First impressions

[jeff]

First off - AWESOME GAME!!

Even though I have only played for 2 hours I am in awe of its greatness so much that I had to come here and post on what I liked and of course I will also have a little bitch about things in a constructive way.

Drifting is hard but it makes this game stand out from the boring slot car likeness every other racing sim has.

The default control layout sucks. It isn't easy to reach everything in the heat of the game.
My layout is:

arrow keys = gas/brakes/steering

w = up gear
s = down gear
space = engage clutch

enter/return = start car (important because i suck and stall)

My little how to on easy drifting (that would probably blow your engine in real life) using the GT on any map

1. Approach a bend in 2nd or 3rd at around 45-60 K/PH (I am in Australia we use Ks)
2. 3-5 seconds before the bend knock it into 1st and engage the clutch straight away (you should lose traction, this will do an engine brake, but in these fast cars it will just spin the wheels)
3. Start turning (you should start drifting) then when you fell like it put it into 2nd and rev it all the way then engage the clutch
4.Hold it by steering the opposite way
5.Have fun

I hope that makes sense. If it doesn't then write up a better how to and I will give you props.

I would like allot more smoke out of the wheels. Nothing indicates your wheels are loosing traction like smoke.

At first I kept under steering because I was going way too fast, but the game graphically doesn't make you seem like you are going very fast. I'm not sure why or how to fix it.

The tracks don't seem like drift tracks. I might just be uneducated in drifting but I would like to see the default map as a parking lot.

Why no replays from the devs in the install? I will assume that even the devs find it hard to go a whole lap without smashing or stalling. If that is the case, I am sure people wont mind if you cut the replays to just show what is possible.

Last but not least handbrake.. oh how i want it

Thanks again.

[clytle374]

Drifting with the keyboard? That's impressive.

[thelusiv]

The reason for no replays included with the game is that only one replay is handled at this time...we left that space for you to record yours. Next release should have a way to support more than one replay, then we may include some samples. We need some "demos" anyway that people can use to do benchmarks, I am working on some benchmarking routines now...

Handbrakes are coming, probably also in the next version.

Nice drifting howto I think the G4 will probably drift pretty well also, the TL might be a little harder but it's possible. The other cars are harder than my drifting skills can manage...

Also your key setup is a little better than ours because it can be done with two hands, rather than one. One other thing you can do, if you'd rather not use space for engage clutch, is set the engage clutch controls to the same thing as both your shift keys. This will set your keys up so that when you let go of the key to shift, it will engage the clutch. So, you press W to shift up, then it shifts but the clutch is still in until you let go of the key.

[clytle374]

Is there some sort of damp-ing in the steering input? Just curious, seem like a full left/right/center would cause some weird things in real physics.

Cory

[thelusiv]

Is there some sort of damp-ing in the steering input? Just curious, seem like a full left/right/center would cause some weird things in real physics.

Yes, there's some adjustment to what the player directs the car to do with the keyboard and how much the wheels are actually turned. We try to smooth out the turn instead of just making the wheels go directly all the way to the left or right, and likewise on the way back to center.

[jeff]

The reason for no replays included with the game is that only one replay is handled at this time...we left that space for you to record yours. Next release should have a way to support more than one replay, then we may include some samples. We need some "demos" anyway that people can use to do benchmarks, I am working on some benchmarking routines now...

That makes sense. Cant wait!

Also your key setup is a little better than ours because it can be done with two hands, rather than one. One other thing you can do, if you'd rather not use space for engage clutch, is set the engage clutch controls to the same thing as both your shift keys. This will set your keys up so that when you let go of the key to shift, it will engage the clutch. So, you press W to shift up, then it shifts but the clutch is still in until you let go of the key.

I did notice this from the default setup and I think it is great that you can do that but I guess it is my driving style to let the gear rev most of the way befor lifting the clutch (with the piss weak cars I drive in real life that is what you need to do if you want to loose traction)

Also note in Australia our drivers side is on the right and we drive on the left hand side of the road. So my left hand in real life changes gears.


Does anyone else have some tips with drifting?

[jeff]

I just used the G4 after you pointed it out thelusiv and it was awesome.

Loads of fun. I ll practive more then post up a recording soon.

Cheers!

[jeff]

One other note on my first impression was that the speedo doesnt show to speed of the wheels it shows how fast the car its self is moving which isnt realistic.

I am yet to see a racing sim that shows the wheel speed instead of what a cop you would you over for.

I'm not sure how hard it would be to implement the speed of the wheels, also considering every car has different size wheels and all that but it would be unique to have both speeds for recording purposes.

If you guys make a game mode where you get points for the complexity of drifts then this would come in handy.

[thelusiv]

Good point about the speedometer, I've noticed that before too. I think the game does know about the radius of the wheels so it shouldn't be very hard to change the way the speed is calculated.

Glad you like the G4.

The only general drifting tips I can give you are pretty common drifting techniques. The idea is to make the car oversteer. Enter turns early, cut the car sharply at a decent speed, trail brake, and try to shift the momentum of the car to carry it around the corner while you countersteer. It sounds like you've got the idea already. You can use engine braking to get the rear end loose, we'll work on getting a handbrake soon to help a little more

edit: btw, if you want a little more control, try pressing your mouse's middle button, which will turn on mouse steering.

[jeff]

Whoa the mouse is really different!

You just threw me right into analogue steering!! Straight into the deep end after using the keyboard. I don’t think ill be using that. I might dig out my old non force feed back wheel.

The mouse is way too hard for my miniscule size brain to comprehend.

[thelusiv]

I usually use my Logitech Wingman to play, but occasionally I hook up my Logitech Momo steering wheel. This is I think the best way to play. My wheel is nothing fancy, it does have force feedback but no support on Linux. The flippers don't work so well anymore. Anyway analog controls are the bees knees for racing games, no doubt

[joevenzon]

I originally had the speedo set up to the wheels, but I wasn't sure what wheel (or combination of wheels) was used to determine the speed on real cars. Do you guys know? Also, I think it might throw off some users. Maybe we can add an option so you can choose either your real speed or the wheel-based measurement to be displayed on the speedo.

[thelusiv]

Yeah, I think I remember VDrift being that way long ago.

I think the best way would be to measure the speed at both the drive wheels and then average it? I'm not sure how cars really do it. Oh wait, I know. My speedometer cable is connected to my transmission...so it's more likely actually measured at the axle, or close to it.

[joevenzon]

My thought is that it wouldn't be measured at the drive wheel, because then you would get crazy results when you're peeling out. I don't remember that happening in real life, although it's not like I've tested it very thoroughly.

[thelusiv]

Well here's an interesting thought...in real life if you change the overall diameter of the drive wheels, this will make the speedometer inaccurate...so should we be this realistic?