Forza Motorsport General Discussion Thread

[TheAdmiester]

What makes it worse is the general ire towards it was voiced before anyone had ever laid hands on the game. Said ire only worsened when the game released and the upgrades were generally out of reach (technically speaking) once you completed an individual race series and moved onto the next, and subsequently a brand-new car.

My take is that they probably thought the players shouldn't make their mind up until they experienced it, but the fact that the specific levels for unlocks weren't known until we played probably didn't help. They probably knew they'd be changing it soon but wanted to see what people actually said.

In other news, probably related to the bumper deletion bug (and they haven't updated the stock thumbnail, but oh well) - the Giulietta's stock bumper being the Forza type is fixed:

 

[UKMikey]

My take is that they probably thought the players shouldn't make their mind up until they experienced it, but the fact that the specific levels for unlocks weren't known until we played probably didn't help. They probably knew they'd be changing it soon but wanted to see what people actually said.

I think poor communication is at fault. Guess they thought they had it covered with existing feedback channels but the damage has been done.

 

[PJTierney]

You don’t rebalance a progression system and its economy in the space of a week, not a well thought out one anyway. Not to mention the amount of time it takes to implement, QA, certify, compile the release candidate etc.

Maybe this was their “plan B” for if “plan A” proved too controversial. I would not surprised if any AAA game has fallbacks for when their in-game economies and progression systems are too generous/aggressive to hit their expected retention metrics.

Now it seems Level 50 is only for the Achievement hunters, completionists and extreme build experiments (like getting a D car to R). Seems ok to me but I haven’t played since the update.

 

[GBalao888]

How tire compounds were among the last thing you'd unlock during a series never made a lick of sense to me. Glad it was fixed. 👍

The biggest annoyance now would be the price of upgrades. Racing slicks cost 1,700 car points. I think the next step to improving the progression would be reducing the prices of all upgrades by half, now that things are unlocked a little earlier.

That way, engine, drivetrain and aspiration swaps are more manageable as well before you hit car level 50.

 

[syphe]

You don’t rebalance a progression system and its economy in the space of a week, not a well thought out one anyway. Not to mention the amount of time it takes to implement, QA, certify, compile the release candidate etc.

Maybe this was their “plan B” for if “plan A” proved too controversial. I would not surprised if any AAA game has fallbacks for when their in-game economies and progression systems are too generous/aggressive to hit their expected retention metrics.

Now it seems Level 50 is only for the Achievement hunters, completionists and extreme build experiments (like getting a D car to R). Seems ok to me but I haven’t played since the update.

It actually would be nice if levels went well past 50, if you're playing multiplayer it would be cool to see that number just keep going up as you use your favourite GT3 or touring car

 

[MightyL]

It actually would be nice if levels went well past 50, if you're playing multiplayer it would be cool to see that number just keep going up as you use your favourite GT3 or touring car

Exactly my thoughts. Why stop at 50? Bonding with a car only starts at that level... And why they still don't have the analogue odometers working?

 

[Beebo]

Very happy to see the levels have been nerfed, I really didn't enjoy leveling up my Viper ACR to level 23, checking to see if I'd unlocked the widebody, and seeing it pinned to level 45.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

With how fast the rollback has been on the levelling (as @PJTierney points out, that isn’t something that could be whipped up in a few days), as well as the overall amount of problems the game has, I’m honestly under the impression that MS twisted T10’s arm to get the game out the door.

I’m not saying they rushed it; MS has typically been hands off with their studios (a blessing and a curse in some instances), but here I feel as though they couldn’t afford to not have their premier racing game out within the first three years of the new system’s life. I mean if GT can, why can’t Forza? So the end result was a game bereft of the level of polish it’d normally get and design decisions that were probably um-and-aah’d about but were now set in stone with no real time to alter them till after the hard cutoff they were given.

This is all speculation of course, and at its core I actually do love the new physics and multiplayer so far has been very fun, which is something I couldn’t say about past entries for me. It’s just it seems so odd to see a game that’s well fleshed out and whole in some areas, yet so janky and weirdly designed in others.

 

[Bogie 19th]

a game bereft of the level of polish it’d normally get and design decisions that were probably um-and-aah’d about but were now set in stone with no real time to alter them till after the hard cutoff they were given.

I haven't experienced a lack of polish or poor design decisions that are exceeding previous Forza Motorsport games in this new Forza Motorsport 2023. I am on the Series X. On the contrary, Forza Motorsport 7 was the most problematic for me, and that goes beyond their loot boxes.

 

[Kurosaki Dan]

Don't mind me if I say I was enjoying this system, yesterday my BRZ was at level 26 by the end of the Track Day event and I quite enjoyed my time with it, same goes for the Ford Falcon. The only thing I didn't not quite liked was the unlock of pieces being in the same order for all categories of cars, guess that's solved but I'm curious about if the update balanced this system in a good way.

 

[Bogie 19th]

The only thing I didn't not quite liked was the unlock of pieces being in the same order for all categories of cars

I thought about that too, but what would you do differently?

 

[R55NA]

Everyone who said "I like the progression the way it is":

 

[Ak1504]

How tire compounds were among the last thing you'd unlock during a series never made a lick of sense to me.

It was at Lvl 11 before which you can reach after 2 of 6 races if you just do 3 laps practice... If you practice the full session it was even faster... Before it made sense in terms of learning to know the car in stock form... Now its obsolet imo. They should just delete the leveling sytem complete at this point.

 

[Kurosaki Dan]

I thought about that too, but what would you do differently?

I don't know tbh but, how about tuner cars getting body kits, or engine parts/swaps early than cars that should focus in having better handling performance, or are more scarce in the visual section like muscle cars? And so.

But as you see it's not an easy task to try and balance that or come with a better solution than restricting the car upgrading freedom that we used to know.

I quite enjoyed the steps of getting to know the car and detect pros/cons and try to solve them tweaking the setup before just putting the best rubber for example, and we still can do that so as far the player base is happy and play the game, I'm ok with it.

 

[Terronium-12]

It was at Lvl 11 before which you can reach after 2 of 6 races if you just do 3 laps practice... If you practice the full session it was even faster... Before it made sense in terms of learning to know the car in stock form... Now its obsolet imo. They should just delete the leveling sytem complete at this point.

One of the most meaningful upgrades you can immediately make to a stock car is tires. It never made sense that it was one of the final upgrades you'd normally acquire before moving onto the next race series and an entirely new car.

It's not obsolete, it's now balanced in a way that makes far more sense than it originally did.

 

[Jezza819]

You have 6 WEEKS to complete the Events IF you want the free car. In Horizon you have just 1 Week for some cars and nobody complains ?

Do you have to win all of the challenges to get the free car or just finish them all?

I have a question for the players who finished the "career" in a few hours/days. Do you play on the lowest level? Did you start at position 3 or are you just such strong drivers?
I ask because it seems so fast to me.
I myself don't progress that fast. I play on level 7 to 5 depending on track and car. I have a really hard time to achieve the times that are given. That is usually I train 2-3 hours per track ... more familiar routes need less training (Susuka as an example). What I want to say is that I am still so far from the end. That it makes me wonder if I'm just bad at FM or if people rush through it without challenging themselves.

About me
I do not have so much time to play, but 1-2 hours in the evening I usually find. Also, I would call myself a racing game fan, since a good 80-90% of my gaming time is spent on racing games. I am not the best, but certainly not the worst virtual racer. I would describe myself as a better average (in GT7 I'm usually 2-4 seconds slower than the top people, with the exception of the Nordschleife there are significantly more 😅).

I'm playing at level 5. I can hit the practice projected times probably a little better than 50% of the time on a track I'm familiar with. Win rate is about the same so I would say I'm middle ground also.

It's hard for me to play during the week. We have such a long work day that by the time I get home at night I'm exhausted and I end up hitting the couch for a nap instead of playing. Plus it's a hassle to get everything out to play. I have to slide the coffee table out of the way, slide the racing rig about 15ft from the bonus room to in front of the tv, set up the tv tray table for the keyboard and mouse, get the chair from my computer table.

 

[ImaRobot]

You guys know who makes those comparisons right? Lets me give you a tip, he is also posting on this site and everybody knows him.

Emula actually stopped once he got banned for doing what he accused everyone else as, which is completely ironic but incredibly funny. Now he keeps it to Twitter and even there people are calling him out as well.

 

[TokoTurismo]

Everyone who said "I like the progression the way it is":

View attachment 1296021

I'm actually glad T10 made changes to the levelling system. You could still progress with your cars, but it's now made more easier to get them to desired levels like customization. Tbh I WAS getting a tad bit annoyed at not being able to make my cars lose weight and customize them, though IMO the body kit option is still a bit too high. Maybe level 15 would do wonders? Now if only we could have cars actually share car points between each other. That'd be real nice!

 

[R55NA]

I'm actually glad T10 made changes to the levelling system. You could still progress with your cars, but it's now made more easier to get them to desired levels like customization. Tbh I WAS getting a tad bit annoyed at not being able to make my cars lose weight and customize them, though IMO the body kit option is still a bit too high. Maybe level 15 would do wonders? Now if only we could have cars actually share car points between each other. That'd be real nice!

Visual, customisation content locked at a high number is stupid, I agree. Maybe in 3 weeks we will get another update and it will change.

 

[TokoTurismo]

Visual, customisation content locked at a high number is stupid, I agree. Maybe in 3 weeks we will get another update and it will change.

Agreed. Honestly, I would've made the visual customization parts unlocked at level zero if I were T10. Crossing my fingers for another change soon.

 

[sirjim73]

So... after all the voices in the three months leading up to launch questioning the whole "2hr to level up a car", it launched with it anyway only to be walked back in a week?

I mean... right call, but now was only the second-best time to make it...

It still takes 2 hours to level up a car, its just that it doesn't take as long to unlock the important parts.

In my opinion this is much better. We get to use parts within the first Tour , rather than unlocking the best stuff on race 6, but there's still a good incentive to keep going and get to level 50 (manufacturer discounts). Feels like the "best of both worlds" now.

I don't believe they've magically come up with this in 10 days. I agree with those who think this was already on hand as "plan b" but they were waiting for release reaction first.


Also, if you're like me and use the "auto" for the parts, don't forget to reset your car to stock and then redo the auto as it will now give you a different build.

Poor old Famine probably has to rush out a news post now... are you on holiday like you normally are when those GT7 updates release? 😂

 

[Symtex]

For anyone looking for a cheaper DD wheel for Forza. I can report that Cammus C5 works well once you tweak it. It doesn't support the RPM indicator yet but the FFB works.. I did some laps today and I was impress.

 

[FordGTGuy]

The biggest annoyance now would be the price of upgrades. Racing slicks cost 1,700 car points. I think the next step to improving the progression would be reducing the prices of all upgrades by half, now that things are unlocked a little earlier.

That way, engine, drivetrain and aspiration swaps are more manageable as well before you hit car level 50.

Racing Slicks should be expensive.

One of the most meaningful upgrades you can immediately make to a stock car is tires. It never made sense that it was one of the final upgrades you'd normally acquire before moving onto the next race series and an entirely new car.

It's not obsolete, it's now balanced in a way that makes far more sense than it originally did.

The system was helping to prevent people from putting too much tire on a car when it didn't need it.

 

[slthree]

Do any of you know if it's possible to set up a custom race and add AI drivers? I'm currently in a party with my son-in-law but it's just the two of us

If anyone wants to join us you can use my gamertag or maybe it's better to use his because he started the party.

It's vonickman

 

[Famine]

are you on holiday

Haven't had one of those in about a decade.

The system was helping to prevent people from putting too much tire on a car when it didn't need it.

Could probably do with not unlocking all of the tyres all at once then...

Interestingly, GT7 places comfort, sport, and race tyres behind different unlock levels.

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Do any of you know if it's possible to set up a custom race and add AI drivers? I'm currently in a party with my son-in-law but it's just the two of us

If anyone wants to join us you can use my gamertag or maybe it's better to use his because he started the party.

It's vonickman

Sorry, couldn't resist

 

[Nacho Libre]

Well, with the latest AMD driver (23.10.1) I updated and launched the game.
Again, there is a pop-up window claiming that my CPU is not supported and may not lunch.
My lowly 4-core CPU: pttttttt!!!
So, I ignore the window and launch the game anyways, and no issues at all.
My CPU: ha!
After compiling the shaders again, I went to the benchmark, and got 82 fps (with Digital Foundry's suggested video settings)
My CPU: HA, HA!
But in practice that's about the lowest it gets, and on average runs on the high 90's-100 fps (my CPU and GPU: HAHAHA!!!) with virtually no stuttering/screen tearing and that great responsiveness (low input lag) that the consoles, I've learned now, just don't have.

 

[ScottPuss20]

I'm not really bothered by the car leveling system because I don't care too much about modifying my cars in this game. That wasn't the point of focus for me but the changes are definitely welcome.

 

[T0MMY3688]

Ah I see.I thought the only benefit to do the races,apart from wanting to,was a discount in the shop.The lexus is a reward for finishing the enthusiast tour in the builders cup I believe.Same for the other 4 prizr cars,i dont think they are behind a time limited window,I may be wrong though.

the Lexus and other cars in the builders cup isn't limited since those are permanent content. The Acura DPI from the featured tour is lock behind as a reward for completing the first 4 featured tour events and featured tours looks to be time limited events.

So when the current featured tour ends, the first 4 cars added will be permanently available in game but the events to unlock the Acura DPI will likely be unavailable and got replaced by something else in the future. The Acura DPI will be time limited reward to this specific featured tour.

 

[Vitesh Patel]

I have a question for the players who finished the "career" in a few hours/days. Do you play on the lowest level? Did you start at position 3 or are you just such strong drivers?
I ask because it seems so fast to me.
I myself don't progress that fast. I play on level 7 to 5 depending on track and car. I have a really hard time to achieve the times that are given. That is usually I train 2-3 hours per track ... more familiar routes need less training (Susuka as an example). What I want to say is that I am still so far from the end. That it makes me wonder if I'm just bad at FM or if people rush through it without challenging themselves.

I wouldn't worry about others, so long as you're having fun, that's all that matters.

I play on difficulty 7 and started most races in 3rd place. The VIP perk of double credits perk kinda makes the few thousand extra credits for starting lower on the grid not worth it. By the end of the career mode, I had about 3 million credits, more than enough to buy the race cars I wanted.

Plus, the AI can't be trusted on lap 1 in the mid-pack. I've played a bunch of free play races after finishing the Builder's Cup - and they tend to start you at the back. The AI haven't got a clue of how to race with that many cars in close proximity.

The standard race lengths in the career mode aren't long enough in order to have the time to race properly - by which I mean be able to follow a car, see where you're faster, plan out an overtake. You have to make the move immediately so you can go a catch the leader, who is typically a number of seconds up the road and the chase begins.