Racing game to learn UK tracks

[ol]

Hi,

I'm starting racing this year and there a quite a few tracks on the calendar that I haven't driven before.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend me a sim / game to learn the layouts of as many of them as possible before the races?

Requirements are -

I don't have a PC but have a pretty high spec MacBook Pro (also have a decent Hackintosh at home built to video edit, and a PS3). I'd rather something I can use the laptop with, as I work away a lot and it would be good to fill my time in the hotels during the evenings.

I have a Logitec G25 I would like to be able to use

I am racing Locosts (like a Caterham) so would like to be able to use some kind of seven type car

Tracks I'll be racing this year are;

Donnington Park
Brands Hatch (Indy)
Croft
Anglesey
Cadwell Park
Silverstone international
Snetterton

I've done Croft, Anglesey and Cadwell before so it's mainly the others.

I would consider buying a PS4 or cheap laptop to be able to use if there was nothing suitable for my current setup.

Thanks in advance

[ol]

Thanks for the replies.

Would project cars work on my MacBook if I did a duel boot and put Windows on it? It's a 2 year old 15 inch retina but obviously has no cd drive.

If so, would the G25 work with the Mac?

[ol]

MacBook specs are -

2.6GHz Intel Core i7
SSD
graphics - NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1024MB

[ol]

Just been looking into Assetto Corsa more, and that looks like it has all the tracks I need (bar Anglesey). Would that be more likely to work on my Macbook? It's really just to get the tracks ingrained into my brain and learn rough lines, so not too bothered about absolute hyper realism.

I would be happy to get a PS4 and Project cars, but I can't use my Logitec G25, which is a big issue. I don't want to just drive about with a control pad. From what I've read the G25 would work with a bootcamp macbook

[ol]

Thanks but I'm not really interested in building a PC. I'm not a gamer and it would be a waste of money as I just want it for learning tracks. I'd also need it to be portable as I live in hotels during the week.

Best idea seems to be the MacBook and G25 with Assetto Corsa

[ol]

designndrive62 said:

It is worth looking if rfactor is available on mac? not sure if it is but worth a check. if it is you can get every uk major track available for it, though some vary in quality but the ones I have used in the past are certainly servicable to learn the tracks, certainly all the ones you have mentioned are available, there are loads of caterham mods, and there is even a downloadable locost mod! (not sure how good it is though)

https://www.rfactorcentral.com/detail.cfm?ID=750%2...

It takes more setting up than the more modern sims, but gives you the biggest variety of tracks etc available. if it doesn't work with mac its minimum specs are pretty low so a mid range or cheap laptop these days should handle it easily.

Edited by designndrive62 on Wednesday 6th January 13:55

Edited by designndrive62 on Wednesday 6th January 13:55

Great! Thanks for that, I had forgotten about rfactor, it seems perfect! It's amazing that it has Locosts, I think this is the way I'll go. I'll try and do a bootcamp Windows instal on the Mac, otherwise I have an old windows laptop that might run it. Thanks

[ol]

Thanks for the suggestions but non of them work on Mac...

I'd get a PS4 and Project cars, but the PS4 doesn't support my Logitec G25 wheel.

I've tried installing a windows virtual machine on my mac, but it's not letting my instal RFactor, so that doesn't seem to me an option.

Think the only way out is to buy a windows 10 laptop just for using to run this, and get Rfactor 1 and the Locost download, and will probably get project cars for windows for more realism.

Seem annoying that none of them are mac compatible.

[ol]

This is the laptop I was looking at. Fits the spec requirements for rfactor but would it run project cars?

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/gbuk/computing/laptops/la...

If not, can anyone recommend one around that price that would run it well?

Thanks

[ol]

I've found a different laptop I can get second hand to solely run project cars and rfactor. I know very little about windows stuff and processors Etc. Would this run it well?

Screen

17.3 inch, 1366 x 366 HD

Graphics

intel HD 3000

Processor

Intel core i7 2620M @ 2.7GHz 4MB cache

2 Cores 4 threads

Memory

8 GB

Hard disk

750 GB

Battery

Battery is good

Optical drive

DVD/RW

Operating system

Windows 7 (64-bit)

Webcam

Yes

Card reader

Yes

WiFi

Yes

Extras

Power Supply, Office 2007 professional

Ports

3xUSB, USB3, LAN, VGA, HDMI


We tried to do a dual boot on the Mac but couldn't get it working. I'm not very technically minded so buying a Windows laptop will probably be the easiest...

Edited by ol on Monday 18th January 09:14

[ol]

Really? Even though this one is i7 and the other is i5? (Not that I really understand what that means!)

Would my MacBook be a better bet than either of those if I can get a duel boot on it?

Having watched a few project cars videos it does look much better graphically than rfactor...

Is there any cheap ish way to be able to run Project Cars?

[ol]

Hmm, you're probably right but I really like the G25 wheel. So annoying that they don't support it, seems crazy. The thrust master stuff looks a bit st and don't seem to have clutch / gear stick, and the G29 is pretty expensive.

Laptop would be easier as I travel a lot and means I could always take it with me...

Edited by ol on Monday 18th January 09:51

[ol]

Just to add some closure to this, I got sick of trying to bodge something together so I went and bought a PS4, Project cars and a Logitec G29. I'll try to sell my old PS3 and G25 wheel to recoup some of the costs, but it seems to be working well for now.

PS4 is a bit crap though - I had to download an update to be able to play DVDs, what's that all about?! It was a mission as I live in a hotel I had to use the connection from the managers office to do it. Then it tells me you have to pay to use the online service! I'm sure it didn't used to be what way for PS3 online when I used to do the Pistonheads Gran Turismo league thing.

Anyway, at least I now have something to practice on, even though it's missing Croft and Anglesey (both of which I've done for real anyway).

Thanks for for all the advice.

[ol]

My slightly 'Hilton hotel room rig' will have to do for now