Driving the Nurburgring
Driving the Nurburgring
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Discussion

Rav

Original Poster:

3,078 posts

259 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
Hi all.

I am keen to drive the Nurburgring, but am between cars at the moemnt. Next best thing is to drive it on a PC or console?

What console or PC and Game would you lot recomend as a decent Nurburgring experience.
I just want somthing to learn the circuit and am especially keen on getting a game that includes the climbs and drops.


Steve Evil

10,819 posts

258 months

Friday 16th May 2008
quotequote all
GT4 on PS2 is the best console game for it, R-Factor probably the top choice on the PC. Neither are a substitute for a days training with an instructor.

ih8thisname

2,699 posts

229 months

Friday 16th May 2008
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If you are willing to splash out a bit i would recommed an Xbox 360 with PGR4 AND Forza2

Forza 2 is pretty accurate length/laptime wise and would be a good way to learn which way the track goes but PGR4 really points out the inclines and banks as well.

Don't take any console game as a "Bible" for it however. I reckon that even the most realistic game would still not be enough to prepare you for the real thing! A lap around it in the "Ring Taxi" would probobly be the best way to learn it IMO thumbup


nsa

1,704 posts

257 months

Tuesday 20th May 2008
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Definitely agree that you won't learn the Ring from any game. They can't capture the inclines and sight lines accurately enough. I've driven hundreds of laps on GT4 but when I got to the Ring I had to learn it all over again. Great fun though. Double check the opening times when you go, and take the first lap easy.


sorrento205

2,878 posts

265 months

Tuesday 20th May 2008
quotequote all
agree with above. GT4, Forza/2 and PGR3/4 all fail to accurately capture the reality of the place IMO

Jubal

930 posts

258 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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sorrento205 said:
agree with above. GT4, Forza/2 and PGR3/4 all fail to accurately capture the reality of the place IMO
I am far from an expert on the ring but the similarity between the real experience at Sprunghugel and Forza2 gets me everytime. Sadly not the rest of the lap.

Steve Evil

10,819 posts

258 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
quotequote all
Jubal said:
sorrento205 said:
agree with above. GT4, Forza/2 and PGR3/4 all fail to accurately capture the reality of the place IMO
I am far from an expert on the ring but the similarity between the real experience at Sprunghugel and Forza2 gets me everytime. Sadly not the rest of the lap.
The final section before the mini karussel (corner names escape me) is totally different on Forza 2, there is a massive line of trees where there would be bare ground in real life and the corner is nowhere near as sharp, they say they've done it to within 5 centimetres of the real thing, but I seriously doubt that claim.

madrob6

3,594 posts

249 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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Surely a console version of this would at least help you to know what corner to expect next (e.g. left or right hander) and the general layout of the track but not learn what speeds you can head into corners until you've experienced the real one and know about inclines and how sharp the corners actually are etc, but then again that goes without saying really.

Even if I knew a game track like the back of my hand I wouldn't go around the real one thinking I knew that track or I'd be sure to plant the car somewhere it's not meant to be.

Rob P

5,819 posts

293 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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Its the sensory experience which counts for so much that really makes the differences.

G-forces, bumps, high/low curbs, blind spots, crests, hills, dips. Motorbikes and coaches sharing your space, mad locals in 316i's etc etc

No computer game recreates this.

Plus the fear of death or bent metal!

Steve Evil

10,819 posts

258 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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http://www.75experience.co.uk/driving.htm

Having done this it is better than a lifetime on any console.

Kuroblack350

1,388 posts

229 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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madrob6 said:
Surely a console version of this would at least help you to know what corner to expect next (e.g. left or right hander) and the general layout of the track but not learn what speeds you can head into corners until you've experienced the real one and know about inclines and how sharp the corners actually are etc, but then again that goes without saying really.

Even if I knew a game track like the back of my hand I wouldn't go around the real one thinking I knew that track or I'd be sure to plant the car somewhere it's not meant to be.
I found the PS2 version of the track to be a great help for the real thing. It does give you a very general idea of what's where, and generally speaking how far around the track you are. Some of the more memorable points, flugplatz, adenauer, fuchsrohe (spelling!) etc. will be familiar as you progress around the track.

You'd have to be a complete chump to go flat out having completed 200 laps on a PS2 in your bedroom smile

For me, the Ring seemed smaller in some places, Flugplatz for example seemed really slim compared with the PS2, and as others have said the changes in surface, incline etc are magified several times in reality.

It is however, simply the best thing you can do with your time smile

Mattygooner

5,304 posts

233 months

Wednesday 21st May 2008
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June the 20th is the date you want, Simbin are finally modeling the Nords for their next RACE / GTR2 addon.