Why are there so few races online?

[MowTin]

I live in the U.S. Northeast and I see only about a dozen games that show green connection speed. Of those only 3 or 4 usually have more than 5 players. And those are almost always either GT3 or Indy races. Good luck finding any other kind of race.

Do the vast majority of players only play single player? Is online cross-platform? I'm playing on PC.

 

[Mr Tree]

Gt3 seems very popular on ps4 (no x-platform).
Rooms on ps4 fill when qaulifiying so no need to wait for a full room.

Also withing the online racing section op the pcars2 subforul I noticed a thread for non-manditory czsual racing.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/casual-night-racing.359825/

 

[MowTin]

Gt3 seems very popular on ps4 (no x-platform).
Rooms on ps4 fill when qaulifiying so no need to wait for a full room.

Also withing the online racing section op the pcars2 subforul I noticed a thread for non-manditory czsual racing.

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/threads/casual-night-racing.359825/

I would probably just get the PS4 version but I race in VR.

Console gaming is so much better when it comes to online games.

Another issue is I'm in the U.S. and there are more players in Europe.

 

[twitcher]

GT3 makes up the majority of online lobbies, period. It was like that in PC1 as well....75% or more were always GT3.

The game only shows 20 lobbies at a time, and which 20 it shows is random, but usually will list the same ones repeatedly.

To find things other than GT3, you pretty much need to use the search filter to find what you're looking for.

An option to search for "not GT3" would be nice.


Furthermore though, what the game really needs is a SMS hosted quick lobby setup, basically what you see in FPS games. Have a bunch of preset lobbies with different classes and track rotations, have the lobby run to timers so it can't get held up by people being afk, etc.

It's really frustrating when you look for a lobby other than GT3, and you see like 3 or 4, let's say Group A lobbies, all with 1 maybe 2 people each.

I'm just looking for quick races where I can jump into a relatively full lobby, get some laps in, and log off for the night. I'm not looking to do 2 hour quali sessions, followed by a race that goes from snowstorm to thunderstorm, or whatever weird and whacky settings the host puts it on. I've tried hosting my own lobbies, but usually only get a handful of people.

 

[fasj6418]

Furthermore though, what the game really needs is a SMS hosted quick lobby setup, basically what you see in FPS games. Have a bunch of preset lobbies with different classes and track rotations, have the lobby run to timers so it can't get held up by people being afk, etc.

It's really frustrating when you look for a lobby other than GT3, and you see like 3 or 4, let's say Group A lobbies, all with 1 maybe 2 people each.

I'm just looking for quick races where I can jump into a relatively full lobby, get some laps in, and log off for the night. I'm not looking to do 2 hour quali sessions, followed by a race that goes from snowstorm to thunderstorm, or whatever weird and whacky settings the host puts it on. I've tried hosting my own lobbies, but usually only get a handful of people.

Yes, yes and yes, that would change online completely.

Hopefully there´s a chance of this coming in via patch, because the community events could be something like this. Games with few people playing online desperately need quick match lobbies.

On PC it´s very hard to find races that aren´t GT3 ones, and even if it´s GT3 depending on the time you try there´s not much either.

I really hope they are considering this.

 

[BrandonW77]

Another issue is I'm in the U.S. and there are more players in Europe.

Which is why you don't see many "green connection" servers. But this shouldn't be an issue, as long as the connection is stable they can have a 200-400 ping and it will still be fine, it's when the ping is jumping around that it's an issue. I was racing online last night with a buddy in the UK and another in Spain, me in the U.S., we all had red connection indicators but I never saw even a hit of lag or any other issues. Color coding based on ping is a misleading way to do it IMO, when AC switched to that a few updates ago suddenly all the guys I regularly race with were all showing as red even though I've raced with them dozens of times and never have any problems, and still haven't had any problems since they started showing as red. In AC I race weekly with people from Australia, China, Germany, UK, Murica all in the same server, most of us show as a red connection but we never have any issues at all. So just ignore the colors and join the server.

Also, if you join a server with only a few people in it eventually others will join. You see three people and think it won't be fun, but you join and now the next guy sees four people and decides to check it out, then the next guy sees five people, etc. until the server is full. It's known as the "sim sheep effect".

 

[PzR Slim]

I usually filter by GT3 as I love the racing in that class and normally see around 50 GT3 lobbies on PC when I'm on after 9pm.

 

[crowhop]

If you build it, they will come.

Last night was the prime example. The lobbies were ALL GT3 and GTE. No one room had very many in it. Maybe 5 tops. That was it.

So I created a lobby for GTOs at CADWELL PARK (!!!). I think there ended up being 15 in there in just 10 minutes. It was lunacy! After that race we moved to Fuji. It was filled even faster.

If you set up a room with the right settings, people will show up. People are tired of racing the same old things over and over. Offer them some diversity and they will follow you, man!

My recommendations for Room Settings
Class E or better
Default Tuning
20 minute Qualifying
15 Minute Race
Realistic Settings
Do NOT force In-Car View, Driving Line, or Manual Gears (you want to encourage those who need aides to race too!)
Pace Lap ON
Manual Pits ON
Dynamic Time and Weather (IF you allow for rain, be sure to let the room know to set up for Rain Tires during a Pit Stop)

Tracks to run
Algarve
Brands
Cadwell
Donington
Imola
Knockhill
Red Bull Ring
Daytona Road Course
Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Texas Road Course
Dubai
Fuji
Sakitto

Classes to run
Group 5
Group C
Group A
GTO
GT1
IndyCar Road Course
Super Trofeo
Touring Cars

You build a room with those settings with any combo of car/track listed there, you'll end up with a full house to race with. If you build it, they will come.

 

[MowTin]

If you build it, they will come.

My Internet download in 50 Mbps and upload is 10 Mbps. I'm reluctant to host sometimes because my PC is already stressed with demanding VR rendering.

Are there dedicated servers? Can we create our own dedicated servers?

Which is why you don't see many "green connection" servers. But this shouldn't be an issue, as long as the connection is stable they can have a 200-400 ping and it will still be fine, it's when the ping is jumping around that it's an issue. I was racing online last night with a buddy in the UK and another in Spain, me in the U.S., we all had red connection indicators but I never saw even a hit of lag or any other issues. Color coding based on ping is a misleading way to do it IMO, when AC switched to that a few updates ago suddenly all the guys I regularly race with were all showing as red even though I've raced with them dozens of times and never have any problems, and still haven't had any problems since they started showing as red. In AC I race weekly with people from Australia, China, Germany, UK, Murica all in the same server, most of us show as a red connection but we never have any issues at all. So just ignore the colors and join the server.

Also, if you join a server with only a few people in it eventually others will join. You see three people and think it won't be fun, but you join and now the next guy sees four people and decides to check it out, then the next guy sees five people, etc. until the server is full. It's known as the "sim sheep effect".

Thanks. I hate color coded pings. I want to see the raw number.

I never enter rooms where the connection is red or yellow thus limiting my choices. I'll host more and venture out into the yellows and maybe *gasp* reds.

 

[BrandonW77]

My Internet download in 50 Mbps and upload is 10 Mbps. I'm reluctant to host sometimes because my PC is already stressed with demanding VR rendering.

Are there dedicated servers? Can we create our own dedicated servers?

I'm not positive but I don't think your internet speed has anything much bearing because I don't think it's hosted on your system. It all runs through the game (and presumably SMS servers?) just like in Gran turismo. But those internet speeds would probably be more than fine even if it did run off your system.

I never enter rooms where the connection is red or yellow thus limiting my choices. I'll host more and venture out into the yellows and maybe *gasp* reds.

Do it, you'll likely find it isn't a problem more times than not.

 

[Animera]

I'm in NZ and I regularly race with friends in Europe and the USA.
My connection indicator stays red but my ping is consistent so I have no issues whatsoever.

 

[crowhop]

Thanks. I hate color coded pings. I want to see the raw number.

I never enter rooms where the connection is red or yellow thus limiting my choices. I'll host more and venture out into the yellows and maybe *gasp* reds.

If @Animera can race, anyone can!

 

[Corsa]

If you build it, they will come.

Last night was the prime example. The lobbies were ALL GT3 and GTE. No one room had very many in it. Maybe 5 tops. That was it.

So I created a lobby for GTOs at CADWELL PARK (!!!). I think there ended up being 15 in there in just 10 minutes. It was lunacy! After that race we moved to Fuji. It was filled even faster.

If you set up a room with the right settings, people will show up. People are tired of racing the same old things over and over. Offer them some diversity and they will follow you, man!

My recommendations for Room Settings
Class E or better
Default Tuning
20 minute Qualifying
15 Minute Race
Realistic Settings
Do NOT force In-Car View, Driving Line, or Manual Gears (you want to encourage those who need aides to race too!)
Pace Lap ON
Manual Pits ON
Dynamic Time and Weather (IF you allow for rain, be sure to let the room know to set up for Rain Tires during a Pit Stop)

Tracks to run
Algarve
Brands
Cadwell
Donington
Imola
Knockhill
Red Bull Ring
Daytona Road Course
Long Beach
Watkins Glen
Texas Road Course
Dubai
Fuji
Sakitto

Classes to run
Group 5
Group C
Group A
GTO
GT1
IndyCar Road Course
Super Trofeo
Touring Cars

You build a room with those settings with any combo of car/track listed there, you'll end up with a full house to race with. If you build it, they will come.

This is great advice.

I run a Group A lobby starting around 430pm EST everyday.

I like to run tuning, but honestly the best races have been with tuning disabled.

 

[MowTin]

It all runs through the game (and presumably SMS servers?) just like in Gran turismo. But those internet speeds would probably be more than fine even if it did run off your system.

OMG, I had no idea. I thought it was peer to peer with host migration because of that little icon for who the host is. Once I became the host. I guess I was just the room manager?

Then how do I start a game that will run on an SMS server that is in the U.S.?

 

[crowhop]

This is great advice.

I run a Group A lobby starting around 430pm EST everyday.

I like to run tuning, but honestly the best races have been with tuning disabled.

I prefer to disable tuning if only to keep it simple. I just want to race and I think there are many who want to run a lot of cars in a little window of time. I prefer to have the cars as even as possible and any advantage one gets be gained because the driver, not due to a tune that someone has perfected to the nth degree.

For my league racing where I am running a single car over many tracks, Tuning is awesome. For these one-offs, it doesn't make much sense to me. It is only possible because all of the default tunes I've come across have been pretty good.

 

[twitcher]

I'm not positive but I don't think your internet speed has anything much bearing because I don't think it's hosted on your system. It all runs through the game (and presumably SMS servers?) just like in Gran turismo. But those internet speeds would probably be more than fine even if it did run off your system.



Do it, you'll likely find it isn't a problem more times than not.

I was always under the impression it was p2p, and that the host's PS4 is the server host.

In PC1, I was in a few leagues, and we would have issues if the host was in australia or England, but far fewer issues when the host was in North America.

 

[BrandonW77]

OMG, I had no idea. I thought it was peer to peer with host migration because of that little icon for who the host is. Once I became the host. I guess I was just the room manager?

Then how do I start a game that will run on an SMS server that is in the U.S.?

I really have no idea how it works behind the scenes, I was just guessing, I could be totally wrong but it's nothing like setting up a server on AC. In PCars2 you just go to the "Create Online Event" tab on the main menu, set the room name and password, lap count, qualifying/practice length, weather, and a whole slew of other game options, then hit the start button and the room is created. Literally anyone playing the game can have a room up in a minute or two with no need for server rental. I don't see any options for or indications of where the server is located.

I was always under the impression it was p2p, and that the host's PS4 is the server host.

In PC1, I was in a few leagues, and we would have issues if the host was in australia or England, but far fewer issues when the host was in North America.

We're discussing PC, I'm not sure how it works on the consoles. Maybe it is P2P on both, I just know it's far simpler than in other sims and doesn't require an external program or rental of a dedicated server. Regardless, with his internet speeds I don't think it would be a problem for him to host.

 

[crowhop]

This is great advice.

I run a Group A lobby starting around 430pm EST everyday.

I like to run tuning, but honestly the best races have been with tuning disabled.

If you were on PC, I'd certainly aim to join you. I love those cars. Seems the Nissan overshadows the Merc and BMW though, sadly.

 

[twitcher]

I really have no idea how it works behind the scenes, I was just guessing, I could be totally wrong but it's nothing like setting up a server on AC. In PCars2 you just go to the "Create Online Event" tab on the main menu, set the room name and password, lap count, qualifying/practice length, weather, and a whole slew of other game options, then hit the start button and the room is created. Literally anyone playing the game can have a room up in a minute or two with no need for server rental. I don't see any options for or indications of where the server is located.



We're discussing PC, I'm not sure how it works on the consoles. Maybe it is P2P on both, I just know it's far simpler than in other sims and doesn't require an external program or rental of a dedicated server. Regardless, with his internet speeds I don't think it would be a problem for him to host.

Ahh ok, I was referring to console, my bad.

 

[BrandonW77]

Ahh ok, I was referring to console, my bad.

I probably shouldn't have commented because I don't know for sure. I just know it's different and way easier than in other PC sims and it all runs within the game instead of an external program like in AC or R3E. I've created a few myself in PCars2, they ran without issue and I only have half the internet speed that MowTin has (granted there was only a few of us in there). I say just give it a try and see how it goes.

 

[kasperski95]

I live in the U.S. Northeast and I see only about a dozen games that show green connection speed. Of those only 3 or 4 usually have more than 5 players. And those are almost always either GT3 or Indy races. Good luck finding any other kind of race.

Do the vast majority of players only play single player? Is online cross-platform? I'm playing on PC.

At this moment game is buggy AF and multiplayer is designed by someone who play such games once per month. Playing online is frustrating.

Multiplayer is badly designed:
- There should be official races at specific time (simracingsystem). It helps gather people. At this moment there is few 10+ gt3 servers and plenty 1-5.
- Waiting time is super annoying, especially on Nurburgring combined.
- There's no info about race length and weather after joining the server.
- Race starts only if everyone is ready. There's always one guy who needs to be kicked.
- There's any info about fuel usage.

Netcode is terrible:
- Some cars are floating around the track.
- Game freezes from time to time.

The HUD is buggy.
- Virtual mirror need to be turned on everytime.

The UI is buggy.
- You can't even sort servers by amount of players.

Many simracers haven't bought pCars2 after pCars drama.

 

[Animera]

I'm in 2 online leagues and both have gained a lot of new members.
Both leagues are starting new seasons and are full.

 

[TommySalami]

At this moment game is buggy AF and multiplayer is designed by someone who play such games once per month. Playing online is frustrating.

Multiplayer is badly designed:
- There should be official races at specific time (simracingsystem). It helps gather people. At this moment there is few 10+ gt3 servers and plenty 1-5.
- Waiting time is super annoying, especially on Nurburgring combined.
- There's no info about race length and weather after joining the server.
- Race starts only if everyone is ready. There's always one guy who needs to be kicked.
- There's any info about fuel usage.

I have the same sentiments. iRacing provides such competitive racing because it's on a schedule and everyone can practice the car/track combo for a whole week. When I get on PC2 this evening, I'll have no idea what cars or tracks I'll be racing on, and many people won't even know the track. Driving at COTA has been especially brutal for that reason. And the other comments are just common sense stuff that should be in the game or be fixed. The game should just conservatively estimate fuel usage for you and start you off with that amount.

 

[MowTin]

I probably shouldn't have commented because I don't know for sure. I just know it's different and way easier than in other PC sims and it all runs within the game instead of an external program like in AC or R3E. I've created a few myself in PCars2, they ran without issue and I only have half the internet speed that MowTin has (granted there was only a few of us in there). I say just give it a try and see how it goes.

Now I'm back to thinking it's peer-to-peer.

This reddit thread indicates you can host your own server through steam easily.

Are we organizing some servers? I would be happy to chip in.

 

[BrandonW77]

Now I'm back to thinking it's peer-to-peer.

This reddit thread indicates you can host your own server through steam easily.

Are we organizing some servers? I would be happy to chip in.

Either way, it's super easy to setup and seems to run pretty well (on PC). I've only done it through the game, didn't know you could do it through Steam but I do send invites through Steam.

Check the link in my sig, it's going to be switching to PCars probably next week. We'll be doing some testing tomorrow night, you and any other PC players are welcome to join. TeamSpeak info is in the OP of that thread.

 

[chris4652009]

This thread inspired me tonight.

I set up a public server for "track day" preset. So road cars only.

Swapped between the different road classes and tracks each race, had a Fantastic evening with lots of clean racing, never had to kick anyone.


I'll prob do same again tomorrow at some point unless I'm playing Forza7