Should I move to console racing? Questions about GT5/Forza

[phait]

I haven't owned a console since PlayStation one and prefer to game on PC. Lately I've been looking at GT5 screens and it's amazing. I come from driving PC sims like GTR 2 and Richard Burns Rally. A few things I highly prefer in a sim:

- race setup
- honest physics (I'm not looking for 100% accuracy, but fairly realistic and true to particular car models). I race Porsche 911's/GT3 RS/R's etc
- clean online racing, maybe leagues... a lobby (NFS Shift didn't have one, eugh)
- A full grid and long lap races (not like in NFS Shift where you had 20? cars max and not much more laps, if that)
- Good steering wheel support (like G25/G27)

I also really like to create my own liveries, I know this is possible in Forza but I would imagine it's a lot more time consuming compared to Photoshop and templates on PC.

I guess the reason I'm considering is because it seems the console sims (or "sims"?) have certainly evolved, and I wouldn't have to upgrade my PC again (although it's actually quite good)

[markspeed]

I don't know. There's a lot of things about console races you might not like. The races are usually short, to placate short attention spanded casual players.

A.I. are not very good in either Forza or Gran Turismo.

The physics in both are good. Forza's I have experience with, and Gran Turismo I only know up to 4, but there's lots of talk about 5's physics here to read about.

I've only done a Rivals challenge online in Forza 4 so far. Not any head to head racing yet. But it's probably nice and smooth. And there are clubs to join, with the possibility for leagues to filter out the wall riders.

There is damage in Forza, but it's not like GTR2. You can damage your car quite a bit, and it will affect you car. But not as much as in GTR2. You can't completely immobilize your car. But of course you can ruin your race.


While there are three Ruf's in Forza, none of them is a fully spec'd racing model. And there is no Porsche of any kind. Unless some how they resolve the license issue and they show up as DLC, but that's probably not gonna happen. So no Porsche's for you in Forza.

Forza does not have G25/27 support. But if you want a nice pricey high quality wheel, Fanatec has a Forza wheel, and it's Porsche Turbo wheel quality. And its that price too.

Making you own liveries is time consuming. But there are lots of clubs who probably have lots of decals and designs for you to have or purchase. I've made several of my own decals, and plan to make many more. It can be quite time consuming, but sometimes not that much. My Pepsi logo only took about an hour. Some of the others a bit longer, most less. It depends on how many layers and how complicated the design. And sometimes that be a fun aspect of the game by itself.

Race setup in Forza is ok. Its pretty straight forward. All the usual things are present, except for things like steering rack ratio. Bound/rebound, springs, roll bars, gears/diff, aero, tire pressure, brake pressure and balance. Camber, toe and caster. Ride height.

No radiator or brake cooling settings. So there's a bit less to adjust than in GTR2.

Forza has 12 cars on the grid for most races, sometimes only 8. Depends on the race. But most are 12. But again, the A.I. is not so good in Forza, and I hear it's just as bad in Gran Turismo.


I reccomend caution. If you've got money to burn, think about it long, and if you decide to, look for deals on the console. They've both come down in price, but they're still not dirt cheap. I believe you can now find the X360 with the 320 gig drive for 299. It's probably too late to pick up the Limited Edition of Forza so if you like Muscle Cars you'll have to purchase the Muscle car pack as DLC for 560 microsoft points, probably something like 8 dollars. 800points= 10 dollars. 400= 5 bucks. You figure it out.


Take your time. If you want online racing in Forza an Xbox live Gold account will cost you about 60 bucks a year or 5 dollars a month.

GTR2 has lots of leagues to race in online, and since you've got online already that means they're free. Ya can't beat free, no matter how good any Forza leagues are.


I've become a bit of a Forza fanboy, but it's a step down from GTR2 in terms of realism and racing. It's a fun game for sure. And so far all of the cars are fun to drive. Fun to tune, and fun to race. But it's not like GTR2, or GTL. It's best virtue is that it's quick pick up and play fun. Turn it on, hop in a car and begin fun. But this at the price of not being as involved with the details like GTR2 or GTL. I have both GTR2 and GTL(bought them as a two for one package) and love them. But I don't always want to be so involved in the hardcore sim package. sometimes I just want some fast and fun driving. That's what Forza is good for. That and massive auto variety. And now with Forza 4 the sound is so authentic it rivals GTR2 and GTL in many ways, with all the cars they have in common. GTR2 and GTL still have some ambient, and mechanical sounds hear and there that Forza does not. Like the sounds of pebbles and other bits hitting the underside of the car. The sounds of gravel traps and grass and the like. But engine sounds. Forza is now so realistic with the engine music you won't be able to tell the difference!



But I digress. You must choose for yourself. Don't let me convince you one way or the other. I only recommend that you consider all the options and all the information there is to be had. Because either way, it's a lot of money we're talking about here. And both the Xbox and PS3 are at the end of their life cycles. So you'll have to be upgrading either way you go whether it's sooner or later. GT6 and Forza 5 will no doubt be next Gen console games, so if you wish to continue console racing you'll be upgrading within the next two years for sure. Maybe three, but no longer than that I promise you. I've not heard any serious talk yet, but I've heard rumors that a new console announcement is comming, and once one is out the door, the others follow within a year.

So take your time and weigh your options. ;-)

[Kazumi]

- A full grid and long lap races (not like in NFS Shift where you had 20? cars max and not much more laps, if that)
mhh... Shift got 16 cars on track. especially in one-car racing they can be tough and competitive. GT5 got 16 cars but with rolling start and everything there are still many races were they are seperated too much (compare to pile ups in GT1, 3, Super GT and so on even with similar amount of cars in one class) in offline. well. offline they can always feel like a track day on a local track with idiots around (can only judge Forza from F3) but with a bit of luck you can get good racing too.

dunno about online, probably not worse then Shift in open rooms (it can't be)


imho they are good if you want something different and not GTR2, just with shiny HDR graphics.

if you want a console I'd look at other exclusive games too like gears of war (xbox 360) or uncharted (PS3) :thumbup:

but yeah what I quoted is one thing I'm missing, in GTR2 you can create races or championships with grids of more then 16 cars.

But it's not like GTR2, or GTL. It's best virtue is that it's quick pick up and play fun. Turn it on, hop in a car and begin fun. But this at the price of not being as involved with the details like GTR2 or GTL. I have both GTR2 and GTL(bought them as a two for one package) and love them. But I don't always want to be so involved in the hardcore sim package. sometimes I just want some fast and fun driving. That's what Forza is good for. That and massive auto variety. And now with Forza 4 the sound is so authentic it rivals GTR2 and GTL in many ways, with all the cars they have in common.
:thumbup:

[phait]

Thanks so much guys. I'm sticking with PC sim racing then. :) I'll probably buy into the CARS beta soon actually.

[Homeboy]

Thanks so much guys. I'm sticking with PC sim racing then. :) I'll probably buy into the CARS beta soon actually.

If you're into racing Porsche's, then since EA has the rights to them, and I think the best would be Shift 2. But you have that on PC, so... I like it a lot since I also like Porsche's.

Might want to check the line up of Porsche's in that game?

[phait]

Just thought I'd update. A few weeks ago I tried Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (the limited version of GT5)and an older PS3 F1 game with my new G27. I also tried Forza 3 on 360 (albeit with a gamepad). They both worked quite well, but just doesn't seem to have anything on PC sim racing for me personally.

[sirlisterofsmeg]

Forza 4 Now has a Porche DLC pack
Plenty in there including my 944 Turbo.
Hadnling ans physics pretty much match to real life on the 944 (Back end always stepping out if you floor the throttle to soon exiting a corner etc.)
Still it saves me getting points on my license.

[Highway Racer]

Just thought I'd update. A few weeks ago I tried Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (the limited version of GT5)and an older PS3 F1 game with my new G27. I also tried Forza 3 on 360 (albeit with a gamepad). They both worked quite well, but just doesn't seem to have anything on PC sim racing for me personally.Gran Turismo 5 isn't really for sim lovers(if they have access to a gaming PC that is), but it's hundreds of cars make it a great game for car lovers. The problem is that 4/5 of the game's cars are imported from the PS2 GT's and therefore look quite outdated(think 1999 PC game) and the game has loading times of over 30 seconds.

You shouldn't trust the screens either. The full game has a photo mode which makes screens that way outshine the real deal.

It goes for pretty much all genre's. If you want a true to life sim stick to PC.

[GTAce]

The full game has a photo mode which makes screens that way outshine the real deal.
GT5 photomode doesn't add anything except for some anti-aliasing.
Only in photo travel are higher-poly car models, but not when you make pictures from a replay.

[Merlin0859]

Gran Turismo's main fault if you can call it a fault is it's a driving simulator not a racing simulator. You can set up some interesting races but it's system allows for some non race combos. I tried setting up a race of a certain performance points cars and kept getting an old Buick Regal in the mix! Mind you a good buick but no match for a real race car. The number of cars is staggering but the premiums definitely look best. Remember it's a driving game and not a "race" game and you'll love it! Why not if funds permit play both? I don't get involved in the this or that system is better. My preferred racing platform is the PC but I enjoy both. Heck I'd play Forza as well if I could afford an xbox! Sadly two vices are financially enough for me. Hope that helps some! Take it for what it is and enjoy!