R-factor - a few questions...

[ol]

Hi there,

I love driving games, and have been a Gran Turismo fan for years. I've been thinking about getting a PS3 for the new game, but since the full version isn't out for ages, i started looking for other sims.

I downloaded the demo for r-factor, and although i've only got keyboard controls (going to buy a Logitech G25 soon) i thought it looked really good. The thing is, from what i've read on here it seems complicated.

-Do you need to understand programming etc to get the most out of the game? It sounds complicated!!

-Am i right in thinking people make their own tracks and cars that you can download?

-The online multiplayer sounds ace, but i've read about people not being able to see other cars and having other problems, so is the online miltiplayer any good??

-Can you play 2 player? (i.e not online?)

-Can i install it on 2 of my computers (work and home)?

-Are all UK circuits available - ie Knockhill and Croft?

-Whats all this talk of DX7 DX8 etc??

- Is there Damage to the cars if you crash? Or do you just 'bounce off' barriers?

-Would you reccomend it?!

Sorry there are a million questions, but all my friends seem to think their driving game is the bast - ones got Forza, another Gran Turismo and a few other with other PC racing games.

Also, is the Logitec G25 compatible with all consoles? Or just PC?

Thanks again and i look forward to seeing you in the r-factor piston heads championship soon!!!

Edited by ol on Wednesday 26th March 11:09

Edited by ol on Wednesday 26th March 11:14

[Altrezia]

You don't need to know programming to play the game.

Just download the bits you want to add from here: http://www.rfactorcentral.com/

Usually either use the installer provided, or unzip to the game's folder, and it'll just work

[Mr_Yogi]

ol said:

Hi there,

I love driving games, and have been a Gran Turismo fan for years. I've been thinking about getting a PS3 for the new game, but since the full version isn't out for ages, i started looking for other sims.

I downloaded the demo for r-factor, and although i've only got keyboard controls (going to buy a Logitech G25 soon) i thought it looked really good. The thing is, from what i've read on here it seems complicated.

-Do you need to understand programming etc to get the most out of the game? It sounds complicated!!

No Way, if you want to create content yourself you will, but if you are just like 99% of us just download whatever you want (for free) and enjoy.

ol said:

-Am i right in thinking people make their own tracks and cars that you can download?

Yup, people also convert cars and tracks from other games too.

ol said:

-The online multiplayer sounds ace, but i've read about people not being able to see other cars and having other problems, so is the online miltiplayer any good??

The online racing is excellent, we run leagues on the PH server but there are also lots of public servers which run the most popular/ latest mods. I also beleive there are other leagues you can enter.
The only problem is that sometimes while racing (some of the other) cars can disapear and re-appear somewhere else on track for a second or two. It's a bit random, and can be a bit distracting as the car you are following dissapears and pops back again a second later. However your car will not disappear and have you driving through headgerows or anything, it only effects the other cars.

ol said:

-Can you play 2 player? (i.e not online?)

I don't think so

ol said:

-Can i install it on 2 of my computers (work and home)?

AFAIK only if you buy two copys

ol said:

-Are all UK circuits available - ie Knockhill and Croft?

Most are but as already stated check out www.rfactorcentral.com or RSC.net, however not all the content makes it to these two.

ol said:

-Whats all this talk of DX7 DX8 etc??

This is the level of directX support, in this case specifically in regard to your graphics card. As a general rule the higher the level the better the capabilities. For some lower end graphcis cards it helps performance to drop down to a lower level. For example; if you have a laptop with an entry level DX9 video card, the game might be more playable (smoother/ higher frame rate) with the game set to DX7 (thus disabling some graphical features).

The game is pretty tweakable in the graphcis deptment but if you could run the demo ok you'll be fine.

ol said:

- Is there Damage to the cars if you crash? Or do you just 'bounce off' barriers?

There is damage but some mod's don't support it, however it is a sim to hitting a barrier generally means spinning out of control and ending up pointing in the wrong direction, which is more than enough of a penalty without damage. Especially if you end up on the grass, which can result in spining again as you welly it out of frustration

ol said:

-Would you reccomend it?!

ol said:

Also, is the Logitec G25 compatible with all consoles? Or just PC?

I think it works with the PS3 (most Logitech wheels do), not sure about the X360, I think that only works with the MS wheel, however I havn't got one so wouldn't know.

ol said:

Thanks again and i look forward to seeing you in the r-factor piston heads championship soon!!!

The more the merrier

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Wednesday 26th March 12:47

[big_treacle]

Probably gonna end up giving you the same info as everyone else but here goes anyway

ol said:

-Do you need to understand programming etc to get the most out of the game? It sounds complicated!!
-Am i right in thinking people make their own tracks and cars that you can download?
-Are all UK circuits available - ie Knockhill and Croft?

It's not complex. You can download loads of cars, tracks & championships at http://rfactorcentral.com/
Installation is usually just a case of running an install program or copying files into a directory. There are loads of UK tracks on there - have a browse through.

ol said:

-The online multiplayer sounds ace, but i've read about people not being able to see other cars and having other problems, so is the online miltiplayer any good??
-Can you play 2 player? (i.e not online?)
-Can i install it on 2 of my computers (work and home)?

I've had no grief with multiplayer. You might get the odd bit of lag as with any other game which I guess might manifest itself as spacetime travelling cars.
When I bought rFactor it said that the license allows you to install on 5 machines simultaneously. I certainly have it on 2 machines at home so I can play against mates across my local network.

ol said:

-Whats all this talk of DX7 DX8 etc??

I guess you're talking about DirectX? As in "game requires Dx7 soundcard, Dx9 graphics" or somesuch? This is the sound & graphics API used by the game - its the software interface between the game & your hardware. So it means that your PC needs a soundcard & a graphics card that supports at least that release of DirectX. If not, the game won't display sound & graphics. What PC do you have? Or have you got the specs of its internals? Then I can tell you if it'll be alright.

ol said:

- Is there Damage to the cars if you crash? Or do you just 'bounce off' barriers?

As far as I remember they do suffer damage

ol said:

-Would you reccomend it?!

Definitely. Its really realistic & great fun.

ol said:

-Also, is the Logitec G25 compatible with all consoles? Or just PC?

Don't know exactly. But its amazing with rFactor I've heard that it is sort of compatible with PS3 but the H gears maybe not (ie. paddles only) but presumably thats just a software driver thing which may/may not get sorted one day. It just plugs in by USB so don't see why not.

[ol]

Fantastic, thanks for the pointers. It does seeem really good!

I've just been playing the demo again on the laptop, and it's really jerky. I guess this is down the the DX settings, but i can't seem to find where to change it?? Can anybody point me in the right direction please?!

I'm not sure of the specs of the computers, but i'd install it on my desktop which has never had problems with other games/graphics before, so i'm guessing it should be ok.

Thanks again, really helpful stuff!

[Holst]

ol said:

Fantastic, thanks for the pointers. It does seeem really good!

I've just been playing the demo again on the laptop, and it's really jerky. I guess this is down the the DX settings, but i can't seem to find where to change it?? Can anybody point me in the right direction please?!

I'm not sure of the specs of the computers, but i'd install it on my desktop which has never had problems with other games/graphics before, so i'm guessing it should be ok.

Thanks again, really helpful stuff!

If you go to the start menu and find the Rfactor section there is a program called "rfactor config" run that and then you can drop your DX setting down to 8 or 7 and change the resolution and other settings. On your laptop you might have to run at a lower resolution as well. You can also reduce other settings, like texture quality in game to get better framerate.

I play on a laptop and so do some of the other PH guys. It should run pretty good on most laptops, although you might have to turn the detail down if you only have integrated graphics. Test it out with the demo to see if it works well.
If your running computer controled cars this will make your framerate worse compared to online play.

If you want to play 2v2 against a friend you can make your own online server with a password and play that way. I think you can also set it up over a lan/wireless but ive never tried that myself, but the settings are there.

I would definately recomend getting Rfactor its one of the best PC racing games and there are loads and loads of mods for it so you will never get bored.
You can even join the PH league which im really enjoying at the moment

[ol]

Cheers mate, it does sound and look really goodon the demo.
My friend just bought me a copy of GTR for a fiver, which he is convinvced is much better than r-factor, but i've not played it yet...

[Mr_Yogi]

ol said:

Cheers mate, it does sound and look really goodon the demo.
My friend just bought me a copy of GTR for a fiver, which he is convinvced is much better than r-factor, but i've not played it yet...

GTR uses an old version of the rFactor engine, and I'm pretty sure all the GTR cars are avaible for rFactor. GT Legends, GTR2 and Race also use the rFactor engine, although I think GTR2 and Race have wet weather options which rFactor dosen't.

Edited by Mr_Yogi on Wednesday 26th March 15:32

[Cliffv8]

ol said:

Hi there,

-Are all UK circuits available - ie Knockhill and Croft?

]

the Croft rallycross track is available, why they stopped at just doing the rallycross one i don't know and I'm sure I had Knockhill, maybe that was for GTR

edit: found Knockhill, knew i had it http://www.simracingworld.com/files/?File=1403

Edited by Cliffv8 on Wednesday 26th March 19:29

[FourWheelDrift]

I've got Croft I converted it from GTR (without timing and lights) but then there was a proper one out there as well that I downloaded, same conversion but with those working.