Thanks Scawen for the status update!
It sounds great to hear you're coming along good with this huge effort. If the testing goes well I know this great community has a lot to look forward to in 2012. Charge your batteries and let us know how things are going towards spring. Keep it up and happy holidays!

Merry X-mas and a Happy New LFS 2012!

Did your host IP change? Run cmd and ipconfig to make sure.

Hi and welcome here hatecraft!
You wont regret buying a G25/27 for LFS. It will elevate the game to its full potential and who knows, perhaps you'll have additional use of it outside LFS (although I doubt it :tilt

Sooner than later you'd be hooked and dive into S2 as well

Well hello there Valefor!
When to make introductions doesn't matter. What matter is you're here now and having a good time. I'm sure you'll do a lot better in me in races and also be a good racing mate!

Very nicely done!
Axis clutch and H-shifter?

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Thanks for the words of encouragement Ingolf!

You are most welcome!

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I enjoy putting in the effort. I would like to run longer races, but am staying with Blackwood GP and Formula BMW for now so I can become somewhat competent before I move to other equipment.

The Blackwood GP track is a very good starting point since it's fairly easy to teach the brain where the braking- , throttle- and apex points are. I still find Blackwood hilarious after many years of eroding the same racing line.

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The servers I have found seem to run short races of 4 laps or less. I did a 20 lap race on one of the servers, but I was the only one on at the time. I was hoping that by running a race it would attract others, but it didn't.

Well, that is a bit typical since you do not know exactly where to go, or have any LFS "friends" yet. Eventually you will know the quality of numerous servers and what to expect from ceratin "events" as you get to know more people personally. It seems like a jungle at first, but just relax, you'll fit in sooner than you know. It can be a good idea to race shorter races of 4-10 laps in order to learn the track and also you do not have to worry about pit stop strategy and fuel consumtion that much. Just driving.

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Is there a car/ track that you would recommend for longer races. At this point in my learning it would be especially nice if there were other racers there that were beginner or intermediate level.

For now, I cannot point you to a particular server (I'm sure others can), except for "Dead men racing" perhaps. Very friendly and mature - heaps of racers willing to share their tips and tricks. Like a racing school sometimes if it's no race going on. I should also mention we had a blast driving on the UFR Challenge server earlier this summer but it is down for the moment. Something similar might open up soon. As for car choice, I'd learn to drive the slower cars at first (XFG, XRG, XRT, RGT, FZ50 etc), finding racing lines in a slower pace and then work my way up. Since you like the open seaters, it might be good to stick to it and develop your skill from there . I couldn't tell.

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I also wonder about my equipment. I do have a nice G27 wheel and pedals, but I am just using a small computer monitor. It is often hard for me to sense another racer beside me and the "look left/ look right" buttons are so distracting at this point that I am almost certain to wreck if I try to use them. Sometimes I do hear the engine noise though and leave a lane just in case. Do the fast guys use the three screen setups for better visibility?

With the G27 you will probably enjoy a lot of "wow" moments and I can really recommend you using its full potential (H-shifter, axis-clutch and appropriate steering range). It is very rewarding, even tho you might loose races (or place in the middle of the field), it is still tremendously more fun than going too much auto. Make sure to set up the cockpit so that you have a good view of the rear view mirrors. Especially the center one. I do have 3 displays so I have a good view of the left and right mirrors as well, but I'd say you can configure the center one to have a very good awareness of cars behind you. It takes some time to get real comfortable with the cockpit view. Try it out using the AI races.

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Also, my wheel is just clamped to the desk, and I am in an office chair - so not the best driving position. Does taking a "racing position" have any good effect?

Others can probably answer this. I use an office desk and a hard wooden chair. Some have the full rig and dedicate a lot of time into building a "home" simulator. I'm sure they'd suggest you do the same . For me, it's enough to sit comfortable with a steady lock of my G25.

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Thanks again!
Joe

I see you're from the states and that means it is not optimal for timing the peak of online races (European racers tend to be more frequently online), so that could be the reason why you did not attract any players on that server you tried.

Perhaps we could join up someday (night for me) and just enjoy some laps with the G25/27 trying to improve ourselves at a track we both like to practice on?

Cheers,
Ingolf

Last edited by Ingolf, Tue 29 Nov 2011, 00:33.

Hi and welcome to a great game Joe Kumpf!
Be prepared to handle some conflicts with your wife soon !

Joke aside, I would like to ask you what those races you've been on so far look like in terms of lap numbers, qualifying sessions etc. Because, yes, you might get away with a few fast laps letting the tarmac eat your tires. However, when racing in longer sessions with more realistic stints (>20 laps), it is always a matter of conserving rubber (and clutch etc) - and that generally also forces people to drive more gently with the aim of winning the race. The world of LFS is very diverse, so you'll find short races (hotlap-like) but also longer, where you need to work out a strategy (the most fun in my opinion :nod.

Even though many fellow competitors are much faster than you at the moment, you should know, that it takes an awful lot of practice to be really fast, and you will eventually end up there one day if you are dedicated. It can seem frustrating after some time in LFS, but just by reflecting over my own experience, I'm sure you will notice good improvement with spent mileage. Also getting to know the individual tracks like your own pockets really pays off in this game. Just as in real life.

Good luck with your coming races!

Maybe some new newcomers will come...?

If you are bored with LFS and still spend your time tapping the keybord or dragging the mouse around to make that XRT going where you aim... think again. Invest in a good Wheel setup with clutch axis and H-shifter capacity, i.e. G25/27 or a Fanatec. LFS will no longer be boring. If you still are bored - you do not like driving cars .

@Driver 8,
good suggestions already posted above. Just to add, there is one alternative that has been overlooked. Race the AI! They do not care about you (that much) but simply race the optimal racing line (for AI). That way you can practice staying out of trouble, and still beat the AI of course. It gives you a certain spatial awareness in relation to your driving line at certain sections of the tracks. Staying out of trouble is often the key to success, even with "human" opponents. So finding out how and when you can take care of the AI will also grant you some advantage when racing online. At least it did for me. Just put that frustration aside when AI bumps you from behind and think about how you could have avoided that. Just a thought.

Quote from Almsfan :

2, I have a G27, and i would like to use my shifter as a sequential with certain cars. Was unable to get the game to read it though. Is it possible to do with LFS?

Using the G27 sequential gear-shifter in LFS works fine. That's why we are here . Hope you find out soon how to configure it. Should be easy once you get the hang of the setup screen.
Sometimes we set up servers for "sequential shifters"+"clutch axis" control only. That way we have races "as real as it gets" with everyone using the same configs. It's nothing more than a pure blast .
Good to see you join the fun here at LFS, if you prefer "sim-like" games you have just found your way home - prepare to stay a long time .

@frotto110
ola, i new to live for speed s2 - Welcome! But I think you are new to LFS Demo, right?
anyone want buy me - I do not think so, I wont.
where can i have setup - Here
how to drive online - Make your pick among the demo servers after hitting "Multiplayer" in the game menu.

Last edited by Ingolf, Sun 20 Nov 2011, 20:07.

What you say in relation to the big shifts/events in the curves may be close to the truth or at least have something to do with it. If the time for the changes/patches are correct (I assume so).
Will be interesting to watch that curve take off as the tyre-physics patch is released, with or without Rockingham and Scirocco .

11.5 years of LFS racing online.



There are some ups and downs, and funny enough, the demo racers seem to increase in number - a source for potential licensed drivers. Today's number of fully licensed racers are not far away from the peak a couple of years ago. Yes, they (the devs) could do with more PR, but they have chosen to let the product speak for itself. It worked for me and 1000's of others. There might be many reasons for a dev team to keep a lower profile. LFS is still an outstanding piece of art and I love it. Now back to the track...

Last edited by Ingolf, Sat 12 Nov 2011, 22:45.

Dandy Dust, I can nearly feel your disappointment, but if you think you are examining the truth, think again.

I think most of us enjoying LFS are ready to pay for more content, but perhaps you should think of it this way: I want to pay for "good" content - which is what scavier have been delivering ever since 2003. Why not let them keep this (unusual) concept and develop content at their own pace, ensuring it will be quality stuff?

When you scream for/demand this and that it only sounds childish and bad in mature ears. In a way it only emphasizes how much you love LFS and that is good. Patience is a virtue, right?

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However, for someone new to autocross in real life, unless they were already familiar with LFS, I would say just getting out there and trying it would be better than practicing in LFS first...

Yep, it works best that way. But I must add, being familiar with a "virtual" track (as in my case and the STCC game), I quickly found my racing line irl. I was really astonished because all breaking points, apex and passing zones turned out to match quite well. Even the difference between wet & dry surfaces were comparable.

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In LFS you have to contend with lack of seat of the pants feel, lack of peripheral vision, trying to see all the cones through a small screen, etc etc that learning to drive on the computer would be more of a challenge than just doing it in real life.

Yep again. The feel of you squeezing the seat is still missing in all sims/games (havn't tried one of those rally FFB-seats yet :razz. Drove one of those Formula Renault 2.0 a while ago and this is one car you drive using your whole body . LFS grew quite a lot as I hooked up a second monitor tho. I'll soon try with three. All for the fun of racing

Last edited by Ingolf, Sun 6 Nov 2011, 19:20.

We do not see 100 tracks (actually, I have not counted all combinations), 70 cars and weather changes every 2 minutes in LFS. In my opinion, this is gold. Thank Scavier for that! The fact that we have a limited set of cars and tracks with a pretty advanced modeling technique implemented still makes LFS fun. Because it still simulates roughly how you drive a car! And you are forced to spend time on getting to know both the car and track in combination. Just as in real life. I never get bored racing on the same track with the same car IRL. So what is it with all this hystaria about new tracks and cars anyway?

My advice is to get a proper PC wheel/gearbox/pedals/clutch setup for those that still drive with kb/mouse/joystick/other controller. It will turn LFS into a different world from what you are used to. At least it did so for me. If you have a proper wheel hardware and still complain, I'd suggest you develop a better sim yourself, pm Scaven about your magnificent code, or keep to the real tracks... (sorry for being a smartass, but I havn't comented for a long while )

No offence, we are all different, and wish to see this and that according to our own ego. Maybe I'm just patient.

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I was taking very similar lines, and also making the same mistakes.

See, that initself is quite interesting. I did some racing in a Volvo C30 (STCC) car and found the same thing while playing "STCC2 The Game". It is remarkable how close the sims get to the real thing when you have something to relate to. Simbin do not have the same sim-feel as LFS but still delivers a good "wow"-feeling if you have driven the track irl. I wish I could do the same/similar thing you did and compare with LFS and a G25. As I see it, it's like extending the fun of real racing into your living room after a day of regular work (wish I was a full time racer ).

I will certainly test your autocross layout and watch your movie again. Many thanks for sharing

Last edited by Ingolf, Sat 5 Nov 2011, 00:15.

Impressive! Very well done and nicely presented.
How did you experience the LFS run compared to the real one? Did you get that "wow" feeling even sitting behind a PC screen? It is often easier to recall that sensation if you've done the course/track IRL.

I use this (posted some time ago). Let me know if you need any help/more info on the output.
Cheers!

Last edited by Ingolf, Thu 13 Oct 2011, 22:02.

Sure was a great time on your UFR Challenge server alquimista!
Thank you very much for putting in all the work and bring us together for many great LFS moments!

We'll miss the UFR server and your dedication and driving alltogether. Have fun at iRacing!

Ah... too bad I could not join that race... Looks epic as usual.
I'll try to make it up later this fall participating regularly...

For some reason STCC is more alive than iRacing for me. I did go to one of the STCC tracks recently and drove a Volvo C30 and a Formula Renault 2.0 (IRL). Came back and fired upp Race 07 with STCC addon: Simbin has it's problems with physics, but I was surprised how precise they nailed it on the Karlskoga (gälleråsen) Motor stadium. Both the C30 and the Formula Renault car acts pretty much like the Simbin product. So, how can this be - comparing apples with pears?

Let me know if you want to practice/chat/evolve on a temporary one on one server! Perhaps I can give you some tips and at the same time have some fun before you go into large grid races? Just send me a PM and I'll get back to you on login details.

It may be a faster way climbing the ladder compared to racing against AI.
Anyway, have fun and see you out there on the track!

Alessandre08 on Jul 30, 2011 04:09 PDT at GameSpy:

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"I've already tried the NTM it is simply amazing! You feel every bit of bump on your hands, i.e. the effects of a good force feedback racing wheel. Congrats all iRacing staff for this achievement!"

I wonder how many hours Alessandre08 has spent in a real NTM on a racetrack?

Tony Gardner, (iRacing) President:

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"...although some there [other games] are some great products and fun titles to drive, it is pretty clear we are the most realistic."

That is a very humble opinion, isn't it? Things like this makes me want to not continue buying their product. Just sends the wrong signal to a fellow like me. Where is that shown to be clear? Any scientific publications out there to back it up?
If you claim to be the best, then you are in serious trouble. Sounds like Codemasters in my ears - and in a way it's quite sad. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed iRacing but compared to my (tiny) IRL racing experience, it just is not spot on at all. Rather, gamelike - not simulation. (just my opinion)

Hopefully, the competition will inspire Scawen and his loyal companions to show what development is really about.

Last edited by Ingolf, Wed 3 Aug 2011, 11:57.

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I tried Cargame.nl S1 but there's a kind of rank thing so you have to start on XFG or XFG and get points - which I suppose you do by participating.

Yes, that particular server has a ranking system that lets you advance from "low class" cars up to higher levels. If you put some time into it you will soon find yourself driving the car you want. It's fun, educational and rewarding. Usually fine people there too, that are willing to help and support. Good luck!