Bracket racing in GT6, or future game, anyone?

[Strittan]

People might have noticed that I've been quite negative around here lately. I've said for a long time that I was not gonna buy GT6, but I did, and it has gotten me quite excited to be honest. Sure, my opinion about the standard cars still stands, and the sounds and customization are still lacking to say the least, but other than that it feels surprisingly solid.

There is one thing however, that I've kept my hopes up for since Kaz mentioned it would be included in GT2, and that is drag racing. 13 years has passed and still no sign of it, although I think it has been possible to implement all the time.

Bracket racing would fit perfectly in Gran Turismo in my opinion, because it would require only three simple things for PD to include.

• A drag strip
• A functional "christmas tree"
• The ability to set a dial-in time

Bracket racing is a form of drag racing that allows for a handicap between predicted elapsed time of the two cars over a standard distance, typically within the three standard distances (1/8 mile, 1,000 foot, or 1/4 mile) of drag racing.

The effect of the bracket racing rules is to place a premium on consistency of performance of the driver and car rather than on raw speed, which in turn makes victory much less dependent on large infusions of money, and more dependent on mechanical and driving skill, such as reaction times, shifting abilities, and ability to control the car.
Therefore, bracket racing (using the aforementioned handicapping system) is popular with casual weekend racers.
This format allows for a wide variety of cars racing against each other.

Each car chooses a dial-in time before the race, predicting the elapsed time the driver estimates it will take his or her car to cross the finish line. This is usually displayed on one or more windows so the starter can adjust the "christmas tree" starting lights accordingly. The slower car in the race is given the green light before the faster car by a margin of the difference between their two dial-in times.

When a car leaves the starting line, a timer is started for that car. The difference between when the green light comes on and when the car actually moves is called the reaction time. If a driver leaves before the light turns green, he is automatically red-lighted and disqualified for that round unless the opponent commits a more serious violation (crossing a track boundary line, timing block, or touching the barrier).

Breaking out is when a racer manages to cross the finish line in less time that the one he dialed-in beforehand.

• If only one car "breaks out", it is disqualified and the other one wins by default.
• If both cars break out, the one closer to the dial-in time wins.
• A foul start, crossing the boundary line or wall, or failure to be at post-race inspection override any breaking out violations.

In other words, no drag cars, no drag tires, no burnout, no staging, nothing except letting us react to the tree and set our dial-in, is needed to have a fully enjoyable drag racing experience.

So, are you in?

 

[Strittan]

This is how close we were to actually have drag racing in a GT game. A couple of pre-release GT4 shots of cars racing at the Las Vegas drag strip. Something that was not possible in the released product.

 

[happycorey]

I would love to see it with the addition of heads up, but they would really have to focus on it to help it succeed

 

[Strittan]

I would love to see it with the addition of heads up, but they would really have to focus on it to help it succeed

Heads-up racing is awesome of course, and should definitely be an option. Perhaps we should even be given the option to choose between different tree configurations? I.e. 0.500 sportsman, 0.500 pro, and 0.400 pro.

Again, why I believe bracket is the best form of drag racing for the GT franchise though, is because it will allow for any kind of car, with any drivetrain configuration and any amount of power, to compete and be just as competitive as the next one (depending on your reaction times of course). Heads-up racing on the other hand, will be all about who makes the best tune.

 

[CSLACR]

Drag racing will continue to be ignored for the same reason(s) everything else is that's missing from GT.

Even if they think about doing it, they're too busy making concepts strictly for the game(seriously, a fake car made just for a game? Can you say, unlicensed games?) Moon missions, in GT7 we'll be roving Mars, but there will still be 700 cars modeled back from GT3, just "touched up" even more.
In GT7, you'll be able to set fog and barometric pressure readings, but tires will still lose 20% of their grip after the first pit stop of each race, cars will still be untunable, and the microtransaction economy probably pushed even harder.

 

[MrUnknown]

Drag racing will continue to be ignored for the same reason(s) everything else is that's missing from GT.

Even if they think about doing it, they're too busy making concepts strictly for the game(seriously, a fake car made just for a game? Can you say, unlicensed games?) Moon missions, in GT7 we'll be roving Mars, but there will still be 700 cars modeled back from GT3, just "touched up" even more.
In GT7, you'll be able to set fog and barometric pressure readings, but tires will still lose 20% of their grip after the first pit stop of each race, cars will still be untunable, and the microtransaction economy probably pushed even harder.

If they keep pushing us to buy fictitional credits and the game's evolution being VERY slow...

... Then we are doomed.

 

[Strittan]

http://news.xbox.com/2013/12/games-forza-5-economy-update

Doesn't sound like the most realistic representation of drag racing, but better than nothing I guess. We can only hope that PD follows.

 

[MrUnknown]

http://news.xbox.com/2013/12/games-forza-5-economy-update

Doesn't sound like the most realistic representation of drag racing, but better than nothing I guess. We can only hope that PD follows.

With this, no more drags on the Nurburgring's final straight! (Which is good. )

EDIT: And rammers.