Gentle reader,
There will be no photos or videos with this post from my racing. Mainly because I don't yet know how to capture either AND get them on the Internet. I did upload a replay video from Forza 4, but where it is on the web?
OK, for the rest of this article, I will be abbreviating Microsoft's Forza 4 as F4 and Sony's PlayStation 3's Gran Turismo 5 as GT5.
OK, for the rest of this article, I will be abbreviating Microsoft's Forza 4 as F4 and Sony's PlayStation 3's Gran Turismo 5 as GT5.
First some personal history. I have been into cars since I was two, that means 55 years. I am old as far as "gamers" tend to be. I played with Aurora and later AFX HO slot cars as a kid and later when my kids were in their teens I got back into it. No RC cars in my past. My favorite type of car racing, is and always will be "road" racing with sports cars up to and including "Prototype" cars. Road racing once met they raced on public roads closed for the event days, but the rest of the year, they were regular roads. Today, they are called street circuits and city streets are lined with purpose-built Jersey walls topped by thick, strong wire fencing which hopefully will bounce an out of control race car back onto the track. Google "ALMS Baltimore" to see a replay of the races there to comprehend "street circuit".
Another car related activity, I have built many car models in my lifetime and have dozens waiting for.....retirement(?). Sadly, though die-cast replicas are generally far better made and detailed than I am likely ever to compete with. So it is hard to get motivated to work on them. There are so many other things I can do in my spare time. Of late, racing simulations are my obsession. There, I said it. Yes, I have made my wife a gamer's widow! She is not alone.
Another car related activity, I have built many car models in my lifetime and have dozens waiting for.....retirement(?). Sadly, though die-cast replicas are generally far better made and detailed than I am likely ever to compete with. So it is hard to get motivated to work on them. There are so many other things I can do in my spare time. Of late, racing simulations are my obsession. There, I said it. Yes, I have made my wife a gamer's widow! She is not alone.
In the past. we bought various game consoles for the kids and even tried some ourselves. I found "racing" games to be unrealistic because in most cases, the driver's (aka: player) was behind and above the car. Perhaps this stems from the designers themselves once playing with RC cars. I don't know. PLUS, I can not drive or race a digital car unless I have a steering wheel and pedals. See:
My experience with racing simulations all started with a friend giving me the PC (as is computer) game Test Drive Le Mans. Being that Le Mans racing (now called WEC and it's soon to be gone American cousin: ALMS) is my all time favorite type of racing, I was quite excited and pleased that he gave it to me. This was about 2001. I tried with the keyboard, but....well, you know. BTW, this is when I was a novice to this whole Internet thing. Remember dial-up? I found a steering wheel and pedals set for PC with USB plug at a local computer store made by Logitech. It did the trick and I was immersed in the game. Little did I know that Sony and later Microsoft were hatching plans to create realistic racing simulations. Below is an image of Test Drive Le Mans, and both GT3 and GT4 covers:
I tried other PC racing games, but they didn't compare. Around 2003, my step-daughter, Bekka, bought me a brand new Sony Play Station 2 (the latest thin kind) and my son, Daniel, bought me Sony's GT3. Which is short for Gran Turismo. I was hooked and later bought GT4 and the Logitech wheel set designed and sanctioned by Sony for GT4. If you looked at my linked page above, you saw the collapsible stands I built for them. BTW, I just yesterday I modified the stand for the PS steering wheel kit with uprights like the one for XBox. Makes it easier to get in and out of and just looks better too.
The ONE thing I really wanted to see was in-cockpit-view. I wanted to "sit" inside each car, see the controls and hands on the wheel. GT4 has something like that with gauges and a rearview mirror suspended in space, but not really the interior. But it just isn't enough.
Daniel bought an XBox 360 and Forza 3. He, being born with a controller in his hands, had no problem with mastering the game. To my delight, F3 had in-cockpit-view! The one wheel set that I bought at the time so that I could race also, I think it was Madkatz brand did not work well, and being used to GT4 I was lousy at Forza 3. Believe me, it takes lots of patience, practice and determination to get good at these sims. In F3 was available Porsche 944 Turbo. It looked identical to my real 924S. Also there was the Audi TT, again, identical to my TT. Cool!
When Forza 4 came out, he bought it and was thrilled with it. I bought him a genuine Microsoft steering wheel/pedals set which he loved. Even though he excelled with the controller.
OK, now for the meat of what the title shows. Thanks to Daniel moving in with his big brother, he lent me his XBox 360 kit and Forza 4. ALSO, thanks to Jonathan, Bekka's Marine husband (now in Okinawa) HE lent me his Play Station 3 and it accepts the same GT4 wheel set. I bought GT5, the complete game, at 2nd & Charles, used and for a bargain price. I was all set.
I was SO excited to finally be able to use a PS3/GT5! At this point, I'd been racing in F4 for a while but it was not an obsession, just something to do. Getting into GT5, I found it was quite different from GT4 (plus one cannot import data from GT4) so one had to start from scratch. For that matter, GT4 was quite different than GT3. Again, thanks to Jonathan, I downloaded a bunch of cars and tracks INCLUDING: Subaru BRZ (right hand drive), Scion FR-S (left hand drive) AND Toyota GT86, (right hand drive). Go Karts were included in this including a couple indoor tracks. Very challenging and very fun.
I quickly won races, credits and cars in GT5. Getting up to Level 22 and over 1,000,000 credits. However, some races eluded me. Now, I've been "racing" for ten years, always with steering wheel/pedals. So I knew what I was doing, but the higher level races were simply too hard. Being it man, this is quite hard to admit.
A friend/co-worker's son ALSO gave him HIS XBox 360 and Forza 4. Steve too was really getting into it and got me fired up about it. So, the PS3 got put aside for a while while Forza 4 took up a LOT of my time. He is up to level 180+ and I'm at 156. Yesterday after modifying the wheel stand, I gave GT5 another whirl.
I became frustrated with: The SOUND, it sucks! Where is the exhaust note? These are racecars and as such they are LOUD. But not in GT5. Again, being very experienced, I became frustrated with not doing well with true racecars verses other racecars in GT5. Plus, reverse is gained by pressing the triangle! So, back I went to F4.
Now for the specifics:
Graphics. GT5 holds the edge, but only slightly over F4. The sensation of speed seems more accurate in GT5. Still, I prefer F4. Driving the Nurburgring in each, one can see differences. There are plenty of web pages with videos and stills comparing them, so I won't go into that.
Sounds. F4 has amazing engine and other sounds for each car. Both have more tire squeal than real racecars have. I've listened to countless hours of real in car laps in many kinds of racecars and I never hear any tire squealing. Crash sounds are extremely realistic and loud in F4. In GT5, it's a kettle drum: thump! Thump? Really?
Cars and tracks. While many of the made-up tracks carry over from GT4 to GT5, they do have some very detailed city courses. The made-up tracks in F4 are fewer but with genuine details and the real tracks have many configurations as do the real one. Thus making for shorter or longer racing laps.
I have every car available in F4 and "own" over 160. In GT5, I have 70. They are divided into Premium and Standard. Premium are ones that you bought with $cash or credits. They have realistic interior and in-car-view. The standard cars have blacked out interior with the same two floating gauges but hidden in the murky interior are the driver's hands.
If a car has paddle shifters in real life, that's what the driver uses in GT5. However, the way the hands hold the wheel is strange. The thumbs are straight up on the outside of the wheel and when "he" goes to paddle shift up or down, the hand raises up and seems to reach behind the wheel. Weird.
In F4, the hands grip the wheel correctly, as far as paddle shifters in most cases, "he" uses them, naturally. Lower cost cars such as a Mitsubishi Evolution X which has paddle shifters, "He" still reaches down to shift the lever. ALL cars in F4 have accurate interiors. Repeat, ALL cars.
Porsche only allows their cars to be in one company's game and though sub-licensing, F4 has them too. In any GT version, only RUF cars are available. Still Porsches, but fewer and no race cars.
Types of racing. GT5 has the edge here as it offers Rallying, and yes, go karts. Plus weather changes, night racing and combinations such as the Nurburgring 24 Hours which combines the F1 track and "ring" together just like the real race. In F4 one may be able to choose sunrise for instance. And it adds shadows and glare as in real life.
Realism. Both GT5 and F4 offer amazing realism in every detail. With my setup, being so close to the HDTV, it is easy to get total immersion. The shine on sheet metal, the feedback through the steering wheel, the physics of load and G forces, all as real as one can make in their home.
Porsche only allows their cars to be in one company's game and though sub-licensing, F4 has them too. In any GT version, only RUF cars are available. Still Porsches, but fewer and no race cars.
Types of racing. GT5 has the edge here as it offers Rallying, and yes, go karts. Plus weather changes, night racing and combinations such as the Nurburgring 24 Hours which combines the F1 track and "ring" together just like the real race. In F4 one may be able to choose sunrise for instance. And it adds shadows and glare as in real life.
Realism. Both GT5 and F4 offer amazing realism in every detail. With my setup, being so close to the HDTV, it is easy to get total immersion. The shine on sheet metal, the feedback through the steering wheel, the physics of load and G forces, all as real as one can make in their home.
Fun things. I haven't really explored what one can do besides race in GT5, except upgrading. In that, it is fairly simple. Weird thing, is no Brakes category, however. Every modification cost you credits the higher output you desire, the more you pay. In F4, one has "quick" upgrades which take the car to higher classes buy selectively reducing weight and adding power. IF you race and win four or five races with a stock car in F4, you have earned free upgrade parts. Tuning in GT5, I haven't tried. In GT4, one can adjust many factors. In F4, it is limited as far as I've seen to tire pressure changes.
In F4, one can do engine swaps, change a car from front to rear wheel drive, even make some all wheel drive. Once can paint, apply vinyl wraps and sponsor decals. Although I have yet to figure it out. Hundreds of thousands of F4 fans HAVE mastered it and offer their designs for free or for credits. ALL my F4 cars now LOOK like proper race cars. Well, my GMC Typhoon SUV looks just like a US Border Patrol vehicle and my Audi RS6 sedan looks like a German police car.
Speaking of RS6 Audis, GT5 offers the Avant, or station wagon version. Twin-turbo V12, AWD station wagon? Oh, yeah! Neither offers Cadillac's CTS-V wagon, though.
Climbing levels. In GT5, there is licensing. I.e., earning your racing licence. Tough to do, especially the last one, driving a Honda CRZ hybrid around Indy and passing at least six cars. Easy? Not for me. I got past five each time and no more. Turns out you don't need a license to race. In F4, no such thing. In GT5 win a series of races and you win a car. Same for F4, but it's for each level which is 50,000 credits. A choice of cars and bonus credits which amount adds 2500 each level. Past level 50, no more free cars. Past level 150, no more bonuses.
Dificulty. One can choose the dificulty in F4 in many ways. I made my choices to always shift, traction control, ABS, and car-computer-controlled overrides if you get to squirly, ON. Driving line, braking only. AI (artificial intelligence) cars are set at medium. I've tried hard, it is! I don't need that much frustration in my life!
In GT5, there is no choice that I can find. Weird thing in GT5 is you can choose any car that meets the races's needs. English cars? Jaguar Prototype verses street cars. In F4 you have to have the same CLASS of car as the AI cars.
The all Ferarri race, I chose a car I could afford, even with all the money in mods I put in, I still can't get close! Another level 19 series, I'm driving my Jaguar Prototype and doing well, but one screw up and that's it! OK, so in real life, there is no "RESTART" like there is in F4, but GT5 doesn't allow it at all. Give up? On to the next race. Try again, yeah right! In F4, you can keep trying until you win.
I think SONY has made the GT5 sim too relistic, thus unobtainable for most to fully enjoy and progress. On the other hand, SONY and NISSAN have teamed to allow the best on-line racers to actually get a chance to be a REAL racer! That is too cool! See:
Introduction - GT Academy - gran-turismo.com
Final thoughts. As others have indicated, IF you are fortunate enough to have both consoles and you love racing, by all means do both! Eventually, Daniel and Jonathan are going to want their consoles back. In the case of F4, I can save my garage and records/levels on a USB drive and (hopefully) transfer them to an XBox I might buy. I probably wont miss the PS3. I always have the PS2/GT4 to fall back on. I'm really good in it, but will really miss the graphics of GT5. I have tried dozens of other racing games in PS2 and the XBox 360. But not in the PS3. Most are fun, but having the technical know how and financial backing of SONY and Microsoft makes GT5 and Forza 4 the best at what they do.
Best of all. These racing simulations allow me to be a "Walter Mitty" and drive/race in cars I am highly unlikely to see, let alone own, on race courses all over the world. All for low cost, no danger and no leaving the house!
Will I buy a PS4 and GT6? Not likely. An XBox One and Forza 5? Maybe. But I have a LONG way to go in F4. Plus, F5 requires HDMI and it doesn't work on this HDTV. One of the main reasons we bought a new one for the living room. HDMI so simplifies hookups and full digital sound and picture.
Thanks one again, for taking the time to read my ramblings. Just think, if those guys that love "first person shooters" or killing games instead were racing, perhaps a lot more people would still be alive and cries for more anti-gun laws would not be heard. Just a thought, not a sermon.
Scott
In F4, one can do engine swaps, change a car from front to rear wheel drive, even make some all wheel drive. Once can paint, apply vinyl wraps and sponsor decals. Although I have yet to figure it out. Hundreds of thousands of F4 fans HAVE mastered it and offer their designs for free or for credits. ALL my F4 cars now LOOK like proper race cars. Well, my GMC Typhoon SUV looks just like a US Border Patrol vehicle and my Audi RS6 sedan looks like a German police car.
Speaking of RS6 Audis, GT5 offers the Avant, or station wagon version. Twin-turbo V12, AWD station wagon? Oh, yeah! Neither offers Cadillac's CTS-V wagon, though.
Climbing levels. In GT5, there is licensing. I.e., earning your racing licence. Tough to do, especially the last one, driving a Honda CRZ hybrid around Indy and passing at least six cars. Easy? Not for me. I got past five each time and no more. Turns out you don't need a license to race. In F4, no such thing. In GT5 win a series of races and you win a car. Same for F4, but it's for each level which is 50,000 credits. A choice of cars and bonus credits which amount adds 2500 each level. Past level 50, no more free cars. Past level 150, no more bonuses.
Dificulty. One can choose the dificulty in F4 in many ways. I made my choices to always shift, traction control, ABS, and car-computer-controlled overrides if you get to squirly, ON. Driving line, braking only. AI (artificial intelligence) cars are set at medium. I've tried hard, it is! I don't need that much frustration in my life!
In GT5, there is no choice that I can find. Weird thing in GT5 is you can choose any car that meets the races's needs. English cars? Jaguar Prototype verses street cars. In F4 you have to have the same CLASS of car as the AI cars.
The all Ferarri race, I chose a car I could afford, even with all the money in mods I put in, I still can't get close! Another level 19 series, I'm driving my Jaguar Prototype and doing well, but one screw up and that's it! OK, so in real life, there is no "RESTART" like there is in F4, but GT5 doesn't allow it at all. Give up? On to the next race. Try again, yeah right! In F4, you can keep trying until you win.
I think SONY has made the GT5 sim too relistic, thus unobtainable for most to fully enjoy and progress. On the other hand, SONY and NISSAN have teamed to allow the best on-line racers to actually get a chance to be a REAL racer! That is too cool! See:
Introduction - GT Academy - gran-turismo.com
Final thoughts. As others have indicated, IF you are fortunate enough to have both consoles and you love racing, by all means do both! Eventually, Daniel and Jonathan are going to want their consoles back. In the case of F4, I can save my garage and records/levels on a USB drive and (hopefully) transfer them to an XBox I might buy. I probably wont miss the PS3. I always have the PS2/GT4 to fall back on. I'm really good in it, but will really miss the graphics of GT5. I have tried dozens of other racing games in PS2 and the XBox 360. But not in the PS3. Most are fun, but having the technical know how and financial backing of SONY and Microsoft makes GT5 and Forza 4 the best at what they do.
Best of all. These racing simulations allow me to be a "Walter Mitty" and drive/race in cars I am highly unlikely to see, let alone own, on race courses all over the world. All for low cost, no danger and no leaving the house!
Will I buy a PS4 and GT6? Not likely. An XBox One and Forza 5? Maybe. But I have a LONG way to go in F4. Plus, F5 requires HDMI and it doesn't work on this HDTV. One of the main reasons we bought a new one for the living room. HDMI so simplifies hookups and full digital sound and picture.
Thanks one again, for taking the time to read my ramblings. Just think, if those guys that love "first person shooters" or killing games instead were racing, perhaps a lot more people would still be alive and cries for more anti-gun laws would not be heard. Just a thought, not a sermon.
Scott
