Assetto Corsa | News and General Discussion

[Cote Dazur]

It is no secret that IRacing is more expensive than any other SIM, no contest.
That said, when taking into account the time spent, presumably having fun, using any SIM we purchased or rented, it is hard not to say SIM racing is a very cheap entertainment. So, even though IRacing is more expensive, it also offers exclusive features that some of us have decided, they have to have and it is still cheaper than almost all knowned entertainment, we, petrol head, could be interested in.
I tried IRacing a long time ago, did not like it, but I can see how some are attracted. I sincerely feel sad for anyone over 18 who is interested in IRacing but cannot afford it.

 

[BrandonW77]

It is no secret that IRacing is more expensive than any other SIM, no contest.
That said, when taking into account the time spent, presumably having fun, using any SIM we purchased or rented, it is hard not to say SIM racing is a very cheap entertainment.

Depends on how bad a case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome you have, I've spent well over $2k on gear in the last 6 months alone. I need help.

 

[Cote Dazur]

Depends on how bad a case of Gear Acquisition Syndrome you have, I've spent well over $2k on gear in the last 6 months alone. I need help.

You might need help, , unfortunately for me I have the same issue, .

I am referring to the cost of software, IRacing in this case.

Even taking into account, a basic wheel/pedals/shifter is not really expensive, screen and computer already exist in most houses, the hardware part, it still can be kept really reasonable.

Now if, like you or me, we already have spent what can be seen as unreasonable amounts on hardware, then, the cost of software becomes totally irrelevant.

 

[BrandonW77]

You might need help, , unfortunately for me I have the same issue, .

I am referring to the cost of software, IRacing in this case.

Even taking into account, a basic wheel/pedals/shifter is not really expensive, screen and computer already exist in most houses, the hardware part, it still can be kept really reasonable.

Now if, like you or me, we already have spent what can be seen as unreasonable amounts on hardware, then, the cost of software becomes totally irrelevant.

Back in my console days I always said I was building up my gear to one day be ready for a PC. I had a rig, a wheel, pedals, shifter, even three monitors. The theory was that all I had to do was drop a PC in there one day and I'd be good to go! It's been just over two years since I bought my PC.....and I have replaced every single piece of equipment since then, some have even been replaced twice over (including the PC!). It's a sickness I tell ya. But when you look at the hours of enjoyment to dollars spent it's still cheaper than a lot of other hobbies.

 

[Orayani]

Really? On top of that they already charge as much for one asset as for entire packs in other games?

Yeah, I heard it in some Youtube video last week. Cannot remember if it was ISRTV or some other well known Youtube channel of sim racers.

I think iRacing is fantastic. If you're into straight up virtual racing and you're looking for a well organized platform with as little trolling as possible, I'd say iRacing is your best bet. You're going to pay dearly for those luxuries however. But, if you don't mind sticking to certain series and don't mind staying with 1 car, besides whatever rookie type of car you need to build up your iRating or however they do it, it's not the worst thing in the world to pay a monthly fee.

For myself it would be a ridiculous waste of money because I can go months without "racing", but I like driving every day. Also, I know that there are some trolls on iRacing who will intentionally take you out because they blame you for a wreck in last week's race. Percentage of trolls to users must still be the lowest among the sims, I would think. Although, maybe not. The 35 people who are still playing rF2 probably all get along. That was a cheap dig at rF2. I know they have a decent, active fanbase. I'm immature...sue me.

The other problem I heard in these videos as they spoke of iRacing, if you screw up the race or somebody wipes you out you have to wait a while to rejoin? Some take part in 40 minutes to 1 - 2 hour races. A 2 hour race sounds brutal? That is some concentration.

Paying for your own server as well. $2 doesn't sound much for hosting but it likely will how regular you use it. Especially if one was to race each night. http://www.iracing.com/what-comes-with-membership/

 

[Punknoodle]

I don't use it anywhere near as often as I should, with having no time and all. But the cost doesn't worry me. It's cheaper per year than a bottle of racing brake fluid and an oil change. Not to mention entry fees, tires, etc etc etc. I'll buy a track every now and then for the price of buying my lunch. Big deal.

 

[ALB123]

The other problem I heard in these videos as they spoke of iRacing, if you screw up the race or somebody wipes you out you have to wait a while to rejoin? Some take part in 40 minutes to 1 - 2 hour races. A 2 hour race sounds brutal? That is some concentration.

Paying for your own server as well. $2 doesn't sound much for hosting but it likely will how regular you use it. Especially if one was to race each night. http://www.iracing.com/what-comes-with-membership/

That sounds brutal to me too, but there are many people who can bang those 2 hour races out no problem. It all depends on how serious you want to take it. Some people play these type of games for years and never get a wheel & pedals. Some people are constantly changing equipment (not cheap stuff either) hoping to find that one steering wheel rim that feels most comfortable...that one sequential shifter that doesn't make a loud *click*, or whatever. The good news is that we have a ton of different sims to choose from and a ton of different equipment & rig manufacturers to choose from.

 

[Fredzy]

But when you look at the hours of enjoyment to dollars spent it's still cheaper than a lot of other hobbies.

Hah. It's hard for people to see it as anything other than "a game" though, and in that context it can look silly.

$700 for a PS4, a steering wheel and a game or two sure seemed crazy to my wife last year. My tagline regarding the whole driving sim thing is "it keeps me from doing something stupid." If I didn't have the virtual alternative to scratch that itch, I'd have a third car and no money.

Sim racing is an excellent value as a hobby. A few grand can build you an amazing driving rig. If you're into competitive cycling, similar coin will just get you in the door. Then you'll be surrounded by guys who spent more than that on wheels alone. And if you put the miles in, a PS4 Pro might cover maintenance through August!

 

[Scuderia Paul]

I think it is about time that Marco gave us some more teasers.

or as Google Voice to Text thought I said

I think it is about time that Mark gave us some Maltesers.

 

[35mm]

I think it is about time that Marco gave us some more teasers.

or as Google Voice to Text thought I said

I think it is about time that Mark gave us some Maltesers.

I'm OK with Maltesers. 👍

 

[lancia delta hf]

I'm OK with Maltesers. 👍

The tiny ones you get today or the ones from the 80s they hope everyone has forgot about? Gimme my 80s Cadburys cream eggs back too.

 

[Fredzy]

I think it is about time that Marco gave us some more teasers.

or as Google Voice to Text thought I said

I think it is about time that Mark gave us some Maltesers.

Ha. Meanwhile, in the Gran Turismo forums...

 

[ALB123]

Ha. Meanwhile, in the Gran Turismo forums...

I feel bad for the diehards who are still waiting and waiting for the next title to be released. Especially the players who don't go on forums like this, so they're really in the dark. Would they release a major title like a new GTSport in the summer? I don't know anything about video games...I know GT6 came out just before Christmas, so I thought that maybe November & December were the best months to release a blockbuster title.

 

[lancia delta hf]

Hey PC master race guys, go visit ISR youtube channel if you want to try a new track. An organisation in Holland wanted to build a track and get it on the F1 calendar, so the builta 3D version in AC which they've made available for tye public.

 

[ALB123]

It's a decent circuit. The current configuration would never be approved for Formula 1 racing. The track is too twisty, without enormous runoff areas at every turn. There's also a big banked turn, which was fun for me in my Lotus Evora GTC, but isn't there a rule against banked turns - a certain number of degrees the track can't exceed? Unless I'm mistaken, but I've not seen anything like this sweeping banked left-hander on a modern F1 layout.

Maybe they'll make some design changes and there will be a future for this circuit. Sadly, I'm sure the design changes will remove all of its character. The middle section is fun. So, that would have to go, immediately!

This is the outline.png file that comes with the track so you can see the layout. The black line I drew is approximately where the start finish line is. I forgot to draw an arrow denoting the direction of the track. You would crossing the start/finish line from right to left. That is the direction of travel. Sorry.

 

[BrainsBush]

Hey PC master race guys, go visit ISR youtube channel if you want to try a new track. An organisation in Holland wanted to build a track and get it on the F1 calendar, so the builta 3D version in AC which they've made available for tye public.

yep was also discussed in the F1 thread a couple of weeks ago. Now with the Max hype this is the time for our tiny country to have F1 back home. Renew nostalgic sandy Zandvoort or create a complete new race park in Almere? Great news! If they find the right sponsors, the right attitude and don't forget the politics....And for the fans both Zandvoort and Almere are close to Amsterdam

 

[Stotty]

Last night, I finally managed to tick off an event that's been irritating me for a few nights across this week - GT3 Cup quick race at Brands (on hard difficulty).

The number of times I've been close to chucking my wheel through my TV with this one....

Getting through turn 1 without being punted off, and then making sure you're no lower than 4th coming out of turn 3, without a big gap to the leaders, is a complete crap shoot. At least 10 re-starts to every 1 completed turn 1.

I watched part of my reply from the lead AI drivers car... they aren't governed by the same laws of physics as my car... they can jump on the throttle with wheels on the grass/rumble without spinning, whilst driving round the outside of me

Anyhow, it's done for now - will take a break before having a crack at it on Alien.

Also ticked off gold in the GT3 Cup car at Zandvoort (was c.0.5 off from my 1st hour on day 1 of PP3)... significant difference running it with TC on and off, both in times (0.5s quicker for me with TC off), and the slightly different lines needed. I still think this combo is outstanding and will come back to it again in the future.

The more I play the game, the more I like the physics.

 

[BrainsBush]

@Stotty I now what you mean. I also feel very sorry for my T300 with a unique teeth bite in it.
Exact same 'experience' with GT3 Zandvoort and Cayman Clubsport @spa....it was very late last night before I turned of the PS4 and still no gold...but ooooh the more I play/race this game the more I fall in love with it.

 

[Stotty]

Once I figured out the line through the long sweeping right and the final turn with TC off I got the Zandvoort event fairly quickly (under 20 laps)... both corners have massive bumps just at the point you want to be back on full throttle, and I had a number of 'Homer moments' (d'oh! d'oh! d'oh!) as I kept hitting the gas in 4th only to get the dreaded 'bounce... slight oversteer... correct it... bounce... spear off track in the opposite direction'

The 3rd time this happened I had to give myself a good talking to!

I don't think I have gold in the Cayman at Spa yet... Might be one I go back to this weekend... the GT4 is a fabulous car

 

[ALB123]

I struggle on Zandvoot. I've probably said this 20 times, but I really need to start practicing there more often. It's an interesting layout.

 

[Pellegrino1]

I struggle on Zandvoot. I've probably said this 20 times, but I really need to start practicing there more often. It's an interesting layout.

Once you understand the track you'll find it's so amusing I almost only drive there

 

[Stotty]

Zandvoort is my favorite track in the game... I love how bumpy it is and it has so many good corners.

The chicane towards the end of the lap is a bit of a PITA though.

 

[Nielsen]

Once you understand the track you'll find it's so amusing I almost only drive there

I don't know about this track. I only seem to enjoy myself in the first sector. Interesting driving among the sand dunes though... Must be hell on a windy day.

 

[ALB123]

Once you understand the track you'll find it's so amusing I almost only drive there

I think because I don't have the track memorized, like I do all of the other tracks, it's almost like I get lost in my head. A lot of blind turns and such. It's a true test of a racer's skills.

Zandvoort is my favorite track in the game... I love how bumpy it is and it has so many good corners.

The chicane towards the end of the lap is a bit of a PITA though.

Of course you guys pick the single track in the game that is not laser-scanned as your favorite! It's crazy bumpy. A big problem I have is lifting in places where I need to keep it wide open throttle...either because I didn't plan for the turn so my entry sucked, or I hit the wrong part of the track and allowed my car to get all unsettled. I've always felt that if you can drive fast at Zandvoot, you're going to be able to drive fast anywhere.

 

[BrandonW77]

A big problem I have is lifting in places where I need to keep it wide open throttle...either because I didn't plan for the turn so my entry sucked, or I hit the wrong part of the track and allowed my car to get all unsettled.

There's a few turns on that track that look like you need to lift and brake but you can actually take very fast. Especially that long downhill right-hander, it looks like you need to be cautious through there but you can actually rip through there at nearly full speed in most cars. It takes some attachments and commitment though!

 

[ALB123]

There's a few turns on that track that look like you need to lift and brake but you can actually take very fast. Especially that long downhill right-hander, it looks like you need to be cautious through there but you can actually rip through there at nearly full speed in most cars. It takes some attachments and commitment though!

Exactly. Here I am hitting the brakes when other people are staying flat out.

 

[Stotty]

Of course you guys pick the single track in the game that is not laser-scanned as your favorite! It's crazy bumpy. A big problem I have is lifting in places where I need to keep it wide open throttle...either because I didn't plan for the turn so my entry sucked, or I hit the wrong part of the track and allowed my car to get all unsettled. I've always felt that if you can drive fast at Zandvoot, you're going to be able to drive fast anywhere.

Never realised it wasn't the same quality as the other tracks (ie; lasered). To me, Zandvoort just has an 'Old School' feel to it... the bumps make the cars feel more alive (much like the 'Ring), and having to cope with the bumps makes it even more of a challenge... plus most of the corners are banked, so you can really push in to them.

I like the 1st half of the track best, but then the final 2 corners (and the way they link together) are fabulous... running the GT3 Cup through there last night, with TC off, the bump in the middle of the final corner was causing major oversteer in 4th gear... but an adjustment to line, and approach, meant I ended up almost flat through it... taking a narrower entry with just a longer tiny lift on the way in (rather than a bigger, quick lift then hard gas with TC on), then allowing the car to run right to the outside with minimal steering lock... hang on and hope

The Maserati 250f is pretty sweet there.

 

[BrandonW77]

Exactly. Here I am hitting the brakes when other people are staying flat out.

The AI in R3E taught me how to take the turn. I'd never seen that track before R3E so when I was first driving around it in practice the AI kept ramming my rear bumper which made me realize maybe I didn't need to be lifting so much.

 

[ALB123]

Never realised it wasn't the same quality as the other tracks (ie; lasered). To me, Zandvoort just has an 'Old School' feel to it... the bumps make the cars feel more alive (much like the 'Ring), and having to cope with the bumps makes it even more of a challenge... plus most of the corners are banked, so you can really push in to them.

I like the 1st half of the track best, but then the final 2 corners (and the way they link together) are fabulous... running the GT3 Cup through there last night, with TC off, the bump in the middle of the final corner was causing major oversteer in 4th gear... but an adjustment to line, and approach, meant I ended up almost flat through it... taking a narrower entry with just a longer tiny lift on the way in (rather than a bigger, quick lift then hard gas with TC on), then allowing the car to run right to the outside with minimal steering lock... hang on and hope

The Maserati 250f is pretty sweet there.

You drive the Maserati 250F there? Good God, man! I have trouble with those cars at Monza! That's a flat, straight circuit. I don't know why, but I find the 6 cylinder scarier to drive rather than the 12 cylinder.

The AI in R3E taught me how to take the turn. I'd never seen that track before R3E so when I was first driving around it in practice the AI kept ramming my rear bumper which made me realize maybe I didn't need to be lifting so much.

I'm not sure that I had ever even heard of Zandvoot before purchasing Assetto Corsa. I still remember this... The very first day that I bought AC I drove Zandvoot with the e92 M3. I slammed into the walls so many times or spun into the sand I said to myself, "Well...I'm never drive that one again!" Obviously, I didn't stay true to my word...but, it was just so different from any racing circuit that I drove in Gran Turismo 6. So bumpy! Now I understand that's part of its charm...but boy oh boy was I frustrated that very first day.

 

[Fredzy]

Zandvoort is my favorite track in the game... I love how bumpy it is and it has so many good corners.

The chicane towards the end of the lap is a bit of a PITA though.

I took the 911 GT3 R there last night just for the hell of it. The fast bit through the dunes was undriveable! Literally bounced me off the road if I went flat out

I was able to tune that out with some heavy-handed suspension tinkering, made for a pretty quick Nords tune 👍