I was looking around this weekend for a game to play with touring cars and found this. It's EA's F1 Challenge 99-02. If you guys aren't familiar with some of these driving games they are "open source" and allow guys to make "mods" to the game...it's amazing what some of these guys can do. The F1 community has put out some great mods including some very nice touring sedan ones with many more in the works. Sorry no RX-8s but lots of BMWs. Here's a pic from a Beamer mod called BMW World Series by Speedwerx. I've played GT on the PS2 and to me this was a lot more fun and you can play it on the PC. You can buy F1 for $20 now and the mods are free.

This a pic of a Alpha in ETCC 2003 (European Touring Car Championship) voted best "mod" of 2003.

Montreal track by the water. I was in last place so I took a detour to take a pic of the city :p I think I'm going to start driving the Coca-Cola Beamer from now since it looks nicer and Malboros are bad for your health :p The got Porsches in the works too.

An Audi in ETCC

Gran Turismo is still better, it looks just as good on an old system. The great thing about gran turismo is the driving physics, a racing game with good graphics is not everything.

http://carsmedia.ign.com/cars/image/gt4_111103_2.jpg

How do you know how good/bad the physics are on these mods and F1? Have you tried them? And GT don't work on a PC very well :p

really? you didn't like GT? GT is the most accurate and realistic driving simulation game out there, and then there's the mods in GT and the amount of cars. i have F1 2002, it's impressive but imo GT is still tops for me

Originally posted by chinx
GT is the most accurate and realistic driving simulation game out there,

not especially... Sega's F355 challenge has some pretty slick tyre dynamics (which is why not one friggin' plays that game, it's bloody impossible), and 'cuase it only features one car, features it very very well.

there's also some other free game for the PC that is super good, with much better graphics... it's not based on EA's engine (which sucks anyways)...i just can't remember.... i'll see if i can find it.

Originally posted by wakeech
not especially... Sega's F355 challenge has some pretty slick tyre dynamics (which is why not one friggin' plays that game, it's bloody impossible), and 'cuase it only features one car, features it very very well.

there's also some other free game for the PC that is super good, with much better graphics... it's not based on EA's engine (which sucks anyways)...i just can't remember.... i'll see if i can find it.

F355 Challenge lacks road feedback. If I remember it didn't have any indication that your car is off road also when you try to use the curbs it also doesn't have any feedback or sound, feels like your on the tarmac the whole time.

here's the link on the RX7 forum:
http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210726

btw, it's called "Netkar", it's beta 0.9.9, it's free, and it's 41.34 megabytes for the core of the game. i'm positive there are tons of cars to d/l and stuff from other places.... and i believe you can play online and race others.

ah, another tidbit: you need to have an analog input device (like a wheel or joystick) to play it at all. at the bottom of Archangel's second post there are links to other games further that will allow you to play with the keyboard...

i don't know about the physics or actual gameplay but the graphics really are kind of dull...it's very obvious where the graphics repeat, the textures are completely flat, the buildings aren't casting any shadows, the glass/metallic parts don't cast reflections, and it seems the programmers have never heard of bump texturing...

since i've never played this, i can only compare this game to GT4 aesthetically and GT4 wins by a landslide as it is technically superior in terms of graphics...not only that but i love GT4's gameplay and even more so now that it is off the track and into the Grand Canyon and Tokyo by night...

not to say this is bad game...but the PS2 is a relatively old system...PC games should surpass a PS2 game, at the very least, in terms of graphics...this does not and is not even close

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/e3/0514/gt4/gt4_screen001.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/e3/0514/gt4/gt4_screen003.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/e3/0514/gt4/gt4_screen004.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/e3/0514/gt4/gt4_screen005.jpg

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2003/e3/0514/gt4/gt4_screen006.jpg

Originally posted by chinx
GT is the most accurate and realistic driving simulation game out there, and then there's the mods in GT and the amount of cars.

Nope - the best, bar none, is Grand Prix Legends. It's physics model is unbelievably accurate, to the point that it's impossible not to fall off the road until you're quite experienced. It's based on the 1967 Formula 1 Grand Prix season, but there's a great on-line community with all the tuning and driving tips, online racing, and dozens and dozens of new race tracks built for it. There are also alternate car sets. Graphics wise, it's not the latest and greatest, but it's still unbeaten for it's physics model.

Regards,
Gordon

Originally posted by Gord96BRG
Nope - the best, bar none, is Grand Prix Legends. It's physics model is unbelievably accurate, to the point that it's impossible not to fall off the road until you're quite experienced. It's based on the 1967 Formula 1 Grand Prix season, but there's a great on-line community with all the tuning and driving tips, online racing, and dozens and dozens of new race tracks built for it. There are also alternate car sets. Graphics wise, it's not the latest and greatest, but it's still unbeaten for it's physics model.

Regards,
Gordon

I wouldn't say it is the most accurate since none of us ever driven a 1967 grand prix car before.

As for GT4, supposedly it is within 1 second accuracy compare to a real car driven on the same real track.

accurate physics my ass. if GT was so accurate how in the hell can i run at 200mph in one direction on the big oval have someone else run in the opposite direction at 200mph then slam head on on purpose only to spin around and start driving again in seconds with no damage to the car? just try damaging something in that game. you cant even blow a tire.

Good lord - if those are real screenshots of GT4 on a PS2 I really wish they would release it for X-Box.

Originally posted by zoom44
accurate physics my ass. if GT was so accurate how in the hell can i run at 200mph in one direction on the big oval have someone else run in the opposite direction at 200mph then slam head on on purpose only to spin around and start driving again in seconds with no damage to the car? just try damaging something in that game. you cant even blow a tire.

no, we're reffering to the dynamics of the car's behaviour... no, the models don't have any sort of deforming capability or any other fancy tricks... i kinda miss it too, but to do that with so many cars would be... a little impossible.

considering that i enjoy actual racing (like, not just t-boning the computers to make passes) it's ok by me, but yeah, when you have a party or something (and of course none of your friends are car people, so can't play any racing game worth a lick) it's more fun to just wreck the living hell out of cars.

and seriously, check out Netkar... if you have a wheel go!! go now!!!

Originally posted by Hanzo
F355 Challenge lacks road feedback. If I remember it didn't have any indication that your car is off road also when you try to use the curbs it also doesn't have any feedback or sound, feels like your on the tarmac the whole time.

oops, missed your post... what system are you trying that on?? if it's a Playstation, you need to calibrate your sounds, and no, that sensation that it's slippery everywhere means that you're trying to push far too hard ;)

try the arcade machine (and remember to bring ear plugs if you're going to play for more than 5 minutes), having to actually shift your own gears with a gear lever and clutch is awesome.

Originally posted by wakeech
oops, missed your post... what system are you trying that on?? if it's a Playstation, you need to calibrate your sounds, and no, that sensation that it's slippery everywhere means that you're trying to push far too hard ;)

try the arcade machine (and remember to bring ear plugs if you're going to play for more than 5 minutes), having to actually shift your own gears with a gear lever and clutch is awesome.

I am talking about the arcade machine, never played the PS2 version or the Dreamcast version. I am not talking about sliding from over power but the feed back of the terrain, everything just feels like tarmac, even the dirt.

Originally posted by zoom44
accurate physics my ass. if GT was so accurate how in the hell can i run at 200mph in one direction on the big oval have someone else run in the opposite direction at 200mph then slam head on on purpose only to spin around and start driving again in seconds with no damage to the car? just try damaging something in that game. you cant even blow a tire.

you can't show damage on most of the cars since a lot of car manufacturers won't allow it...GT4 is accurate in terms of how the car handles, drives, sounds, looks, and "feels" as opposed to its real life counterpart

also, all the tracks in GT4 are accurate representations...yes Tsukaba Circuit is in there!

GT4 videos

http://media.ps2.ign.com/media/489/489327/vids_1.html

Originally posted by Hanzo
I am not talking about sliding from over power but the feed back of the terrain, everything just feels like tarmac, even the dirt.


ohhhhhhhhh... yes. that's true... the curbs don't bump the steering at all, you have to go all by audible cues...

speaking of feedback, you can buy the Logitech Force Feedback wheel for GT4 which feature pedals as well...the only thing it doesn't feature is a clutch or stick...nevertheless the feedback you get from the road is VERY realistic and the wheel does in fact pull realistically to the way it naturally would in real life...if you bump the curb, you can feel it in the wheel...bumping other cars make the wheel turn the opposite way

if you get GT4, get the Force Feedback wheel!

Originally posted by Gord96BRG
Nope - the best, bar none, is Grand Prix Legends.Regards,
Gordon

I have also heard this to be true many times over within the racing sim community on the net. I've never tried it so I can't tell you first hand.

Originally posted by pelucidor
Good lord - if those are real screenshots of GT4 on a PS2 I really wish they would release it for X-Box.

Wish all you want but GT will never show up on an XBOX unless someone can hack some kind of hardware converter :p

Originally posted by BRx8
speaking of feedback, you can buy the Logitech Force Feedback wheel for GT4 which feature pedals as well...the only thing it doesn't feature is a clutch or stick...nevertheless the feedback you get from the road is VERY realistic and the wheel does in fact pull realistically to the way it naturally would in real life...if you bump the curb, you can feel it in the wheel...bumping other cars make the wheel turn the opposite way

if you get GT4, get the Force Feedback wheel!


From what I have read on the web about the Logitech Force Feedback wheel, there is a new one that Logictech will release when GT4 comes out. The wheel steering is made to imitate a real steering wheel and it does come with a stick shifter the only thing it does not have is a clutch.

Netkar Netkar Netkar!!! someone try it out and tell me how it is...

Originally posted by wakeech
Netkar Netkar Netkar!!! someone try it out and tell me how it is...

I'll try it out tonight when I get home.

GT is put out by Sony, right? They would never port it to a competing platform then.

What are the details on Gran Turismo 4? Are they going to have a lot of cars? I hope so... the more the merrier.

I've played GT2 a little. I'm just about 20% of the way through Simulation mode on GT3 (just got it a few weeks ago). I have the two easy licenses, and when I need cash I can win 10,000 at a pop easy on the GT World Championship Super Speedway track.

Cars:
Lotus Elise 190 with all possible upgrades except full Sport Suspension. I was disappointed after I bought it that you can only get NA engine upgrade and Turbo upgrade level 1.
Corvette Z06 with all possible upgrades except full Sport Suspension. 798 horsepower.

For my next car I'm torn between a Lancer Evo, a WRX STI, or an Aston Martin DB7. Any suggestions? Does anyone know how much you can mod the Aston Martin's V12 in the game?

Originally posted by i3man
I'll try it out tonight when I get home.

I give Netkar the thumbs down. ETCC 2003 is a lot more fun...spent an hour last night racing with a few guys that could only speak Spanish. See...the guys in Europe do drive better cause I was getting whipped :p

Originally posted by FamilyGuy
For my next car I'm torn between a Lancer Evo, a WRX STI, or an Aston Martin DB7. Any suggestions? Does anyone know how much you can mod the Aston Martin's V12 in the game?

if you're looking for tuning advice, ask yourself "in what country was this game made??"

then, think about which is the strongest modding community the world over.
that's right, Japanese cars almost universally have the biggest tuning capabilities (a little prideful, these gents at Polyphony).

anyways, my suggestions:
FD3S RX-7 - it'll make that Vette feel like a boat, and lick it in a straight line

Lancer Evo 7 - awesome, cheap, easy to drive... and yes, i prefer this car head and shoulders over the STi, and i've tried to love both

Supra - if you're STILL pining for a boat with more power than you can drive (with a controller), the Supra will get it done everytime.

the Aston Martins (and most other true exotics) in the game are cool to drive against other stock cars, but when you get into modding territory, they're too heavy, underpowered, and expensive. (meaning no, you can't mod the engine a lot)

Thanks wakeech. I'll take a look at the Supra, Evo 7, and F3DS RX7.


My only complaint about the game thus far is that I have a much easier time driving in the first person/driver seat perspective. That means I don't get to enjoy the view of the hot rods while using them.

Originally posted by FamilyGuy
I don't get to enjoy the view of the hot rods while using them.

:cool: that's what the greatest replay engine ever is for. :cool:

Sure wish I had the time to play games... :(

me too. i haven't touched my ps2 in months except to watch a movie.

Originally posted by wakeech
[B]if you're looking for tuning advice, ask yourself "in what country was this game made??"

then, think about which is the strongest modding community the world over.
that's right, Japanese cars almost universally have the biggest tuning capabilities (a little prideful, these gents at Polyphony).

anyways, my suggestions:
FD3S RX-7 - it'll make that Vette feel like a boat, and lick it in a straight line

Lancer Evo 7 - awesome, cheap, easy to drive... and yes, i prefer this car head and shoulders over the STi, and i've tried to love both

Supra - if you're STILL pining for a boat with more power than you can drive (with a controller), the Supra will get it done everytime.



Actually, if you look here (http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/gran_turismo_3_car_database_a.txt) some guy actually took the time to figure out the max horsepower and best power-to-weight ratio achievable using the most possible mods for each car.

It's possible he messed up, but according to those specs the Japanese cars don't have a one sided lead when measuring pure power.

Originally posted by FamilyGuy
Actually, if you look here (http://db.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/file/gran_turismo_3_car_database_a.txt) some guy actually took the time to figure out the max horsepower and best power-to-weight ratio achievable using the most possible mods for each car.

It's possible he messed up, but according to those specs the Japanese cars don't have a one sided lead when measuring pure power.

well, the Viper is fittingly the fastest car in a straight line, but when it comes to an actually fast car i haven't found any non-japanese production cars that i liked as much as the FD (power-to-weight is pretty good, and actual weight is lower than most).

btw, your link is broke.

Originally posted by wakeech
well, the Viper is fittingly the fastest car in a straight line, but when it comes to an actually fast car i haven't found any non-japanese production cars that i liked as much as the FD (power-to-weight is pretty good, and actual weight is lower than most).

are we still talking about in the game here?

edit - btw did you ever get ahold of potatochips and question him on the stolen potato head?

Originally posted by zoom44
are we still talking about in the game here?

hahaha, heck yes.

Regarding GT3:

I just jumped from a decked out skyline, to the 787B, to an F1 car (F090/s?). I actually like the F1 cars the best. Not only because they were reallllly fast, but because you can then race in the F1 only races. And since you can't "mod" the F1 cars, you actually have to outrace the computer.

Normally this wouldn't be pretty easy, but with 10 endurance races in a row, with no oil change, and with me burning through the tires faster than the computer (I burn up tires pretty bad....), they were all pretty close races.....
Of course, when I got a new F094/s, then nothing could stand in my way.

Took a while to get 100%...took even longer to get every car in the game with 0 miles one every one.....(took me about 250 hours?)

Originally posted by threeputtwash
Regarding GT3:

Took a while to get 100%...took even longer to get every car in the game with 0 miles one every one.....(took me about 250 hours?)

I just need to finish golds in the rally license section. I mostly use Mazda's for non formula 1 races. Since I got my RX-8 (real life), I have been racing it. It is not quite as fast as an FD, but tires last forever. I like doing the trail mountain endurance race in it.