Track Details - The Ring

[BKViper]

I just watched this video of a full lap around the Nurburgring in Shift 2.
I have run this track enough times to know it blindfolded in GT5.
While both GT5 and Shift 2 have said they took laser scans and GPS data to create the tracks as realistic as possible.
But when you compare that video to GT5 gameplay, there are obvious differences. Don't get me wrong, there are many parts that match up. But, there are places where either corner angle, length of straights, or elevation changes do not match.
So, I'm wondering which might be correct, or are neither of them spot on. I'd love to hear from folks who have actually driven on the Ring and how real life compares to these simulations.
Another minor observation, the trees and other background seem to look better in Shift 2, but the track is lacking the graffiti that GT5 recreates.
I'm not sure what other tracks are in both games, but it will be interesting to compare them as well. It will certainly be odd trying to learn a "new" Ring!

 

[Luminis]

I doubt that either version is 100% correct. I could see PD being a bit closer, sure, but I wouldn't take it for granted.
Personally, I don't really buy into all the laser scanning and what not. I severly doubt that either developer went that far to create a 100% realistic and perfect recreation of the 'Ring.

Having lapped the 'Ring countless times in GT5, though, I'll have to compare the Shift 2 version by doing the same in that game, I guess.

 

[Spagetti69]

Laser scanned tracks. Are you sure?

 

[vrooom]

Laser scanned tracks. Are you sure?

No he is not! He is just pulling it out of thin air! It's a usual tactic...

Actually SMS has said they don't laser scan their tracks, they use mostly telemetry data to know where the track is bumpy etc...

About GT5... who knows? PD never talks about their development practices! Or their physics! Or game-testers, or how they select the features to implement etc...

But I got to admit the Nordschleife version in GT5 looks better! Actually it looks great! In my opinion the only track worth having in GT5...

But I had much more fun with the Shift version of Nordschleife due to the better racing experience, sense of speed, sound. I am expecting the same thing from Shift 2 even if it's not 100% accurate and there are some imaginary advertising signs ("Oh noes! A speedhunter sign which doesn't exist in r34l life!! The game is ruined!!!")!

 

[BKViper]

No he is not! He is just pulling it out of thin air! It's a usual tactic...

It is not a tactic. What exactly would it be a tactic for?
It is simply what I have read other people state on this site.
If it is incorrect, you could inform us of the mistake and provide the appropriate evidence of how the tracks were actually created.
But you provided the same amount of proof as I did, none.
Of course, it was easier for you to just be a douche bag.
Maybe you are right, but you need to learn how to hold an adult conversation.

 

[boxox]

It's not laser scanned.

You will occasionally see "laser scanned" pop up by people who actually mean "laser surveyed" (eg. using lasers as a component of more typical geometry surveying), which can still be very accurate for determining eg. angles and relative positions of objects on the track, but it's not the same thing as iRacing style whole-track-surface LIDAR scanning.

AFAIK GT5 and Shift both use combinations of the more common mix and match between onboard video, gps, photographs and car telemetry to make the tracks, depending on what they have available for it. Nothing wrong with this approach either, some great tracks have been created with it and given the costs of scanning it's really the only way to do something like the ring.

 

[vrooom]

It is not a tactic. What exactly would it be a tactic for?
It is simply what I have read other people state on this site.
If it is incorrect, you could inform us of the mistake and provide the appropriate evidence of how the tracks were actually created.
But you provided the same amount of proof as I did, none.
Of course, it was easier for you to just be a douche bag.
Maybe you are right, but you need to learn how to hold an adult conversation.

Oh boy...

What did Slightly Mad Studios do to ensure the accurately reproduce the tracks?

Our track layouts are extremely realistic. This is an area where we are confident we are surpassing the competition. We use data from multiple areas to ensure this. In addition to satellite imagery and GPS data, our track modellers have studied thousands of hours of video, ensuring that the experience of racing on a real life circuit in SHIFT matches every detail of the live onboard racing footage seen. Additionally, we have been extremely fortunate to have been provided with detailed racing telemetry data from certain racing teams, which allows us to reverse engineer the nuances of a track's character through studying suspension movement, braking points, and g-forces on the real racing cars. It's not enough to simply get measurements and photos. If you want to recreate the experience, you have to know the subtleties of the track's surface contained in these data treasures that even laser scanning can't deliver. It does no good to know about a 5mm bump in the track if you have no data to show how it makes a car react. And the reaction, the experience, is what truly matters.

source. It was just a google search away...

But don't you think that if the tracks were laser scanned they would advertise that? You should provide evidence that they laser scan tracks.... oh that's right you were pulling the laser scanning out of thin air...

 

[Destinkeys]

Before any of this gets out of hand, let me say that, in all fairness, no, S2U's Ring is going to compare VERY poorly to GT5's. That is a masterpiece, especially with the weather and dynamic lighting effects, that will stand up for years as the pinnacle of what can be achieved in a console game.

Trouble is, of course, that it is the EXCEPTION for GT5 tracks, not the rule.

I wrote an article back on the GT5 forum many weeks ago, basically conjecturing that Kaz probably has NEVER 'played the game' like we have to, and that, in all likelihood, the vast majority of what he does in the limited time a busy executive gets to play games is hot-lap the 'Ring, maybe with a friend or two online.

And that, for the things that he actually DOES, GT5 is a BRILLIANT game. But, he has never grinded in his life. He gets what every GT player (or many of them, anyway) keep begging for... a totally unlocked game, with every car, every upgrade, every Event and every track unlocked without having to either earn it, or grind or glitch for it.

So, if you are looking to the 'Ring as 'proof' you have the better game, as long as you just play the game like Kaz, then yes, you probably do... But the minute you start factoring in everything ELSE a racing game should have and be, that edge completely disappears.

I'll be keeping GT5 after I get S2U. But ONLY for the 'Ring. Otherwise, I could let it go and not miss it at all as long as S2U's physics are not fubared beyond redemption! And that seems unlikely, from what I have seen so far.

GT5 has the 'best' 'Ring, no argument. Now, if only it were a great 'racing' game...

 

[JogoAsobi]

NFS Shift 2 Nürburgring Race Track WHOLE COURSE MIA?

I see no listing for any variation the Gesamtstrecke ("Whole Course") that combines Nordschleife ("Northern Loop") and some variation of the tracks located on the Southern Loop that are used for 24 hour races and other events listed on either the official EA Shift 2 Nordscleife's or Nürbring's configurations on their respective track web pages.

See my post at EA/Need For Speed Shift Series General Discussion:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/5336109.page

Please note that the link to the Pagoni Huayra in my EA forum post is no longer valid, but references same video posted earlier in this GTPlanet thread.

 

[Christhedude]

Hey guys,

just watched the SHift 2 Ring lap and its far of being realistic.

I've done a ton of laps on the ring in real life, 99% of times in race cars, but just see for youself 👍

Watch my onboard camera of one of my last races in the 997 GT3 Porsche
Start watching at 00:40 seconds if you only want to see Nurburgring


The Ring in Shift 2 is way to wide and the turns are way to smooth.

Chris

 

[FLIGHT50]

Have you guys considered that the track is purposely different. A game like Shift will probably attract a different crowd than GT. For that matter, for the Ring to not be as challenging, they made smoother turns. Other than that the layout is very similar. To really negativity compare the two you have to really be nick picking. If you don't like one vs the other, don't race it. If all companies shared the exact same data, your chances of having the same tracks are much greater.

Comparing two different developers' tracks is like comparing an Almond Joy to Mounds. Almost the same but a little something different.

Hey guys,

just watched the SHift 2 Ring lap and its far of being realistic.

I've done a ton of laps on the ring in real life, 99% of times in race cars, but just see for youself 👍

Watch my onboard camera of one of my last races in the 997 GT3 Porsche
Start watching at 00:40 seconds if you only want to see Nurburgring


The Ring in Shift 2 is way to wide and the turns are way to smooth.

Chris

Actually, after watching that video seems as though Shift nailed the smooth turns compared to GT5. Being wider is a different story. How wide are we speaking of. Go measure the width of the track and then measure Shift and GT and tell us how much its off. The point of the matter is, if the game is fun and is it playable the so what.

 

[Wdave]

It looks like Shift's Ring has more of a Race track feel then the ring is supposed to have. In other words it looks alot wider then its supposed to be. Although the person driving in shift was terrible.

 

[FuriousDemon]

I think this video of Huayra in S2U on the 'ring is somewhat misleading. In Shift1 the track looks decent (not GT5 quality, but it's not THAT bad), however from this video it's actually hard to tell at times that we are indeed driving on the 'ring - it's that bad. So, I doubt they made the track look worse then it was in Shift1. Let's wait and see how it actually looks on the 29th.

 

[FLIGHT50]

I think this video of Huayra in S2U on the 'ring is somewhat misleading. In Shift1 the track looks decent (not GT5 quality, but it's not THAT bad), however from this video it's actually hard to tell at times that we are indeed driving on the 'ring - it's that bad. So, I doubt they made the track look worse then it was in Shift1. Let's wait and see how it actually looks on the 29th.

The person driving made it look like it wasn't on the Ring, he/she is that bad. I agree that it has a race feel rather than a test of endurance track. The A.I. in GT5 was so programmed to drive a particular line that they hogged the whole track. It makes passes very difficult for some of us. Which makes some hate it more that love it. Instead of barely two lanes, its now racable with about 2.5 lanes. That is fine with me. If I want the GT version I will race it in GT. Other wise I will race what is given in any game without complaining like alot of you guys. I can't change the game so why complain about it.

 

[Eric.]

This looks like the worst version of the Ring yet...very wide, turns aren't that tight, not much elevation changes...

 

[ussr]

OMG This track is so wide and so many overtake opportunity, way much more than in Shift 1 !!!! This tracks will rock !!! 👍👍👍

 

[Syntax error]

I'm I the only one who is getting a feeling of Déjà vu?

I think we have covered the subject of track width quite thoroughly in the past. It's about 18 more days till the game is released at which point you can all make up your minds on the subject and I will allow a mature discussion to commence. Until then it's just speculation & complaints about something none of us are really sure about.