What a difference!

[Seismica]

Hi there.

Recently i took the leap from automatic to manual gears. I have always used automatic gears, because i was a bit of a casual gamer and wasn't confident shifting myself. But GT5P is a whole different game, i want a better experience. With me planning on getting a G25/G27 when GT5 comes out, it would be silly of me to keep using automatic gears until that time.

At first it was difficult, i kept shifting too much and i was all over the road. But after an hour or so i got the hang of it.

And what a difference manual makes!!! I have shaved around 2-3 seconds off my best laptimes at Suzuka on professional. In the past i always slid out because the damn game was shifting me down to 2nd, and to compensate i would brake earlier, thus the computer would shift me down another gear to compensate . This meant with using the x button on the sixaxis, i could not exit a corner with any amount of throttle, i had to align the car in a straight line before i could accelerate, which caused massive problems on S bends.

But now using manual gears it seems so easy somehow, i stay in 3rd and i can get on the throttle much earlier and its made all the difference.

Now i understand why there are so few top 100 laps set in automatic gears, its just a pain. It is also the reason why i complained i couldn't get the right setup when i first joined the forum. Its such a relief that i'm not as bad at the game as i thought i was

Now to practice Suzuka with the F2007, gotta do some good online races

EDIT: Anyone still using automatic gears, i highly recommend going to manual. You will never go back.

 

[crazytortise]

Welcome to the manuel side of life. Thats one reason why i learnt to use them straight from the early GT series. Like you said its a pain when it downshifts into a lower gear. Keep at it and you will see your laptimes drop more and more

 

[G.T.Ace]

Its not only the laptimes, its also way more fun with manual because its more rewarding.
Congratulations for trying it out.^^

 

[aznable]

some newer sport cars claim to be faster in automatic
Using clutch apparantly shaves off laptimes too

 

[G.T.Ace]

Automatic transmissions in real cars are something completely different than in a game.
I only know one car which shifts up and down depending on the RPMs right now, to simulate a normal gearbox and thats the Maserati Gran Turismo. And it actually makes the car slower (it even shifts in "manual mode", which makes it even worse).

 

[Worst_Driver]

Welcome to the good side of the force.

 

[phillookswasted]

I have managed to convert a few mates who play round at mine. As I always said to them, no-one we know drives an Automatic nor has any of us ever owned an auto so why drive with AT in the game.

 

[Seismica]

Automatic transmissions in real cars are something completely different than in a game.

Well, you set an automatic to 'drive' and it essentially changes gears for you. Its different to a sequential automatic.

There are different types of automatic gearboxes in RL. I think Manual in the game is similar to a sequential automatic in RL.

I do have problems with the sixaxis though. I just can't get my grip right on the controller when i go to shift up my grip on the sixaxis changes and it makes it difficult to regulate the throttle. It also makes it much harder to be consistent with powerful rear wheel dirve cars. I don't seem to have a problem with the F2007 or 4WD cars. So even though my laptimes have improved in those cars, but my times in my Tuned Corvette, Viper, S2000 and GT LM have all increased... because even in high gears those cars require a lot of throttle control.

What i really need is an accelerator pedal...

 

[Nicko]

Congratulations, good to see you have made a huge improvement in your times as well as your overall enjoyment of the game. 👍

 

[irnbrutwinturbo]

Just out of interest, what combinations of buttons are people using for gear change.
Im setup on sixaxis to:

left analog to steer.
right analog up/down for gears & left/right for view
L2 to brake
R2 to accelerate
X handbrake, i think.
D-pad to change in game TCS etc.

 

[steiner]

i also just recently bought the g25 and haven been a automatic shifter the biggest part of my gaming life (despite DTM Race Driver, where i used manual shift with thestandard controller.. dunno why it was the only game so far, but there it worked out for me unless most other racers). so i went straight to the most realistic settings and put myself into the cold water.
Well, i froze. the water was to cold, clearly.. i struggled with almost everything and had serious problems getting round the course at all lol...
So i disabled manual shifting for once and im first getting used to driving with wheel as i never had the pleasure in doing so before.
Once this is nailed i will for sure switch back to manual shifting, but i have to admit: its a complete different thing than driving a real car. i dunno why, i mean technicaly its more or less the same, but IRL im driving a car with manual shift and to shift is a routine job for me - and i guess for most of u guys aswell - i could do it whilst asleep. dont have to think about it. Not so in gt5p.. i seriously have to get used to it lol.-
But i will!!
need to get prepared for the big thing!

 

[Seismica]

Just out of interest, what combinations of buttons are people using for gear change.
Im setup on sixaxis to:

left analog to steer.
right analog up/down for gears & left/right for view
L2 to brake
R2 to accelerate
X handbrake, i think.
D-pad to change in game TCS etc.

I'm not comfortable with the triggers, i preferred them as buttons. Thats why i find it hard to shift. On old GTs i tended to use manual on license tests (Toyota GTone on Monaco in GT3) and recently i have been playing using R2 and L2 as gear change. But on the Sixaxis its not the same. I have to shift my grip to change gear as there is nowhere to rest my finger near the R2/L2 triggers, so i can't regulate the throttle properly (x button). It sounds stupid, but its true.

 

[G.T.Ace]

You should try the right analog stick for acceleration and braking.
Shift up and down on R1 and L1 and side view on R2 and L2.

 

[irnbrutwinturbo]

You should try the right analog stick for acceleration and braking.
Shift up and down on R1 and L1 and side view on R2 and L2.

2 small things:

Using this method arent you losing out by not being able to accelerate/brake at same time? I dont know about anyone else but im often on the power constantly, wether im braking or not. Similar to left foot braking.

Just out of interest, do you actually use side view? has anyone actually found it useful?

Thanks

 

[IsmokeGT]

Using this method arent you losing out by not being able to accelerate/brake at same time? I dont know about anyone else but im often on the power constantly, wether im braking or not. Similar to left foot braking.

Mid engine cars usually need some amount of throttle applied to keep the car balanced. Thus, the analog stick is a bad idea for those cars, at least.

 

[Seismica]

Mid engine cars usually need some amount of throttle applied to keep the car balanced. Thus, the analog stick is a bad idea for those cars, at least.

I tried the analogue stick and the first thing i did was go out in my Ford GT tuned round Suzuka. I couldn't get past turn 1.

 

[GT]

With GT5P I use the DFGT, obviously manual, been playing manual since Formula One 97 and obviously since GT1

However, when using the PSP with GT, I stick to automatic because it is not comfortable to shift and steer with the nub, so that's not a serious option for me

 

[Pakt Sardine]

With GT5P I use the DFGT, obviously manual, been playing manual since Formula One 97 and obviously since GT1

However, when using the PSP with GT, I stick to automatic because it is not comfortable to shift and steer with the nub, so that's not a serious option for me

i agree. I tried setting up my configuration on GTPSP for manual, but it's a no go. it's a shame too, because I really prefer manual. it's okay though, if I was in a serious GT-playing mode, I'd just play GT4 or GT5P on my wheel

 

[TAFKADY]

Hi there.

And what a difference manual makes!!! I have shaved around 2-3 seconds off my best laptimes at Suzuka on professional. In the past i always slid out because the damn game was shifting me down to 2nd, and to compensate i would brake earlier, thus the computer would shift me down another gear to compensate . This meant with using the x button on the sixaxis, i could not exit a corner with any amount of throttle, i had to align the car in a straight line before i could accelerate, which caused massive problems on S bends.

Now to practice Suzuka with the F2007, gotta do some good online races

EDIT: Anyone still using automatic gears, i highly recommend going to manual. You will never go back.

Good for you! Enjoy the F2007! Sadly downshifting is not really fun once you experienced downshifting in games like F1:CE because it's too slow in GT5P.

 

[crazytortise]

Just out of interest, do you actually use side view? has anyone actually found it useful?

Thanks

I use side view in close battles. Its very useful to know where your opponent is when coming up to a corner. Allows you to give him enough space but also keep you on a decent line.

 

[DGiant2000]

2 small things:

Using this method arent you losing out by not being able to accelerate/brake at same time? I dont know about anyone else but im often on the power constantly, wether im braking or not. Similar to left foot braking.

Just out of interest, do you actually use side view? has anyone actually found it useful?

Thanks

I find the side view invaluable to make sure you don't collide with people and knock them off the track or get yourself a penalty, particularly when you are overtaking or being overtaken in a tight bend.

 

[maximumattack]

Just out of interest, what combinations of buttons are people using for gear change.
Im setup on sixaxis to:

left analog to steer.
right analog up/down for gears & left/right for view
L2 to brake
R2 to accelerate
X handbrake, i think.
D-pad to change in game TCS etc.

I'm using the Driving Force Pro wheel and use the buttons on the back of the wheel to change gear as I've changed the gearstick to handbrake when pulled back and reverse when pushed forward.

X & Triangle are used to scroll through the RA menu and I can alter the RA settings using Circle & square