kick' rooms that had hosts that could kick the disruptive drivers. Even if the room didn't have totally equally skilled drivers, you could set reverse start grids to give the better drivers the challenge of cleanly passing through the field. You had a huge enough car list that any particular 'PP' level chosen had a decently wide enough car selection that races were seldom (unless deliberately) one-makes. Tire choice was wide enough that less skilled drivers could still pick stickier tires (and the pros could be told to use less grip tires) and the host (and anyone else in the room) could scrutinize each other and make sure no-one cheated.

Every single last one of those features is missing on PC2.

It is stuff like this that basically relegates me to getting my jollies racing the awesome (compared to GT!) AI. The odds of me finding a well stocked clean room, racing much other than GT3/GTE at any random time of day or night on PC2 are close to zero. Well played, SMS!

Thank God for the AI, TOD acceleration and random weather! But beating the AI doesn't quite give you the same rush as beating clean capable drivers...
 
Unfortunately, I don't enjoy the AI in PCars2. There are always parts of the track where they seem to have super-human abilities, and I just don't know whether the AI is cheating due to running with simplified physics constraints (e.g. ignoring wet surfaces), or if I'm really doing something wrong. And the AI difficulty is so inconsistent; I have to fiddle around with the difficulty on every track, car type, and weather type to find the right challenge.
 
CodeCmdr
Unfortunately, I don't enjoy the AI in PCars2. There are always parts of the track where they seem to have super-human abilities, and I just don't know whether the AI is cheating due to running with simplified physics constraints (e.g. ignoring wet surfaces), or if I'm really doing something wrong. And the AI difficulty is so inconsistent; I have to fiddle around with the difficulty on every track, car type, and weather type to find the right challenge.
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For me, part of the enjoyment of the AI is learning those spots where the AI can beat you, and the spots where you can beat the AI, defending like a madman in the spots where they have the edge, and attacking with gusto the spots where they are weak! TBH, that's fairly close to real life. Every driver has his strengths and weaknesses. Responding to each is part of the sport.

And yes, the fact that the AI difficulty scaling is close to completely missing (I find myself needing an over 30 point swing between tracks and classes) is frustrating. But, OTOH, the range of tracks and car classes presents a far higher challenge to SMS to balance them all. IMHO, they gave up a long time ago! It's up to us.

I have a system of starting at the back on a full grid with no practice, give myself a 40-60 min race, and if I'm at the front by the 50% mark, up the slider 5 points. Rinse and repeat. Keep going until you are chasing the top spot by the last few laps.

The real trick is write it down afterwards. That same scaling factor usually equates to a similar experience with other classes, at least for a jumping off point. The AI is also a bit weak on tracks with big elevation changes, strongest on flat tracks. A 10-20 point addition on hilly tracks often gets you in the ballpark.

There are times when I wonder if SMS need to add a 'reporting' feature to the game. I bet that, if all the AI adjustments that players make from the baseline strength they used were added up and averaged, SMS could dial in an offset in an update that could turn the AI into a far more consistent strength.
 
After a couple of rounds of the sports car world championship in the Audi LMP1, I took a break and tried the Caterham at Cadwell last night.

Not many games get the Caterham 'feel' right, but PC2 has it pretty much spot on... really great fun to drive on 'summer' tyres :)
 
I don't remember a game getting front wheel drive car physics right since maybe TOCCA2.

Ran the Clio Championship last night - what an awesome car. Physics nailed!

Ran the Group A Championship at the weekend in the Merc 190... another fabulous car to drive.
 
Stotty
I don't remember a game getting front wheel drive car physics right since maybe TOCCA2.

Ran the Clio Championship last night - what an awesome car. Physics nailed!

Ran the Group A Championship at the weekend in the Merc 190... another fabulous car to drive.
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Man, I can't get the 190 to feel right which I'm gutted about cos I loved it in the first game. In fact the whole of GrA gives me a headache this time around, save the Audi I guess. I'll have to persevere!
 
Stotty
I don't remember a game getting front wheel drive car physics right since maybe TOCCA2.

Ran the Clio Championship last night - what an awesome car. Physics nailed!
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I had kind of forgotten about the Clio for the last few months but I've picked it back up a few times in the last couple of weeks. Had a great race with it at Oulton Park a couple of nights ago. It's a fun little thing to drive but it will still bite me hard if I get a little to bold with it.
 
bleeder
Man, I can't get the 190 to feel right which I'm gutted about cos I loved it in the first game. In fact the whole of GrA gives me a headache this time around, save the Audi I guess. I'll have to persevere!
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It's a bit lively on cold tyres, but for me, is lovely once warmed up... gets eaten alive by the Cossi's on the straights though!

Jezza819
I had kind of forgotten about the Clio for the last few months but I've picked it back up a few times in the last couple of weeks. Had a great race with it at Oulton Park a couple of nights ago. It's a fun little thing to drive but it will still bite me hard if I get a little to bold with it.
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That's the reason I like it. You're really on a knife edge on corner entry... turn in just a fraction too hard, or trail it too much and the rear comes round like lightening. And it's lethal on cold rear tyres :lol:
 
Classic Monza Oval has become my favorite oval and overall one of my favorite tracks in the game. 👍

Been doing endless hot laps and races with the gtr on this track and it just doesn't get old. :)
 
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The 1971 Mercedes AMG 6.8 beast.
Texas Oval.

Tune up the right side of the car as best you can and just hold on. Tires start to fall off after 10 laps. By lap 20 it gets to be a handful. Had a lot of fun running this last night with some friends. We were all surprised at how fun it was. It is like 1970s NASCAR.
 
Vintage GTC - This has become such a brilliant class of racing since the (DLC) Ferrari 250 TR and 250 GT were added to the Aston Martin DBR1/300. Had a couple of races this evening using the 250 TR at Sugo at early dawn - started last and had some great battles with the 250 GT's. The 250 TR has drum brakes, but the 250 GT has discs - lap after lap I was passing the 250 GT on the main straight then losing the place on the brakes. Such enjoyable racing with the AI in these cars - practising for my Monday night league race, the current season of which features the 250 TR v the Aston - a really great matchup.

Ferrari v Aston Pic2.jpg
Ferrari v Aston Pic1.jpg


Above photos from previous rounds - if interested in joining the fun click on the blue links in my signature for full information or message Sick Cylinder. Added by edit - Both Series now full - Reserve Slots only available!

Thank You for this great game SMS - so many enjoyable moments over the last year!
 
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Just had to share this great combination with you all! Select the Lotus 25 1.5 litre V8 F1 car and multi-class with GTC and start last at Monza Historic Combined (you will be in front of the GTC cars) - 15 minutes is a good fun race length. The Lotus 25, Aston Martin DBR1/300 and the Ferrari 250 GT all lap within a fraction of a second, but have different ways of achieving the time.

If this seems like an unrealistic combination - sports cars and single seaters often used to race together in non-championship events in countries where otherwise the field would have been too small in the 1950's. It is difficult to imagine these mixed fields today because health and safety would not allow it, but try this combination as it is great fun!
 
As of late I have gone more into the online racing. Today I got in a great lobby where the highest finishing player with a mic got to pick the next track and the second highest finishing player got to pick the car. Wish there were more lobbies with that much variaty. Some of them don't even change the track, let alone the car class
 
Bruno - road cars no aids and testing some race cars to see if I am capable of racing.
Between yesterday and today will be most I have spent with PC2 in one weekend session.
Even have a blister on index finger from gripping the wheel.

P917 - pretty cool hot lapping on Bruno
 
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I just started playing this even though I purchased the game on sale 1 1/2 years ago.

Been driving the 2016 Mini Countryman RX on the Sakitto Circuit (Japan) on the 3.34 mile GP layout. I felt this would be a good combo to feel out what the game is all about.

This car has been a blast, will reward you when you do it right but will not think twice about punishing you when you get it wrong.

The physics feel awesome, tires and brakes react as you would expect cold with somewhat limited performance and gets better as they warm up. The car acts like you would expect a very short narrow wheelbase to act and running up on curbs you need to use caution :)

I like the idea that the car does not drive like it is on rails but yet the cars reaction is what it should be and not something that is not controllable or the grip transmit what the level it is at. I can say that pushing the limits and getting it right you know you nailed it by how it feels.

Go back and watch the replay and you can see those hell yeah "moments" you felt.

I wish I had of started playing this long ago.
 
@VFOURMAX1 I got a kick out of your description. Very nice and, oh so true

I can't get bored because there are so many tracks and so many cars

I've only just this week reached the Formula A part of my career. And, I haven't touched a single special event yet! This game has enough content to keep me happy (and FRUSTRATED) for another year, easy
 
It's my current status update right now.

30 minute single-class enduro at Watkins Glen with the Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3

- 20 AI
- Clear > Rain > Clear
- Weather synced to race
- 16:00
- Last on the grid
- Rolling start

I was leading around halfway through the race when I pitted first for soft tires. The rain stopped and a dry strip started forming so I went for soft slicks to try and extend the lead. That's two pit stops for me and one Bentley AI. No other AI went for slicks and I ended up 19th.
 
All comments from me related to PS4 standard.

Just did one of the longer races that I have done especially with mixed classes. Chose Ferrari Series, GT3, GTLE and GTO. Track Le Man's Bugetti Circuit. Qualified 16th out of 31 cars. Was surprised that generally speaking the car groups were evenly dispersed amongst the field of cars. As you often times have to do, I was very cautious in the first lap and dropped to the back of the pack. By middle of the race was in 20th or so place. Had one major off track instance and one hard collision that caused from area skirt to get knocked loose. With only 16 laps and no need to pit for tires or fuel. Plugged away and even with light areo damage was still maintain decent pace. Knowing the track, the car and were the A.I. was slower still allowed to make up a few more positions. Finished mid pack.

Overall nice race, its rewarding and challenging knowing that to much contact or off track incidents will kill your race. You have to really watch the A.I. race line, know where they are week, and hope your close enuff to capitalize on the opportunity.

I think the more I race the better PC2 gets and overall my attitude is starting to change were my feelings are moving more towards it being on par and or better overall to PC1.

With this combo and track did not notice any game slow down or weird car physics. Did not have and rain weather settings, not really interested in rain currently when I race.

Keeps getting better n better. I can say now that I can see why people have said PC2 is better then PC1. Myself just had not given PC2 enuff seat time + plus not having things dialed in. When you get it dialed in and use cars that you like and your go to track - what a blast is all I can say. Really enjoy GTLE class.

I can really get the feeling now while playing PC2 of what it is like comparably speaking of watching an IMSA race broadcast and watching cars battle for position lap after lap. Can fully understand how it can take several laps to know where the car ahead is a little weaker. Along with getting your lap just right to set-up the pass and be in position. Really cool stuff!
 
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Since I could never drive this car in GTS for at least another year of griding, I said to myself What The Heck...

Took a spin in the 1967 Ford GT40 Mark IV on modern Spa... What a car! What a track !

I love it...
So good!

I can't believe GTS is preventing me or requiring to work so hard in order to drive such a car...

Although I have said before that I want to grind for my cars as I have done before, but now I may have changed my mind....

Sometimes I just want to be able to get in and drive...

I can't imagine how much better PC3 will be...

For now I will enjoy some more of the GT40 on spa or anywhere for that matter...
 
I didn't actually like the Ford much in PC2 - it felt very heavy at the back, which is probably realistic as it has that huge cast iron engine. Have you tried the Porsche 917K and Ferrari 512M - those really are treats to drive!
 
Had my first LMP-1 experience on Watkins, the other night. Those things are FAST! Man, i could/had to literally shift gears every 1 second :P It was awesome and intense
 
Starting to enjoy Sonoma. I think that it has been back in GT4 days since last spent any time at that track. Right now just using the LMP cars on this track. It's pretty great with the uphill blind corners, sweeping S turns. Overall a good technical, but yet very quick track. Will be adding this track to my roster of favorite tracks. Many more laps to go before being decent at this track.
 
AvolA
I'm trying all sorts of different cars now
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Ah, there is life beyond GT3 ;)

Actually some of the "slower" cars are the most fun-ist. Try the Caterham Seven 620 R, the Olsberg (circuit setup) or the Lotus 25. Don't adjust the cars or you'll lose their character.
 

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