PC1 Latest Build testing.

Andy_J · Sep 8, 2012

As you all know, Ian gave me a free pass to test the latest builds and that's what I have been doing for the last week. I will report here as and when I see fit to tell all about my findings.

But I will say that the latest build (296) is quite good. Now lets make some sense of my statement. I used a Lotus 98T in helmet cam using my antique MOMO red wheel and I can honestly report it is coming along much better than I anticipated. The actual feel and immersion is damn fine at this point. The handling is strange at first compared to say...RF2 and FVA, but it grows on you within minutes. At this point in time, this actual car feels good. I like it and I love the Milan circuit. The damage model has come on leaps and bounds.

I am doing some more testing all of next week using a G27 and I will also test some of the other cars that don't interest me as much (I am a F1 nut) and see how the feel in comparison to Shift 2, because that is what I was initially comparing PCars to.

I would like the replay function to have a directors mode though. Something that jumps from action to action and from car to car.

Aside from that, the replay's do crash my PC quite often but I understand that is being looked at.

Watch this space.

Andy_J · May 29, 2014

Birddogg66 said:
Anybody try the Clio yet? I think it's pretty good for a first pass of it.

Not even virtually will I get in a Clio and drive it.

RaceNut · May 29, 2014

I haven't had a chance yet but, I enjoyed racing them in rF2 so I will check those out.

traind · May 29, 2014

yusupov said:
just based on my experience w/ the z4 in both AC & iracing, not sure i like the sound of it being relatively difficult to drive...

are they still aiming for a 2014 release?? im doing pretty well at keeping my expectations low but so much potential. either way really looking forward to it.

Yes--Nov 2014 I think.

The Z4 GT3 is really only difficult right now under heavy braking/ trail braking. I don't believe that is a design target and I think they will sort that out. I hope so at least because it is definitely very hard to manage with the default set up.

The Z4 GT3 will break loose with power-on oversteer more readily than the one in AC. That too may change but right now the pCars GT3 models will all oversteer more readily than the ones in AC so you have to be more sensitive with your right foot--which is of course the second most troublesome body part for the average human male ....

yusupov · May 29, 2014

ah, after the left foot, i assume.

thx for the info, really hope they can hit that nov. date. but at least being self-published, they don't have to if things don't go to plan.

Kurupt CDN · May 30, 2014

I've ran quit a few laps at a few tracks, it can be a little bit of a beast at times but overall a good first past, I wouldn't bother comparing the rf2 version as it's characteristics are different being a newer model and from the videos I've watched on the rl Clio cup website the drivers say it's much more difficult to drive than the past models, faster no abs etc.
I look forward to Nics feedback as he's competed in the Clio series

ONT · May 30, 2014

Looks like the car jumping bug with tire wear is getting stomped out soon

"When you get hold of R17, report unnatural jumps if you get them, but don't worry too much about them.

It is a known issue but is not fixed on R17. It is actually a model issue, so technically any tire might do it right now. It will be fixed soon.
We know the problem."

ONT · May 30, 2014

Build nr: 736.

" Next revision of tire for GT3, GT4, TC, LMP1, LMP2, Ginetta G40 and Zonda R.(initial reports are good!)"

"The joy of driving the cars is back with today's build, the tyres feel a lot better now, even on cars i thought weren't affected (but they were!), like cat classic"

" optimum temperatures, which seem to be 85-90C for the softs atm,
seems to be a very good revision."

"Quick check on the M3 GT4, M3 GT and 12C.. and yes they are much better, more progressive but without making them easy"

To test cold tire You have to start in practice session....a start in race session gives you optimal temp at start.

And You need full damage enabled (for tire to degrade).

Cold tire should handle like crap.....optimal around 85-90C on soft tire.

"One important thing to note on these new tires is to take a little care during the heating phase.
Grip is pretty low when below optimum and if you abuse them when getting up to temp
it can be very difficult to recover;
most often you will burn the fronts before the rears get up to temp,
starting a downward spiral of understeer as the fronts are overworked trying to heat the rears.
My advice is to do two or three firm but smooth laps to start and get them up to at least 70C before starting to push hard."

traind · May 30, 2014

You should definitely try the GT3 cars with the new tires from today.

The new tires are much different than the last default set for the GT3s. Regarding the AC comparison I made earlier--- these new GT3 tires in pCars make the Z4 and 12C GT3 grip more like the AC models. No trail braking issues, less power on oversteer (although it still can be provoked if very aggressive). They feel good!

ONT · May 30, 2014

Quick test on Full SIM mode,world movement changed to 100, exposure/gamma set 50.
GT3 cars... the BMW, Merc and McLaren all feel solid,
the Ginetta is sideways in every turn lol.

The Ginetta feels 500 punds lighter (might be RL ?) and handles like its driving in rain.

Is it a default car setting problem ,less down force, cockpit camera, bias ? Or am I loosing my mind driving in circles for to long

Edit:
The McLaren at 9 am, Green Hell, light cloud, solo, really really LOUD in my QSC K8 speakers

Kurupt CDN · May 31, 2014

I ran a few laps last night......
The new new setup adjustments for the Clio makes it much tamer on braking as the rear doesn't want to come around as much and the car doesn't slide as much through fast corners.
Audi r8 ultra was fantastic and really enjoyed the feel!
I tried the mustang but come to grips with it? I felt I could only drive with about 50% throttle and couldn't get the tires heated up after multiple laps, when ever I tried to push it the rear would come around.
Graphically the dynamic weather is just beautiful and the track optimization is coming along quite well. I did a little test to see how the game looked with no AA and asides from the odd jaggies there wasn't to much of a difference with MSAA though I did look smoother with it .
I look forward to the new menu screens with added sliders as I'd really like to lighten the wheel weight without lowering the FFb strength. Iam sure I could use the f1 menu but I like to keep things as close to stock as possible during testing.

Hired Goon · Jun 1, 2014

David Slute said:
I ran a few laps last night......
The new new setup adjustments for the Clio makes it much tamer on braking as the rear doesn't want to come around as much and the car doesn't slide as much through fast corners.
Audi r8 ultra was fantastic and really enjoyed the feel!
I tried the mustang but come to grips with it? I felt I could only drive with about 50% throttle and couldn't get the tires heated up after multiple laps, when ever I tried to push it the rear would come around.
Graphically the dynamic weather is just beautiful and the track optimization is coming along quite well. I did a little test to see how the game looked with no AA and asides from the odd jaggies there wasn't to much of a difference with MSAA though I did look smoother with it .
I look forward to the new menu screens with added sliders as I'd really like to lighten the wheel weight without lowering the FFb strength. Iam sure I could use the f1 menu but I like to keep things as close to stock as possible during testing.

The R8 ultra is indeed awesome to drive. I think all that tire modeling work by AJ guided by Ben Collins and Nic Hamilton is now paying off. I agree with you for now that it's best to drive stock while under development. In fact I think they should consider disabling the F1 menu for now as it introduces too many variables.

Chris Partridge · Jun 5, 2014

Hugely impressed by the massive rate of development recently of "Loire". I wonder why that might be.

Andi Goodwin · Jun 5, 2014

did a quick build test the other day and yep its still pretty , the ffb has improved ...Ai are still retarded, ai physics are still really bad ..but some improvements ...

Andi

ONT · Jun 6, 2014

Andi Goodwin said:
did a quick build test the other day and yep its still pretty , the ffb has improved ...Ai are still retarded, ai physics are still really bad ..but some improvements ...

Andi

Sounds about right, no FFB optimizing has started yet (but there was talk a few days ago about starting FFB work on the Formula C car now that tire testing looks to see the light at the end of the tunnel with tire nr17 for that car).

And AI is missing the apex on most tracks (with track lofts still getting changed on a regular basis after RL input from pros and members with RL experience),

You see the AI drive in the grass some turns, drive wide every time on some turns, but there is some tracks where the path is good

Kjell Eilertsen · Jun 6, 2014

Andi Goodwin said:
did a quick build test the other day and yep its still pretty , the ffb has improved ...Ai are still retarded, ai physics are still really bad ..but some improvements ...

Andi

Ai physics are bad? Do they run on a separate set of physics to the player? I have always thought that they where using the same cars and thus the same physics as players, or am I misunderstanding something?

Neil Hopwood · Jun 6, 2014

Kjell Eilertsen said:
Ai physics are bad? Do they run on a separate set of physics to the player? I have always thought that they where using the same cars and thus the same physics as players, or am I misunderstanding something?

The AI uses a simplified physic set, its a necessity as there is not enough processing power to run the full player physics for that many cars.

ONT · Jun 6, 2014

Neil Hopwood said:
The AI uses a simplified physic set, its a necessity as there is not enough processing power to run the full player physics for that many cars.

I think that is correct.

It obviously depend on Your rig, but most sim racers don't run a Blue Gene P

Kjell Eilertsen · Jun 6, 2014

Neil Hopwood said:
The AI uses a simplified physic set, its a necessity as there is not enough processing power to run the full player physics for that many cars.

Thanks for clearing that out, I had no idea up until just now that it worked that way!

Andy_J · Jun 6, 2014

I have given up doing races with the AI. I just do lone races now as car testing. The AI is rubbish at the moment.

Chris Partridge · Jun 6, 2014

Little around to beat the experience of the pCARS protoype (not the Audi one, but can't think of its name) at Loire - epic experience at the virtual wheel.