Gotta add something here about the physics..
Because, some of the people here really believes that FM4 has "better" physics just because of "tire models", and that itself makes me laugh. Since, everyone who has played the FM4 should have noticed that track surfaces are all the same, it has no different layouts and it doesnt matter do you drive on concrete or tarmac, it feels and acts exactly same way, so how does tire model (only) makes it better in physics when the surface itself is all wrong.
Sorry but that it totally and utterly incorrect, track surface variation most certainly does exist in FM4 and most certainly has an effect on the car.
Two examples spring to mind straight away. The very rough concrete surface of Sunset Bend at Sebring is well modelled and has a considerable effect on the car in FM4; as do the cobbles on the start/finish straight and street hairpin at Rally d Positano.
Drive over these surfaces with the telemetry running in FM4 and the impact on the suspension (when compared to the rest of the track) can be quite clearly seen, its also very evident in the cars attitude when driving.
I also don't believe anyone has said that its 'only' the tyre model.
Besides, GT5 lacks only about the actual deformation modelling, but tires does act like proper tires, this has been tested by our drivers from AKK Motorsport in Finland.
How can it act like a proper tyre without deformation?
Deformation (across all axis) is key to how a tyre reacts, as such I find it strange that you dismiss it as the 'only' thing missing, its rather a fundamental part to have missing. PD themselves have never made any pretence that they have based the tyre physics on any real world data. Testing that members have done here at GTP has shown that changing compounds simply acts as a grip multiplier regardless of the car (so you can have a Corvette and a MINI pulling the same lat-g on the same compound - which given the very different natures of the cars simply should not be the case).
I've checked the AKK website and can find no mention of this, as its quite a key area I would be very interested to see some of the information and results from this testing.
In a conclusion, there is no other "sim" like game on consoles than GT5 up to date, BUT it isnt 100% accurate, naturally because having 100% simulator is nearly impossible these days, it would need cars that are modelled all the way from inside out, every bolt, plug, piston etc. And I dont know any game that has such modelled cars, correct me if I'm wrong.
Senior member of AKK Motorsport
No one disputes that the premium cars in GT5 are modelled stunningly well, but the surface gloss only serves at times to hide the shortcomings of the physics engine.
PD do a lot well, but the I find it odd that you seem happy to dismiss the lack of a serious tyre model so easily.
