Need for speed gets "serious".....confirmed!

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Those settings are weird. I've used amar's and then got back on mine but the feeling was opposite like it was before. Strange.
 
This game is a puzzle.

I spent some time online for the first time (with ENERGIYA) last night. Didn't see anything bad in the way of lag, but I didn't have a clue as to how the cars were selected: apparently you can use cars that are not in your garage?

I then went back into Career to try & advance through the tiers. Put the AI on Medium as I don't know most of the tracks. It was very easy to win using a combination of Precision & plain old-fashioned Aggression (really, truly ridiculous! :rolleyes:). I also changed the steering from 900 to 540 which got rid of the deadzone. But at the end of an hour I was feeling just totally disgusted with the game. :yuck: Agreeing that it isn't all that "sim" at all.

Then I bought myself an Elise, changed the steering back to 900 & the AI to Hard, the HUD off, & went back to the Nordschleife in Quick Race...

WOW! The sound is just sensational (I've never driven an Elise but the detail of all the sounds seems 100% convincing) & with 900 degree steering back it starts to feel more like a sim again. The cockpit view, the jiggling & bouncing, the blurr - it all actually works very well & creates a very immersive experience.

So, I'm still not sure, but at this point:

sim accuracy: 7/10

immersion: 9.5/10

Agree with everything you said, I find the online OPTIONS especially weird so far.
However I'd say you can adjust the game from 100% SIM mode to 100% ARCADE, which's great IMO. I play on medium settings with traction control and pad it still feels very realistic to me.

I'd give ita 8.5 for both accuracy and immersion. 👍

( based on single player, not sure about online yet ) :dunce:
 
I run the PC version so I can set for example 900 degrees for my wheel. then 30 % turning lock in game. Which is like 270 degrees most probably on the consoles I suspect? So that is maybe what you meant with 270 and yes I ran like that too. But 900 degrees on my wheel to get rid of the twitchyness and be able to drive reasonable smooth.

Wheel is a 900 degree Fanatec wheel where you can set it from 210-900.
I did try 100 % steering sensitivity and I don´t see why anyone would run that but each to their own :)
 
I'm not too thrilled with this game honestly. The physics don't "feel" right...reminds me of GRID, which isn't a good thing. Everything is over pronounced and exaggerated; not a bad thing when done correctly (NFS HP2 on PS2) but that's not the case here imo. Now, with that said, I've only driven a couple of RWD cars so that may be an issue, but they feel like slot cars when sideways...its very strange. The brakes like to lock up EXTREMELY quick even with light pedal use. The AI can be oblivious sometimes and completely ruin a hard earned podium finish. Such a shame because the car models, tracks, and graphics are great.
 
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Yeah, I think the brake thing can be fixed in Settings. However, it still requires a much lighter touch than GT5P - but that's not necessarily a bad thing IMO.
 
After playing the game for about 10h I have to say that SMS created a very interesting AI. Is it good? Well it depends if you will like their idea which is very simple. Diversity.
For the first time in the racing game I felt that AI does something more than follow the racing line and (if its good) try to avoid your car and other AI if it overtakes.

In Shift some AI racers are as plain as those in GT5P but some are VERY different.
I have encountered drivers who are extremely aggressive - you might not like it but you have to think that they are there and you learn to avoid them.

There are some who do not easily give up the position, sometimes to the extremes that they will drop their pace by few seconds a lap just to try close every gap in the corner if you hang on their tail. But they are not dirty drivers, they wont ram you if you manage to overtake.

Some are better in fast corners, some are better in slow. There is also a lot happening with AI mistakes, overtakes and some spectacular crashes.

All of this creates a sense of taking part in a race. I like it - despite being rammed a few times (and if you outsmart the punters you have an actual sense of achievement:)
 
Okay, so I heard many people complaining about the Tier3+ cars being really hard. I just bought me a Zonda R and it handles like a dream. :) So, which cars are you guys having problems with? So far, they all appear to handle quite decently (unless you overtune them).
 
Okay, so I heard many people complaining about the Tier3+ cars being really hard. I just bought me a Zonda R and it handles like a dream. :) So, which cars are you guys having problems with? So far, they all appear to handle quite decently (unless you overtune them).

Stock R35 and R8 are rather nasty stock, at least on the X360. I don't think they're that difficult to drive quickly, but it's hard to be smooth as they keep going sideways even at the slightest throttle lift. It's very easy to recover, but it doesn't exactly feel convincing.

Rather enjoying hotlapping T1/2 cars with the quick tune "fix" now. They actually behave very well on short tracks.. and the handling seems quite realistic in most cases, although power oversteer doesn't feel right. There's still a lot of weaving about on longer tracks (esp. Spa)

As long as I stick to "handling" tracks and stock or mildly tuned T1/2 cars, I'm actually enjoying this game at the moment :dopey:
 
The key is the Speed Steering setup on 0% - it is the thing that gives you back both "livezone" and force feedback effect on the straights.

And I'm sorry - you just have to have Steering Sensitivity up to 100% - I wrote it wrong, I've fixed it now.

And without 900 steering is soooo gimped that literaly nothing can fix it.

Above setup is almost the same feeling as in GT5:P.

OK--it's getting better. :) I had to dial back to 800* but with 100% sensitivity this combination works. It's still not 'great' and there's still too much play at higher speeds. But it's MUCH better than it was. Thanks Amar! 👍

After playing for a few more hours, I think there's still a lot to like about this game. But some glaring bugs, lack of options and frustrating inconsistencies in the handling and physics end with the conclusion that I probably won't be playing this game much if GT5 ends up being the be all, end all that many are hoping it is.

I really wish I could combined Prologue's wonderful visuals and good throttle input and power down physics with the braking dynamics, road imperfections and sense of visual speed from Shift along with the weighted Force Feed back and sounds from Supercar Challenge. Each of these games does some things exceptionally well but not all of them.

Fixed. ;)
 
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What are "wondering visuals"? :confused:

It's interesting to compare SHIFT to GT4. It's been a while since I played GT4, but I'm thinking SHIFT has better graphics, physics, sounds, AI, online etc. than GT4. So it's certainly a respectable effort. It's also better in many ways than GT5P. I don't think the physics have the depth of GT5P or FC - it would be nice if there was just another level of difficulty in controlling the cars while cornering at speed, but in many areas SHIFT is clearly superior to GT5P & FC. Whether it stands up at all to GT5 depends on how good GT5 turns out to be.

Overall, how good SHIFT is, is going to depend a lot on the online experience, once everybody has their cars & is starting to drive at their limit on the various tracks - we're certainly a way off that point right now. I've got to say though, that the whole Aggression/Precision thing really seems misconceived: it simply makes no sense to try & drive "realistically" & then have the game reward you when you mess up.

Finally, IS there any meaningful mechanical damage? I actually do like the damage/collision in-cockpit visual effects - far better than the bumper-cars thing in GT. It confirms what I've always felt: some damage, even unrealistic or non-mechanical damage, is better than none.

One other thing: I like the clutch implementation - much easier than in GT5P where it's just too difficult to time the clutch use, given that there's no "feel".
 
I now have the sensitivity set to 100% but have brought the roation down to 500 degrees, feels much better to me now.
 
Finally, IS there any meaningful mechanical damage? I actually do like the damage/collision in-cockpit visual effects - far better than the bumper-cars thing in GT. It confirms what I've always felt: some damage, even unrealistic or non-mechanical damage, is better than none.

One other thing: I like the clutch implementation - much easier than in GT5P where it's just too difficult to time the clutch use, given that there's no "feel".

I'll quote myself for you. 👍

The thing I've noticed about Shift is it doesn't focus too much on mechanical damage, but the mechanical damage it does focus on is annoying enough to make you want to chuck your controller at your television set.

If you haven't noticed, the car stalls once you've impacted several times and the dog-tracking also becomes more severe the more damage you take and the faster you go, oh, and your top speed along with your acceleration is also capped after a while.
 
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The thing I've noticed about Shift is it doesn't focus too much on mechanical damage, but the mechanical damage it does focus on is annoying enough to make you want to chuck your controller at your television set.

If you haven't noticed, the car stalls once you've impacted several times and the dog-tracking also becomes more severe the more damage you take and the faster you go, oh, and your top speed along with your acceleration is also capped after a while.

I'd noticed the stalling thing. What is "dog-tracking"? I hadn't noticed the acceleration & top speed limitation though.

Why do you find that so annoying? Ultimately, the idea is to avoid collisions. Once everyone is more practiced, I imagine there won't be much damage (as long as you avoid the GRID-fans).
 
I'd noticed the stalling thing. What is "dog-tracking"? I hadn't noticed the acceleration & top speed limitation though.

Why do you find that so annoying? Ultimately, the idea is to avoid collisions. Once everyone is more practiced, I imagine there won't be much damage (as long as you avoid the GRID-fans).

Dog-tracking is a colloquial for either tramlining, or when your car has suffered some degree of suspension damage causing it to pull either to left or right due to various reasons.. I don't think it's an officially "documented" colloquial term but the teachers at my tech school used it enough for me to pick it up. :lol:

About the damage, I don't really mean it's annoying as in I wouldn't want to play the game...I'm talking about in the sense where you're screaming at the TV "Go the :censored:ing way I'm pointing you!" :P
 
Ok, now I found a glitch too. The Corvette won't move!

Are there any races where it's actually working?
I'd really like to drive it, it sounds awesome! LoL :dunce:
 
Got the game, it's OK, not really what I was expecting I guess. I hate the way the cars handle, every turn I go around with the tail out. Granted I haven't really gotten to any tough races yet, but I see this becoming a problem later on.

I started with the Nissan 2000GT-R or whatever it's called because I love classic Japanese cars. I'm a little disappointed with the visual tuning options on it too.

Oh well, I'll probably still have fun with this.
 
About 8 hours of game play so far and my impression of NFS:S is improving all the time.

I've found a combination of settings for the steering that works for me, and this has really upped my enjoyment and understanding of the game.

The physics are actually a lot better (and deeper) than I initially thought... I was running hot laps in an unmodded GT3RS at the 'Ring tonight and it was a fantastic experience. The car actually feels like a proper 911... light front end bobbing about over the bumps, some understeer on turn in and mid corner, followed by endless traction once you get back on the gas... and the noise is fabulous (though the rev limit on my mates real 997 GT3 is 8,600, not just over 8,000 as in the game).

The handling isn't as complex as GT5P, but in a lot of ways it's more realistic. The grip level - particularly the way traction is modelled - is much better for example. The cars aren't as adjustable on the throttle, but the again, most modern real life cars don't handle like that anyway.
 
Make up your mind Stotty. ;)

Actually. I'm also going back & forth on this game. I tend to think the physics are not as complex as GT5P's & overall a little too forgiving, but there are some elements like weight-transfer & braking that are handled better than in GT5P. But thanks to the "effects" in the cockpit view & the sensational sound the overall sense of immersion, albeit a touch arcadey, is significantly superior to GT5P. Try the Elise on the 'Ring - it's just awesome. 👍
 
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Wow, this game needs a better online. I have raced 2 races, the first I was racing another guy who decided to spin me out instead of race cleanly. The second one I quit because people kept darting back onto the track running into me. If anyone wants a clean race send me a FR.
 
By coincidence I've just had some fantastic online races with a full grids including two UKOG guys, Eric and Dyer....monumental battles on the ring and some great 10 lap races on a few GP cuircuits. Everyone was limited to a stock cozworth and the racing was, clean and close even on the ring with about 10 seconds between 1st and 6th place!

Oh quick one for those with "bouncey" cars, you need to raise the ride hight, especialy on some of the bumpy tracks, I went on one which literaly had a bump which threw the whole car into the air! raised it a little and softend the springs, problem solved.
 
Yeah was in the exige at Road AMerica and got thrown right in the air on the run to the first corner! Caught it though!
 
wtf... how could the physic engine allow this to happen!?

Thats bad enough but I am more concerned with the unrealistic amount of yaw the car gets when he makes a slight turn, it's crazy.
 
I'm not even going to try this game online. I can't drive it in single player to save my life. Racing this game with a controller is tough.
 

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