EA Sports WRC: General Discussion

[m355y]

The Hyundai i20 Coupe is a fantastic addition. I love that car, always have. It looks totally different to the current i20, adding it in to the Fiesta and C3 almost completes that class but obviously there's still one missing. One day....

Looking at the liveries, factory Focus livery is a massive one and I love the Stobart one too. Big surprise one is the 2001 SEAT livery, I loved that one back in the day and its great to see it included. The '93 Pilot livery for the Escort Cosworth is a classic and I love the Craig Breen livery for the 208.

So even though this one's not quite as much to my taste in that I could have lived without the Rally 3/4 cars, there's still some good stuff here. I'm looking forward to the Hyundai especially and using the new Focus liveries.

Main disappointments are the lack of the Escort WRC (was dreaming of that in Repsol colours and kinda expecting it based on all the predictions) and the inclusion of the '99 Focus which I just don't see the point of. Far rather the '03 version with the big aggressive aero. This one's so similar to the '01 version.

 

[Meythia]

Random prediction: The final round will probably end up being Rally Saudi Arabia Aramco

Random question that propably has been answered somewhere/a plenty.

In the hybrid cars, does the hybrid battery always exhaust all of its charge once you hit the accelator threshhold?
As a not very sensitive controller player I am having a hard time seeing the benefits of this system.
E.g. I am running up any sharp turn and the braking will charge up enough of the battery to allow for the hybrid power to kick up, but just the slightest touch of R2 (with the most cautious sensitivity the game offers of 70%) almost already activates hybrid and I end up coasting through the whole of the turn instead of dashing away on the "short" straight with the power it ought to deliver.

I can accept lacking the skills to have my fingers press less than 70% on the button, but it kills a bit of the thrill that should come with these class of cars, and propably an option to adjust the sensitivity of the accelarator input in the game could help?

 

[Speedster502]

We were definitely spoilt a bit by the last DLC pack. It's not a bad batch of content, I'm just not sure I'll end up using that much of it in the long run. The i20 will be where my time goes car-wise I think. As others have said it's a shame it's the '99 Focus rather than the later wide car. That said, we wouldn't have had much to run against in that year grouping anyway.

I'm looking forward to the new stages and new liveries for existing models though, that looks like a good selection of stuff.

 

[tbtstt]

Main disappointments are the lack of the Escort WRC (was dreaming of that in Repsol colours and kinda expecting it based on all the predictions) and the inclusion of the '99 Focus which I just don't see the point of. Far rather the '03 version with the big aggressive aero. This one's so similar to the '01 version.

Yeah, I regret buying into the predictions so much now, as I had got myself excited for the EsCos WRC...

...and yeah, as fugly as I think it is, the '03 Focus was a radical redesign and does seem a more worthy inclusion.

 

[tbtstt]

Random question that propably has been answered somewhere/a plenty.

In the hybrid cars, does the hybrid battery always exhaust all of its charge once you hit the accelator threshhold?
As a not very sensitive controller player I am having a hard time seeing the benefits of this system.
E.g. I am running up any sharp turn and the braking will charge up enough of the battery to allow for the hybrid power to kick up, but just the slightest touch of R2 (with the most cautious sensitivity the game offers of 70%) almost already activates hybrid and I end up coasting through the whole of the turn instead of dashing away on the "short" straight with the power it ought to deliver.

I can accept lacking the skills to have my fingers press less than 70% on the button, but it kills a bit of the thrill that should come with these class of cars, and propably an option to adjust the sensitivity of the accelarator input in the game could help?

I am a controller player and have the same issue. I have tried to change my driving style with the hybrids, but it is tricky. I usually try and drive quite aggressively in the slower speed corners and chuck the car into the corner, then I get on the accelerator and use the hybrid boost to pull me out of the corner and back up to speed again... but that can often be easier said than done!

(The problem is probably compounded for me, as I have the accelerator and brake mapped to the buttons and not the triggers)

 

[Ali]

I'm really happy to see more Rally 3 cars being added. Also finally we're getting the white/blue livery for the 206, I always liked that one! The i20 is a cool addition, but I just hope it's more fun to drive than the C3/Fiesta.

 

[MagpieRacer]

We were definitely spoilt a bit by the last DLC pack. It's not a bad batch of content, I'm just not sure I'll end up using that much of it in the long run. The i20 will be where my time goes car-wise I think. As others have said it's a shame it's the '99 Focus rather than the later wide car. That said, we wouldn't have had much to run against in that year grouping anyway.

I'm looking forward to the new stages and new liveries for existing models though, that looks like a good selection of stuff.

Definitely need the ability to filter/choose cars within the classes for custom championships and clubs, would add a lot more life to custom championships. Or if they just created new classes and moved cars around like they have done in the DLCs.

WRC 97-99:
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
Subaru Impreza WRC98
SEAT Cordoba ('99 livery)
Peugeot 206 ('99 livery)
Ford Focus WRC '99

WRC 00-02:
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
Peugeot 206 ('02 livery)
Subaru Impreza WRC2001
Ford Focus RS Rally 2001
SEAT Cordoba ('01 livery)

WRC 03-06:
Citroen Xsara WRC
Peugeot 206 ('03 livery)
Skoda Fabia WRC

WRC 07-11:
Citroen C4 WRC
Ford Focus RS Rally 2008
Subaru Impreza WRC2008

 

[Tool1312]

@PJTierney
This isn't a complaint but is there a reasoning as to the car choices from both DLC, as in why certain cars made the cut and others didn't?

 

[PJTierney]

@PJTierney
This isn't a complaint but is there a reasoning as to the car choices from both DLC, as in why certain cars made the cut and others didn't?

I'm sure there is a reasoning but I don't make the decisions

Usually, a car choice is a combination of:

1. What does the dev team want in the game.
2. What do the players want in the game.
3. What will the licensors allow into the game.

Spoiler: Secret 4th Option

What the dev team can actually make with the time/resources they have available to them.

I can think of a potential rallycross car in DiRT Rally 2.0 that hit [1] and [2], and in theory should have hit [3] but since it didn't get approved it couldn't be added despite the car being almost finished and ready for release.

 

[tbtstt]

I can think of a potential rallycross car in DiRT Rally 2.0 that hit [1] and [2], and in theory should have hit [3] but since it didn't get approved it couldn't be added despite the car being almost finished and ready for release.

Don't remind us: we even had the drivers names in the game... and then it was gone.

 

[Tool1312]

I'm sure there is a reasoning but I don't make the decisions

I know you don't make those sort of decisions, if you did we'd probably have Forza levels of cars lol

 

[PJTierney]

I know you don't make those sort of decisions, if you did we'd probably have Forza levels of cars lol

Maybe not.

I’m of the opinion that a highly focused and well balanced list of 150 cars is better than having 500 cars that attempt to cover anything and everything.

It’s why I was slightly disappointed in Forza Motorsport when their list was revealed, whereas GT Sport is a fine example of a well curated list that takes into consideration how each car is used. My hope was that Motorsport would be exclusively race cars with frequent Balance of Performance tweaks, leaving the wider car building culture to Horizon.

 

[tbtstt]

I’m of the opinion that a highly focused and well balanced list of 150 cars is better than having 500 cars that attempt to cover anything and everything.

100% agree. I said it in a similar chat on the Discord, but Assetto Corsa Competizione is one of my favourite racing games as, although it only includes a small number of cars, each is represented in absolute detail.

 

[Tool1312]

100% agree. I said it in a similar chat on the Discord, but Assetto Corsa Competizione is one of my favourite racing games as, although it only includes a small number of cars, each is represented in absolute detail.

Yeah, ACC has a great car list to choose from. I think an issue can be sometimes too many to choose from, meaning people use their favourites and a lot of cars get forgotten about, no matter how big or small the list is. PCars had a big selection and many don't get used.
Same with any game like this

 

[skazz]

Maybe not.

I’m of the opinion that a highly focused and well balanced list of 150 cars is better than having 500 cars that attempt to cover anything and everything.

It’s why I was slightly disappointed in Forza Motorsport when their list was revealed, whereas GT Sport is a fine example of a well curated list that takes into consideration how each car is used. My hope was that Motorsport would be exclusively race cars with frequent Balance of Performance tweaks, leaving the wider car building culture to Horizon.

I think FM23 got caught in between the ideas of "pure race car simulator", "traditional Forza road car upgrade/collecting", "online focus", "single player experience", "broad realistic track list", "graphical showcase", "first game using the Series X Forzatech engine", etc...

On the other hand, imagining a Forza game in 2023 with only 150 cars would have got them destroyed by the majority of the fanbase. And more importantly they would have had to rescan all 150 cars to approach GT7 levels of fidelity, which would be of little to no use to Horizon.

So yeah, the devs were likely stuck between all these different concepts and the limitations of sharing cars with Horizon (which absolutely needs a huge car list). And so the end result was a bit of everything but not focused on doing any one thing well... Except the physics/controller experience, which was a huge step forward for Forza.


<yes, this is hugely off topic for WRC, sorry>

 

[RYAN]

I just bought the cheaper alternative for £9 from eBay. The other one is nearly £75 !!

I purchased it Last night too, I ordered on Amazon Via Postscript Books... Looking forward to it. The sample available on the Amazon page looked pretty good.

 

[RYAN]

(Edit - Sorry about the double post 😶)

Nice piccy of the new stuff. Oh my that little MK1 looks pretty there 😍

 

[MagpieRacer]

(Edit - Sorry about the double post 😶)

Nice piccy of the new stuff. Oh my that little MK1 looks pretty there 😍


View attachment 1437349

Great pic. I'm actually surprisingly excited to have a bash with the '99 Focus, I thought it would be the one I was least excited for but the nostalgia his seeing it there is strong.

Another one:

Interestingly, neither picture has the Corsa.

 

[RYAN]

Great pic. I'm actually surprisingly excited to have a bash with the '99 Focus, I thought it would be the one I was least excited for but the nostalgia his seeing it there is strong.

Another one:
View attachment 1437456

Interestingly, neither picture has the Corsa.

I agree, Seeing the Focus there does stir up some nostalgia. I guess it being the original model and the Focus McRae is most associated with it makes sense to include it in the game.

 

[Tool1312]

I purchased it Last night too, I ordered on Amazon Via Postscript Books... Looking forward to it. The sample available on the Amazon page looked pretty good.

Mine came this morning, will have a good thumb through later, looks a good book

 

[MagpieRacer]

Patch notes for next week.

EA SPORTS™ WRC - Version 2.3.1 Patch Notes

The “Hard Chargers” Update

www.ea.com

 

[UKMikey]

Patch notes for next week.

EA SPORTS™ WRC - Version 2.3.1 Patch Notes

The “Hard Chargers” Update

www.ea.com

Hard Chargers cars and stages will only be available in Time Trial, Moments, Quick Play and Clubs.

I really hate to be that guy twice in a row but does this mean we can't set up custom championships with the new cars and stages?

 

[MagpieRacer]

I really hate to be that guy twice in a row but does this mean we can't set up custom championships with the new cars and stages?

Custom championships are under quick play I believe aren't they? It's just career mode and the official championship mode they don't appear in.

 

[Tool1312]

Patch notes are out but the only co-driver audio that seems to be addressed is the French one.
The main English one is too low but it's doubtful it'll have been fixed on Tuesday. We'll see.

EA SPORTS™ WRC - Version 2.3.1 Patch Notes

The “Hard Chargers” Update

www.ea.com

 

[Tool1312]

Doesn't seem to any mention of the terrible reflections when driving the C3 WRC in the patch notes

 

[UKMikey]

Patch notes are out but the only co-driver audio that seems to be addressed is the French one.
The main English one is too low but it's doubtful it'll have been fixed on Tuesday. We'll see.

EA SPORTS™ WRC - Version 2.3.1 Patch Notes

The “Hard Chargers” Update

www.ea.com

I've spent a bit of time fiddling with the in-game sound levels but am having some occasional trouble distinguishing right from left or at least "right" from "left" during the Jonathan calls. These days I usually end up checking the on-screen arrows to make sure if there's enough time before the turn.

Hopefully someone mentioned this as a bug report otherwise Codies' devs might not know to fix it.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I really hate to be that guy twice in a row but does this mean we can't set up custom championships with the new cars and stages?

I was playing out with the custom championships last night and was getting the previous DLC content in there so it should be fine, I didn't know those were an option but now I do I'm tempted to abandon career mode and just play those.

 

[UKMikey]

I was playing out with the custom championships last night and was getting the previous DLC content in there so it should be fine, I didn't know those were an option but now I do I'm tempted to abandon career mode and just play those.

I'm thinking of making the jump any year now (in game time). I'm too lazy to set up stages every season and was kinda hoping the game would do it for me. But if that's not the case then I'll have to stitch one together. It's very easy to do and you can save different championships.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I'm thinking of making the jump any year now (in game time). I'm too lazy to set up stages every season and was kinda hoping the game would do it for me. But if that's not the case then I'll have to stitch one together. It's very easy to do and you can save different championships.

I like that you can just randomise the whole thing, it's as good an excuse as any to try out some different car classes I would normally neglect 😀

 

[UKMikey]

I like that you can just randomise the whole thing, it's as good an excuse as any to try out some different car classes I would normally neglect 😀

I forgot about that. This sounds a lot easier than creating a tournament from scratch every time one wants a change. The minute a Stratos punts me into a wall on the first corner I'm hitting the randomise button again, though.

Temptation intensifies. Maybe after the next career year.