December IGN Pack Announced for the 6th

[SuperShouden]

Not one single car on that list even remotely interests me. Are they going to try to charge real $ for this? I'll just keep waiting for a track pack. With over 500 cars and only 20 something tracks...well you get the picture. FM2 got Road America and later Motegi, FM3 got Nurburgring GP and I hope FM5 will get more than two new tracks in its lifespan.

My main interest lies in the online racing so tracks are more important to me than cars because T10 is now 0-4 in balancing the cars for racing in their games.

If you don't like it, don't buy it. Aren't they still doing the free Data Car? (It's a free car that contains all the data for the cars in the DLC pack, so when you race everyone online, you can see the actual DLC car instead of the "default car." [Default car being the usually brand-less, generic, place-holder car used in place of DLC vehicles when there is no data on for the DLC cars.])

 

[Talon Lardner]

Most everything is already covered except for Radical, Caterham, F1 and Porsche. When racing online though if you want to win, it will not be decided by what your preferred car is, but by what the leaderboard car (s) for that class is/are. I'd find the DLC of cars far more worthwhile if I could actually use them in a race and be competitive.

I will never expect a FM game to deliver a balanced experience. I prefer FM4 to GT5, but in GT5 I can win races in all kinds of different cars in each class.

It really depends on who you race online with, I find. I usually stick to multi-class, stock production, or do a private race with my online group. I do agree that leaderboard cars suck, but I noticed too that a good driver in their favorite car will always beat a bad driver in a leaderboard car he or she cannot control. At least FM4 is more balanced than FM3 in that matter.

 

[ShylockHolmes]

I also find that while driving a non-leaderboard car you're often sent flying off the track by a bad driver in a leaderboard car!

 

[ImaRobot]

I also find that while driving a non-leaderboard car you're often sent flying off the track by a bad driver in a leaderboard car!

I find that being in first your always sent flying off the track -.- Thats my experience from public lobbies. Then it turns into a ram fest for the next few races.

I get paid the day before the pack comes out so hopefully i wont be disappointed. I would buy the cars individually but i might as well get the whole pack and save some money.

 

[E28]

I find that being in first your always sent flying off the track -.- Thats my experience from public lobbies. Then it turns into a ram fest for the next few races.

I get paid the day before the pack comes out so hopefully i wont be disappointed. I would buy the cars individually but i might as well get the whole pack and save some money.

I play tag, and that happens. Despite it not being a race. Plus more taggers equal it being harder to escape, so it's in everyone's best interests to escape.

 

[omgitsbees]

Most everything is already covered except for Radical, Caterham, F1 and Porsche. When racing online though if you want to win, it will not be decided by what your preferred car is, but by what the leaderboard car (s) for that class is/are. I'd find the DLC of cars far more worthwhile if I could actually use them in a race and be competitive.

I will never expect a FM game to deliver a balanced experience. I prefer FM4 to GT5, but in GT5 I can win races in all kinds of different cars in each class.

This just simply is not true at all, i've been competitive in all of the cars i've taken online. And almost none of them have been leaderboard topping machines.

 

[Shant J.]

My patience is running thin...

 

[imported_JJ72]

Most everything is already covered except for Radical, Caterham, F1 and Porsche. When racing online though if you want to win, it will not be decided by what your preferred car is, but by what the leaderboard car (s) for that class is/are. I'd find the DLC of cars far more worthwhile if I could actually use them in a race and be competitive.

I will never expect a FM game to deliver a balanced experience. I prefer FM4 to GT5, but in GT5 I can win races in all kinds of different cars in each class.

Another "it doesn't interest me so how dare they charge everybody money" mentality?

And how do you know if these aren't leaderboard cars? no one has run them yet.

I am doing online racing exclusively too but I do it in leagues where cars are balanced and nobody is shoving other people off, where you can run what you like and what fits your driving style, you know, just a suggestion...

 

[Wolfe]

I am doing online racing exclusively too but I do it in leagues where cars are balanced and nobody is shoving other people off, where you can run what you like and what fits your driving style, you know, just a suggestion...

But obviously the only point to racing online is to win. Having "fun" is for losers.

Seriously, though, there wouldn't be so many rollovers online if people didn't always insist on having the stiffest, grippiest cars they can. On my cars with saved tunes, I have two sets -- "street" and "circuit." I drive with the "street" settings because that's what I like, but when I can't match the mechanical grip of the cars around me I have the option of switching to "Race" tires and suspension. Which everyone else inevitably has, because they're so blindly focused on winning.

If you restrain yourself in picking suspension/tire upgrades, you can easily end up being the fastest car in the straights. As someone who prefers tight corners and handling mods, it's an odd feeling to be the one rocketing ahead of everyone. But it's a good feeling when I still have enough grip to stay there.

 

[ShylockHolmes]

This just simply is not true at all, i've been competitive in all of the cars i've taken online. And almost none of them have been leaderboard topping machines.

Actually , it is true. The leaderboards even show it to be true. By competitive I don't mean finishing the race, I mean winning it.

If you want me to prove how true it is, lets go race C class and I'll get my Dart out.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

That depends, how fast are we talking? I consider anything in the top 1-2% pretty fast in regards to Leaderboards, and I see some pretty varied metal in events. Up until recently, I was using Scaff's FR Micra to attack the RWD event at Infineon. I think even he'll admit it's hardly an ideal platform - the weight balance and CoG being the big issues here. Yet I was able to take out Elises, AMC's, and Darts with it. Only once I was putting more than 15min into each target did I switch to the Elise for money-making duty.

If winning online is the only concern, and you want evenly matched machines, then this probably isn't the game for you. Every racing game that has multiple cars per class will end up having a few bubble to the top - it happens in real life too. Despite best intentions at levelling the playing field, it's bound to happen.

 

[Luminis]

If winning online is the only concern, and you want evenly matched machines, then this probably isn't the game for you.

Unless, of course, you were to join a racing league of sorts

 

[ShylockHolmes]

GT5 manages to balance the field. What would be best for us all would be a T10/PD merger for a multiplat Gran Forza. Too bad they're both internally owned.

 

[Luminis]

That wouldn't work out, at all. T10 and PD focus on completely different aspects of their respective games and, further more, seem to follow completely different, even contradicting mindsets.

One thing that T10 should copy from them, though, is the ability to set additional restrictions, such as minimum weight, maximum power/torque, tyre compounds, and so on.

It gives players the ability to balance the game themselves, no matter whether the respecitive system for measuring a car's overall performance works well or not.

 

[Scaff]

That depends, how fast are we talking? I consider anything in the top 1-2% pretty fast in regards to Leaderboards, and I see some pretty varied metal in events. Up until recently, I was using Scaff's FR Micra to attack the RWD event at Infineon. I think even he'll admit it's hardly an ideal platform - the weight balance and CoG being the big issues here. Yet I was able to take out Elises, AMC's, and Darts with it. Only once I was putting more than 15min into each target did I switch to the Elise for money-making duty.

If winning online is the only concern, and you want evenly matched machines, then this probably isn't the game for you. Every racing game that has multiple cars per class will end up having a few bubble to the top - it happens in real life too. Despite best intentions at levelling the playing field, it's bound to happen.

Oh its certainly far from the ideal base car.....





...but it is fun.

More importantly anyone who's in the GTP Car Club can try what Slip is taking about for themselves, as its shared.

It does also highlight that a car that doesn't dominate the leaderboards as an easy favourite can run competitively on-line.

I would however agree with the call for more specific settings for on-line racing to allow hosts greater control.


Scaff

 

[t.o.]

I would however agree with the call for more specific settings for on-line racing to allow hosts greater control.


Scaff

What things in particular you're looking for? I know a few things I have in mind just like to read your list.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

Oh, it is a ton of fun, that Micra 👍

Yes, perhaps I should've added that more restriction options, like max power / min weight, drivetrain, tire compound, and all those would be handy. Limiters and ballast also help, especially in a SuperGT-style championship where each round's winner gains some weight.

That said, I can't help but think people are turning on huge blinders announcing that GT5 balances the field. A quick look at nearly every Time Trial shows there's always, always certain cars that dominate the leaderboards (hello R390 Road Car).

NINJA-EDIT: Actually, an option for Stock Only, like Rivals, would be handy too.

 

[Bogie 19th]

Amazing DLC pack no doubt. I would buy this for the Fiero alone. Best racer on console keeps getting better.

 

[omgitsbees]

GT5 manages to balance the field. What would be best for us all would be a T10/PD merger for a multiplat Gran Forza. Too bad they're both internally owned.

It was easy for PD to balance their game when it was built off a framework from Gran Turismo 1 and the level of upgrades and customization is very small in comparison to FM4. Gran Turismo has changed very little since the first game.

 

[Fezz_ST]

Just bought a season pass since the first 2 DLC have been epic

 

[FosterG]

Just bought a season pass since the first 2 DLC have been epic

Think I may have to follow suit and buy one as well, there are a couple of cars in the new one that I really want to get my hands on.

 

[drivatar]

One thing that T10 should copy from them, though, is the ability to set additional restrictions, such as minimum weight, maximum power/torque, tyre compounds, and so on.

You can set most of these restrictions and much more in custom lobbies.

 

[E28]

Think I may have to follow suit and buy one as well, there are a couple of cars in the new one that I really want to get my hands on.

Yeah. I'll buy a season pass at some point.

I may win a DLC code though...

 

[Wolfe]

You can set most of these restrictions and much more in custom lobbies.

That's what I was thinking. I can't connect to XBL from where I am to see what specific settings are available, but I know you can force Stock Only, like SlipZtrEm wanted. That and much more is all tucked away, multiple pages into the race options menu.

One idea I had with the advanced options is for a "merged class" stock production race. The custom lobby allows PI restrictions down to the integer, so you could have an A/B-class race with a limit of 450-550 PI, for example. Theoretically, that's no less balanced than a straight A-class race spanning 500-600 PI, and it would change things up a bit.

I also thought of incorporating the DLC Dodge Charger into a "Cops vs Speeders" game, taking a cue from the ramming-friendly playground modes we already have. There's all sorts of stuff you can do.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

For those wondering how it sounds *cough* Terronium *cough*:



(Pardon the lousy driving, I'm still not very comfortable with FK, especially in this thing)

 

[Terronium-12]

Good lord. That thing goes.

 

[omgitsbees]

Not much longer to go before the DLC is finally out for everyone.

 

[FosterG]

Sounds good too! One hour to go.

 

[buttsneeze]

Er, four hours. XBL updates at 2am Pacific.

 

[STIGGY_34]

sooo what time approx. is that in Oz????