Racing game tips?

[draigwen]

I've always been a fan of racing games, but never any good at them. This is okay for games like MarioKart that tend to adjust for the ability of the player, but not for the games I really want to play (currently F1). I'm just terrible at steering and I don't know why (I'm not very good at controlling characters around the screen in other games either). Does anyone have any tips for improving my steering in games?

Comments

[boundbooks]

I'm no race-car champion, but the thing I try and keep in mind is that what you're steering isn't where your car currently is, but where your car will be.

Imagine a little dot ten/twenty/(appropriate distance ahead of you, with the faster it's going being the further it's away), and steer according to to where that dot is.

[draigwen]

Tried it a bit the other night... will try again - sounds like a possibility

[geekgirl]

Are you using just the controller or a wheel?
I find I'm shit with the controller, but pretty ace with a wheel, which makes it worth the output of $.

[draigwen]

Controller. Can't get on with the wii wheel - is it very different on the PS3? Definitely tempting when I get some money.

[geekgirl]

I found the PS3 controller easier, but I still suck - if you can put some $ aside for something like this. Makes it a lot easier. TBH I found the wii wheel crap myself.

[supermouse]

There's a tendency with any interface to steer into your gaze, so that where you look is where your virtual vehicle ends up going. This can mean that being scared of crashing means you look at the things you could crash into and end up driving inexorably into them. Could this be what is happening to you?

[draigwen]

Possibly... not sure. I'm not convinced it's not just that I press the stick too hard or something.

[the_escapist]

Ah, so you're playing on Wii? I was going to suggest holding the stick in the forwards position and steering left to right from there, but that's more of an Xbox trick (seems to help with the lack of response to small movements).

My brother is a huge F1 fan and a huge gamer, so he kind of blitzes those games (because they are very technical, and having the right car setup for the track and conditions will also help a lot). I get what you mean though, it can be very difficult to be precise with controllers. I guess just lots of practice until it becomes second nature.