rFactor2 - Will It Be Worth It?

[Aysedasi]

I've made comments about it elsewhere. Having just run the 1960s cars on the old Spa circuit, it reminded me of running GPL with no mods, addons or improvements about 12 years ago. The graphics are utterly appalling. If this is a shop window, those graphics need to be upgraded as a matter of some urgency!

[chunder]

Ayes, depends what you really want

Comparing RF2 graphics to GPL is a little pnderous, the original copy I have of GPL is woeful graphics wise, not much more advanced than wireframe otehr than the cars!

But you seem intent on having a pop, so will leave you to it.

ITS A BETA! Listen

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I've made comments about it elsewhere. Having just run the 1960s cars on the old Spa circuit, it reminded me of running GPL with no mods, addons or improvements about 12 years ago. The graphics are utterly appalling. If this is a shop window, those graphics need to be upgraded as a matter of some urgency!

I think that's very unfair Aysedasi - GPL had more cars and tracks for a start!

Seriously, I do think Rfactor 2 has loads of potential but I would be interested to know what is actually going to come out and what improvements we might see. Anyone out there know? There isn't really the modding community at the moment and there is no sign that 'landmark' mods in rfactor 1 are being converted across. I don't know why this is?

Personally, I would like to have seen more work on the dirt side. That would set it apart from other sims. There hasn't been a decent dirt track sim since Dirt Track Racing 2 (remember the changing track surfaces, grooves etc?). This sport has a massive folllowing in the US. You could then use this technology to produce a decent rally/rallycross mod too...

But, having said that, I would rather them do one thing well, with sufficient content to build up a strong community, than lots of thinks indifferently. Things are improving but the danger is that by the time they get it right Corsa will have come along and blown everything else away.

[Aysedasi]

The graphics of the original GPL (15 years ago - let's remember that....) were dreadful. But a few downloads later and hey presto, they were superb. There were also only 7 cars and one GP season worth of tracks. The fact is that now we expect so much more and beta or no beta, this is a sim which people are being asked to lay out hard cash for - now. There are thousands driving RF1 who would be happy to make the outlay for RF2, but surely something resembling modern graphics should have been a given from the outset?

As I say, if this was some freebie, I'd accept the criticism as being unfair - but it's not. This needs to be turned to modern product, p.d.q.

[leonidas]

Its interesting that Rfactor 2 is no longer being advertised as a Beta. They are now talking about an 'evolving' project. The last announcement on the main news page about Rfactor 2 was in July 2012.

This does make me wonder how much more development there will be.

[DemonDriverDan]

Personally I love it. As I've said elsewhere I've had some incredible races on it that have left me with a massive smile on my face! I'm not too worried about graphics, PCars is very nice to look at but I enjoy rF2 for its reward when driving the cars and if I enjoy it or not.

I guess it depends on your personal preferences. I'm not too worried about a massive online community as I mainly race with my friends. Neither am I massively concerned by graphics, sure good graphics are a bonus but the physics and enjoyment of driving the cars is more important to me.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by leonidas

Its interesting that Rfactor 2 is no longer being advertised as a Beta. They are now talking about an 'evolving' project. The last announcement on the main news page about Rfactor 2 was in July 2012.

This does make me wonder how much more development there will be.

There HAS to be massive further development, surely? In comparison to RF1, this is an embryonic sim. No-one in their right mind would pay what they're asking for RF2 if they thought that was about as much as you're goinna get. I'd be going back for my refund now if I thought that.....

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by DemonDriverDan

Neither am I massively concerned by graphics, sure good graphics are a bonus but the physics and enjoyment of driving the cars is more important to me.

But these are, quite literally, 10 year old graphics. If they released that now as a full sim, the gamers would laugh them out of town....

[leonidas]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

There HAS to be massive further development, surely? In comparison to RF1, this is an embryonic sim. No-one in their right mind would pay what they're asking for RF2 if they thought that was about as much as you're goinna get. I'd be going back for my refund now if I thought that.....

Some of the fights breaking out on the RF2 forum suggest there is uncertainly about how much more core development there will be. Many have commented on the graphics - for me they are already well behind old sims like netKarpro. There were some vague comments about introducing tyre graining and blistering but they were very vague...

I would have a lot more time for them if they were actually clear about what they planned to introduce and (roughly) when. Okay some plans will be dropped and changed but I'd like to know the direction they are travelling in...

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by leonidas

Many have commented on the graphics - for me they are already well behind old sims like netKarpro

At the moment, they're even miles behind RF1!! I do appreciate the importance of better gameplay, but surely if you move from one version to an upgrade, you expect the graphics to be at least as good?

I would have a lot more time for them if they were actually clear about what they planned to introduce and (roughly) when. Okay some plans will be dropped and changed but I'd like to know the direction they are travelling in...

Hmmm, therein lies the rub. Again, to make the obvious point, they are charging us real money for this, consequently they should have a pretty clear (and published) plan for what they intend to provide for that cash. When you think about it - even if a few thousand sim-racers have 'invested', that's a decent amount of money for a bunch of enthusiasts to have to play with - most modders and enthusiasts have none and do it for the sheer enjoyment.

[chunder]

AS I said before Ayes, I paid 19 quid for F1 2012, and though it was full of bugs I got what I beliebe to be my moneys worth

I paid a tenner for Pcars last year and asked for it back after a few days as it was woeful

I paid full whack for RF2, knowing it was going to be a bit poor initially, but I guess gameplay and certain otehr things mean more to me than you.

Somehting pretty that plays like garbage does not interest me, RF2 has some great new innovations.

Try a wet but drying race at Monza in a Brabham, see the line dry, feel how much more slippery it is in the wet, thats pretty good if not staggeringly new.

The FFB is simply brilliant, and matched only by Iracing in my view, betetr than RF1.

The menu system is kuch improved, and the way that you install and update is very much better and simpler for people who maybe were not confident enough to do it the way you had to in RF1, and there were quite a few believe me.

I guess you feel that 20 plusquid is a large investment.

I do not, I feel that though Iracing is perhaps the best run, most professionally put together and best feeling sim, that the monthly cost of at least 50 quid a year plus then buying a few cars and tracks (which you dont have to do but really the basic cars are only enough for a few months) is starting to run up tpo 100 quid, THAT is too much

Even though, its the best out there, I cant consiuder paying that much for a game, any game

[DemonDriverDan]

The FFB is like porn through my fingers, I absolutely love it. I challenge anyone to not enjoy racing the Meganes around Mid Ohio once you get a flow going. I came 3rd in the race I was doing against the AI (who are also much improved this year, although that probably wasn't hard!) and left with a smile on my face as it was so much fun.

The graphics aren't incredible, no, but I don't think they're that bad! I don't know what system spec you're running but I have everything on full split over my 3 screens and it looks fine and doesn't detract from the racing experience at all.

[Aysedasi]

Yes, the menu system is better and the installing is good - not that I ever had any difficulty with that in RF1. I've not driven that many laps because I'm struggling to build up the enthusiasm for a few graphically challenged 60s cars, a couple of Nissans and some Meganes. My heart actually leapt when I realised I was going to drive on the real Spa circuit until I tried it and struggled to actually see the track through the murk of the stunningly bad graphics (and I have a reasonable machine - not cutting edge now, but good enough to run everything on full). For me, it's not just about how the cars perform, vital though that is - the whole experience has to be good for me to want to pay for it. I paid $44, that's just a fraction under £28 - I'm not claiming to be poor, but that's hardly loose change....

[chunder]

Well either your machine is struggling or something else is wrong as Spa is pretty fine on my PC! Monaco in 60's cars is magnificent, every lap is an adventure and when you get into the setup side too it becomes a very deep, proper feeling game.

Try Croft, try the Clio mod, try Sepang in FSR cars, theya re all very immersive. When you have installed all the stuff and had a blast on a few different tracks see what you think, honestly if you dont like it, ask them for a refund, they usually give you one.

I guess you just come from a different place to me mate, I detested GPL, think its the most overrated game on earth! Same as I dont really get your staggering interest in an over rated "race" that lasts 24 hours yet somehow keeps hundreds of people on this forum occupied for a bloody year!

I guess if we were all the same eh, but am rather glad I am me lol

At least you liked rallycross, so something must have gone wrong somewhere!!

[Aysedasi]

And in reverse, I have to assume that something clearly wrong at childbirth for you resulting in your particular dislikes.....

But we can live with that.....

I've paid for the darned thing now so I guess I'll keep trying to justify that - but I suspect I will still run RF1 more often.

[chunder]

Hehe

Have you installed all the mods? Try going on racedepartment, hey are excellent for RF2 mods and friendly advice.

Or try VirtualR for news, make sure your game is updated, I think we are on 134?

Can you remember what it was like when RF1 came out? All you had were the basic cars they included!! This is pretty much the same now but some of us have been there since you just had 60's cars, FSR and MEganes!!

[Aysedasi]

I must admit I didn't get into RF1 until long after it came out, so I guess I started driving it when it was really fully up and running. Maybe that's why I expected so much more from RF2. I am up to date though!

[steve nielsen]

they've just released another car: The Corvette C6

http://rfactor.net/web/rf2/rf2dl/che...corvette-c6-r/

[leonidas]

I had a chance to try out the new version (146?) this weekend.

To be honest I am still not greatly impressed. Frame rates seem to be a bit lower at some tracks. There are no graphical improvements that I could see. Monaco still looks very cartoonish and the frame rate is now undriveable with everything on. For some reason the Formula 1 mod now doesn't work at all.

The good news is that as Chunder says new tracks are coming out. Mid Ohio and Croft are very good indeed - although frame rate hungry. There are also early betas of the old Nurburgring, Silverstone and South Africa that have been produced privately. These are great fun in the 60s single seaters but the graphics are basic at the moment and not all the Rf2 feature are activated.

So there is hope but it is frustrating how difficult it is to track everything down. Some things on the official site don't have functioning links... anyone know where to find the actual download of the 66 Brabham is?

[leonidas]

Also it seems that 'resume from replay' is bust in the new version... not good!

[Aysedasi]

I must admit I haven't gone back to it since I last posted about it. Wholly uninspired at the moment. I'll just wait in the hope that it improves.

[steve nielsen]

Originally Posted by leonidas

I had a chance to try out the new version (146?) this weekend.


Some things on the official site don't have functioning links... anyone know where to find the actual download of the 66 Brabham is?

I think it was included in the 1.1 version of the 60's racing mod

[chunder]

Nol it was an adiitional add on I am afraid, would be on the ISI forum/

[DemonDriverDan]

Download links here: http://rfactor.net/web/rf2/rf2dl/

[leonidas]

Its very odd. There isn't a direct link to the actual car on the site. I eventually managed to get hold of it by updating the install and then updating the world class racing series from within the game. Complicated or what???