|
Post by dimitrikhoz on Apr 27, 2011 15:16:16 GMT
Everyone knows that EA did not elaborate much about how different tuning options affect overall car performance. Therefore, some of us just use trial-error method while tuning our cars in the game. While browsing web I found a self-proclaimed "The Most Complete Racing Car Chassis Setup Tutorial Guide Available Today". At the beginning, I thought it is a kind of a joke, but after detailed reading of this guide I realized that it is ONE OF THE BEST TUNING GUIDES I HAVE EVER RED ONLINE, kinda Handbook for Pro Drivers: www.racelinecentral.com/RacingSetupGuide.htmlP.S.> NASCAR is one of most demanding race diciplines in the world. Most of the cars have the same technology, most of the tracks are just ovals, the only difference that can lead to the victory is drivers stamina and the right tune
|
|
|
Post by dimitrikhoz on Apr 27, 2011 17:51:51 GMT
Just to give you a basic idea, an example about CAMBER SETUPs: "Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel at the top of the tire. Negative camber is the tilt of the top of the tire towards the center of the vehicle. Positive camber is the tilt of the top of the tire away from the center of the vehicle. Camber adjustments are utilized to help maintain the maximum grip allowable from the surface of the tire through the corners of the track. Proper camber adjustments are very critical for achieving maximum cornering speeds. ...Keep in mind that adjusting one part of the car & not readjusting camber could be throwing off your original adjustment. Your times are slower after the spring change & you give up on that spring change because it made you slower. Maybe it wasn't the spring change that made you slower it was your camber being off that made you slower. Did you go faster after making the spring change? No. Did you go faster after making the spring change & camber change? Ah there ya go . "
|
|
|
Post by rcgldr on Apr 28, 2011 1:15:59 GMT
Some of that stuff doesn't apply well to Shift 2 or other racing games, because of the way physics is incorporated into that game. Other than autocross events, toe out is not used on real race cars, and not in most racing games. The other main exception for racing games is Grand Prix Legends, where using toe out on the front end helped improve stability under heavy braking due to an induced understeer effect, without making the cars unstable at high speeds on straight lines. This was an exploit of a weakness in the physics of GPL, and not based on realistic physics.
I'm not sure of the pros and cons for overall stiffness in the suspension, other than it reduces pitch and roll effects related to acceleration, braking, and cornering. The springs control both pitch and roll, but sway bars are used in addition to give additional roll control. The shock have to provide enough dampening to prevent oscillations from the springs and roll bars.
Depending on suspension geometry, camber is affected by body roll, so it needs to be adjusted if the springs and/or roll bars are adjusted. You want nearly even temperature across a tire on a non-downforce car, and higher temperatures on the inside for a high downforce car, and camber is used to even out the temperatures. Tire pressure controls the center versus outer edge temperature, but in real life, tire pressures are also used to control understeer / oversteer in cars in addition to suspension adjustments.
Considering I've tried some fairly extreme changes in tire pressures with little change in lap times, I'm not sure how sensitive the physics in Shift 2 are to setup parameters, other than downforce and gearing.
I don't know which if any cars in Shift 2 have a Salisbury like differential, where the power and coast side locking rates can be set independently. I've spent most of my time messing with the works LP640 which doesn't have this type of differential.
|
|
|
Post by dimitrikhoz on Apr 28, 2011 2:19:12 GMT
I'm not sure how sensitive the physics in Shift 2 are to setup parameters, other than downforce and gearing. Thx for your feedback, Rcgldr. You are right, it is as good as not sensitive to them at all, (I remember in ProStreet and to lesser extent in Shift1 proper tire pressures changed a lot in terms of top speed/acceleration/cornering speed) but there is one important parameter you did not mention - ride height, as I already said in the post about "Shift 2 recommend cars and setups".
|
|
|
Post by rcgldr on Apr 28, 2011 4:56:55 GMT
but there is one important parameter you did not mention - ride height. True, I forgot about that. I'm not sure how much effect it has in Shift 2. Lower should be better until you start hitting the bump stops.
|
|
|
Post by dimitrikhoz on Jun 10, 2011 1:27:23 GMT
Lol, I was browsing nogrip forum today and found this link: spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhSvQ5a248HTdGVfYTRLNnVBZUQ4RzV1U3U4VkEzS0E&hl=en_US&authkey=CMvRv4QM#gid=0I do not know who did it, and why he/she did it, but it looks like an ultimate blueprint collection for the London River track, for class A,B, and sometimes C, with comparative laptimes achieved. Question from me: Are those times done with or without wallride? I have no idea, but this link looks like a great treasure for players who are new to the Shift2. These blueprints can significantly improve car handling and speed comparing to the stock/reference car setups suggested by the game. [edited] P.S.> I found the creator of the spreadsheet: it is gregp, guy from gtplanet forum. And the tuner/tester was famous Terronium-12.
|
|
|
Post by Grnkjr0 on Jun 10, 2011 1:45:09 GMT
There is no such thing as an ultimate tuning guide. If it had been a guide for suggested parts in each class, then it could be useful. Every tuning needs to be track specific and specific to the in game settings you use. Then there is a difference whether you use a pad or wheel and again whether you use something like Logitech´s profiler and settings in there.
It is absolutely useless...and I looked at that tuning guide and not once does he use full brake pressure, which is strange since that gives you the best braking distance.
My suggestion to those newbies into Shift 2, would be go practice and test yourselves. Then come back and compare lap times and try to find some videos on Youtube - to see how others are racing that particular track - then go look for tuning guides written by someone using the same controller.
Poul
|
|
|
Post by dimitrikhoz on Jun 10, 2011 3:56:48 GMT
Completely agree with you, Poul, except for one small point.
This guide is not absolutely useless. There are folks who have zero idea how to tune and zero time to learn it on their own (it is confirmed by multiple positive feedbacks on that forum).
Those Guys will just apply settings from the file; and they will instantly shave a couple of seconds per lap. Then, if they decide to start testing, they will have a better general idea and better starting point of how tuning works.
I know, Terronium's name is not on the top of Speedwalls, but he helped many racers to improve their times.
|
|