The shots are all early WIP. They are showing off and hinting at several key supported features with each screen. Look at the amount of attention shift is getting yet it looks so fake and overdone I cant understand why, this proves that many proclaimed simmers care more about shiny graphics then quality gameplay.

There always will be a balance due the nature of modern hardware and the general publics usage of that hardware

pleb:
Impressive graphics are not essential for a SIM’er, however, given the time we live in, we should be able to expect something to look a bit better than something that was made in early 2000’s.

Also with the dynamics of what can be put into a title physics can completely limit a title and make that particular title unplayable even with poor graphics. ISI provides dynamic lighting, dynamic shaodw map’s, real time weather and a advanced tire model. And that is just a small sample of what is offered.

On a fairly respectable system rain in GTR2 still reduces frames in 1/2 couple that with the very large grids i run and even then it can be taxing.

Lets look at one of the best looking tracks in RF. Putnam Park – This is a very simple track yet the lighting is perfect and the atmosphere ideal for what we want to see. The combination of RF2 screens on Facebook present and atmosphere and overall look that IMO rivals the best looking Simulation titles to date. The textures are far less cartoonish then before.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2689/19/50/754293424/n754293424_1545614_8345438.jpg

Look at the dynamic shadow casting, the horizon and overall lighting. This to me is quite nice indeed. The dynamic casting and reflections that will be offered are going to ultimately use up a lot of video card memory. Adding larger 30+ grids again will hurt even the highest of high end hardware due to the calculations asked of processors. If ISI implements everything they have stated and we assume some basic improvements are made to the overall physics engine it is IMO safe to say the load will be intense indeed. There will always be compromise coming from a developer and there is IMO a perfect balance to what ISI is offering.

Look at shift – No weather, no tire wear, no pitstops and a very limited amount of cars. The amount of cars o race against already kills that title for me. But SMS has stated this was a compromise they had to make. Yes its 2009 and PC hardware is not near as powerful as it needs to be to offer us everything we want.

I’m still waiting for a FS2004 or FSX quality sim to be offered in the racing genre and so far ISI has been the best to deliver that. I want to truly simulate the experience in the cockpit, i want to be able to have animations that show me adjusting the cockpit, and also have a fully clickable working cockpit. Real time temperature monitoring of the surfaces and a more accurate line build up and progression through the weekend. I want engineer advice to be giving based on current setup and the track being used. Engineers help drivers adjust their cars, I want this to be simluated along with my full ability to setup the car in the garage my way as well. Pit to driver com’s – accurate marshaling and incidents to be called/investigated etc.

One thing I always go back to, I know a guy who set’s up simulations for flight schools around the world. I got to experience a Boeing dreamliner simulation and it was one of the most satisfying experiences i have ever had. The detail, and complexity was enormous. Sure we will never get full setups quite like that but the accurate real time acquisition of data in regards to weather, wind, temp and overall vehicle dynamics left me wanting so much more in our current crop of sims.

Yes I’m asking for a lot, but this is all stuff I would rather see implemented before making the product all shiny and overladen with unrealistic glorified effects.

Howie47:

Maybe your iRacing carrier should end for 6 months while you recover in the hospital?

This is true, think how differently people would drive if there was a way to simulate the danger and self-preservation aspect of racing. But I think the safety rating in iracing is about as close as were going to be getting to that. Or maybe theyll bring out mild tasers that you can hook up to shock you everytime you do something stupid

Husky42: But that is something the narrow minded individuals who only focus on pretty shiny lights fail to grasp I guess.

There we go again. Ok we get it, you dont like pretty graphics. Doesnt give you the right to call others who do have an appreciation for these things narrow minded. And its not like we’re going around advocating shit physics, its 2009 and it should be possible to have both realistic graphics and physics. Get with the times sir.

Also graphics are important, who ever says they are not needs to stop lying to themselves, saying that you don’t care about graphics is absurd, would you go back to playing something that looks like this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/VirtuaIceMan/PC%20graphics%20evolution/1989_test_drive_ii.gif
Even if it had the most realistic tire model ever created? No you wouldn’t.

HDR, bloom, and motion blur do exist in real life, the problem is that developers still have not gotten it right in video games. Those technologies are relatively new and some of those effects are in their infancy. And on top of that the hardware to properly simulate those effects is not even available yet ;/.

Howie47:

Maybe your iRacing carrier should end for 6 months while you recover in the hospital?

Paul Kelly: I’m not sure I understand, Howie. Seriously. When I crash in a PC game like iRacing or certain rFactor mods and see a crumpled hood or a dislodged wheel and feel a huge thud from the FFB in my wheel, I know I screwed up.
What graphical and force feedback cues do you seek?

Maybe your iRacing carrier should end for 6 months while you recover in the hospital?

What graphical and force feedback cues do you seek?

Paul Kelly: You and I may have different definitions of what we consider realistic physics. Plus I don’t consider the saturated, bloom-infested graphics in games like GRID or Shift to be fantastic or realistic. I’ve never seen cars or tracks that have that kind of Vaseline sheen or bloom either at a track in real life or on TV.
If that makes me snobbishly elite, so be it!

I’m sure we have different defin. of real physics. Seeing virtually every one does! You assume I was speaking of bloom and HDR. When I’m pointing to (atmosphere) that isn’t just sterile 100% clear vision. But something that draws you in to the real racing experience. So you don’t just feel like some Geek, sitting in front of a computer monitor. IF developers have to use some graphic magic, to give us the since of really being in a race; so when we spin or wreck it is not just, “oops! Oh well least I get to take a drag of my Cig”.

If that makes me snobbishly elite, so be it!

Howie47:

I think that is a really “dumb” statement and touching on an elitist, snobbish attitude. When I tried “Gird”, the first thing I thought, was. “If some one would just combine what’s in this game with realistic physics, Sim racing would finally mature into the mainstream.” I think some people might be afraid that might happen. Here’s hoping “Shift” fills the bill!

UncleChuckle: Be really nice if someone would do their job and actually MODERATE the comment I posted around number 12 that was inexplicably flagged for moderation.
And AI is extremely important. I can race where I want, when I want, and more importantly if anything happens in the real world, I can just pause! Plus if I get the urge I can drive like it’s a public server without ruining anyones racing. There’s no lag (every race I’ve been in in recent months there has been at least one person warping all over the place).
In short, I’d rather race AI than other people the majority of the time.
In the case of GTR2 I HAVE to race the AI, as I get the “booted possible cheat” crap every single damn time I connect to a server, despite it being a brand new, clean install. (And yes, it’s patched.)
I will not be buying RF2 until I find out about the AI. And if ISI haven’t bothered putting the time into it, I won’t be buying it. RF’s AI is pathetic. (Screw anyone who says otherwise. They clearly have never driven against a GOOD AI opponent. I spent months working on various things to improve RF’s AI until eventually I gave up.) I’m done buying sims with crap AI. There is no excuse for it.

Maybe “Shift” will have good AI. TeeHee. Just couldn’t help myself.

Howie47:

Well looking at Stabiz’S Avatar, he is the number one internet tough guy!

Hehe, who doesnt love Full Throttle??

UncleChuckle:
I’m done buying sims with crap AI. There is no excuse for it.

Just a bit OT, but keep an eye on VGP3 if you’re looking for a good AI.
http://www.vgp3.com/main.php

Paul Kelly: One of the few negatives of VirtualR covering so much console racing these days — namely, Shift — is that it’s attracting more and more people who only care about eye candy in racing games and couldn’t give a toss about realistic physics, AI and force feedback.

I think that is a really “dumb” statement and touching on an elitist, snobbish attitude. When I tried “Gird”, the first thing I thought, was. “If some one would just combine what’s in this game with realistic physics, Sim racing would finally mature into the mainstream.” I think some people might be afraid that might happen. Here’s hoping “Shift” fills the bill!

ermax18: and internet tough guys en masse.

Well looking at Stabiz’S Avatar, he is the number one internet tough guy!

And AI is extremely important. I can race where I want, when I want, and more importantly if anything happens in the real world, I can just pause! Plus if I get the urge I can drive like it’s a public server without ruining anyones racing. There’s no lag (every race I’ve been in in recent months there has been at least one person warping all over the place).

In short, I’d rather race AI than other people the majority of the time.

In the case of GTR2 I HAVE to race the AI, as I get the “booted possible cheat” crap every single damn time I connect to a server, despite it being a brand new, clean install. (And yes, it’s patched.)

I will not be buying RF2 until I find out about the AI. And if ISI haven’t bothered putting the time into it, I won’t be buying it. RF’s AI is pathetic. (Screw anyone who says otherwise. They clearly have never driven against a GOOD AI opponent. I spent months working on various things to improve RF’s AI until eventually I gave up.) I’m done buying sims with crap AI. There is no excuse for it.

flowie:
Stop writing anything about AI, it’s just stupid.

It’s been stupid since today just because AI has been stupid… since today.
Seriously, AI is quite important for a racing sim: sure, racing against other people is more fun, but what if you can’t find a server with the mod/track you want or you find it but it’s empty? AI should be a way to improve your skills in racing against other opponents too: with drivers able to drive against a competitive AI, probably we would see less crashes online.