Would You Race Fictional Cars & Tracks, And Why Not?

Mekonrider · Jan 24, 2023

PD created some the best fictional tracks ever. I wish some of the Gran Turismo tracks were real. I have no problem with fiction tracks.

Fictional cars....doesn't quite hit the spot. I can go with cars that are near but not quite due to licencing but some of the completely fictional stuff I'm not interested in.

Matthew327 · Jan 24, 2023

There's different kinds of fictional cars and tracks. The RSS Formula Hybrid cars are - strictly speaking - fictional cars, as are some other excellent modded cars out there. And some of the fictional tracks we've seen in Assetto Corsa in recent years are gold-standard, especially looking at vintage masterpieces like Fat-Alfies work.

But I'm not interested in over-the-top cars, like the Red Bull X2010 for example. They're so far out there, so far removed from actual driving, that it just doesn't appeal to me whatsoever.

The big appeal of simracing is in my opinion that it makes the elusive on-track experience more achievable for mere mortals who can't spend tens of thousands of €/£/$ on track days, entry fees, spare parts, fuel etc. I'll never get a chance to drive an F1 car around Spa-Francorchamps, or a Group C monster on the Nordschleife in the night and the rain. Simracing allows me to do that without having to worry about my health or my bank account.

As long as fictional cars and tracks replicate this realism, I see nothing wrong with that. Gran Turismo has given us fantastic fictional tracks, some of which I prefer over many modern real-world tracks. And some of the fictional cars are personal favourites (I love the Lancer Gr.3 and the modern Group B variants), but most of the Vision GT cars just don't do anything for me.

Tl;dr: Fictional cars/tracks are fine imo, as long as they feel realistic/believable.

Wreckoning · Jan 24, 2023

I don’t have any great desire to race fictional cars, I’ve got enough “real” ones to be getting on with.

Fictional tracks I can get on board with as long as they “feel” real, something that might have been built if they had the money and planning permission.

Metla · Jan 24, 2023

Plenty of fictional versions of Bathurst over the years....

Bram Hengeveld · Jan 24, 2023

I am all in favor of fictional cars and tracks. The more, the merrier.

For me that is one of the most beautiful things of sim racing: we can create and enjoy what isn't always possible in real life. Explore beyond the boundaries. Love it

pz666 · Jan 24, 2023

In the early days of my time with rFactor 1 it was all about recreating what I couldn't do in real life that other could... So fictional circuits no matter who said it was good wouldn't even get a lap...

But over a decade later I'm open to the fictional side of sim racing... Some of the tracks people come up with are great and there's some great ones modelled off of real roads... With cars I love driving the prototypes that some people produce, even the ones that aren't modelled off of real life prototypes... Some are just plain fun to drive...

And with all these exclusive licence deals being snapped by the Electronic Arts and other low level cash cow developers of the world... Bring on fictional versions of the real life cars, I want to see fictional Indycars or formula USA cars that have hybrids and other exotic power units... Screw the licensed versions if their quality is terrible... And if the lines have to be blurred further in order to keep the legal teams at bay, I'm all for it as long as it's fun...

UR1869 · Jan 24, 2023

I absolutely love the Dragon Trail tracks from GT Sport, so yes for tracks.
For cars, that somehow doesn't work. It's odd

Jimlaad43 · Jan 24, 2023

rFactor 1's modders were the absolute masters of fictional circuits.
Vitus GP, Piddy, Thermalito, La Dahesa, Troyton Raceway, Reservoir GP, Groningen, Eifel!

All of these were incredible models and tracks to drive. I'd absolutely love for them to be converted to the currently popular such as AC or rF2, but I can never find them.

If anyone was able to find Vitus for rFactor 2 we would be racing there on the rFactor 2 Club right away!

THK84 · Jan 24, 2023

For sims, I'd prefer real tracks for official releases (+ 'semi-fictional' layouts or not entirely accurate historic versions)

For mods & simcade, go all out, as long as for the latter, it at least is based in reality (so no Mario Kart tracks for instance)

In the end, it's all personal preference. There's been great fictional tracks in numerous games.

north · Jan 24, 2023

I'll play whatever gives me enjoyment.

A Casual Sim Racer · Jan 24, 2023

I think the issue is fictional versus fantasy. Fictional tracks that are grounded in reality are often awesome, but for many less experienced creators there isn't much to keep their projects grounded in reality. Often the tracks or cars start heading into fantasy land, and for me that isn't interesting (and I would say for most people).

For example, Fat Alfie did an incredible job with Fonteny, one of my personal favorite tracks of any kind. But he modeled the track off of real roads and then also threw it back in time. This grounded the track and although it was fictional, it felt believable and awesome.

If we drove arcade games that might be different, but these are supposed to be simulators. So most of us care about realism and authenticity. Thus, the fictional tracks and cars that stray into fantasy land are just unappealing.

Saintbert · Jan 24, 2023

Fictional or semi-fictional content is a way for a product to distinguish itself. I think it's a bold statement if you're willing to push original creations and I don't see many developers having the confidence to do so. But it also has to do with what you are trying to achieve. Most sim titles on PC all seem to try and achieve the same thing, and anything else is seemingly besides the point. But it also makes them very similar when there are ways to distinguish oneself.

Here's one way in which this strive for realism might be failing us, sim racers: As much as I appreciate the laser-scanned recreations of modern tracks, there's no way to recreate classic tracks down to the last centimetre. It's a highly creative process with many difficult choices to make and much room for interpretation, as I am sure the people doing the fantastic classic circuit mods here would agree. The same goes for cars to some extent. Do big game developers shy away from adding "classic" content because it's not (it can't be) as accurate, as verifiable, as modern content?

Speaking of mod creators, there are great fictional tracks here that I find just as good as any "real" ones. Horsma Raceway and Ottawa Motorsport Park are two that come to mind.

I haven't played the Gran Turismo series in ages, because I don't want to commit to the PlayStation platform at present, but I've always liked their original tracks. Those track, at this point in time, have a legacy of their own, and that can't be imitated by just anyone.

When it comes to fictional cars, I like them when they have some connection to reality, when they are in some way comparable to a real life series. I have no problem with a "fictional" modern F1 car, for example. Even then, I don't like mixing fictional and real life cars.

GT-Alex · Jan 24, 2023

Not only some fictional tracks are absolute masterpieces that are more interesting and fun to race on, but there's also a lot of potential in them for the real world that is currently unexploited. You could model a track in a game and host competitive races on it to test a layout and see how it fares in regards to safety and raceability before building it in real life.

F_B · Jan 24, 2023

If fictional tracks are well made I have no problem with them. They have to be believable for me. Kunos made a great track with Highlands for example (apart from these huge banners), I love the long config with this insane straight. Other great examples of fictional tracks are Bannochbrae in PCars 2, Mendig in AMS (hope it someday is available in AMS2), El Capitan in Gran Turismo.

Regarding fictional cars I want them at least to resemble real life counterparts.

mopro · Jan 24, 2023

I'll be happy to race on any fantasy tracks that are as good as Mills Metropark and Toban! But I still prefer cars that copy their real-life counterparts.

G_B · Jan 24, 2023

I'm a believer in creativity, so I'm 100% in favour of fictional tracks and cars.
Let's not talk about Trackmania which is the most concrete example (although it's not a simulation).
Then, if only tracks with a well thought out layout, why not create them virtually, it will be more ecological and without "space" limit.

For the cars too, if we remove the stickers, the brands, we can imagine variants or new creations.
Nevertheless, to have fun with all this, it must be done by enthusiasts and not become a joyful mess as it can be in the "Arma 3" game modes.

Some will say yes but the reality, the real circuits and cars are better, maybe but I don't have the desire nor the money to move on these circuits nor to drive these cars.
Video games are first and foremost entertainment and not reality.

Matthew327 · Jan 24, 2023

Jimlaad43 said:
rFactor 1's modders were the absolute masters of fictional circuits.
Vitus GP, Piddy, Thermalito, La Dahesa, Troyton Raceway, Reservoir GP, Groningen, Eifel!

All of these were incredible models and tracks to drive. I'd absolutely love for them to be converted to the currently popular such as AC or rF2, but I can never find them.

If anyone was able to find Vitus for rFactor 2 we would be racing there on the rFactor 2 Club right away!

Just a side note, Vitus does exist in Assetto Corsa

Mike Chaney · Jan 24, 2023

I've been sim racing since before Hawaii, back to Pole Position. I have race fictional tracks and loved it, and I would again. Why not? They're just as fun and in some cases, better looking.

LeSunTzu · Jan 24, 2023

I had many races at Mills Metropark, it's as good as any real track. As long as the circuit is realistic and well done, real or fictional doesn't make any difference.

Karstenve · Jan 24, 2023

Simracing is simracing for a reason and most people enjoy the feeling of being as close to reality as possible.

I am a big believer in fictional content personally though. Fictional content is one of the ways to make esports and the virtual racing scene it's own thing. Why try and get esports as close to reality while it's never going to get there? On top of that I think there is a big chance you will reach a new audience.

Would You Race Fictional Cars & Tracks, And Why Not?

An Excursion Away From "Sim" Racing​

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An Excursion Away From "Sim" Racing