Project CARS General Discussion Thread

[Myles Prower]

The PC players beat the crap out of the Xbox players, it was massivly one sided

 

[FLX1981]

Very cool, pCARS will get the new Pony!

http://www.wmdportal.com/projectnews/2015-ford-mustang-gt-coming-to-project-cars/

 

[Ameer67]

Very cool, pCARS will get the new Pony!

http://www.wmdportal.com/projectnews/2015-ford-mustang-gt-coming-to-project-cars/

That's cool.

 

[DG_Silva]

Also, Spa Francorchamps has been officially licensed.

 

[Azure Flare]

 

[Jawehawk]

l wonder if they'll actually model the hybrid system on the Audi, so that you can engage it like you can in real life?

 

[DG_Silva]

Yes, they will. KERS, DRS and other such temporary boost systems are all going to be modelled and implemented in the game.

 

[Wolfe]

@RESHIRAM5 @DG_Silva -- Nintendo has already granted permission for cross-play multiplayer, so I suppose it's up to SMS to provide that between PC and Wii U players. Unless Valve has something else to say about it?

 

[Brend]

Wow, I didn't know that Wolfe. Nintendo are so bro-tier.

 

[DG_Silva]

Nintendo has already granted permission for cross-play multiplayer, so I suppose it's up to SMS to provide that between PC and Wii U players. Unless Valve has something else to say about it?

It won't work, the two systems will be running different tyre models unfortunately. It would have been a nice thought. We might, and it is a very, very might, get some cross-platform play between Windows and Steam OS (and maybe even Mac).

 

[Wolfe]

Different tire models? First I've heard of that. I thought all versions were going to be effectively 1:1 except for visuals?

If that's true, oh well.

 

[Timppaq]

I'm sure if they can they will keep it 1:1 between different platforms. Might not be possible (WiiU I guess is the point here) though, but we'll see.

 

[Brend]

I take it the Wii U version will be more simple then?

 

[Com Fox]

It is a bit of a shame but the game isn't out yet, we'll have to wait and see.

 

[DG_Silva]

Different tire models? First I've heard of that. I thought all versions were going to be effectively 1:1 except for visuals?

If that's true, oh well.

The PC->console versions will be 1:1 feature identical, the tyre models were always under doubt. The Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii U just do not have the computational power to run the STM. The next-gen consoles are likely to have the STM (Seta Tyre Model), but the Wii U will have the BTM (Brush Tyre Model). Beyond that, the versions will be identical, aside from a few graphical tweaks and prioritising.

 

[Wolfe]

@DG_Silva -- That's understandable, considering how ambitious the STM project seems to be. Some of the STM's finer nuances would be lost when steering with a joystick or gyro control, anyhow. Do you know if the BTM is going to remain an option for PC players with less powerful systems (presumably with segregated online lobbies in that case)? I'm just curious if the Wii U version is the only outlet for continued development of the BTM.

 

[DG_Silva]

As far as I'm aware, BTM has been completed and no further development is needed on it. I think some Wii U-specific work will still be done on it, but the majority of the work is being done on the STM. Bear in mind that the BTM had been in development since 2011, and completed late 2012, they don't need any more work. STM didn't start until 2012, I think.

As for being able to use the BTM on PC, I'm not sure. I believe it is a command-line instruction, and it was part of the 64-bit program, but that was replaced with the STM. I do know that they are intending to have it as an option to exclude people in lobbies, so I guess it would have to remain a CLI. Whether that will stay in the game, remains to be seen. Optimisations in the way that the STM works, and further optimisation to be done means that it isn't taking up much more processing power than the BTM.

 

[Brend]

Thanks for the information DG_Silva!

 

[DrJustice]

^ The BTM was an option until a year ago, then it was taken out with no talk about having both available any more. AFAIK it will not make it's way back to the PC version since supporting two models will lead to development and maintenance overhead as well as tyre performance mismatches for multiplayer and leaderboards. The first test of the 64 bit build used the BTM though, but that's just because it was "hanging around" and the STM wasn't hooked up yet. What will happen if you have a less powerful PC (running STM) is that the physics tick rate will drop below the default 600Hz - It adapts to the available computing power.

Edit: Semi Nnja'd...

 

[DG_Silva]

Yeah, I forgot about the auto-adjusting tick rate. For those who don't know, the physics engine updates itself 600 times a second, and that's everything - weather, temperatures, engines, fuel levels, tyre wear, controller inputs, etc. - which is not linked to the graphics engine; so if your frame rate drops below 60fps, your physics engine still running at the same rate. The game has a very intelligent system where it will deliberate slow down that rate if there is a sudden drop in frame rate so that it doesn't interfere with your playing.

 

[Wolfe]

Thanks for the quick and insightful replies.

 

[Samus]

BTM will still be present in the PC version as the AI will use it.

 

[wowbaggerBR]

Is it worthwhile build a PC to this, or the PS4 game would be as much as great? (XBone is out of the question).

Mind that I'm not swiming on money right now and the hardware prices in Brazil are hideously expensive. I don't mind about minor graphics differences. But I'm curious about gameplay aspects of the console port.

What do you guys think? Should I squeeze more money and build a PC?

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Seeing how many delays there's been. I think you should definitely start saving money for a PC. By the time the game's actually released, you should have enough money.

 

[FuzzyFassbender]

@wowbaggerBR, I think you should seriously think on putting a PC together. In addition to most likely better performance and higher resolutions, pCARS on the PC will benefit from community mods, the consoles will be much more restricted.
I have an X1 but will stick with my PC for this one!

 

[Samus]

Seeing how many delays there's been. I think you should definitely start saving money for a PC. By the time the game's actually released, you should have enough money.

You say that like it's been in development forever, it's only been 2.5 years since it started, very normal for a dev cycle.

 

[HeadsoupBob]

BTM will still be present in the PC version as the AI will use it.

This is not quite correct. The AI use a bespoke physics system that is not STM or BTM.

For WMD members, the SMS post on that is here

 

[DG_Silva]

This is not quite correct. The AI use a bespoke physics system that is not STM or BTM.

For WMD members, the SMS post on that is here

I was just about to say this; the AI tyre model is more complicated than the BTM, but not as complicated as the STM, with some slight grip alterations to mimic the heating model that STM has.There just isn't enough power on PCs at the moment to run STM on all drivers, especially when you could be looking at 40+ drivers in one race.

 

[wowbaggerBR]

@wowbaggerBR, I think you should seriously think on putting a PC together. In addition to most likely better performance and higher resolutions, pCARS on the PC will benefit from community mods, the consoles will be much more restricted.
I have an X1 but will stick with my PC for this one!

Man, I need a better job then.

 

[DaehlateM]

Fired up pCars after obsessing over Assetto Corsa for a few months. They have really come a long way with the graphics and sounds. It's always been pretty, but it just keeps getting better! The different dynamics of the sound are awesome as well. It really gets you immersed.