LFS, with a sensible controller and a sensible setup requires essentially the same driving skills, and gives essentially the same feedback (minus g-forces acting on your body) as real life racing. But there are limitations, either because we're at a desk and not in a car, and because the physics have to be defined rather than just existing. As such tyres, which no human being understands, are only going to be 'best guess' (although LFS's guess is closer than most). Aerodynamics is very complex, and a modern home computer can only manage a very loose approximation. Mechanics and kinematics are fairly well understood, and that part of LFS is relatively sound.
So, if you are asking if LFS is similar to real life, then the answer is yes, but still has a long way to go at the same time.
and in real cars the pedals dont sink in the floor, they come from above (if u know what i mean), other then that it seems to be realistic (the 100m i've driven)
Hi Tristan, I'm just curious why floor hinged pedals are "better" ? I think one of the reasons why I have a difficult time heel-toe downshifting with the G25 pedals compared to a real car is because it takes more force to push the bottom of the gas pedal in with my heel than the top of the pedal (since the pivot point of the pedal is at the bottom of the pedal).
Of course that's just one of many reasons... seating position, pedal placement, pedal height, etc.
Because then the pedals pivot on roughly the same arc as your heels. Hung pedals suffer conflicting arcs, which makes precise modulation harder. What's really odd is a hung brake and clutch, but floor mounted throttle - makes a very odd feeling when heel and toeing
Change your heel and toe technique - it's actually misnamed - very few people use their heel. It's much much much easier and quicker using each side of the ball of your foot.
Interesting... I guess I never really thought about that.
I don't actually use my heel, I just said that because it was easier than saying "side of the ball of my foot" That said, my technique could definitely use some improvement.
Practice. Every single down change you ever do is ample opportunity. You'll make a complete tit of yourself for a while, but get better quite quickly. I'm still stumped by our Transit - it's a real struggle on that.
I drive a BMW, the brakes/clutch are hung, and the throttle is hinged from the floor.
But for a front mounted engine, wouldn't it be better if it was hinged from the top, making the throttle get pulled directly? Im not saying it is, im asking .
Lfs anything like real life you say?
It`s still a game, and it`s far as hell away from real life. Of course, it`s simulate how a car react and behave very good, but still it`s nothing to real life. Even with you darned G25 wheel
The BMW Mini is the same, bottom for gas and top brake/clutch. I much prefer the BWM style gas pedal, much more comfortable.
There is no direct connection between the throttle and the engine in a BWM btw. A computer sits between you and the engine, thats how the TC works etc.
The more you play LFS, the closer to real life it starts to feel. Compared to other racing sims, the dynamics (of mostly the tires) is just astonishing. Even though you can't feel the g-forces, and thus the physical experience isn't quite near what you would experience in a real car, you can apply the exact same skills you've learned in LFS to real world.
LFS has improved my knowledge of vehicle dynamics and skills of car control big time, but it also works the other way - just a few short runs on small karts have had positive effect on smoothness in LFS.
Yes, using a real car is almost the same as using a G25 and LFS... The 1st prize in the 1st Czech LFS League - last year's CarDo Racing Octavia Cup were a few laps in a real race car (Skoda Octavia) on a racetrack (racetrack in Most, CZ). The winner ( windmouse ) did not even have a driver license (too young) and never drove a real car before and he had no problems on the track... On the contrary, the people from CarDo Racing were very surprised how nicely he drove and even followed the ideal line...
i was only recently trying to explain this, the physics of a car in LFS may resemble real life driving, but it doesnt mean its "like" real life. i know it sounds stupid, but physics is only one part of driving in real life.
you have to consider that regardless of steering wheels or whatever you can adapt to LFS, its nothing like real life. real life, you have to contend with being pushed around in your chair, the genuine reality of speed and safety (most important part), g-forces, pedal forces, steering wheel forces, damaging your car. these are the things that properly involve you in driving, this is what differentiates having a bit of fun on the computer and having adrenaline rushes that will hold you alert through a day without sleep.
the computer just doesnt properly relate the speed, forces and safety issues that face you on the track, it's easy to be confident and push your car in a game when the worst that could come from it is to have to reset the game. confidence is a key part of any motorsport, and its not something that can be gained lightly when you have to deal with the real life issues faced on the track.
saying that, if you want to just talk about physics, then yes, personally i think LFS is very realistic. its hard to properly compare the game to real life, as like i said before, you 2 experiences are just totally different, and trying to focus on how similar one part is when your missing the other crucial parts is hard.
fortunately, recently i bought a handy little suction cup mount which meant i was able to capture some in car footage of my drifting at a local track here, and i compared it LFS footage from a similar view. if you look at the steering movements you can see a lot of similarities, look at the timing of the steering adjustments etc. the only real difference is the steering return, the current adjustments dont allow me to let go of the wheel in LFS to let it fling back quickly on transitions like i do in real life, although i think the introduction of a G25 should help this.
Me in LFS (wait for the in car, unfortunately this is all ive got up on YT in the way of LFS, ill chuck up something that demonstrates the physics better another time, but for now this will do. focus on the steering wheel movements, not the arm movements) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjz6aBkTWGE
That said, my technique could definitely use some improvement.
