f13.net

I like realistic driving sims and would like to know what you guys think of the titles out for the X360.  I've been considering Project Gothem, but honestly don't know much about what's out there.  Test Drive unlimited an option?  I really love rally car sims, but it doesn't appear anything like that exists.  Formula 1 style would be ideal as long as the physics and career modes exist. 

Help!

I haven't played Test Drive but from what I've read it's really more of an arcade racer not a sim. There isn't really a 'sim' on the 360 yet, although PGR3 is pretty close, but has lousy (read no) damage modelling. MSoft's Forza Motorsport 2 (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/f/forzamotorsport2/) should be ok as the original was pretty good. Not really what I would call a hardcore sim but much more realistic than the Need for Speed type game.

Here's an example.  I really liked Colin McRae (http://www.codemasters.com/colinmcrae2005/about_game.php) on the PC though it had some shortcomings.  I've been looking at the X360 for offerings and need a racing game to really push me over the edge and buy the X360.

Yeah that was a fun game, I had it on the original xbox. Forza is almost as good, although not focussed on Rally obviously. Mcrae had better damage modelling in terms of how the car reacted, unfortunately PGR3 has none of that. But PGR3 does have good physics, but I think it's more arcadey than you're looking for.

That's exactly the feedback I was after.  Thank you!

I'd pick up Forza, which is for the original Xbox. (as mentioned) You can find it for like $6 these days and it's still a solid game.

If you like rally games, Rallisport Challenge 2 (also for the original xbox) is a very good game, but it's not exactly realistic. If you enjoyed McRae 04-06, you'll enjoy it. If you're a McRae 3 fan ONLY, you probably won't.

Forza 2 - if it's half the game that Forza 1 was I'll buy an x360 just for it.

Apparently Forza 2 will allow you to use multiple 360's to drive multiple displays for a single racer. Not practical stuff - but cool nonetheless.

(http://forzamotorsport.net/NR/rdonlyres/95944329-22B5-4D83-8658-4D357C6EB3E1/7458/triple1.jpg)

(http://forzamotorsport.net/NR/rdonlyres/95944329-22B5-4D83-8658-4D357C6EB3E1/7459/triple2.jpg)

Source (http://forzamotorsport.net/devcorner/pitpass/pitpass28.htm)

That's fairly obscene.

This one won't work on the 360 which makes me sad.  The original Rallisport does but I don't know how it compares.

No kidding? Man, that's a total shame. It's a solid game, the ice racing stuff is a blast.

I'm starting to think I should buy an xbox instead of an X360 now... how odd.

You could get some great mileage out of a cheap xbox + mod chip + huge hdd. You could copy your games to the HDD so you'd have very quick loading times, and setup a network share on your PC to play movies on the HD setup.

I like Forza more than Gran Turismo or PGR.  Have not played the others.

I've played a lot of driving games and own several wheel controllers. (Haven't talked myself into getting the new Logitech one yet)

My top 3 are Forza, GT Legends (starforce and all), and rFactor.

I don't really enjoy the super cars or purpose built race sims. I like building up a Miata and throwing it around and that sort of thing.

Thanks again.  I'm leaning toward grabbing an old xbox and buying at least Forza until more games come out for the x360.  Since I don't own an HDTV yet, I may not be missing much in the graphics department anyway. 

Any other sim titles you guys can recommend?  Driving, air combat, or otherwise?

Pshaw. Imagine playing a bevy of games, from Oblivion to BF2 with triple monitor support. That's coolness!

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Surround_Gaming

You need 3 of the same monitor, right?

Not to mention a hell of a lot of desk space.

I don't know if they need to be the same model. Just able to support the same resolution, and I don't think widescreens work with it yet.

You can do the 3 monitor stuff with Forza for the original XBOX. You need: 3 monitors, (any size, doesn't have to be the same but that would look the best to you and me) 3 xboxes, 3 copies of Forza, and a great 100mb switch I would assume.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ces20056.htm (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ces20056.htm)

I think if you look up Forza on gamefaqs you'll find the "debug code" to enable this feature. It wasn't really advertised, as it's mostly a gimmick.

http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/index.php?title=Matrox_TripleHead2Go_%28Featured_Review%29#Screenshots

(http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/wiki/images/4/48/Th2gorev-oblivion.jpg)

That's wicked cool. And:

(http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/screens-th2go/cov_th2go.jpg)
http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/screenshots/cov-th2go.php
(Surround gaming drop-down box)

That is seriously badass, I will admit. One problem, though. With my dell 24" widescreen a quarter of the screen on each side is already in my peripheral vision. I don't really see the use except for the cool factor. You look around with the mouse anyway, at least, I do, and stare at the middle of the screen more or less exclusively.

For driving games, it makes sense, and it also makes sense for any other game where the camera is fixed and you need to 'look around'.. but for FPS? Naw.

I disagree. Having your crosshairs over one guy and just being able to glance to your side without moving them would be awesome. And you would catch movement in the periphery, which would be great in games like BF2.

Peripheral vision is one of the main things FPS's need.

(http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/screens-th2go/bf2_th2go.jpg)
Not on of the best supported games, due to some 2d elements not scaling well, but it does prove the point...if there was someone sneaking up that road on the left...it's not on a 4:3 image, or in normal widescreen. With the triple monitor setup, you might notice the movement out of the corner of your eye, quickly glance over, and be able to react...all without the guy knowing you looked his way at all.

That's why I think it's cool.

(http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:ONrcWGg6g3wMxM:http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/58576main_ascan_training2.jpg)

I have a 17" and a 19" WS. I wonder how they would work together on games.