Rfactor 2 Beta - A comprehensive constructive review.

[ZMC888]

Hiohaa's review is absolutely the best review I have ever read. The fact that he's written it and people from ISI have read it is a massive boost to what is only a game in beta. ISI please try to implement his ideas of heavier steering and increased grip at slower speed. Is there not some way to measure actual wheel torque in real cars? Rather than thinking about what 'feels' real, how about more real world data?

To me all the eye candy is cool but to me the nut and bolts of any sim are the way it handles. That's why I come back to play it again and again. Not really because I like computer games, more because I can't afford to race real cars on a track at all. Also because it's the wrong weather/time of year/time of day to be out on my motorcycle or karting.

Nutshell, I agree that 'Netkar Pro' has the best handling of any sim, 'kart racing pro' in beta is very good too, but to me they don't feel that amazing that ISI couldn't fairly easily improve on them.

[MJP]

Actually, i do see a fairly big problem now. I thought it was just the setup making the car oversteer so easily, but i was thinking more about it because the car was still prone to oversteer, so i figured i would see how much i could make it understeer an it doesn't seem to understeer at all, it always has a tendency towards oversteering no matter the setup. I've done everything i can to make the rear end as stable as possible and it's still not that stable, but at the same time i realized just how ridiculous this setup would be in the real world. Something definitely needs to be done with the grip in some way, maybe it's the tire model, maybe it's just something with the cars or tracks, maybe it's the engine, whatever it is, it's a bit unrealistic, which is a shame at the moment because the force feedback is incredibly intuitive, even with such a slippery car i can always tell what it's doing. I hope this issue is resolved before the game is on retail shelves.

Re. the FR3.5 when you have the centre of pressure for the front wing way out ahead of the front axle it it's not a complete surprise it handles the way it does.

[rVeloce]

agree especially with sub par audio . sad that in this day & age sounds are so bad.

[CdnRacer]

agree especially with sub par audio . sad that in this day & age sounds are so bad.

The OP says sounds aren't up to standard in any sim. lol.

[Paul Loatman]

Re. the FR3.5 when you have the centre of pressure for the front wing way out ahead of the front axle it it's not a complete surprise it handles the way it does.

Well, that would make sense if we were only talking about mid to high speed corners, but at low speed corners where the downforce doesn't come into play as dramatically, it still feels like there just isn't enough grip, maybe it's the fact that the track is always green when you start on it, plus i've heard that the rate of temperature change on the tires are really messed up, and then there's the tire models themselves, so i'm sure it's not just the aerodynamics being simulated that's causing the strange handling characteristics, but other things that are incorrectly modeled right now.

The OP says sounds aren't up to standard in any sim. lol.

As of right now, that's the case, but i've played pCARS, and although their force feedback and physics have a lot to be desired right now, the sounds on some of their cars are fantastic. Also there's the GTR 3 sound teaser. I really don't know why it's so difficult to get the sounds right, even Gran Turismo, which had an enormous budget still couldn't get any of the sounds even remotely accurate.

[Guineapiggy]

Well, that would make sense if we were only talking about mid to high speed corners, but at low speed corners where the downforce doesn't come into play as dramatically, it still feels like there just isn't enough grip, maybe it's the fact that the track is always green when you start on it, plus i've heard that the rate of temperature change on the tires are really messed up, and then there's the tire models themselves, so i'm sure it's not just the aerodynamics being simulated that's causing the strange handling characteristics, but other things that are incorrectly modeled right now.



As of right now, that's the case, but i've played pCARS, and although their force feedback and physics have a lot to be desired right now, the sounds on some of their cars are fantastic. Also there's the GTR 3 sound teaser. I really don't know why it's so difficult to get the sounds right, even Gran Turismo, which had an enormous budget still couldn't get any of the sounds even remotely accurate.

Here's one anyone who has tried to mod it will know - sound engineering is black magic. RF does not have a great sound engine to start with but there is a certain dark art to producing good samples that only a few people know. They go to remote mountain monasteries to learn it and are sworn to secrecy.

[Tim Wheatley]

Here's one anyone who has tried to mod it will know - sound engineering is black magic. RF does not have a great sound engine to start with but there is a certain dark art to producing good samples that only a few people know. They go to remote mountain monasteries to learn it and are sworn to secrecy.

Do they have to be Dragon born?

[Guineapiggy]

Do they have to be Dragon born?

That... it all makes sense now!

[nuggetz]

So, since we're all beta testing and providing feedback, is there a mechanism in place to tell us which issues/improvements/suggestions ISI have agreed to address? That would be sweet.

BTW, just wanted to say thanks to ISI for 1960's formula cars. Haven't had this much fun since GPL.

[HuntTheShunt]

Never say never

Thanks for proving me wrong As a software developer, I can appreciate the pressures and conflicting priorities that developers have placed on them.

Despite what seem to be negative comments here and there most of us are rFactor fans and really hope you can get rF2 right.
I look forward to the tyre model corrections/updates/improvements.
The suspension FFB is stunning.

Overall, we are trying to provide constructive feedback.

[MaXyM]

So, since we're all beta testing and providing feedback, is there a mechanism in place to tell us which issues/improvements/suggestions ISI have agreed to address? That would be sweet.

If I would bet, I would chose 'no chance to inform us at all'. There were a lot of unanswered topics including Q&A or Wishes. Any feedback? None. Sad but true. There is no road map, todo list, schedule or something like this (at least released to public). Any question end up with answer 'will be when ready'.
I wouldn't expect any more. I suggest to wait and check any new release for new features.

[THracing]

Dunno if this contributes to anything in this thread but, I am a Super Gas/Super Comp Dragracer. When I line up, the engine roars like hell and it's the only sound I can hear, every other sound is of course muted compared to the sound of the engine, but about half track (1/8), the whine of the transmission & rear end takes over and all I hear is the high pitch sound when speeding thru the speed trap. No bass at all with my 540" at least... The reason for the "whine" is because you use a softer alloy for both ring & gears plus a little more end play compared to a daily driven car.

[PLAYLIFE]

I'd be interested on reading the thoughts of hiohaa on the changes that Build 60 update brought.

[fastfezzer]

Great review. Spot on.