Nürburgring Game Needed

[Buzz word]

There is a plan to go on a trip to the ring in a few months with some mates but I have never been to the ring before. I know that the game is never going to compare to the real circuit but I would like to have the course in my head before I got or at least have a fair idea. So what is out there to help?

My PC probably isn't too good as a game platform. I have played TH American wasteland on it but it wouldn't run the dirt demo too well so I don't think its up to the latest and greatest games.

My little brother has a PS2 and PS3 which I think are probably my best options and i can steal either off him.

I have had a quick look about and GT4 seems to have the ring on it. However I was disappointed to see GT Prologue doesn't. I would rather use the PS3 as I think its pretty slick and really like the new progressive triggers and that style of driving compared to clonky old on and off buttons.

So what are my options? At the moment the list is solely occupied by GT4 is that worth a go?

[Steve Evil]

GT4 is your best bet. Although I think you're better off not playing it and getting a few pax-laps with people who know their way around it when you get there.

All playing GT4 will do is give you false confidence and it's the last place you want to have that. Just a friendly bit of advice as I thought I knew it after a few hundred laps on PGR2 and no game will prepare you for the real deal.

[-Z-]

It depends how much self control you have! I used PGR2 as well and found it invaluable for knowing at least a general idea of which way the track turns next, good for a) positioning and b) gives you more confidence when letting people past.

[cw42]

Another vote for gt4 on the ps2 here. I played it almost non stop for months prior to my first visit to the ring back in 2005, but it didn't gel at all. When we got to the ring, after rather a long drive in the mountains of Italy/France/Switzerland , I was too knackered on the first day there to do any driving, so just did loads of pax laps instead. This turned out to be a very good move, as it gave me time to relax into the place and really study the circuit proper. The game didn't help at all, and every corner seemed completely different to the one I'd played
The next day, all refreshed and raring to go, I thouroughly enjoyed my time there.
When I went back in 2006, this time a straight drive there, I once again hit the ps2, but this time, it all came flooding back from my real laps. When we arrived at the circuit, the corners just clicked into place and I was able to get into a real groove almost straight away

The best advice I've been given about driving there is this:
1/ Drive it like you'd drive a country road you're not familiar with.
2/ Don't drive it if you're tired
3/ Don't start your "last lap" if you really feel you've had enough
4/ Take time to kick back and enjoy the place, you will be back for more in the future

[E36GUY]

cw42 said:

The best advice I've been given about driving there is this:
1/ Drive it like you'd drive a country road you're not familiar with.
2/ Don't drive it if you're tired
3/ Don't start your "last lap" if you really feel you've had enough
4/ Take time to kick back and enjoy the place, you will be back for more in the future

Very good advice. The Playstation gives you the rough layout but comes absolutely no-where near preparing you for the real thing. The campbers, gradiants and blind crests are a real suprise when you do it for real but having said that, the PS is definately a help for layout. Just don't expect to be a ring God

[Marc W]

If you were to go the PC route, then Rfactor would be your best option. It should run okay on yours as I can get it running fine on my pc which, other than the graohics card is 6 years old. (even the graphics card is a couple of years old.) It doesn't come with the ring as standard but there are several versions which you can download from here;

http://www.rfactorcentral.com

There are a huge amount of cars to download too. there's an on going cars and tracks thread stickied on this forum. Having tried I'd rate it as more realistic than GT4, depending on which cars you opt to use. When I tired GT4 I tried driving cars I had driven in reality and none of them felt very much like reality, I wasn't impressed at all. Having said that though many people rave about it.

[GHW]

GT4's pretty reliable for learning the layout of the circuit (so you know not to go steaming into a blind bend that tightens straight into a hairpin), and some of the bigger lumps and bumps in the track surface.

[patmahe]

Under no circumstances set yourself a target time - quickest way to an accident.

[Buzz word]

Cheers chaps. Dont' worry I don't intend to go flat out and take things as gospel from the game. It's just a rough layout I want. I have no real idea what to expect from the place. I know a few of the famous bits but no idea how things link up, where the horribly sharp corners may be. I don't really want to rip the tarmac up, I just dont want to be caught out by a hairpin at the end of a straight and do something daft.

[PulsatingStar]

Buzz word said:

Cheers chaps. Dont' worry I don't intend to go flat out and take things as gospel from the game. It's just a rough layout I want. I have no real idea what to expect from the place. I know a few of the famous bits but no idea how things link up, where the horribly sharp corners may be. I don't really want to rip the tarmac up, I just dont want to be caught out by a hairpin at the end of a straight and do something daft.

There isnt any horribly sharp corners thats the thing. Theres Adenau forrest where a lot of people get it wrong, but normally without harm and Wehrseifen which is pretty sharp on a downhill section. Most of its fast and fairly similar looking especially in the later half. Still all 3rd gear though.

I found one passenger lap last year was probably worth something silly like 50 laps of playing it in the game. It doesnt take too long to remember sections by remembering tricky looking bits!

[nakedninja]

In what might be a very left field suggestion how about the guide that BMW published to the ring just a while back? It was on the front page of PH and downloadable through the link in a pdf format. It might help.
Just a thought.

[Buzz word]

nakedninja said:

In what might be a very left field suggestion how about the guide that BMW published to the ring just a while back? It was on the front page of PH and downloadable through the link in a pdf format. It might help.
Just a thought.

Good suggestion. I had a look about and found this:
http://www.bmw.com/generic/com/en/fascination/bmwm...

I think thats the one you must mean. It looks a great guide. I didnt know that existed. Top call.

[Hammerwerfer]

You could do worse than getting a bit of instruction.

Saves a lot of "feeling2 your way around blindly. Cost effective in the long run.

Ed

[Steve Evil]

Hammerwerfer said:

You could do worse than getting a bit of instruction.

Saves a lot of "feeling2 your way around blindly. Cost effective in the long run.

Ed

Having been round with Ed for the day I couldn't agree more, you'll learn more in a couple of hours with someone who knows what they're doing than days spent trying to pick out the best lines yourself.