pCARS unplayable on a Dualshock??PS4

[Mike_grpA]

I'm getting confident with the ds4 now, after owning the game only two days. I have my controller settings worked out such that no changes need to be made for different cars, but I do fettle with each car's settings when I first use them.

Cars like the classic Caterham benefit greatly from changing suspension and diff settings. I found it rolled hard in the corners and was difficult to shift it's weight quickly with the standard settings. Making quick changes of direction very hard to do without upsetting the thing and ending up off the track. I stiffened up the springs and upped the bump stops a little, and gave it a bigger steering rack ratio, and lowered the front tyre pressures a tiny bit. It sat a lot flatter through the bends, changed direction much sharper, had less understeer, and felt more progressive to turn, making it waaayyyy easier to drive.

Learning how to set up the cars will help make them easier to drive as well as finding good controller settings. I haven't looked up tunes for cars, I just used real tuning knowledge, and it's all translated to do exactly what I'd hoped with every car I've played around with so far.

I really want a wheel now lol. It's definitely playable with a ds4, and is mega fun, but I crave the fine millimetre control, feedback, and step up in realism, that a wheel gives you. With these physics a wheel would be sweet, and I envy all of you who have a wheel for this game already lol 👍

 

[SavageEvil]

This game is easily playable with a DS4, in fact coming from GT6 and playing GT Academy this game seems much easier to deal with throttle control, it's far smoother and easier to keep from spinning your tires. I just got the game last night played a little and the LMP felt a little odd at first, then I got used to it. FWD are a touch interesting, the Clio cup car drives barely like an FWD it oversteers readily that thing is fun as hell. Most I did was switch buttons on my controller, haven't done anything else and the game is easily playable and not far removed from GT6 of Forza 5 in the control department at all.

My setup is stock setting the game comes with, just buttons swaps, abs on everything else off and mode 3 controls. That is how I play the game currently and I can control LMP, road cars, GT cars and open wheel FA. Just did an online race with everything off and it felt fine, looks like I don't need ABS either. I love the throttle control and the grip loss, it doesn't do the GT6 on ice thing.

 

[Kenocar]

I haven't found a good setup yet, but so far its been impossible to drive cars with a loose back end. I tried all 3 presets so far and doing slight adjustments, I play the game with no assists so far, might just turn a couple on.

 

[Scaff]

FWD are a touch interesting, the Clio cup car drives barely like an FWD it oversteers readily that thing is fun as hell.

Yep, that's how they are set-up, great fun to watch in reality as well.



FWD can be fun.

 

[SavageEvil]

The control you feel is reminiscent of Forza's immaculate controller feel, while some of the information you're used getting in a controller from GT might be a touch different, this connection to the physics especially when you focus on throttle and braking, it's a godsend. GT has this almost on and off feel to throttle it's just too digital and takes some serious repetition to get the hang of but not one in Project Cars have I gone from grip to slip while mid corner when applying throttle gradually. GT it's like walking on edge with any of the race cars.

I haven't even driven my first career race yet, all I have been doing is racing online since to free practice to get a feel for the cars. F1 feels like a beast, and the Sauber C9 is easily driveable, in GT6 you'd be catching you rear end trying to go through corners at exactly the right speed, not so in Project Cars it feels more natural as you don't just lose grip and break traction. This game controls for the DS4 is absolutely impressive, hands down the easiest I have on console. Not sure if it's because I'm used to driving in GT6 on sport hard and forced myself to learn to modulate throttle and the fact that DS4 is miles better than DS3, wish there was more tension in the triggers though(a little soft for my liking).

I think those having problems should revert back to default, don't change a thing. Take a relatively mild car like the Focus, head to Brands Hatch short course and just drive in free mode, bright day no weather or anything. Just drive, and learn how to deal with the car, trust me it's best to learn first with the standard setup else just changing things makes no sense as you don't really have an understanding of what's actually off with either your habits or the game itself. When I was reading up on the European release I was nervous about people complaining about the controller and I was like oh no my game that I have been following is just getting more and more nightmarish as time goes on. Lo and behold it's literally spot on, the problem is each car handling is nuanced quite clearly, yes there is some lack of information when you are about to lose all grip in feedback but you can adjust to that. Blank slate, normal car and keep it stock, short course and just drive and get a feel for the car and then the track and then keep working on both. I can't say it enough, there is literally nothing wrong with the stock controller set up at all. Take your time, there is no rush to become the next ace driver in Project Cars, but believe me I'm 36 years old and have worn fine control because of construction related wear on my hands and I can drive comfortably offline and on. It's only been 3 hours since I fired up the whole game, last night I only played the single LMP and that helped me come to grips with the physics and the ferocious AI on Dubai. I'm now well versed in Dubai completely against my will I might add.

 

[TheDabbinDave]

Being smooth and gentle, what setting could be opposing that? Please don't say, "your thumb". Small inputs, like barely pushing the stick, are causing the car (Clio Cup) to jerk over half a lane.

@Scaff What are your thoughts on blending these two controller threads together? I was about to copy/paste my most recent comment from there over to here. I understand the purpose of having the sub-forum. But the vast majority of comments on this controller topic is occurring in this thread. I think this is a very important topic. Perhaps a name change and then being made a sticky?

How do we reset the settings to default?

I have not used my T500 yet. Does the game get confused when a wheel and a DS4 are both being used? Can I map the DS4 to perform extra functions that are not on the T500?

 

[SavageEvil]

Being smooth and gentle, what setting could be opposing that? Please don't say, "your thumb". Small inputs, like barely pushing the stick, are causing the car (Clio Cup) to jerk over half a lane.

@Scaff What are your thoughts on blending these two controller threads together? I was about to copy/paste my most recent comment from there over to here. I understand the purpose of having the sub-forum. But the vast majority of comments on this controller topic is occurring in this thread. I think this is a very important topic. Perhaps a name change and then being made a sticky?

How do we reset the settings to default?

I have not used my T500 yet. Does the game get confused when a wheel and a DS4 are both being used? Can I map the DS4 to perform extra functions that are not on the T500?

Go to My home and then options and help, select controls and then R1 or RB to configuration just scroll down to select a mode as that will auto set up to default settings for each mode. I use Mode 3 as it has a good steering deadzone compared to the other two, one is too small and the other is way large. SMS should have listed what each setting does in relation to control but 3 for me is fine, I'll play around with 2 but I may not like it as the dead zone is pretty small at 3(twitchy).

Mode 3 as I tend to tap for small movements and use gradual movements for cornering, I don't know it's weird but muscle memory kicks in after playing with it and once you come to terms with the nuances you be better prepared for things like jostling for position and clipping a berm and not losing it. Just takes a little bit of time, this game is good even with stock controls. Try out mode 3 that should be the best starting point if you have twitchy handling, it will take a few others chiming in on what to do with some of those sliders though. I'm not at the point where I need to fiddle with any of them so far. I've driven LMP's, GT3 cars, street cars and F1 only problem I had was standing starts and either bogging down or loss of grip and going end swap in a hurry from launch. Lol.

Wish I could help you on the whole wheel thing, but sadly I have zero knowledge about it at this moment.

 

[GranTurismo guy]

Yes but part of GT6's controller usability is due to it's physics which are more forgiving than pCARS and indeed reality, hence pCARS is more difficult to drive than GT6 in direct comparison. I would suggest it would be so with either a wheel or controller it's just more noticeable with a controller.
If you are used to GT6 then you kind of have to unlearn your technique to learn the ways of project CARS instead. It is driveable with a controller, it just takes some time and practice / patience. Once you 'get it' it is very rewarding, it's just a shame they didn't have some more user friendly controller presets to help make it more accessible for those that find the settings daunting.

It's not hard to control slides on a ds4, it's impossible (at least with all the settings I have tried)

@Scaff where is this post editing thing coming from? When I first quoted you I simply took a small section of what you said and replied, and then each time after I just quoted your whole posts

 

[wvmgmidget]

Karts are pretty easy going with the DS4.

 

[Scaff]

It's not hard to control slides on a ds4, it's impossible (at least with all the settings I have tried)

Its not easy, but its not impossible.

@Scaff where is this post editing thing coming from? When I first quoted you I simply took a small section of what you said and replied, and then each time after I just quoted your whole posts

Its the first quote I am referring to, and when you take a small section of what I said and in doing so remove context and use it to answer a question it wasn't a reply to its an issue.

You have stopped doing it now, but its not a practice I would advise you repeat when you quote anyone.

 

[GranTurismo guy]

Its not easy, but its not impossible.




Its the first quote I am referring to, and when you take a small section of what I said and in doing so remove context and use it to answer a question it wasn't a reply to its an issue.

You have stopped doing it now, but its not a practice I would advise you repeat when you quote anyone.

It's so you know what I'm replying to, not to irritate you.

I didn't stop, I have replied to the later posts as a whole

 

[Scaff]

It's so you know what I'm replying to, not to irritate you.

I didn't stop, I have replied to the later posts as a whole

People quoting me correctly doesn't irritate me, people misquoting me in a manner that changes the meaning of what I said (and that is what you did - deliberately or not) irritates me hugely.

 

[SuperCobraJet]

The analogue sticks dont use all there travel! On xbox they only use like 30-50%!! And they havent perfected the stick too wheel translation you have to do to be able to have any sort of realistic control of the car with sticks.
Its actually better to asign the steering to the d-pad!
But still there is not a chance ti correct anything!
Just like forza 5 simulation steering, the translation is to slow, you might have fast reflexes but the game only moves the wheel in a certain speed.
But here its even worse since you cant drive smoothly.
Well you can, I driven a lot this weekend, but its not fun or involving, only nervous!

Thus far, I have to agree with this assessment on XBone.
No matter how I tune the controller/steering adjustments, the speed of the turn input to output and the starting deadband is the only thing that changes.
Only about 0-50% of the travel of the stick produces 0-100% of the steering action.
Consequently with half the travel eliminated, the car is much more difficult to drive with a controller.
In comparison, GT does a much better job of steering adjustability, utilizing the full travel of the stick and input to output speed.

But at the official forum, the xbox owner are mad as hell! The game is broken! Thats it! You can still drive it, but its no simulation of anything.
The patch thats coming will probably only fix one or two things thats wrong with the steering, it will most certainly still be impossible to drift!
And as long as thats the case, this is no simulator!

Yes hopefully a update will soon address these issues, including the steering lock problem I am experiencing.

 

[Magdelayna]

My lap at Cadwell Park in the Ginetta G3 on the pad. Really getting comfortable on the DS4 now after tweaking some settings...does feel like your driving on the 'edge' all the time,but i like that.

 

[Formula1269]

After a lot of frustration playing the game with the DS4 the first few days, I've settled into a nice rhythm with it now. It took a lot of tweaking and I had to turn on some assists that forced me to swallow my pride, but I'm glad I did. Haven't been into the settings menu for 3 days now. It's just been one epic race after another.

 

[Mike_grpA]

After a lot of frustration playing the game with the DS4 the first few days, I've settled into a nice rhythm with it now. It took a lot of tweaking and I had to turn on some assists that forced me to swallow my pride, but I'm glad I did. Haven't been into the settings menu for 3 days now. It's just been one epic race after another.

There's no shame in turning on some assists if it's enabling you to enjoy the game. Some of the controller settings, like the input filtering, are essentially assists anyway. GT6's controller set up is hugely assisted, and you can't turn off the controller assists in gt6, which is why it feels like it's got different physics when you use a wheel with it.

 

[mister dog]

My old trick was to map accelerator/brake on the left joystick, point it up for acceleration and down for braking. Of course this prevents you using both 'pedals' together, but it gave me better control than using the regular buttons on my DS3. Right joystick was steer and gearshift down/up i mapped to L2/R2.

 

[fenderbendr]

My lap at Cadwell Park in the Ginetta G3 on the pad. Really getting comfortable on the DS4 now after tweaking some settings...does feel like your driving on the 'edge' all the time,but i like that.

After a lot of frustration playing the game with the DS4 the first few days, I've settled into a nice rhythm with it now. It took a lot of tweaking and I had to turn on some assists that forced me to swallow my pride, but I'm glad I did. Haven't been into the settings menu for 3 days now. It's just been one epic race after another.

Could you guys mind posting your settings?

 

[Magdelayna]

Could you guys mind posting your settings?

Throttle Deadzone: 0
Throttle Sensitivity: 30
Brake Deadzone: 10
Brake Sensitivity: 15
Controller Filtering Sensitivity: 50
Steering Deadzone: 15
Steering Sensitivity: 0
Clutch deadzone: 0
Clutch sensitiviy: 45
Speed Sensitivity: 75

 

[GTguy88]

After spending ~5hrs and starting with controller settings 3 and tweaking, I gota say, it feels pretty damn good now.

 

[swg]

Thus far, I have to agree with this assessment on XBone.
No matter how I tune the controller/steering adjustments, the speed of the turn input to output and the starting deadband is the only thing that changes.
Only about 0-50% of the travel of the stick produces 0-100% of the steering action.
Consequently with half the travel eliminated, the car is much more difficult to drive with a controller.
In comparison, GT does a much better job of steering adjustability, utilizing the full travel of the stick and input to output speed.



Yes hopefully a update will soon address these issues, including the steering lock problem I am experiencing.

Limited input range addressed an fixed by incoming patch. Xbone controller should have full range and smoother input in the near future. As well as (fingers crossed) functioning feedback in the triggers. Patch notes only mention brake rumble, hoping they haven't forgotten wheel spin on the throttle.

 

[SavageEvil]

There's no shame in turning on some assists if it's enabling you to enjoy the game. Some of the controller settings, like the input filtering, are essentially assists anyway. GT6's controller set up is hugely assisted, and you can't turn off the controller assists in gt6, which is why it feels like it's got different physics when you use a wheel with it.

This so much, lots of people think you need to be no assist or you're blah blah...
One thing I noticed in Project Cars and using a DS4, you can drive with no assists on at all and it doesn't feel like you all of a sudden have a different physics engine running. The guy behind the mode set ups was smart, they play to different types of car feels, I use Mode 3 which i realized works hand in hand with cars that have very quick turn in and will feel like you are driving a tank in a car that has slower turn in. Using mode 3 the McLaren GT3 and SLS GT3 are two vastly different beasts, the McLaren is easy to turn in but same mode on the SLS it's like driving an understeering boat. You can tweak settings to better suit you, although SMS should add in descriptions for what each slider is doing in terms of steering speed and feel, but until then we have a community to help.

This game is so full of options, everyone will find something to suit them. Start out stock, untouched car and short course, just drive it figure out the car, it's balance and work with that. Once you get a hang of it, then you can figure out if the control auto set up is correct. Cars with Sharp turn in seem to work reasonably well with Mode 3 input, I haven't tried the others for slower turning cars but seeing as Mode 3 is slower turn in leads me to believe that a faster steering set up would work for slower turn in cars. Will need some tests but too busy enjoying myself to test, just an observation based on my escapades online yesterday.

 

[SuperCobraJet]

Limited input range addressed an fixed by incoming patch. Xbone controller should have full range and smoother input in the near future. As well as (fingers crossed) functioning feedback in the triggers. Patch notes only mention brake rumble, hoping they haven't forgotten wheel spin on the throttle.

I have tried to no avail, many combinations of settings, including some of the ones mentioned here.
Even when the steering doesn't stick in full right or left lock, which is pretty often, the car is for all intense and purposes, still un-drivable.
I haven't tried every car yet, but that's been the case with all of them thus far.
Very disappointing to say the least.

 

[FinnZevo]

This game for sure is made for the wheel,love it!

 

[swg]

I have tried to no avail, many combinations of settings, including some of the ones mentioned here.
Even when the steering doesn't stick in full right or left lock, which is pretty often, the car is for all intense and purposes, still un-drivable.
I haven't tried every car yet, but that's been the case with all of them thus far.
Very disappointing to say the least.

Considering the number of people who are managing just fine I think either you haven't tried the right settings and tune options or it's just down to operator error. The full lock bug is annoying but can be avoided. If it's happening to you all the time then you're hamfisting the controls. You can't just slam the stick full left and right in a sim/game that isn't mario kart and expect to be L.Hamilton. I'm no where near the speed of the guy's at the top of the leaderboards and I still only get hit with the stuck at lock issue maybe 2-3 times over a 3 hour gaming period.

 

[GTP_Monkey]

If I can't compete with wheel users, it's unplayable for me

You do have to remember this is more of a sim and these conditions your explaining are real to life GT6 wasn't a sim.

 

[Lord Protector]

You do have to remember this is more of a sim and these conditions your explaining are real to life GT6 wasn't a sim.

It's going to be said probably 100th time now, but it's not about physics here... It's about developers' laziness not optimizing the game for a gamepad.

 

[glassjaw]

So I've put 11 hours into the game already, driven the Clio, Ginetta Junior, Caterham, BMW 1M, and Vantage GT4 (favorite so far), and I honestly have no problem with steering sensitivity on the DS4. That's not to say I didn't have to get used to the way the game drove with the pad. It is twitchy and very sensitive, more so than any console sim I've played before. But I think a lot of that has to do with the physics being the way they are and this generally being a much more challenging game than you'd typically play with a controller.

In other words, I can understand why people would have a hard time driving with the stock controller setup. But I certainly wouldn't call it broken or unplayable, by any means. Make the adjustments you feel you need to, but also be patient, careful, and practice.

 

[xkubunt]

I've had this a week now and been using the DS4 the whole time. I've put in well over 20 hours now.

It took some getting used to at first but I'm pretty much running everything at default (I lowered steering sensitivity a tad) and after playing online a great deal with the guys from the GT3 series I've had no issues keeping up with people using wheels.

I will admit I struggle more with some of the cars but it's in no way shape or form unplayable, if you're smooth and subtle with the controller it handles exactly as you would expect.

Edit: it's a bit like the old flight simulator games, when I was younger I was really ham fisted with the joystick and yanking it all the way to the left when I only needed to move it a few millimetres to make the turn.

 

[Mike_grpA]

This game is so full of options, everyone will find something to suit them. Start out stock, untouched car and short course, just drive it figure out the car, it's balance and work with that. Once you get a hang of it, then you can figure out if the control auto set up is correct. Cars with Sharp turn in seem to work reasonably well with Mode 3 input, I haven't tried the others for slower turning cars but seeing as Mode 3 is slower turn in leads me to believe that a faster steering set up would work for slower turn in cars. Will need some tests but too busy enjoying myself to test, just an observation based on my escapades online yesterday.

If you've got your controller set up sweet for the faster turning cars, but not the slower ones, instead of changing modes for the slower cars, try quickening the steering rack ratio. I always mess with the rack ratios, as some cars need a slower rack, and some need a faster rack, with my control set up. Works a treat!

It's going to be said probably 100th time now, but it's not about physics here... It's about developers' laziness not optimizing the game for a gamepad.

You've said that over and over, and it's been explained by a few people now that you have been given all the options you need to "optimise" the handling to your needs. Use the controller settings, and/or turn on some assists. You keep saying it's not about physics, but it absolutely is. GT6 was easy on a pad for two reasons, 1; the physics are really forgiving to ham-fisted inputs, even with a wheel it's almost impossible to lose control. and 2; the controller settings, which you can't change except for one sensitivity setting, is so heavily assisted that you may as well have steering assist on.