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How realistic is Project CARS?

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Project cars  1

Project CARS is poised to blow all other racing games out of the water. It looks absolutely stunning, which is what we often talk about when it comes to the game. However, there’s some serious brains under all that beauty. So just how realistic is Project CARS when it comes to physics and driving simulation?

While this list of answers to questions specifically say it’s not a guide or an FAQ, it seems pretty damn close. There are far too many elements to list here, but I found a bunch of answers rather interesting. There’s a whole lot about tyre heat and pressure, including this answer to why you can’t do burnouts in the GT3 cars:

There are actually a number of factors. While the GT3 cars produce a lot of power, this does not mean the tyres are not up to the task of transferring all of that power to the ground and maintaining grip! The GT3 cars in Project CARS have Soft Slicks equipped in default configuration. Also, the GT3 tyres are pre-warmed in all racing sessions in game, so even starting Free Practice your tyres will be sitting at 90ºC. Another factor is the race track material itself and track temperature, which can create extra grip to help the tyres stick (look up track rubber build-up). There are a couple of other things to check or change if you really like doing burnouts rather than getting the most grip from your tyres!: Firstly, shorten the gear ratios if possible (this has a greater impact than you might think!), Check that Traction Control isn’t enabled. Set the differential to 100% accel lock. Change compound to Hard. Or just drive around a lot so your tyres either overheating or worn and slippery! Race cars are designed to get off the line quickly and run at high speed most of the time, not waste precious rubber.

There are even explanations about why cars might feel different. Time of day, location, track temperature, compound selected, assists, amount of fuel – all of these can impact on how even the same car can feel in various conditions. But it’s all done according to real world elements, including if your throttle feels laggy:

That’s because Project CARS uses a simulated volumetric throttle model. It will probably feel more ‘analogue’ than you might be used to virtually. This is real world behaviour, in contrast to the “x% throttle pedal input = x% engine RPM” physics that is common in racing simulations/games. This also means that each engine/car has a different throttle response. So all cars will feel and respond differently on the throttle, which adds a lot to the (sub-)conscious character you’d get from each car.

Real world behaviour is key in Project CARS, which is what makes it so interesting. This won’t feel like every other driving sim you’ve played and will probably appeal most to real life petrol heads. I think this explanation in response to “this car understeers too much” sort of says it all:

Some cars have much wider tyres on the rear or the aero is rear biased (i.e. big rear wing). Adjust as necessary for your style, but beware for these cars it will be the same ‘problem’ that the real drivers had to adjust to. Not all cars are created equal.

It’s not a bug, it’s a feature. Also, I am starting to wonder if I don’t need to study up about optimum tyre temperatures and telemetry before I even attempt to play this game. Here’s hoping that there’re plenty of tutorials for players like me who just want to go fast in cars I’d never get to drive otherwise.

Last Updated: April 13, 2015

54 Comments

  1. Captain JJ the flash noob

    April 13, 2015 at 15:35

    • Dutch Matrix

      April 13, 2015 at 15:49

      Also: Is he drinking from a coconut? And why does his face look like Rosanne Barr just suggested intercourse?

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the flash noob

        April 13, 2015 at 15:50

        Haha. Epic movie though.

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 13, 2015 at 15:51

        Surely such a feat is a myth

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          April 13, 2015 at 15:51

          Drinking from a coconut or having intercourse with Rosanne Barr?

          Reply

          • Wayne Rooney

            April 13, 2015 at 15:53

            Thuz is nowt wrong wi’ Roseanne Barr she is o’ a sound as a pound age now, bet yous she be a wild ride ‘ey ‘ey..

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 13, 2015 at 15:56

            Nu-uh Guvner. I’s be rather riskin’ my rectum wi’ dat Krogan Wrex…

            http://images.wikia.com/masseffect/images/archive/4/4e/20100105104529!Wrex_Character_Box.png

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 13, 2015 at 15:57

            too illegable, didn’t read

          • Ali G

            April 13, 2015 at 16:00

            E said e’d not mind nobbin roseanne bar

          • Ali G

            April 13, 2015 at 16:00

            E said e’d not mind nobbin roseanne bar

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 13, 2015 at 16:04

            Just wow.

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 13, 2015 at 16:04

            Just wow.

          • Hammersteyn

            April 13, 2015 at 15:58

            The latter I would think

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 13, 2015 at 15:58

            Both, at the same time

          • Hammersteyn

            April 13, 2015 at 16:03

            Better make it five fingers if you plan to follow through with Rosanne. Five fingers of alcohol and for her…

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 13, 2015 at 16:07

          • Hammersteyn

            April 13, 2015 at 16:16

            She lost weight O_o

          • Charl van der Merwe

            April 14, 2015 at 09:19

            Holy shit is that really her ?

          • Hammersteyn

            April 13, 2015 at 16:03

            Better make it five fingers if you plan to follow through with Rosanne. Five fingers of alcohol and for her…

      • Rock789

        April 14, 2015 at 07:28

        He is. And she did! o_O

        Reply

  2. Hammersteyn

    April 13, 2015 at 15:38

    They way I drive you’d think the game’s called Project Crash.

    Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      April 13, 2015 at 15:41

      Mine would probably be called Project HescomingstraiAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 13, 2015 at 16:04

      project brakes.
      make sure you have the big L sticker on the back of your GT3

      Reply

      • Captain JJ the flash noob

        April 13, 2015 at 16:05

        Haha.
        It would be kind of funny if you’re in an online match and someone’s sporting an L in the back window.

        Reply

        • Matthew Holliday

          April 13, 2015 at 16:07

          if these games actually gave us legit paint or decal editors, i would totally do it.

          if a pokey little game like trackmania can have an ingame painter, so can this.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ the flash noob

            April 13, 2015 at 16:08

            Yes. I agree.
            Didn’t Shift 2 have something like that too?
            I remember Test Drive Unlimited had quite an easy one to use.

      • Hammersteyn

        April 13, 2015 at 16:17

        XD

        Reply

      • Rock789

        April 14, 2015 at 07:34

        Just settle for a big X on your back window or bumper (somewhere prominent). That’s racing code for “Rookie Driver”. I had that on my racecar when I first started. Was great for when I overtook them, so they knew a rookie was kicking their a$$. 😉 🙂

        Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      April 13, 2015 at 16:04

      project brakes.
      make sure you have the big L sticker on the back of your GT3

      Reply

  3. Ali G

    April 13, 2015 at 15:40

    But iz yous gonna as neon an’ spinners

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      April 13, 2015 at 15:43

      An a Jaguar Dipstick!

      Reply

  4. Dutch Matrix

    April 13, 2015 at 15:43

    But does it have a Chery QQ3???

    Reply

    • Rock789

      April 14, 2015 at 07:35

      I flippin’ hope not! **throws up**

      Reply

  5. Wayne Rooney

    April 13, 2015 at 15:50

    Graphics do blimp pretty like de UEFA Trophy,
    But does it ‘uv de realism dat GT ‘ad

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 13, 2015 at 15:59

      Funny that you and AliG have the same IP…

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        April 13, 2015 at 16:03

        Detective Admiral Chief on the prowl…

        Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        April 13, 2015 at 16:03

        Detective Admiral Chief on the prowl…

        Reply

      • Captain JJ the flash noob

        April 13, 2015 at 16:03

        I was actually wondering if it were the same person

        Reply

      • Matthew Holliday

        April 13, 2015 at 16:03

        is it of any consequence?
        bros are allowed to have fun.

        interesting though, local mods here can check IPs? thought it would just be basic editing rights

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 13, 2015 at 16:05

          Nope, just funny that the sense of spelling is the same in both cases haha

          Reply

      • Wayne Rooney

        April 13, 2015 at 16:06

        In celebration of Beating Man City I thought i give ol rooney a go 😛

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief asked for this

          April 13, 2015 at 16:06

          Soccer, such a nancy sport eh guv? (am I doing this right?)

          Reply

        • Captain JJ the flash noob

          April 13, 2015 at 16:07

          I don’t know the difference between Man City and Carnival City, but I admire your stamina 😉

          Reply

  6. Captain JJ the flash noob

    April 13, 2015 at 16:06

    *clicks recommended*

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief asked for this

      April 13, 2015 at 16:06

      Attaboy!

      Reply

  7. chimera_85

    April 13, 2015 at 16:22

    I don’t like racing simulators but this looks amazing but not enough money to just spend on a game I may not even enjoy.

    Reply

  8. Greylingad

    April 13, 2015 at 20:05

    Aaah… Lovely, real world scenarios, I’m a little worried about the fun factor though, for me it’s a case of “realism! Hell yeah!!” but what about the guys that just want to drop in and play, drive fast and enjoy themselves?

    Reply

    • ModernTimes2

      April 14, 2015 at 02:23

      You can do just that. The game also caters for the non experts who just want to drive without tinkering or worries about difficulty. This is done by providing driving assists if you want, adjustable AI level, adjustable race lengths etc..

      BTW, note that many old racing sims were overly hard. Newer sims, including Project CARS, recognize that driving race cars isn’t hard, so realism in this case means that normal people can drive these cars just fine. The challenge, or difficulty and danger if you will, of racing lies in extracting the last bit of performance to go really fast, driving on the edge and win races in a variety of cars on a variety of tracks . And that is BIG fun 🙂

      @ Zoe : “Also, I am starting to wonder if I don’t need to study up about optimum tyre temperatures and telemetry before I even attempt to play this game.”

      Not at all. See above.

      Reply

      • Greylingad

        April 14, 2015 at 07:57

        That’s good to know, in general GT racing in any simulator is as hard as you set it, pushing the limits on the vehicle, every little bit of fine tuning, just adds that little bit more to the experience, whereas if you’re a casual racer, you might not be interested in any of that, so it’s good to know that the game will accommodate different playing styles, thanks man!

        Reply

      • IntrebuloN

        June 11, 2015 at 06:11

        Driving race cars isn’t hard, but driving race cars at competitive speeds in reality is more difficult than driving any simulator.

        Reply

  9. Rock789

    April 14, 2015 at 07:41

    Man, May is gonna be an epic game month. Project Cars followed, just 1 week later, by The Witcher 3! Yes please!!

    Reply

  10. Dirkster_Dude

    April 14, 2015 at 10:41

    If the game requires a lot of tutorials or information to adjust the cars in the game then it will most likely not be worth playing. We will see. It is a video game NOT real life no matter how realistic the simulation. Making it so realistic so only gear heads can get into the game or having to do a lot of remedial reading is no different than when some developer creates a great game like Dark Souls or Bloodborne and it is to difficult for most people. In the case of Project Cars I will not ever be an auto mechanic or engineer, and having to be one to get the most out of the game would be a mistake on the part of the developer. The happy medium I suppose would be to have such detailed customizations for players who want it and an automatic settings feature for those who don’t. Kind of what the Forza series does.

    Reply

  11. Nick de Bruyne

    April 15, 2015 at 15:23

    I must be honest with you guys (as some of you know I play a ton of racing games and I’m a lifelong petrol-head), that a lot of what is being said here is actually fair standard as far as sim-like car games go, I almost think that they are going to get hurt with all this sim-talk because people are going to think the game is too serious and not fun, where from what I have seen from gameplay videos, a lot of this game (maybe just in more casual settings) is no different to GRID / Forza (on casual settings) etc.

    The mechanics and ideas that racing slicks don’t spin easily or that each car has a different throttle response etc have been in games since… sheesh, since maybe 15-20 years ago now! A lot of it is pretty standard stuff. Things like laid-down rubber and all that is a little more current, with games like Assetto Corsa on PC and probably a lot of the hardcore PC online sims integrating that sort of stuff in, but all in all, I think this game is going to be very approachable. I’m actually more worried about it feeling too casual than I am about it feeling too hardcore, lets hope they balance the difficulty settings out well enough to cater to both.

    Hope this sheds a bit of light though.

    Reply

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