Discussion
t loads, do you not drive yet?100% difference.
Firstly, you don't crap your pants the first time you go out on a console.
Secondly, you don't *really* own the car on a console, so therefore take much bigger risks than you would on a real track.
Really, should you be asking at all? I thought it would be common sense.
Or, are you asking: Are the tracks similar, the handling, the AI?
Either way: No similarity at all if you value your life.
Firstly, you don't crap your pants the first time you go out on a console.
Secondly, you don't *really* own the car on a console, so therefore take much bigger risks than you would on a real track.
Really, should you be asking at all? I thought it would be common sense.
Or, are you asking: Are the tracks similar, the handling, the AI?
Either way: No similarity at all if you value your life.
No type of driving in a game is like driving in real life. Except perhaps the noise! 
The G25 and GTR2/M3 Challenge/GTL is about as close as it gets.
You can set the G25 to give turn in 'feel', but thats as close as you get.
As has already been mentioned in any game you will take risks far beyond anything you would on a track (where I have limited experience, admittedly) let alone on the road.
Certainly won't find me drifting into oncoming traffic at 100mph for several seconds at a time around Bournemouth!
The G25 and GTR2/M3 Challenge/GTL is about as close as it gets.
You can set the G25 to give turn in 'feel', but thats as close as you get.
As has already been mentioned in any game you will take risks far beyond anything you would on a track (where I have limited experience, admittedly) let alone on the road.
Certainly won't find me drifting into oncoming traffic at 100mph for several seconds at a time around Bournemouth!
It's obvious that games will not be near real life until they can connect into the brain but they dont do a bad job. Heres some comparisons of rfactor F1 mods and real life. Surprisingly close.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr5zu4bE3jw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CmAcoIIIF0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pjvi1XUEyk&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Zwb4xtGg4&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr5zu4bE3jw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CmAcoIIIF0&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Pjvi1XUEyk&fea...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Zwb4xtGg4&fea...
Why is it such a stupid question?
There are similarities. Ok you don't get any vestibular feedback but some of the PC driving sims are pretty accurate portrayals within the limitations of a 2d screen and a force feedback wheel.
Things like track positioning, the consequences getting, trail braking, lift of oversteer, getting on the gas too early wrong, wrong are reasonable accurate - ok the degree of response is toned down to make the game playable.
IIRC there was a chap a couple of years ago who was a computer rally nut who decided to give the real thing a go. His instructors were amazed at how well he did for a beginner, which he attributed to the long hours playing driving games.
I think people are being slightly unfair to the OP.
There are similarities. Ok you don't get any vestibular feedback but some of the PC driving sims are pretty accurate portrayals within the limitations of a 2d screen and a force feedback wheel.
Things like track positioning, the consequences getting, trail braking, lift of oversteer, getting on the gas too early wrong, wrong are reasonable accurate - ok the degree of response is toned down to make the game playable.
IIRC there was a chap a couple of years ago who was a computer rally nut who decided to give the real thing a go. His instructors were amazed at how well he did for a beginner, which he attributed to the long hours playing driving games.
I think people are being slightly unfair to the OP.
rhinochopig said:
Why is it such a stupid question?
There are similarities. Ok you don't get any vestibular feedback but some of the PC driving sims are pretty accurate portrayals within the limitations of a 2d screen and a force feedback wheel.
Things like track positioning, the consequences getting, trail braking, lift of oversteer, getting on the gas too early wrong, wrong are reasonable accurate - ok the degree of response is toned down to make the game playable.
IIRC there was a chap a couple of years ago who was a computer rally nut who decided to give the real thing a go. His instructors were amazed at how well he did for a beginner, which he attributed to the long hours playing driving games.
I think people are being slightly unfair to the OP.
Also on the gadget show, they did a comparison, I person was give some real live driving training, and the other pratcied on a PC / Console of the same track.There are similarities. Ok you don't get any vestibular feedback but some of the PC driving sims are pretty accurate portrayals within the limitations of a 2d screen and a force feedback wheel.
Things like track positioning, the consequences getting, trail braking, lift of oversteer, getting on the gas too early wrong, wrong are reasonable accurate - ok the degree of response is toned down to make the game playable.
IIRC there was a chap a couple of years ago who was a computer rally nut who decided to give the real thing a go. His instructors were amazed at how well he did for a beginner, which he attributed to the long hours playing driving games.
I think people are being slightly unfair to the OP.
They was then time trialed on the same real life track, and I think the guy that had praticed on the console did better.
Also im sure you can learn the lines of a track via a console / PC. yes it not going to be the same, but it's going to be better than trying to learn the track for the 1st time IRL.
Even some of the new F1 drivers will learn a new track they have never raced before on a simulator.
Also would be interesting if anyone has the same car as that used in a game could compare the two.
Also in war games it can teach you if you run out in the open guns blazing your get killed.
I think the OP know's it's never going to be the same, I think he was just asking how close it is, seeing as games have got more realistic. in the old day's you did not even have to lift of the throttle in the whole game, let alone brake.
I can't get on You Tube here - but if you look for three screen set ups for Forza 2 on the Xbox 360, there is an interview with some people who did development on this, they did it in conjunction with a race driver who claims that more than one set up can be found at some of these race meetings being used by the drivers. Sorry - it was 4 screens, centre, left, right and one for the rear view.
I learnt things about weight transfer, how to handle FWD vs RWD and a few other bits and pieces from teh original GT, so, yes they are different, but taking this into account with some of the other posts above, they can definitely teach you things.
One thing they can't teach you - I practiced Silverstone on TOCA (PS1) years ago, promptly did a session at Trax, end of first lap behind the 'pace' vehicle floored my car, took another two, thought 'don't really need to slow down for the first corner' - promptly exited the track backwards at the end of the first corner - luckily coming to halt on a concrete run off, not in the gravel or worse a tyre wall! So I learnt a valuable lesson there...
I learnt things about weight transfer, how to handle FWD vs RWD and a few other bits and pieces from teh original GT, so, yes they are different, but taking this into account with some of the other posts above, they can definitely teach you things.
One thing they can't teach you - I practiced Silverstone on TOCA (PS1) years ago, promptly did a session at Trax, end of first lap behind the 'pace' vehicle floored my car, took another two, thought 'don't really need to slow down for the first corner' - promptly exited the track backwards at the end of the first corner - luckily coming to halt on a concrete run off, not in the gravel or worse a tyre wall! So I learnt a valuable lesson there...
Yes and No
You will get an idea of the correct line etc.
However, the negatives are, you get a false sense of security and so will, in all likelihood, drive faster than your skill level permits. So when you get it wrong, it'll go very wrong
Flat through craners on a game is one thing but doing it for real is a very different proposition.
That said a good sim (GTR2 for example) can HELP teach some of the instinctual behaviours when a car is outside of its normal handling envelope - think: lifting off mid corner, turning in on the brakes, getting on the throttle too early, etc.
Every TD I do (nearly always with Bookatrack - best TDO IMHO) I always book a 30 min tuition slot (only £30). It's the best money you'll ever spend.
You will get an idea of the correct line etc.
However, the negatives are, you get a false sense of security and so will, in all likelihood, drive faster than your skill level permits. So when you get it wrong, it'll go very wrong
Flat through craners on a game is one thing but doing it for real is a very different proposition.
That said a good sim (GTR2 for example) can HELP teach some of the instinctual behaviours when a car is outside of its normal handling envelope - think: lifting off mid corner, turning in on the brakes, getting on the throttle too early, etc.
Every TD I do (nearly always with Bookatrack - best TDO IMHO) I always book a 30 min tuition slot (only £30). It's the best money you'll ever spend.
Varn said:
Thank you to some for proper answers 
Others should be ashamed from non-helpful, boasting replies!
The main reason I asked was to find out if by practicing on a game (forgetting learning circuits) would it be beneficial when I attend track days?
As rhinochopig said it can help, and it's a lot cheaper.Others should be ashamed from non-helpful, boasting replies!
The main reason I asked was to find out if by practicing on a game (forgetting learning circuits) would it be beneficial when I attend track days?
Just remember you not in the game, and take it slow at 1st until you know your car's limits. Think about Difference from GT5P Std and Pro. then Take another level to RL.
But sometimes I think Pro is more skittish than RL, but in the game you push harder than in RL.
Also where pos get some RL tuition.
I do think you can learn the difference between taking the right and wrong line in a corner, also the affect of slow in fast out. in a game.
Also another thing to remember is that most Games don't have brake fade. so if you brakes start to go or get to hot, either do a few slow laps or come in.
It's some times better to do a slow lap before coming in to let the air cool the brakes. as there is not airflow to cool them once you come in.
Also you more likely to get a mechanical failure or problem IRL than in game.
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