Gran Turismo 4: Learning Curve

[JohnBM01]

GTPlanet, hello again.

The topic you see here focuses on the learning curve. As you may know, when a person just gets into racing, racing games, or cars period, there will be some kind of implied "racing for dummies" embedded in the upcoming GT4. In this topic, let's focus on the learning curve. In so, I'll start, since I started this topic and every voice matters (including mine).

First off, I'd like to welcome all people who just caught Gran Turismo fever. I'd like to welcome people who just got into auto racing. I'd like to show that GT games aren't all that hard as long as you have the proper mechanics down. Even I have taken test runs in my mother's van, and recently went go-karting (realistic ones in an indoor karting track). Of course that time, I felt my neck and shoulders hurting, plus I was real weak after racing. But for me to race a Mini Cooper all the way up to a Toyota GT-One TS020 and all the way to the fantasy F1 cars, I had to learn GT racing and how to control the cars. If you are on some sort of learning curve in some games, there are auto braking, and even some auto steering. Guess what? You won't get that in Gran Turismo 4. So you'll have to learn the hard way in GT4. Some will tell you that ASM and TCS makes racing easier. But when you take license tests, you have to race cars without the TCS on (GT3 had some tests with TCS on). If you learn the mechanics of racing, you will be good to using the driver aids when you want to.

Let's discuss the learning curve that new GT racers will have to contend with.

 

[Z E V]

Well, beginners have to learn a whole bunch of real life concepts to learn how to play GT well, as opposed to holding the accelorator and steering in Need For Speed (I should know, I own almost all of them, though in NFS:HP2 you actually do use the brakes...) or other 'arcade' style games games. If new players take the learning period as more of an experimenting experience it is much less frustrating, and much more fun. Getting bored with the License Tests beating the crap out of you? Take a car out in free drive and do some donuts and tinker with corners a bit. But the good thing is GT games have always been structured very well so that the learning curve is a rather steady progression and you are not babied, nor pushed into things without preparation. I know that I actually enjoy doing the tests as a refresher course when starting a new GT game (or restarting an old one). But a weird thing happens when you start getting good, you realize ACM and TCS are holding you back, you discover the wonders of oversteer (and hence stop understeering into walls, but instead try to avoid spinning), and start reaching for the personal title of Nutter Bastard by trying to become proficient with the tuned up Speed 12 without assists (and drift cornering in it).
I ramble and I know it, it's 5:41 and I haven't slept and I still need to do the laundry. This is my first post in like a year...

 

[Z E V]

BTW in my oppinion the best new feature in GT4 is being able to turn off driver assists before the race, nothing sucks like understeering into the wall in the first corner because you forgot to go through 4 menu screens just to turn something off that isn't even in the car in real life. Quiting and going back to change things screws up your average.

 

[T5-R]

Originally posted by Z E V
BTW in my oppinion the best new feature in GT4 is being able to turn off driver assists before the race, nothing sucks like understeering into the wall in the first corner because you forgot to go through 4 menu screens just to turn something off that isn't even in the car in real life. Quiting and going back to change things screws up your average.

Yeah its damn annoying. I remember the Zonda barely attempting to go around the corners in GT3, just because I forgot to turn off the aids.

 

[JohnBM01]

I think that beginners can choose to have a special "Gran Turismo 101" information center which features racing terms, racing techniques, track guides to faster and better lap times, including some miscellaneous information that can be seen and taken for free to all Gran Turismo racers. Think about it. An information center you can visit to learn more about racing if you don't already. The "miscellaneous" material includes information like "Did you Remember to Change Your Oil?," "Drifting Techniques," "Fighting Through the Pack," "Why Too Much Horsepower can be a Bad Thing (if you don't tune properly)," and stuff like that.

The more you innovate, the more you open up to racers both novice and professional.

 

[kart racer]

Here is a tip for the beginners. You vets may ignor. I found that once you turn off the assists,you will find that the high HP cars love to spin there tires at any given chance.If you find it difficult to slowly, or should I say softly apply the gas,you can leave the car in a gear higher. Instead of using 2nd gear, leave it in 3rd. This will make it a smoother get away from the courner and faster lap times. Boy, did I get off the subject.If they have the arcade mode, that is the best place for 1st timers to practice .

 

[JohnBM01]

Granted, the Arcade Mode and Simulation Modes were rumored to make GT4 a two-disc set (OLD rumor, but can't be confirmed).

Also with beginners, the Penalties may make things hell for some racers. More to the topic? Reply, please.

 

[Jay]

sorry if this is off topic but is that your smallest post ever

 

[Rocket Punch]

I guess what GT beginners, especially GT4 due to the online play, really need is common sense. Putting all the technical driving talk aside, playing online without the simple understanding of physic will make the game suck for everyone online.

Advice 1: Use your brakes.

Advice 2: Use your brakes.

Advice 3: Use your brakes! Being that GT4 is a "video game" and you are new to racing game doesn't mean you can turn into a 60mph corner at 140mph and somehow laws of physics doesn't apply to you.

Advice 4: Crashing the guy in front of you on a corner or ramping him/her to the wall is NOT the only way to pass. Hack, it is not the way to pass period!

Advice 5: Practice. you are not gonna get better by eating or watching tv. The only way to play better is to play more.

Advice 6: did I mention use your brakes??

 

[JohnBM01]

Rocket Punch is a new face to the GTPlanet realm (as of this date), and I applaud the Punch for his words of advice. But surely, you have to accelerate and handle like it's a piece of cake, but newcomers will have to realize that this game is not an average racing title. So here's a scenario... GT500 Skyline. You hauling down the track, you see some barriers on the side, and what's that? A sharp turn? AHHHHHHHHHH!!! Then you find out it's Citta di Aria, which will be more challenging (but faster) than the Monaco F1 Street course. BIGTIME learning curve. And when I seen some videos with GT4 Prologue, I noticed the car actually hop over curbing. So you don't want to hit the curbing hard enough to send you into orbit.

So yeah, good points, Punch. Meanwhile, I'll test drive the Nissan Z Concept from GT3 (of course, the end result of this concept will no doubt be in GT4, the 350Z) around Laguna Seca. And why do I have a feeling that it would make a nice drift car?

 

[Dave A]

They should have the no license needed events easy, like the Beginner races in GT3, but as the game progresses I hope to god that the races get alot harder than GT3 ever was.

 

[kart racer]

Did he say to use your brakes?

 

[Taowulf]

Originally posted by kart racer
Did he say to use your brakes?

Yes, and don't forget to use your brakes.

 

[godzilla_GTR]

Gt4 should bring back the driving manual from gt2 to help out all the new-comers to this game.It showed the corect racing line and how to take the corners for speed or for passing manouvers etc.What do you guys think?

 

[GT-one TS020]

I´m no sure this is on topic but....I think you also should learn to drive with out TSC and ASM from the very beginning....then when youré god ...and still suck use the aids ffs!! ...and I think you should learn when the cars stop to spin..like the GT-one usually stops spinning when changing up to 3rd..but you cant be to safe man...spinning on the 3rd in this piece of monster and you regret you played GT-games ..and uhm the others cars I dont know...to stuck in the GT-one..and also braking is a stuff you should learn..like the GT-one bites the tarmac like HELL..and the wimpy R390 just isnt in the range..so check that before you go in to serious racing..just a tip..then we have cornering..and tyre wear,and pit stragegy...hmm.. you should also be able to know when the tires is wasted so you can make some sort of schelude..and cornering brings us back to braking...car understeer,break heavy...car oversteer,brake "normal" but be smooth on the throotle on the exit a nother stuff is cornering deep and "racing-line" if you corner on the kerbs on some tracks you might just say goodbye!!...and racing line..well follow it if you havent find a faster way around....but for good sake!! dont drive like the AI-dudes..cus they dont know a shiieet! a nother stuff....smart thing to use is the hand-brake or "e-brake" when you se you car sliding out in the grass/sand use the hand-brake/e-brake to make it turn back in the corner agin..sure it doesnt look nice in the reply when you lie drive for instance saaay.....GT-one...a mean pulling the hand-brake/e-brake in a high-performance gt car is just not acceptabe unless you on the way to play in the sand-box with you 2billion dollar car made esspecially for racing on tarmac...
well I think thats all...and drive fair..like pushing some one off the road isnt "sports-man-like" unless your mate is begging for it

GT-one TS020 -The Toyot GT-one TS020 nerd

 

[Rocket Punch]

Originally posted by godzilla_GTR
Gt4 should bring back the driving manual from gt2 to help out all the new-comers to this game.It showed the corect racing line and how to take the corners for speed or for passing manouvers etc.What do you guys think?

Yeah and here is some reference material for anyone who's really into driving & general physics and dynamics of cars. I got this book and I found myself reading it over and over again. Really good stuff.

Book: Going Faster! Mastering the Art of Race Driving

By: Carl Lopez
Publisher: Bentley Publishers
ISBN: 0-8376-0227-0
Price: around $20 USD

Link:

 

[JohnBM01]

GT4 should have seminars to help in many different aspects of the game for beginners. I mean, topics would include:

Manual Shifting
Turn Entry
High-Speed Cornering
Accelerating and Braking

...you know, more of what you learn in the B-License tests. They should be more of a tutorial than actual testing. But in a way, I don't think they need to be more of license tests. I think those topics I suggested earlier should be untimed segments. I mean, crash your car, spin out, it doesn't matter. The point is to learn how to handle cars. If I were taking that, I might want to improve my manual shifting skills. I'm alright, but I can always improve. One "test" that I set up was to race the Grand Valley 300km in Gran Turismo 2 with a Castrol Supra GT, and do the entire race in Manual Transmission. The 300 kilometer race is about two hours long, so I was doing that for quite a while! I still won the race and all.

So if a racing school is essential for GT4 success, I say at least a tutorial center. Sometimes, even pros need to check back to the beginner tactics to greater enhance their skills.

 

[Crayola]

Originally posted by kart racer
Here is a tip for the beginners. You vets may ignor. I found that once you turn off the assists,you will find that the high HP cars love to spin there tires at any given chance.If you find it difficult to slowly, or should I say softly apply the gas,you can leave the car in a gear higher. Instead of using 2nd gear, leave it in 3rd. This will make it a smoother get away from the courner and faster lap times. Boy, did I get off the subject.If they have the arcade mode, that is the best place for 1st timers to practice .

The pay-off hear is higher revvs versus less wheel spin, however if you're going off the line dont bothre going up a gear or 2, half the time it'll only slow u down.

 

[cubits]

The GT and GT2 books were good, it was a real shame that GT3 didn't come with one.

 

[JohnBM01]

Books? You mean those little booklets telling you about how to race GT? I know I lost it, but Gran Turismo 3 featured some lessons from the Skip Barber Racing School, to be used in GT3. Those lessons were featured in the booklet.

Maybe if GT4 wants to be stylish, this is what GT4 should do. You can purchase the game first and foremost, and you can pick up at an official game guide and "How to Race GT" magazine in a pack from a bookstore. It will probably be a 200+ page magazine on how to race Gran Turismo 4, special strategies, track info, and more. It would be a lot of reading and a lot of practice, but it will be well worth it, considering my status as a Gran Turismo veteran. I didn't get from 6th place to 1st without correcting mistakes in my racing, had I not learned the way to race.

This may sound strange, but check out this "stat" about my Gran Turismo experience:

I have NEVER swept a set of License Tests with Gold honors. GT4 will probably be no easier, but we'll see what to make of GT4 once it comes out.

 

[Dave A]

GT3 didn't have a racing manual, it had a couple of tips on how to drive but GT1 and GT2 featured proper long booklets on how to drive fast.

 

[MasterGT]

Wait and see.

We're told that GT4 will have a much better teaching mode than ever before, so we are in PD's hands - again.

Cheers,

 

[JohnBM01]

The more a game can get you to do better in virtual and even real racing , the more you begin to appreciate a game. Gran Turismo 4 is surely something to appreciate. I'm sure GT4 will have something for everyone. There are the inexperienced drivers, amateur racers, female GT fans, and many more people, including GT veterans like myself. To me, being a GT Veteran doesn't always mean the next game will be any easier. There is a word on sociology that tends to apply to this game. You kind of have to ASSIMILATE to the better GT game. You know, you get used to GT1 physics until you have to learn to adjust to GT2, then GT3, and for now, GT4. You learn to adjust to new cars and tuning options and tracks as well. Now if you ask me, New York LOOKS easy because of the long straights and quick kinks. But if you take the Fina McLaren F1 GTR (long been confirmed for Gran Turismo 4, so McLaren fans unite!) to New York and you haven't played other GT games, you're in for a wild ride. A wild ride 75,000 times worse than Jurassic Park. I don't have Prologue. No matter what happens, you have to continually innovate and enhance your skill to be a GT Veteran. Of course, you have to have played the two GTs from PSOne to know how far the series had come.

Better teaching? I'm curious.