Arcade Mode - Discussion, Hints, Tips and Race Reports

[W3H5]

I know the some of you GT fans aren't big on Arcade Mode...well, stop reading then.

For me and some others like me it is the core of GT's entertainment offering optional damage, weather and time patterns set by the player and any length races from one lap sprints with AI which actually race you to infinite, endless, trance inducing Fiat 500 track battles...OK, less about my personal preferences.

After experimenting with GT5's AM (Arcade Mode) since release, myself and many others managed to find patterns in the AI car selection and raced day in day out to find the best combinations of track, car and race distance to provide the ultimate racing many craved, but never found, in career mode or online.

There is no point me beating around the bush, I hope this thread can gain the same following that the previous Arcade Mode; Hit List & Game Changer thread on GT5 held.

Feel free to put race reports here and also any tips, hint, suggestions for races and general discussion.
First month feedback - what we know:

Damage, tyre wear and fuel consumption options have all been removed from GT6 which were present in the last iteration in the series (GT5). 1 step forward, 2 steps back, if you ask me.

Along with that depressing omission it seems that the AI car selection is not in tune with the player's car selection meaning no more awesome SuperGT races or LeMans showdowns without ridiculously under/over paced additions.

Cano
In short, you have to downplay the pp limit about 150-200 pps in order to more or less get a challenge out of this game. Cute.

I think that is about all the details I could gather for now. Any more insight is welcomed.

 

[altid6]

You are not the only one, looking forward to the arcade mode functions.
This is what we did with arcade mode in GT5. Hoping for more endurance race in CO-OP mode in GT6.
The main issues we had in GT5, with this type of racing, was the lack of options for selecting the AI cars for the race (really hopes that it is possible to choose the cars for an arcade race in GT6). Of cause it will also be cool to have better AI opponents. Finally It would be nice to have some information on the HUD, about the time distance to the car infront of you and the car behind you, not only to the first place car.

6 hours of Spa in CO-OP mode.

This Sunday we had a 6 hours race on the Spa circuit. But it was not just a normal race; it was a race with some extra features.
Setup:
2 PS3 with GT5, connected through LAN and a network switch
2 HD screens set to client and server in the multi screen option
1 laptop with headset and 1 smartphone with headset
1 G25 wheel and pedals installed in a Mazda MX-5.

We drove in arcade and A mode, on the Spa circuit with weather. The car was a Peugeot 908 FAB, with no extra tuning, all standard. Fuel and tire wear and of cause full damage. No driving aids, only ABS on 1.

The reason for this setup and race was to have a test, before planning a 24 hours race on the Le Mans circuit. This was all about fun, co-op and endurance, not money, price cars or awards. The idea behind this and future races is to make the racing experience just a little more realistic, by adding a new dimension to the race, where the driver and a race engineer cooperate to get the win and a lot more complicated driver changes, getting in and out of a real car. And it worked just perfect. The screen the driver looks at has no HUD, so the driver has to rely on the information flow coming from the race engineer, who has a normal HUD on his screen. The race engineer also has control over the pit functions, by using a normal PS3 controller. We downloaded a small program, so the laptop and the smartphone could communicate with a kind of walkie-talkie function, so in that way the driver and the engineer where able to speak to each other.

The race itself was not a big success. We ended up, just outside top ten. The weather was really bad, with 5 hours of rain during the 6 hours of race. That resulted in a couple of really hard crashes and a lot of damage to the car. But that is racing. We had a lot of fun and brought some new life to GT5, so we are looking forward to our 24 hours at Le Mans.

We have also done a 24 hours race in this mode.

 

[W3H5]

I'm wondering if the PP limit settings will bring out certain grids like they did in '5. It'd be nice to be able to have some manipulation of the competition while remaining within the games rules.

I can't agree with the HUD info you want, altid6, I'd much prefer audio readouts or interval info when passing the pit rather than a fixed HUD which, for me, takes away from the immersion somewhat. 6 hours of Spa, though, is impressive. That is the exact kind of thing AM is designed for.

I am looking forward to seeing how the tried and tested SuperGT class holds up on some of the new tracks.

I'm assuming that AM will reuse its default 16 car grid system, or perhaps, if our luck is in, more. *crosses fingers for 24 car grid*

 

[mister dog]

Hahaha that's a bit fanatic ainnit?
What would mom think if she stumbles in on this in her garage?

 

[W3H5]

That, due to my preference for immersion over comfort, is how I would do my endurance races if I had the means. I'd even wear the helmet.

 

[Trux]

Would be nice to earn some credits for racing offline in arcade mode.
They should also rename it as "ArcadeMode" is misleading.
I remember ignoring Arcade Mode in GT 4 for the first few months as I thought the cars would have forced aids etc.
On the contrary though, the cars/physics are the same and the AI is much better than it is in A spec.

 

[research]

Would be nice to earn some credits for racing offline in arcade mode.(1)
They should also rename it as "ArcadeMode" is misleading.(2)
I remember ignoring Arcade Mode in GT 4 for the first few months as I thought the cars would have forced aids etc. On the contrary though, the cars/physics are the same and the AI is much better than it is in A spec.(3)

1. Ding!
2. Ding!
3. Ding!

 

[altid6]

Hahaha that's a bit fanatic ainnit?
What would mom think if she stumbles in on this in her garage?

I woulden know, because it is my garage and my car.
It is only good fun and a nice way to use my racecar during the winter, when it is not possible to race anyway on the real tracks.
Yes they shoulden call it arcade mode, but event creater.

 

[omgitsbees]

The Arcade Mode is only useful to me if I can pick any car in the game I want right from the start. With the option to load a car from my garage.

 

[Roflwaffle]

I (like so many of you on this thread) enjoy playing arcade mode as it offers more of a challenge from A-spec and is more fun. I once did a 99 lapper at Trial Mountain in my Clio V6 and it was one of the most fun things I did on GT5. For the first time the AI were fast and fun to race against as I started the race at Trial Mountain. For the first several laps I battled an Elise and a Honda S2000 for third place. The first round of stops started around lap 30 as the two leaders headed in for fresh rubber and a refill. Between then and lap 35, the rest of the field pitted, me and the S2000 lap 33, the Elise lap 34. The Elise was on a charge for the next few laps passing me and the S2000, then the two leaders. An Imprezza in front started dropping lap times so we quickly caught up to him. At the same time A Mazda RX-7 caught up to us and we had to start driving as fast as we could. We easily passed the Imprezza and on lap 78 we came into the pits with the RX-7 right behind us. A few laps later the Elise came into the pits but we made up a lot of time on him because we pitted earlier so we were right behind him. A couple of laps later the RX-7 took a wild lunge on the S2000 at the top of the hill coming out the second tunnel, which resulted in both going broadside into the barrier. With them out of the way, I passed the Elise and started catching the leader (who I hadn't seen all race). I caught up to the Audi TT on lap 90 and spent the next few laps trying to get past. This slowed us down so the Elise caught up in the last few laps followed closely by the Imprezza who had made up a lot of time. We entered the final lap with me in the lead, the Elise second, the TT third and the Imprezza fourth. The Imprezza managed to pass me and the TT before passing the Elise on the second to last corner because he went wide. Me and the TT also passed him and into the final chicane the Imprezza under steered slightly and I got on the outside of him on the run to the line but the TT was on the inside of him so we dragged to the line. In the end the TT won by 0.065 of a second, followed by me, then the Imprezza, the Elise fourth, then the S2000 and RX-7. There was a full grid of 16 cars but only those ones featured other than a Lancia Delta I battled with on the first lap which ended up ninth. So yeah arcade mode can be a lot of fun to challenge yourself with. 👍

 

[Deko Wolf-GTPT]

Arcade mode was best implemented in Gran Turismo 3. A completely different aspect of the game that had its own personality.

You were required to race (and win) in each circuit in order to unlock more cars, and further circuits. Then, once you have won in all the circuits, you would unlock an ending movie. If you did it again in the hardest difficulty setting, you would unlock an alternative version of the ending movie.

Also, you could take on some Time Attack challenges set by the production team (even Kaz himself posted a time for oyu to beat). Beat these times would unlock you the Panoz race car for you to use in GT Mode.

In Gran Turismo 4, although the same features were missing, you could still do a lot in Arcade mode. As the game would unlock cars depending on what was found in your own garage. So you could take any car found in your garage for a spin without adding any mileage. Oh, and you could pick any available color for said car also.

The Arcade mode in GT5 is barely worth the trouble. I used it twice. Once for the first time just to check it out. The second using the PlayStation EYE as I was testing the head controlled camera feature. That only works in arcade, in the easy difficulty setting.

I say bring back the challenges! Give us something to do in Arcade mode. Something quick and fun just to waste a few minutes.

 

[TheeFrogmanlego]

Arcade mode was best implemented in Gran Turismo 3. A completely different aspect of the game that had its own personality.

You were required to race (and win) in each circuit in order to unlock more cars, and further circuits. Then, once you have won in all the circuits, you would unlock an ending movie. If you did it again in the hardest difficulty setting, you would unlock an alternative version of the ending movie.

Also, you could take on some Time Attack challenges set by the production team (even Kaz himself posted a time for oyu to beat). Beat these times would unlock you the Panoz race car for you to use in GT Mode.

In Gran Turismo 4, although the same features were missing, you could still do a lot in Arcade mode. As the game would unlock cars depending on what was found in your own garage. So you could take any car found in your garage for a spin without adding any mileage. Oh, and you could pick any available color for said car also.

The Arcade mode in GT5 is barely worth the trouble. I used it twice. Once for the first time just to check it out. The second using the PlayStation EYE as I was testing the head controlled camera feature. That only works in arcade, in the easy difficulty setting.

I say bring back the challenges! Give us something to do in Arcade mode. Something quick and fun just to waste a few minutes.

like in GT1... so no gt3 did not have the best arcade mode . one did..

 

[Deko Wolf-GTPT]

like in GT1... so no gt3 did not have the best arcade mode . one did..

GT1 did not have Time Attack like the one in GT3. In the later, if you wanted to set your own times, you'd have to go to free drive. Time Attack was with specific cars in specific tracks. GT3 arcade mode may be just like the original and GT and GT2, but the addition of these car and track specific time attack mode is unique to GT3's arcade mode.

 

[machschnel]

I'm wondering if the PP limit settings will bring out certain grids like they did in '5. It'd be nice to be able to have some manipulation of the competition while remaining within the games rules.

This is crucial. I remember (at least with the HSV Super GT) you couldn't get a full Super GT grid. There would always be a couple random, out of place cars thrown in. Kind or ruined any immersion I had hoped to achieve.

 

[Vendrah]

The Arcade mode in GT5 is barely worth the trouble. I used it twice. Once for the first time just to check it out. The second using the PlayStation EYE as I was testing the head controlled camera feature. That only works in arcade, in the easy difficulty setting.

In GT5 arcade, you can have challange too. But you have to be patient to find the best setup for it. You have to pick the right cars with the right tires. For example, Roflwaffle posts relates what a good setup arcade race would like to be.

A setupable grid, which you can setup the car, starting position and usable tires of each opponent, included with an adjustable detrition, would be amazing. With that, a smarter computer would be very good too.

 

[warp9engage]

I've already spoken about this topic but, since we have this thread about it, I will say again: Arcade Mode is where my replay-ability is in GT. As I am, basically, an offline player, racing the A.I on custom events is what keeps the game varied for me. My hopes are already down for a better Arcade Mode in GT6 thanks to the latest batch of screenshots, but maybe I'm wrong. Fingers crossed because I won't buy GT6 if Arcade isn't improved.

 

[Allek]

I've played career mode just once, and after getting to level 40/40 I've never played it again. Since then I only play on Arcade Mode. I think AM is the essence of GT. You build your scenario and go for it! You can pick a track, car, weather, time, difficulty, set AI aggressiveness, and you're done. I choose infinite laps and drive till I get tired... or hungry.

 

[W3H5]

All in favour of pressing the name issue with PD say ay. Arcade Mode is a misleading title asit givrs an im+age of novice racing wgere in thruth thT couldnt be morr wrong.

 

[Allek]

Agreed. Arcade Mode could be Quick Mode, Scenario Mode, Free Mode or whatever. This word "arcade" should be avoided at all costs in a game that calls itself The Real Driving Simulator. And there's nothing arcadey in it. As I said, I only played career mode for the challenge, to get to level 40, because what I really wanted was to get the money, buy cars and take them to AM to drive them on my own designed tracks.

 

[Malc01]

SHEM - Thanks for bring up the best bits of the Arcade Mode in GT5

I have run so many combinations of car and track against that sweet spot of GT Class cars )

I will most definitely be looking to find how to make the best of it in GT6

And yes a name change is in order!

 

[machschnel]

So GT vs V8 Supercar vs Super GT vs LMP vs Tuner? Perfect example of how important choice of opponents is to Arcade Mode (and even A Spec, though that choice is in Polyphony's hands.).

 

[Allek]

In practice mode there's one-make race option, but those races are too easy and grid has only 8 cars. I wish we could have a full grid of 16 cars from the same manufacturer in AM. Or if we could choose only opponent cars from the same decade, or same model, or same category, or same country, or same continent, and so on... I don't like this crazy mixture. Doesn't look like a serious competition but a Sunday cruise. But still AM is the best part of GT5, imho.

 

[Vendrah]

Same cars with AI doesnt work. You can try it with GT By Citroen Road Car if you want to.
We have no pass because the drivers drive pretty much the same way. The only one who pass or got passed or makes something about passing happenning is the human being. These races are too stable.

 

[Ferrari458Italia]

You are not the only one, looking forward to the arcade mode functions.
This is what we did with arcade mode in GT5. Hoping for more endurance race in CO-OP mode in GT6.
The main issues we had in GT5, with this type of racing, was the lack of options for selecting the AI cars for the race (really hopes that it is possible to choose the cars for an arcade race in GT6). Of cause it will also be cool to have better AI opponents. Finally It would be nice to have some information on the HUD, about the time distance to the car infront of you and the car behind you, not only to the first place car.

6 hours of Spa in CO-OP mode.

This Sunday we had a 6 hours race on the Spa circuit. But it was not just a normal race; it was a race with some extra features.
Setup:
2 PS3 with GT5, connected through LAN and a network switch
2 HD screens set to client and server in the multi screen option
1 laptop with headset and 1 smartphone with headset
1 G25 wheel and pedals installed in a Mazda MX-5.

We drove in arcade and A mode, on the Spa circuit with weather. The car was a Peugeot 908 FAB, with no extra tuning, all standard. Fuel and tire wear and of cause full damage. No driving aids, only ABS on 1.

The reason for this setup and race was to have a test, before planning a 24 hours race on the Le Mans circuit. This was all about fun, co-op and endurance, not money, price cars or awards. The idea behind this and future races is to make the racing experience just a little more realistic, by adding a new dimension to the race, where the driver and a race engineer cooperate to get the win and a lot more complicated driver changes, getting in and out of a real car. And it worked just perfect. The screen the driver looks at has no HUD, so the driver has to rely on the information flow coming from the race engineer, who has a normal HUD on his screen. The race engineer also has control over the pit functions, by using a normal PS3 controller. We downloaded a small program, so the laptop and the smartphone could communicate with a kind of walkie-talkie function, so in that way the driver and the engineer where able to speak to each other.

The race itself was not a big success. We ended up, just outside top ten. The weather was really bad, with 5 hours of rain during the 6 hours of race. That resulted in a couple of really hard crashes and a lot of damage to the car. But that is racing. We had a lot of fun and brought some new life to GT5, so we are looking forward to our 24 hours at Le Mans.

We have also done a 24 hours race in this mode.

Well there's that, LOL

 

[research]

All in favour of pressing the name issue with PD say ay. Arcade Mode is a misleading title asit givrs an im+age of novice racing wgere in thruth thT couldnt be morr wrong.

Shem, what is going ON with your posts? Is there an inside joke with the crazy text that we don't know about? If so- let your AM-loving brothers in on it! lol

Also ay am under the firm belief that Arcade Mode should have it's title changed to.... Event Creator


yeeeaaaaahh BOY!

 

[W3H5]

Shem, what is going ON with your posts? Is there an inside joke with the crazy text that we don't know about? If so- let your AM-loving brothers in on it! lol

Many apologies, the messed up posts are coming from my phone. The new GTP system doesn't agree with my phone making regular posting somewhat of a mission. For now I'm on desktop so there shouldn't be any more irregularities with my posts. Again, sorry.

Regarding Event Creator, that is pretty much AM combined with user defined parameters. It is possible in future renditions of GT that we will see this kind of user based construction available but I fear it may not be for some time yet.

The beauty of AM is that it is computer defined and that we don't have complete control despite the ability to monopolise on algorithms and the element of computer control without user input kind of, for me, makes GT stand apart from a very simplified race creator program which could be completely user controlled making the element of intrigue and challenge something to be missed.

Let's say you want a full race line up of LMP race cars. If you have the ability to manipulate the system then this is achievable. But for what satisfaction? GT may allow you to manipulate a grid to consist of a main line up of LMP race cars due to knowing the systems defaults but just for good measure it will throw in a LM (like my favourite the RX7 LM Race Car) homogenised ( is that the right term?) car set to mix things up. In this way, the imperfection in AM is what makes it more 'perfect' than any career mode GT can offer.

A career mode without damage with races that last 5 laps...where's the immersion in that?

Stay frosty, AM fans, I fear a whirlwind is yet to break upon our GT shore.

 

[jlb]

Ok arcade is where I spend most of my time and I wish it was more like a custom event mode where you could create your own races by:

A Car classing system maybe like shift 2 options like era:60,70,80,90,00
Class:stock,gt,touring,lmp,NASCAR,fgt...
Region:USA ,eu,au,Asia ...
Pp:?-?
Also be able to make one make races

Combinations of these option would create endless racing so you could run 60s USA street cars witch would really be muscle cars or 00 ,Italian street cars witch would be Ferrari and Lamborghini and masariti

It would be great to be able to use grid and 2x rolling starts and a custom champiochip mode

 

[W3H5]

It would be great to be able to use grid and 2x rolling starts and a custom champiochip mode

Not quite a 'custom' championship but at least a championship of some form I managed several times.

If you can find a car which always brings up the same grid of opponents, e.g. the SuperGT GTR in the stock arcade car selection, it's a challenge to choose a handful of tracks and make each race an hour long. Add a personal scoring system and just write down yours and the other car's finishing positions when you complete the race. After you've all the tracks you chose, work out you overall points and see where you rank. Et voila! Championship.....of sorts.

Polite reminder:

Although some speculation is expected in this thread let's try to keep the discussion relevant to the topic and not turn it into a wish list of race reports thread (of GT5 races).*

*At least not until GT6 is actually released, then have at it!

Cheers all.

EDIT: Also, any word on how many cars will be in each race? GT5 fielded 16 including the player in AM. I wonder if it has been increased...

 

[Jarnac]

Online is 16 player...

 

[Roflwaffle]

This is slightly un-related, but does anyone remember the championship in GT3 where you would get a full grid of GT touring cars, but then there would always be a Tommy Kaira ZZ-II ?