Gran Turismo 4

[Rossco]

I haven't done any rally events so I can't comment but my wheel just came this morning and it's so bloody cool. It's the old Logitech Driving Force one, the GT3 one I think but it's still ace. You really have to fight with the car to control it and can't throw it around some bends like you can using the Dual Shock. I still suck with it though so I need more practice and ended up clamping it to the ironing board which is actually rather good as you can change the height of it and it's still reasonably stable.

[-Taurus-]

Do you play with the assists (ASM and TCS) turned on?
I just tried the arcade mode with the ASM off and the cars turned much better.

Is there a way to turn them off in Gran Turismo mode, or just in the licence tests?

[Rossco]

Yes, you go to settings before a race and turn them off. I do it with every car, I hate having them on!

[marcus]

Got home and played GT4 on my plasma, was amazed at how gash it looked, really horrible. Then I realised I hadnt switched to 1080i, now it looks really quite beautiful. It makes a considerable difference. The weird occasional jerkiness is the only drawback in GT4 visually for me, its a real shame.

[-Taurus-]

Yes, you go to settings before a race and turn them off. I do it with every car, I hate having them on!

But you can't actually turn them off in the licence tests, can you?

This stupid ASM is making me hate this game, isn't this assist supposed to help steering the car? How come what it really does is nullify the steering and make the car go stray out the road, can anyone explain?

[Concept]

I can't get into GT4. Initially it's too in your face, and I found myself overwhelmed by the option set ultimately. There's too much information to absorb in the initial few hours to win over outsiders such as myself.

Least that's how I feel.

[Mardigan8]

GT4 has to be played when there are no other games distracitng you. I have it and the Logitech Wheel but have only done the B and A license in GT mode, no races!! Games like MGS3 and DMC3 are hawling me in at the moment. In the summer when it quieter, GT will get its fill I am sure, but like you concept it is too much to get into right now!!

[Rossco]

But you can't actually turn them off in the licence tests, can you?

This stupid ASM is making me hate this game, isn't this assist supposed to help steering the car? How come what it really does is nullify the steering and make the car go stray out the road, can anyone explain?

No it's either set as on or off in the licence and you can't change it.

It stops the tyres from slipping away from the surface of the road, so with it on, you can't turn as fast as the tyres are keeping a clean grip with the road, so you have to take it slow using the perfect line, where as with it off, most cars you can throw about the road if your careful, but try too much and it will spin out as it's not Project Gotham where your supposed to drift.



Or something like that.... Correct me if I'm wrong someone.



EDIT: Passed IA last night and the final two tests in it were fantastic, a whole guided lap of the 'Ring in that Merc, really really tense, especially using the wheel, knowing you gotta go the whole way round without ever letting more than 2 wheels on the grass. Took me a while to actually contain myself and not race as dangerous as I usually do.

But then the final test, my oh my, that Nissan Calsonic car on the 6km stretch course that is oh so bumpy when driving at 230mph. Try doing that with a force feedback wheel, it's stunning. You literally have to hold onto the wheel for dear life as trying to keep the car in a straight line was a task in it's self!

My arms were aching when I eventually managed to pass that one!

[Yoshimax]

Nah yer right Rossco.

This game's the puppies. Glad it doesn't have a story as too many games like that on my current playlist Just stick it on, do a few racers, then switch if off - I can't play on the wheel for prolonged periods as I don't have an acceptable setup !

[Rossco]

I use my ironing board and a chair from the dining room table. It's not the most comfortable and like you said, I can't race for long periods either, I just get up for a drink every 20 minutes or so and to stretch my legs.

But I don't want to use the pad instead so I'll just go through it slowly, using the wheel, whenever I'm not in agonising pain from 3-4 hours racing in a row.

[Kubrick]

Passed IA last night and the final two tests in it were fantastic, a whole guided lap of the 'Ring in that Merc, really really tense, especially using the wheel, knowing you gotta go the whole way round without ever letting more than 2 wheels on the grass. Took me a while to actually contain myself and not race as dangerous as I usually do.

Aye, done that yesterday myself. I need to buy one of those 190Es, they're badass. S16 test is even better though since there's no pace car to hold you up.

[Rossco]

yeh, I noticed that. I had a look at the Special tests but it was late and I couldn't be bothered trying, and my arms were literally falling off having used that goddam wheel for so long!

Gonna go have a bash at some races in my suped up Skyline now, which I took more pictures of last night! How pretty!

[Yoshimax]

= Too dark.

Rossco - turn up the exposure before you take the pictures - I had that problem too

[mid]

Well, I gave in and bought a 256mb Verbatim "Store 'n' Go" from Asda for ?25, which works fine. Here's my little beauty. And yes, I have hopelessly overcooked it into that bend for pictorial effect...

[segages]

I need to give photo mode some more time like you lot. Having got to just over 97%, there's only around half of the driving missions left for me to do although I'm not sure I can be bothered. Some of them are more frustrating than fun and I'd rather be crusing around Seattle in a '66 Cobra or collecting more cars

After fairly tanning this since I got it (US version), it's been very good overall. My only gripes are the daft AI and plain stupid penalties you pick up when the CPU drives into the back of you in the Special Condition hall. Mr B-Spec is good if you don't have 24 hours on your hands but not for much else!