Ferrari Virtual Academy

[Bigbazz]

I haven't played FVA nor have I driven an F1 car. But to be fair, everything I've read indicates that the throttle in modern F1 cars does not have a lot of travel. And with the low inertia of modern F1 engines (even in the V10 era), just touching the throttle lightly has a dramatic effect. Likewise, everything I've read about this year's F1 cars and the return to slick tires shows them to be very understeer prone. So I don't necessarily think this is all together unrealistic.

Watch the cars at monza, as they change down gear the car instantly responds to the gear change and turning is immensly responsive, the oversteer/pointyness of the car when the weight has transfered allows it to easily be steered through the corner. This type of behaviour is not something that you can really feel with the virtual academy f1 simulator. The car feels a lot less pointy and the laptime is to be found with the brakes.

 

[alexpez]

I see Arnaud Lacombe in there with a nice time. Any other notable GT Academy drivers? Did Bastien Barstch run the GTA?

 

[The Outlaw]

I don't see Arnaud on the rankings. What place is he ranked atm?

BTW, Bastien Bartsch = Learner_Driver from GTAcademy. He is also a very experienced iRacer as well, competing in the iRacing WC atm (IIRC)

Another interesting thing to note- Bono Huis (the guy in 2nd atm) is only 16 years old

 

[sonac]

For now I can barely get my time below 59.0s
It's hard

 

[Bigbazz]

I think my opinion of this has changed, i do like the sim, though i still feel pretty sure about the way it drives being strange (full lock on some corners that really shouldnt need it), that said its a pretty solid game and quite enjoyable at that.

My best time currently is 57.771 - theres a couple of tenths here and there but to really get into the top times (56.6 ish) i think you have to drive the car in ways that it wasnt designed. you can manipulate the car into slides to carry more speed through a corner as a remedy to the understeer. I did it by accident and shaved off 0.2s in the first sector though haven't been able to replicate it, im pretty sure drivers are using this to help nail that first corner + the hairpin, though by no means is this something thats easy to do.

 

[Timppaq]

So how long does this run? Didn't find any info on the site.. or am I blind?

 

[Ocer_FI]

It's there, you just need to learn italian
It's on the rules page, but only on italian version of the site.
http://www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com/game/it/regolamento.jsp

Competition runs to end of this year on three tracks.

 

[davissi]

Nice game this, I'm really enjoying playing it nice one Ferrari !. I've got a huge problem with my controls though, the profiler wont work and I've got a steering lock of about 10 degrees lol and no FFB. No matter how hard I try it wont change down the gears properly either, I click down 5 gears into 2nd and its always in 3rd or 4th. Also even though I've mastered how not to lock up it keeps stalling for the big stops(gear shifts again?). I'm doing 57.6's with major braking zone issues, I think the only good thing is I've manage to fluke the brkaing for turn 1 a few times and done quite a few 27.0 first splits which is 4 tenths up on Massa so there's potential. Its a game of brakes and bad controlls for me though unfortunately. I'll have a console setup any day over PC.

Well worth having a go for anyone who hasn't yet.

 

[Terronium-12]

So, I "brought" this today and I'd have to say I'm loving it. Not particularly fond of the downshift (or upshift for that matter) sounds, but everything else is practically top notch. The sounds (when heard from the cockpit) aren't too enthralling, when you're in an alternate view, or watching the replay (the latter for me as I don't know how to change views) it sounds pretty good. I'll upload some videos tomorrow/later on today.

Which reminds me, how do you switch between camera angles?

 

[scoobasteve]

Im pretty sure it's the F1 and F2 buttons.

 

[Terronium-12]

Im pretty sure it's the F1 and F2 buttons.

Thanks! 👍

Now I can actually drive like I have some sense, instead of trying to learn a track I barely know by running through almost every corner with little to almost no applied throttle whatsoever.

 

[TheRisingTide21]

To those who are on the fence, the game is 30% off for the next 48 hours. It comes out to $14.41. Use the following code.

WLNUE-RZ2HU-5W6ZD-HD3TC

 

[Terronium-12]

With F1 2010 out now, I have no idea as to who still plays this.

 

[TheRisingTide21]

With F1 2010 out now, I have no idea as to who still plays this.

With all this whining going on in the various F1 2010 forums, I'm suprised anyone is bothering to play it.

 

[Terronium-12]

With all this whining going on in the various F1 2010 forums, I'm suprised anyone is bothering to play it.

Ah, touché.

Some problems with the game are warranted, others are just nit-picky. Being in this threads makes me want to play FVA now....

 

[TheRisingTide21]

Ah, touché.

Some problems with the game are warranted, others are just nit-picky. Being in this threads makes me want to play FVA now....

Yeah, there are certainly some issues but I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's been a while since I've enjoyed an F1 game as much as F1 2010.

 

[Bigbazz]

I still play this now and again, with only 1 track its kinda limited, but driving wise and FFB wise its miles ahead of F1 2010, so much more fun to drive too.

If you put FVA driving experience with the tracks and career mode of F1 2010, it would be the ultimate F1 game!

Shame that will never happen

 

[davissi]

Its nice to play this game now since I've got the profiler working, it makes a massive difference. I've no idea what brake balance to use or setup or whether 10 laps fuel is fastest or not. I did manage to get towards to 56's though. Compared to GT5 and this F1 2010 seems like cartoon graphics from a 1990 console.

 

[GEORGE_GR33]

Its nice to play this game now since I've got the profiler working, it makes a massive difference. I've no idea what brake balance to use or setup or whether 10 laps fuel is fastest or not. I did manage to get towards to 56's though. Compared to GT5 and this F1 2010 seems like cartoon graphics from a 1990 console.

Hi davissi, I'm a few places above you, I have 57.075. I don't know the corect settings,
I don't have the correct feedback from the car, I can't find the correct steering angle and I don't have any feedback from the brakes.
But your friend EDDSKILL, I think he found the correct settings. I believe he is 8th in the world.

 

[mykem]

I don't see Arnaud on the rankings. What place is he ranked atm?

BTW, Bastien Bartsch = Learner_Driver from GTAcademy. He is also a very experienced iRacer as well, competing in the iRacing WC atm (IIRC)

Another interesting thing to note- Bono Huis (the guy in 2nd atm) is only 16 years old

It's under Total World Ranking (instead of current week):

 

[Louie_Schumii]

Videos from the Fiorano event are up!

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I thought I'd post that the Adrenaline Pack is out to buy. Can't seem to be able to login at the moment, anyone else have this problem? Should be fun to see how realistic the DRS and Kers feel going by onboards.

I wonder if the € 9.90 one includes the other tracks as I only got the initial Fiorano part of it when it first came out.

http://www.ferrarivirtualacademy.com/game/en/index.jsp

 

[Bigbazz]

I got the adrenaline pack earlier (I already had Fiorano from when it was released). This game physics wise just blows everything out of the water, its just amazing. The Ferrari 458 is hands down the best sim car i've ever driven.

Modders managed to import Nordschleife into NetKar Pro, this game runs on the same engine as Netkar so I don't see why it couldnt be put in. You got the best physics in any game with beautiful car modeling and laser scanned tracks, but bland looking graphics (on the tracks) and only 3 actual tracks to choose from. I also don't like that they restrict you, you can't use the F150 Italia at Nurburgring GP for some reason.

Anyway, I love it, I could drive that 458 all day.

 

[hampus_dh]

Watched some onboard of the 458 and wasn't overly impressed.

Strange physics just from looking at it, will have to try it out for the final verdict.

Also read that the physics might be dumbed down some for Ferrari game.

 

[Bigbazz]

Watched some onboard of the 458 and wasn't overly impressed.

Strange physics just from looking at it, will have to try it out for the final verdict.

Also read that the physics might be dumbed down some for Ferrari game.

Physics certaintly aren't dumbed down, feels exactly like NetKar and it certaintly isnt "easy" or doesn't give any impression that its trying to be easy, it feels spot on to be honest, exactly how I imagined the car would drive from watching videos of it and from what i've read about the real car. You really can't judge the physics by a video. I just came from the iRacing forums where all the guys who own it are raving about it and the guys who don't are sniffing their noses up at it after watching the onboard replay.

Not sure who said the physics are dumbed down, but I heard that about FVA when it first came out, before it was praised so highly, most of the people saying it was dumbed down though we're mostly miffed that it didnt feel like the F1 cars in their Rfactor mods. Infact I was one of those people, originally I didn't like it because I had been playing the Rfactor mods, but really the Rfactor mods are micky mouse compared, even the iRacing F1 car is to be honest.

Infact, looking back I even mentioned in this thread that I didnt rate it above an Rfactor mod, back then. But FVA has had a few updates since then, back then I was flat out running Rfactor and only driving FSone2009 mostly so I was way too tuned in to that game to accept something new, I hadn't even joined up to iRacing or purchased NetKar at that point.

If you've played NetKar well then it will feel very familiar, it runs on the same engine as Netkar. In my opinion NetKar and FVA are still by far and away the most realistic sims, even if I'm completely disagreeing with what I said over a year ago in this very thread, lol! I've got more experience now, not to mention a fresh look, as back then I was too poluted by constant racing on Rfactor learning bad driving habbits.


All you need to do is try it, and i'm about 100% sure you will agree it is awesome ^^, atleast as a driving experience.

 

[Saidur_Ali]

I got the adrenaline pack earlier (I already had Fiorano from when it was released). This game physics wise just blows everything out of the water, its just amazing. The Ferrari 458 is hands down the best sim car i've ever driven.

Modders managed to import Nordschleife into NetKar Pro, this game runs on the same engine as Netkar so I don't see why it couldnt be put in. You got the best physics in any game with beautiful car modeling and laser scanned tracks, but bland looking graphics (on the tracks) and only 3 actual tracks to choose from. I also don't like that they restrict you, you can't use the F150 Italia at Nurburgring GP for some reason.

Anyway, I love it, I could drive that 458 all day.

Did you have the Fiorano pack only before or did you also get the other tracks before? It would be awesome if I buy the Adrenaline pack and get the other tracks included for the lower price.

Physics certaintly aren't dumbed down, feels exactly like NetKar and it certaintly isnt "easy" or doesn't give any impression that its trying to be easy, it feels spot on to be honest, exactly how I imagined the car would drive from watching videos of it and from what i've read about the real car. You really can't judge the physics by a video. I just came from the iRacing forums where all the guys who own it are raving about it and the guys who don't are sniffing their noses up at it after watching the onboard replay.

Not sure who said the physics are dumbed down, but I heard that about FVA when it first came out, before it was praised so highly, most of the people saying it was dumbed down though we're mostly miffed that it didnt feel like the F1 cars in their Rfactor mods. Infact I was one of those people, originally I didn't like it because I had been playing the Rfactor mods, but really the Rfactor mods are micky mouse compared, even the iRacing F1 car is to be honest.

Infact, looking back I even mentioned in this thread that I didnt rate it above an Rfactor mod, back then. But FVA has had a few updates since then, back then I was flat out running Rfactor and only driving FSone2009 mostly so I was way too tuned in to that game to accept something new, I hadn't even joined up to iRacing or purchased NetKar at that point.

If you've played NetKar well then it will feel very familiar, it runs on the same engine as Netkar. In my opinion NetKar and FVA are still by far and away the most realistic sims, even if I'm completely disagreeing with what I said over a year ago in this very thread, lol! I've got more experience now, not to mention a fresh look, as back then I was too poluted by constant racing on Rfactor learning bad driving habbits.


All you need to do is try it, and i'm about 100% sure you will agree it is awesome ^^, atleast as a driving experience.

I was mighty impressed with the F10 physics in FVA. The braking was amazing and the force feedback. The best track and car feel I've felt in PC sims / any sim I've played. The netKar engine feels like GT but much more advanced. Can't wait to drive the 458 on the same engine.

 

[hampus_dh]

Physics certaintly aren't dumbed down, feels exactly like NetKar and it certaintly isnt "easy" or doesn't give any impression that its trying to be easy, it feels spot on to be honest, exactly how I imagined the car would drive from watching videos of it and from what i've read about the real car. You really can't judge the physics by a video. I just came from the iRacing forums where all the guys who own it are raving about it and the guys who don't are sniffing their noses up at it after watching the onboard replay.

Not sure who said the physics are dumbed down, but I heard that about FVA when it first came out, before it was praised so highly, most of the people saying it was dumbed down though we're mostly miffed that it didnt feel like the F1 cars in their Rfactor mods. Infact I was one of those people, originally I didn't like it because I had been playing the Rfactor mods, but really the Rfactor mods are micky mouse compared, even the iRacing F1 car is to be honest.

Infact, looking back I even mentioned in this thread that I didnt rate it above an Rfactor mod, back then. But FVA has had a few updates since then, back then I was flat out running Rfactor and only driving FSone2009 mostly so I was way too tuned in to that game to accept something new, I hadn't even joined up to iRacing or purchased NetKar at that point.

If you've played NetKar well then it will feel very familiar, it runs on the same engine as Netkar. In my opinion NetKar and FVA are still by far and away the most realistic sims, even if I'm completely disagreeing with what I said over a year ago in this very thread, lol! I've got more experience now, not to mention a fresh look, as back then I was too poluted by constant racing on Rfactor learning bad driving habbits.

All you need to do is try it, and i'm about 100% sure you will agree it is awesome ^^, atleast as a driving experience.

Yea like i said, just went by the video.

i own Nkpro and i would not go as far as to say it's the best by far.
Some cars are good and some are way to easy. like the old muscle car.
Osetta feels good but for me Iracing's cars are just as good if not better if you stay within the limit.
The cars just look real in behaviour if you look at replays.
Especially the F1 cars if you watch from an onboard and look at the cars ahead.

dont know if that last part made any sense at all.

Never held Rfactor high no matter the mod tbh.

Will try the 458 no doubt.

 

[Bigbazz]

Yea like i said, just went by the video.

i own Nkpro and i would not go as far as to say it's the best by far.
Some cars are good and some are way to easy. like the old muscle car.
Osetta feels good but for me Iracing's cars are just as good if not better if you stay within the limit.
The cars just look real in behaviour if you look at replays.
Especially the F1 cars if you watch from an onboard and look at the cars ahead.

dont know if that last part made any sense at all.

Never held Rfactor high no matter the mod tbh.

Will try the 458 no doubt.

Have you tried the NetKar Vintage since they updated the physics for it? Personally in Netkar I mostly drive the Fiat 500 and the open wheel cars. Though I used to use the Vintage for drifting pre physics update, I haven't actually driven it since they fixed it.

The cars looking right in the replay is more down to the graphical engine, you watch Mclarens inhouse simulator and the cars won't look right in the replay. If you run the Ferrari F10 around the Nurburgring in GT5 it will look much more life like in the replay than it does in FVA, infact it looks more lifelike than the F1 car in iRacing, yet out of all the F10 simulations the one in GT5 is the worst in terms of driving physics realism.

 

[Dude27]

Seems very good to me... you see the guy battling the cars many time on this video... and the sound makes GT5 a shame... I think I will get it:

 

[Crushed]

Anyone know if the Logitech GT wheel will work with this!?