Super Car Challenge - Play & Help Thread

mvf4 · 04-09-2009, 12:01 PM

As this is might be out today thought I'd start a thread.

Pauliezx · 04-09-2009, 12:41 PM

I had planned to buy it today, although neither my local gamestation or GAME seem to have any

Pauliezx · 07-09-2009, 1:17 PM

This really is a good drivng game, am surprised how quiet this thread is!

Stockholm · 07-09-2009, 1:50 PM

The preview thread is quite active at the moment. Here is a link to it...

Super Car Challenge - Preview Thread

Supercar Challenge is a good game. I'm having lots of fun playing it just now. The models are beautiful. As I said in that thread it's like Supercar porn.

I like how you can hire a Supercar for an individual race if you can't afford to buy it. A bit like real-life I guess!

You can also create and share your own livery for your Supercars. Good, innovative idea.

Loads more to comment on. Will do later.

Cheers

mvf4 · 09-09-2009, 6:54 PM

Well managed to get a copy from my local Asda for some strange reason it was in the value games at only £25

Only had a chance for a quick go but think am gonna crash alot

Stockholm · 09-09-2009, 7:07 PM

What are you playing it with mvf4? DS3 or a wheel and pedal system?

The Supercars aren't necessarily easy to drive, even with all the driving aids on. That's a good thing, though, as Supercars should be difficult to drive given their power and performance.

I need to get into this more but I've had fun playing it so far.

Magus · 10-09-2009, 9:22 AM

This dropped through my letterbox yesterday & knew what to expect after FC & SCC Beta. I was using a G25 and went for full Simulation mode (par from automatic gearbox) and I was faced with the frustration and the thoughts of how unplayable and 'un-fun' this game was...then my mind drifted back a year and remembered these exact same sentiments when I first played FC.

It's hard...no, it's BLOODY hard! Take off all the assists and you got yourself a uncontrollable beast that needs to be tamed & the art of taming it creates a frustrating pleasure.

It took me over 1 hour to race Monza in a DB9 to finally finish 2nd. The process was agonising with upteen restarts & me shouting all kinds of profanities at the game, the AI drivers, Mark Cale...everyone who was to blame. Then it clicked...not the track, not the handling BUT the braking as it is here that the crux of the game (IMO) has changed (from FC).

ABS at OFF means ABS OFF, you brake, forget about turning, you brake hard, expect the car to slide out. Once you figure the braking out the game begins. I had glimpses of the enjoyment I took from FC in the final hour, although the AI seem a little more crazy (for example Monza, first chicane, pile up) than in FC.

Too early to call, but signs are promising. If you liked FC, this will pose a fresh new challenge & is a step up in class & difficulty.

Pauliezx · 10-09-2009, 6:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

This dropped through my letterbox yesterday & knew what to expect after FC & SCC Beta. I was using a G25 and went for full Simulation mode (par from automatic gearbox) and I was faced with the frustration and the thoughts of how unplayable and 'un-fun' this game was...then my mind drifted back a year and remembered these exact same sentiments when I first played FC.

It's hard...no, it's BLOODY hard! Take off all the assists and you got yourself a uncontrollable beast that needs to be tamed & the art of taming it creates a frustrating pleasure.

It took me over 1 hour to race Monza in a DB9 to finally finish 2nd. The process was agonising with upteen restarts & me shouting all kinds of profanities at the game, the AI drivers, Mark Cale...everyone who was to blame. Then it clicked...not the track, not the handling BUT the braking as it is here that the crux of the game (IMO) has changed (from FC).

ABS at OFF means ABS OFF, you brake, forget about turning, you brake hard, expect the car to slide out. Once you figure the braking out the game begins. I had glimpses of the enjoyment I took from FC in the final hour, although the AI seem a little more crazy (for example Monza, first chicane, pile up) than in FC.

Too early to call, but signs are promising. If you liked FC, this will pose a fresh new challenge & is a step up in class & difficulty.

sounds like my experience too..

i really like the game but it does seem very difficult to gain places even in intermediate difficulty.

one thing i'm struggling to understand is that at the front end of the game you select your ai difficulty, yet every single player competition you can select difficulty in-game, except whatever you do, some modes stay on dynamic whatever you select! plus you go into 'arcade' mode but then you can select simulation difficulty? whats the point of choosing arcade only to make it sim settings like the sim part of the game?!

although there is some kudos in driving the cars with no aids on, i find myself asking 'why am i making this harder when surely most modern supercars have ABS and TC?! what is realistic about driving an Enzo around a track without ABS & TC when the real cars are actually using these features lol?

Dirtschmooz · 11-09-2009, 1:13 PM

Got a couple of Demo codes to redeem at the PSN store from Shortlist.com yesterday. Not gonna have time to play it so first 2 thanks and i'll PM you a code if you fancy. Will be later tonight before I get back on a PC though, so be patient

Cheers

Br0ken · 11-09-2009, 1:33 PM

Just to say in case anymore are added, the first two thanks are from Br0ken and Fastolfe

Dirtschmooz · 11-09-2009, 2:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Br0ken

Just to say in case anymore are added, the first two thanks are from Br0ken and Fastolfe

Cool. Meeting ended early so got time to PM those codes now

Fastolfe · 11-09-2009, 3:24 PM

Worked a treat!
Cheers Dirtschmooz....

gives me a chance to test this out - just picked up dirt and just need a more simy racer to complement it

Br0ken · 11-09-2009, 3:39 PM

lol i thought dirt was a sim :P

thanks again Dirtschmooz

Fastolfe · 11-09-2009, 5:19 PM

Dirt's top!

Dirtschmooz · 11-09-2009, 6:31 PM

Cheers fellas...glad the codes worked ok

raziel33 · 11-09-2009, 8:41 PM

Traded this back in today. Just had enough of it

I enjoyed Ferrari challenge but I could not get on with this at all.

Erratic AI, poor graphically and the fact that you only get 9 different Supercars is a bit of a joke.

With the amount of polish that Dirt 2 and NFS:Shift have this just had to go.

Watched a video of the Zonda in Shift yesterday and then fired SC up to see how it compared and SC Zonda cockpit looked like it was modelled for a PS2.

I appreciate the solid driving model that is in there, but I was so dissapointed today that I got rid of Ferrari Challenge too.

Shift and Dirt 2 for me.

I am glad to see that others are enjoying this though.

Nuggsy · 12-09-2009, 6:22 AM

Approx 1000 beta codes up for grabs on N4G.com as I speak.
No sign up just basic details & codes are issued instantly.

GMC79 · 12-09-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pauliezx

sounds like my experience too..

i really like the game but it does seem very difficult to gain places even in intermediate difficulty.

one thing i'm struggling to understand is that at the front end of the game you select your ai difficulty, yet every single player competition you can select difficulty in-game, except whatever you do, some modes stay on dynamic whatever you select! plus you go into 'arcade' mode but then you can select simulation difficulty? whats the point of choosing arcade only to make it sim settings like the sim part of the game?!

although there is some kudos in driving the cars with no aids on, i find myself asking 'why am i making this harder when surely most modern supercars have ABS and TC?! what is realistic about driving an Enzo around a track without ABS & TC when the real cars are actually using these features lol?

You didn't mention the Force Feedback, How does it feel? Without a demo(is there one?) im reluctant to try incase it's no good.

EDIT

Beta downloading will post thoughts on G25 play soon.

Jon Weaver · 12-09-2009, 11:58 AM

I have had the beta for a week or so now, but found it difficult with the controller and havn't gone back to it with the G25.

I just don't get why Ferrari Challenge and Super Car are just so hard... I realise that they are trying to be simulations.. But let them be just that... But I don't think that they are... Its not hard to drive a car and to be honest, its actually easier on a track.. But these games make it seems that you are piloting the space shuttle.. If anyone who can't drive got their hands on FC/SC I am sure that they would imagine that driving a REAL car is hard.

I just don't get it.. In my experiences. Both on and off the road, I have never driven a car which handles anything like the ones in FC/SC.. Perhaps when you start going flat out its a different story.. But even my mum could drive a F430 around a track at slow speed.. But try and do the same on SC/FC and you are all over the place.

It just doesn't make sense.. Personally, when there are so many other great racers, I am giving this on a miss.. WHilst I understanding that "taming the beast" would give immense satisfaction.. The time involed, for me, just doesn't seem worth it.

Jon

GMC79 · 12-09-2009, 12:17 PM

Think it's all about being gentle with controls, it's still a game and far too easy to give it too much, When in real life there's fear involved. Still gotta get used to it too, these games with wheel etc is harder than real life, no doubt about that u think it'll be 2nd nature but it isnt it still a tad odd to get used too.
My download should be done soon so will give it a try, do you have manual/clutch option?

EDIT

Download complete after 90 mins but why the hell do some updates on the ps3 require a full new download of entire content? Its just a G25 wheel update should be a small patch not another stupid long download, Ridiculous. Just wanna play it not wait all day for a stupid update. Update the download so that it's ready.

Fastolfe · 12-09-2009, 1:21 PM

I think people tend to floor the pedals/shoulder buttons in games don't they ? (much more than you would in a real car) (even if you're used to racing games and use the 'analogueness' of an accelerator i.e. don't just either accelerate flat out or nothing, there is still a tendency to have your foot fully down a lot of the time and you've got to be so gentle in this game) - if you did that in a real supercar you'd be in a wall before you knew it......perhaps if I strap my ps3 and monitor into a real db9 and hook it up to the car's drving mechanism, then pop over to spa I'd get the real feeling of a real car in a real racing game on a real track

I agree with your 'taming the beast' statement Jon - I too appreciate that in games and like to think I have tamed many beasts (grrr)

but with Dirt 2 totally grabbing me and already owning about 7 other racers not sure I need to go here. (Interested in feeling what shift is all about though)

my initial instinct was to try SC without assists..just was hard and not any fun - I realise it would be a lot of hard work(which is cool and I like that sometimes)...but, with assists on though it was still a nice challenge (even if some people think I'm cheating...ahem...say no names ... *cough* magus *cough*cough*)

gonna be seeing what shift has to offer before I decide...but right now it's all about one racer online - Dirt 2 is so much fun...

I quite liked the Supercars demo overall and if there wasn't 2 other racers (coming) out, one of which has totally got me I'd get this if friends persuaded me too...just think I won't be getting it

Quote:

Originally Posted by Magus

The process was agonising with upteen restarts & me shouting all kinds of profanities at the game, the AI drivers, Mark Cale...everyone who was to blame.

what's 'upteen' starts btw Magus???

? this is a respectable site

Jon Weaver · 12-09-2009, 1:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastolfe

I if you did that in a real supercar you'd be in a wall before you knew it....

Well.. In truth... I have had the privilage of driving an F430 around Thruxton and it did nothing like that.

Now in fairness, the 'aids' we all on (and the switch stick in place on the steering wheel to prevent you from turning them off).. BUT.. It was easy (too easy) to drive..

Even if you stamped on the throttle, the traction control never even kicked it, because the grip was just so good.. FC/SC just feels nothing like the real thing, even if you turn on the 'aids' (just like the real car).

Not only is it a problem at slow speeds, FC/SC gets to be a nightmare at speed.. Where as on the real car, I did well over 140mph and frankly could have taken my hands of the wheel it was that stable.. I truthfully think that they have tried to make it difficult deliberately!

Jon

GMC79 · 12-09-2009, 1:50 PM

Sounds like it will be difficult as FC was kinda hard. Decent but didnt really like it for some reason.
Been waiting on this updating for ages. Started initiall download of beta at about 12 pm and still not had a go yet.

Fastolfe · 12-09-2009, 2:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Weaver

I truthfully think that they have tried to make it difficult deliberately!

Jon

I agree with you Jon - this games unrealistically too hard , although I've never driven a supercar, only fuel injected street and rally cars

I think if you'd floored that car in low gears with assists off you'd have known about it
(isn't that why they lock the assists on)

- as you mention the real cars are assisted these days

Jon Weaver · 12-09-2009, 2:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastolfe

I agree with you Jon - this games unrealistically too hard , although I've never driven a supercar, only fuel injected street and rally cars

I think if you'd floored that car in low gears with assists off you'd have known about it
(isn't that why they lock the assists on)

- as you mention the real cars are assisted these days

that was my point to you magus when you first showed me your beta

I am not convinced.. If the wheels came close to spinng up and the traction control kicked in, you would have known about it!.. But I had a few goes in low gears to get the wheels spinning (And to get the traction control to kick in) and couldn't.. It just had phenominal grip and in truth, fairly disappointing low end grunt.. Now if I could have had a clutch and gear stick, it would be a MUCH different matter.. Slip the clutch a bit, get the revs up, THEN it would be a handful for sure.. But with semi-auto paddle shift, it was a pussy cat!..

Of course, I couldn't try THAT hard.. I would have been kicked out, if I had turned hard and stamped on the throttle, but the point is that it wasn't anywhere near as lively as I expected.

In contrast, I have had a couple of fairly powerful front wheel drive 'road' cars (Vectra V6, Mondeo ST200 (god I mess that car

) and a Saab 93 Turbo) and there were actually harder to drive than the Ferrari. But still didn't naturally want to go of the road if you lost concentrations.. Although saying that the Saab with its 1.9L engine and Turbo boosting the power 220bhp was a bit of a handful as it had NO 'assists' of any kind.. Driving that in the wet was interesting.. If the waste gate opened at the wrong time bringing the Turbo in, you certainly knew about it

Fastolfe · 12-09-2009, 2:50 PM

cool

so what games are you racing at the mo?
am trying to get people up for some dirt 2

Magus · 12-09-2009, 3:13 PM

I think ultimately we all need to remember it's a game & different racing games give you different things;Burnout, past NFS's, GRID, FC GT5:P/Forza, they all work at different parts of the spectrum in the same genre providing, a different kind of thrill/experience depending on handling, tracks, obstacles, etc.

In the DC days FC had a niche all of it's own & even it's arcade predecessor, it wasn't one everyone would pay to play, for these reason, it was hard, very hard. This is the exact same niche System 3 have carved out with FC following from the arcades and DC. They have now taken it a step further with SC being a class above the Ferrari F430 Challenge.

I think the 'Challenge' in the title is the key in these games as it really is a challenge 'to tame the beast'. This is not a pick up and play for fun kind of game (as Fastolfe says, DIRT 2 has hit that bang on the head (& Jon definitely worth getting with the G25, it fun, fast, easy to pick up and play & online is great!)), this is more of a painful, agonising, frustrating game that when you 'get it' and driving that car seamlessly round the track after hours/days of learning, feels so good that tops any other driving experience, for one sole reason, because you know how hard it is to do what you are doing & you are doing it flawlessly.

I guess the simulation aspect is that none of us (unless you have been racing from a young age) could get into a supercar and race around at top speed and be competitive, regardless if we have all assist on. Yet in Dirt you jump in, 1st place is easy. To get 1st here you will have to invest lost of time/frustration to earn it. The handling IS fantastic, once you do get it and the slow corners are really not an issue but you do have to be very gentle with the pedals. It's really a patient man's game, requiring a degree of dedication & expect umpteenth (

) restarts on the same track.

Well I think I'm going to give it some action now and get myself all worked up and then release my frustration by beating Fastolfe on Dirt 2

GMC79 · 12-09-2009, 6:31 PM

Personally didnt think it was too hard, had all assists off with driving line off and was doing fine, sure i was outbraking myself a bit for the 20mins i played but certainly not too bad.
Wouldnt get it tho, a bit dull.imo Only looks average too.

Pauliezx · 13-09-2009, 7:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jon Weaver

I am not convinced.. If the wheels came close to spinng up and the traction control kicked in, you would have known about it!.. But I had a few goes in low gears to get the wheels spinning (And to get the traction control to kick in) and couldn't.. It just had phenominal grip and in truth, fairly disappointing low end grunt.. Now if I could have had a clutch and gear stick, it would be a MUCH different matter.. Slip the clutch a bit, get the revs up, THEN it would be a handful for sure.. But with semi-auto paddle shift, it was a pussy cat!..

Of course, I couldn't try THAT hard.. I would have been kicked out, if I had turned hard and stamped on the throttle, but the point is that it wasn't anywhere near as lively as I expected.

In contrast, I have had a couple of fairly powerful front wheel drive 'road' cars (Vectra V6, Mondeo ST200 (god I mess that car

) and a Saab 93 Turbo) and there were actually harder to drive than the Ferrari. But still didn't naturally want to go of the road if you lost concentrations.. Although saying that the Saab with its 1.9L engine and Turbo boosting the power 220bhp was a bit of a handful as it had NO 'assists' of any kind.. Driving that in the wet was interesting.. If the waste gate opened at the wrong time bringing the Turbo in, you certainly knew about it

Interesting that you can directly compare it to a real 430, i said this before, state of the art supercars are made to be easy to drive, they are not supposed to put you all over the road.

Having said that, no doubt that racing at high speed is a pretty difficult balancing experience, if you watch any GT racing then you can see how easy it can go wrong - which is what this game is trying to re-create, high speed on the edge racing. Admittedly, somewhere in the transfer between real life handling and gaming controls, you probably lose some of the subtle control.

I'm using the G25 on this and am pretty happy with it.I found that i started enjoying this a lot more as i started adding some assists back on. From habit, i generally turn off all aids but then realised that machismo was a poor substitute for reality, because the real cars have all the technology - when was the last time you heard of a supercar without ABS? lol...okay, maybe in 1973 but not now.

Stability control really affects the car in this game so when i put that back up to 3, along with a bit of TC and some ABS, the game became a lot more enjoyable (and usable), in fact, most of the world records i've seen have all been set with those aids on.

My only real gripe with the game is how it is designed for the various events, one qualifying lap is not enough, the arcade mode is bloody difficult alays starting at the back too. career races should have had practice sessions at their events.

Lastly, i've discovered i have the online bug that originally plagued FC until they patched it - lost connection to host - i can't actually join any lobby's. This was originally something to do with short usernames not being able to join games. I'm pretty disappointed with that.

A couple of people mentioned NFS Shift, I've got my eye on that too, it looks very nice, but according to reviews, maybe not quite the same depth of gameplay

Stockholm · 13-09-2009, 2:13 PM

Yeah, I think I'm going to sell this after owning it for a week. I'm just finding it too difficult and I don't have the time to master it unfortunately.

I don't mind the time trials but racing against the AI is just too difficult for me in Arcade mode. For some reason the car - say the Ferrari Enzo - seems to handle differently in Arcade mode on, say, the Monza track in Arcade mode than it does on the Time Trial mode. It's weird and I don't really understand why it feels different and is more difficult to drive in Arcade mode because all the driving aids and Force Feedback settings are the same as they are on Time Trial mode. Why does the car drive differently with the same settings when AI drivers are on the track. Doesn't make sense but it's definitely there, I'm sure of it.

And I'm not as impressed with the graphics as I thought I was. Small thing but the menu music had to be turned off as it was really grating.

Going to use the money from this sale to try out NFS: Shift.

Glad other people are enjoying it though.

Cheers

ps Another odd thing I just remembered. I found it easier to drive the Enzo round one of the tracks with all the driving aids off than I did with them turned on to the maximum which seems contradictory. Surely the driving aids should help you stay on the track???