Super Unofficial DiRT 4 Thread (PS4/XB1/PC)

[Pfei]

I've found that the key to a good stage is to balance length and complexity. Codemasters said it themselves - you need to be able to build up speed. You can't just turn the length and the complexity all the way up and get success every time. And to complicate things, the default complexity is different for every location; Australia is far more technical than Michigan. So even when the stages recycle tile sets, if you get the balance right it doesn't feel like you're constantly driving the same sections of road.

Wales with low complexity is technical forest and fast plains. Excellent combo. High complexity in Michigan breaks up the straight -> right 4 -> straight -> left 4 -> straight routine; you get lots of turns and tough straights. As you said, all maps have their areas which are influenced by complexity.

I was online with some buddies on Thursday and set the generator to random, and was surprised to see in all locations turns and areas of the map I hadn't seen before.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

How's this for attention to detail: if a car stops on a stage, you can see the driver's name and number on the car if you pause the replay. There's also a variety of animations - sometimes driver and co-driver are discussing the incident with marshalls, or you might spot the co-driver standing with the hazard sign, or the driver with his head under the bonnet, and I'm pretty sure I've seen them standing about with their hands up in frustration.

 

[LumpiestFish]

Sponsor levels can change independently of your actions. When I was mucking around with it, I found Dansport as an E-grade sponsor; when I reset my career pfogress for a serious attempt, Dansport was a D-grade sponsor.

I haven't tried it myself, but if you know which category a sponsor belongs to, you can assign your PR agent an affinity perk for that category, which makes it easier to attract sponsors from the category. And there will always be ten sponsors available, even when you have just signed one up, so you may be able to find one that you want if you keep re-signing sponsors. Especially if you do not already have a sponsor from the preferred sponsor's category.

I completely forgot about the affinity perks. I had a look at them and noticed a 'Drinks' category, which I'm assuming would just be Monster Energy, and that perk was 2,500 cr, while other ones such as the 'Parts' category was around 20,000 cr. So I'm guessing the categories with more options, mean that the perks are more expensive.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

So I'm guessing the categories with more options, mean that the perks are more expensive.

I would imagine so. But 20,000 credits is a lot to pay for a perk, so I haven't really used it.

 

[UKMikey]

Anyone who's playing with an Xbone controller can share their advanced input settings setup? (also for Simulation mode)

If you mean on PC then I use @TRGTspecialist's settings and halve the deadzone to 10. I'm not using simulation mode though.

I'm using a controller too and had similar problems to start with - cars were sensitive and unpredictable on turn-in, but were also a bit slow to correct oversteer. I've found that increasing both steering sensitivity and linearity has helped a lot; sensitivity and linearity are by default 50 and 4 respectively, I've changed them to 75 and 5. Increasing linearity even further could also help, but you may find it more difficult to turn quickly at high speeds then. I can't guarantee that'll help you but for me that definitely brought it closer to Dirt Rally's feel (bar some of the obvious physics changes), and after a few hours I'm very comfortble with it now.

Also, the steering deadzone is by default very high, and I'm really not sure why - unless your analog stick is broken you might want to reduce that too. I am a bit surprised by Codemasters here, usually their controller optimisation out of the box is the best out there, but as you say something felt off here. But at least the options are there to adjust it to our liking (looking at you, SLRE/Milestone.......)

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Anyone who's playing with an Xbone controller can share their advanced input settings setup? (also for Simulation mode)

Are you sure it's not a hardware problem? I'm using a controller with the default settings and I'm not having any problems. Even when I'm competing with a 91% difficulty modifier, I can still keep up with the AI unless I make a mistake.

 

[Techy]

If you mean on PC then I use @TRGTspecialist's settings and halve the deadzone to 10. I'm not using simulation mode though.

I did see the deadzone was set too high. Lowering it helped tremendously, but it still didn't feel quite right. Messed around with steering sensitivity and linearity and i think i got it dialed in.

Are you sure it's not a hardware problem? I'm using a controller with the default settings and I'm not having any problems. Even when I'm competing with a 91% difficulty modifier, I can still keep up with the AI unless I make a mistake.

Well, my controller is getting a tad old, but still works. I thought the input controls out-of-the-box were pretty good, until I tried doing the Landrush.

The main frustration for me with the controller is that whenever i brake hard and turn-in, the car wildly spins out with excessive oversteer. i assume these cars are touchy with the brakes, so i lightened up a bit, but i still get too much oversteer. it pains me to keep correcting it. i messed around with setup but no luck trying to fix it.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The main frustration for me with the controller is that whenever i brake hard and turn-in, the car wildly spins out with excessive oversteer.

The power-to-weight ratio of the cars is ridiculous. They're little more than a driver's seat attached to an engine. To drive them, you pretty much have to forget everything you know about circuit racing. Take a wide line and throw them into the corner, using the throttle to keep the revs up. They're rear wheel drive, so don't get on the power until the front wheels are pointed in the direction you want to go, otherwise the rear will push you around. If that fails, cascade braking is your friend, especially in the Crosskarts. Landrush cars turn on a dime, but the more power you give it, the greater the turning circle becomes. It sounds counter-intuitive, but that's what you want.

 

[Techy]

The power-to-weight ratio of the cars is ridiculous. They're little more than a driver's seat attached to an engine. To drive them, you pretty much have to forget everything you know about circuit racing. Take a wide line and throw them into the corner, using the throttle to keep the revs up. They're rear wheel drive, so don't get on the power until the front wheels are pointed in the direction you want to go, otherwise the rear will push you around. If that fails, cascade braking is your friend, especially in the Crosskarts. Landrush cars turn on a dime, but the more power you give it, the greater the turning circle becomes. It sounds counter-intuitive, but that's what you want.

Not sure what cascade braking is.
This also happens in the RX2 cars, and I do not think they have as extreme of power-to-weight as the Landrush cars.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Not sure what cascade braking is.

Brake, then lift off, the brake again. You'll notice it's particularly effective in the Crosskarts around Baja - they tend to snap around under heavy braking.

 

[doblocruiser]

Jump, caution, Right 4 and the string of 5 and 6's are on every single stage in Sweden. I think Codies should really finetune the YourStage a bit more because oh boy....repetition...repetition. My current "workaround" is to create some shorter stages with low to medium complexity. It brought a bit more variety. The lighting can be second to none. If you are in Spain at dusk with the wet tarmac and the sun still peaking through, it looks absolutely fabulous.

 

[imported_rik19]

I`ll be joining you guys soon, I wasnt going to get it, but for £30 why not..

 

[PJTierney]

Has anyone got car setups that I can use?

No car in particular as I've just started, but it would be nice to have a solid set of tunes for when I get further along the Single Player.


Also, these are my advanced settings from DiRT Rally for an Xbox One controller. They worked pretty well at the time (I was able to get into the Top 10s on a few leaderboards) and I'm using the same in DiRT 4. Might come in handy incase anyone needs help.

 

[ScandyFlik]

Jump, caution, Right 4 and the string of 5 and 6's are on every single stage in Sweden. I think Codies should really finetune the YourStage a bit more because oh boy....repetition...repetition. My current "workaround" is to create some shorter stages with low to medium complexity. It brought a bit more variety. The lighting can be second to none. If you are in Spain at dusk with the wet tarmac and the sun still peaking through, it looks absolutely fabulous.

Yes the jump immediate right fours a getting a tad old, felt like Bill Murray in groundhog day for a moment. Counted 3 or 4 in one 8km stage

I'm having a lot of good results with Michigan high complexity , mid length generations w random conditions




@PJTierney having a good engineer gives a decent setup by default but most cars are tuned "safe" , neg out the camber, toe in, tighten rear sway bar , the usual if you need more oversteer

 

[doblocruiser]

I'm having a lot of good results with Michigan high complexity , mid length generations w random conditions

Will try to see if it works for me 👍

 

[Sureboss]

Yes the jump immediate right fours a getting a tad old, felt like Bill Murray in groundhog day for a moment. Counted 3 or 4 in one 8km stage

I'm having a lot of good results with Michigan high complexity , mid length generations w random conditions

Stupid question time, where are these Your Stage options? I've done a bit in career and some of the daily/weeklys (which I know you don't edit), I may have not been paying enough attention to what Your Stage is

 

[ScandyFlik]

@Sureboss Freeplay, rally then location

 

[Sureboss]

Weekly and Daily rewards came in earlier, 600k in one hit. Not bad.

Driving in fog is insanely difficult, the MK2 Escort did not like my efforts.

Did my first RallyCrossing earlier, good fun.

 

[ScandyFlik]

Before

After... on the mountain side enjoying the view with fans

Kinda reminded me of that scene from days of thunder. I flew up a hillside and narrowly avoided trees rocks and a four sec penalty of getting too close to spectators

 

[doblocruiser]

Had to box the wheel so I tried to run the GamerMode option with the DS4 and it is actually pretty good to use that mode. It is a bit more forgiving and it feels a lot like CMR4 in terms of handling what I can remember of it 👍

 

[Dairyworker]

I have never owned a wheel so my opinion and or skill might be skewed, but i am finding sim handling with the controller is not bad. A few minor adjustments to the settings and car tunes make a huge difference aswell. I am by no means a top tier driver but i am consistently in the top half of tier two for the daily, weekly and monthly challenges (when i can finnish them of course).

Also, please, anyone who plays carrer or the challenges on sim handling, i really need more people on my friends list that play this game to compare times and perhaps even race against online

 

[Sureboss]

What platform you on @Dairyworker ?

What controller settings you using?

 

[Dairyworker]

I am onps4. Will edit this with what settings iam using when i get home.pretty much the same as someone else already mentioned in this thread. On my phone or i would look back for it.

 

[AerodyManiac]

Recently bought DiRT 4, and already I'm having issues. How do you guys manage to drive and listen to the pace notes simultaneously? Are there any tips or any way to do it more easily? My brain can only handle doing either one of them, so I'm forced to drive according to what I see ahead of the car. Also, I can't listen to the pace notes clearly, but I guess I can turn it up separately in settings. Every time I participate in a rally, I need several restarts just to score a top 3. And that was playing with AI difficulty set to the second easiest mode (I forgot if its name was Competent or Challenging). I can only imagine how hard it will be as I progress in the game to RWD cars.

I'm also available to add as a friend on PS4. (For PSN ID, don't use the one named in my profile, PM me if you really want to add me, as I created a new one for PS4.) I don't play much (around once to twice per week), and I doubt I would give you much of a challenge though.

 

[PJTierney]

If anyone here is on Xbox and wants to compare times feel free to add me. Right now I'm using Simulation in Single Player and Gamer in Multiplayer/Competitive.

---

@GT HP Nut

A good way to focus on the co-driver calls is to play using headphones. Start off in a slower car to get used to that feeling and by the end of it you won't even be looking at the pace note icons on-screen

Once you get familiar with your car you will know what to do for whatever corner number comes ahead. A 6 may be flat, a 5 would be a slight lift, a 4 slight braking etc..

 

[Dairyworker]

Not sure how to help tbh. I also find the pace notes a little quiet even turned up all the way. I also had to slow the pace notes (later) as i was juzt getting confused with the stock setting. Felt like it was two turns ahed. As for not bei g able to drive and listen..... i dont know man, sometimes i feel like i dont hear the. But i cant play with the volume off. lol

 

[ProjectWHaT]

Recently bought DiRT 4, and already I'm having issues. How do you guys manage to drive and listen to the pace notes simultaneously? Are there any tips or any way to do it more easily?

What I do is I try to listen to keywords, such as "don't cut", "acute", "turn", etc. I also pay attention to the severity. If it's 1, 2, or 3, I'll use all my energy to focus on the turn. If it's 4, 5, or 6, I'll recognize what was said, but don't put anymore effort into it and then wait for the next pacenote. I've made a system where if it's a 6 or 5, I'll either go flat out or lift a bit. For a 4, I'll brake a little bit (depending on entry speed and whatnot). For 1 and 2, I'll slow down a lot. Then again, I'm not good at rallying, so maybe don't take my advice. It'll probably make things worse.

 

[ELmarcotuff]

Recently bought DiRT 4, and already I'm having issues. How do you guys manage to drive and listen to the pace notes simultaneously? Are there any tips or any way to do it more easily? My brain can only handle doing either one of them, so I'm forced to drive according to what I see ahead of the car. Also, I can't listen to the pace notes clearly, but I guess I can turn it up separately in settings. Every time I participate in a rally, I need several restarts just to score a top 3. And that was playing with AI difficulty set to the second easiest mode (I forgot if its name was Competent or Challenging). I can only imagine how hard it will be as I progress in the game to RWD cars.

I'm also available to add as a friend on PS4. (For PSN ID, don't use the one named in my profile, PM me if you really want to add me, as I created a new one for PS4.) I don't play much (around once to twice per week), and I doubt I would give you much of a challenge though.

I have game sound going through my headset so that helps me quite a bit, but I mainly only listen for, great, 1,2, acute, or hairpin. A lot of the time I find it obvious when to cut or not. I hardly get air on jumps unless it's a significant straight, other wise my foot on the brake might as well have a twitch.

 

[Brend]

Recently bought DiRT 4, and already I'm having issues. How do you guys manage to drive and listen to the pace notes simultaneously? Are there any tips or any way to do it more easily? My brain can only handle doing either one of them, so I'm forced to drive according to what I see ahead of the car. Also, I can't listen to the pace notes clearly, but I guess I can turn it up separately in settings. Every time I participate in a rally, I need several restarts just to score a top 3. And that was playing with AI difficulty set to the second easiest mode (I forgot if its name was Competent or Challenging). I can only imagine how hard it will be as I progress in the game to RWD cars.

I'm also available to add as a friend on PS4. (For PSN ID, don't use the one named in my profile, PM me if you really want to add me, as I created a new one for PS4.) I don't play much (around once to twice per week), and I doubt I would give you much of a challenge though.

Rallying is a bit different in the sense that I never truly feel 'in the zone' like I would in a circuit racer.

It helps to fully dedicate your attention to the road and keeping focused on what the co-driver is saying and what you can see. It's a lot more important to be consistent than have fast spells. Especially in the larger trials.

It takes a while to adjust but as long as you have a clear audio channel to hear the calls (earphones is a good idea if you want to get familiar as a newbie). From there, you'll be able to take what you hear and adjust your driving as necessary.

I tend to be okay at these types of games but my biggest downfall is that I try and play sometimes when my heart isn't really in it. You need to be 100% into the experience to put in consistent times, especially on simulation difficulty.

Good luck. 👍

 

[Northstar]

Is anybody else unable to use their own car for the 2000cc daily event?