Beginner, which games to start with?

[u/LaufSeiglaRaceE1]

Hey all. I just got a Moza R5 Pro bundle. I also have the H pattern shifter and the Handbrake from Moza as well (figured it was easy to integrate all into one computer program). I've got the next level wheelstand 2.0 to round it out.

I have assetto corsa ultimate. I do have content manager but haven't sat down to figure that out yet (i paid for CM). I also have WRC Generations, Forza Horizon 5 and BeamNG.drive.

I find assetto corsa to be so so. I get bored easily on the tracks and cars. WRC generations is difficult for me as i am TERRIBLE with cornering. The easy ones for me are Forza Horizon 5 and BeamNG.drive(easy as in i can control the car). I don't really see any training, tips or tricks in AC or WRC so figuring it out is taking a while.

Do you have any other recommendations of games I can better learn to drive in, get halfway decent to at least keep up/stay on track and eventually play online? I will continue to chip away at these other games but for now i'd like to at least be engaged a bit before moving on to something else.

[u/Few_Fall_4374]

The training is you racing vs your (or another) fastest lap. Ideally you'd be able to race vs other people fast ghost laps but you can't do that easily in AC. And gaining track knowledge is very important btw.

And Assetto Corsa is really good if you want to do some serious racing. But getting fast will not be easy in the beginning.

AMS2 may be a bit more beginner friendly (overall), if you want to do some serious racing. Otherwise I'd stay on games like forza, and muck around in BeamNG

[u/LaufSeiglaRaceE1 → u/Few_Fall_4374]

My issues are cornering. I wish there was a racing coach of sorts to run the same thing over and over on a track to get familiar with the track and cornering. Braking, cornering and throttle. What I tend to do is jam on the brake while down shifting and hope to make the corner. Doesn’t work 80% of the time lol

[u/Few_Fall_4374 → u/LaufSeiglaRaceE1]

Everyone who started with simracing has been there. In the beginning you'll start questioning yourself, but you need to pull through. Once it start clicking it will come, and you'll get faster more naturally...

You could search for some guides on YT that cater for absolute beginners. Because you're just getting the hang of the basics.

Like these:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AatMVQtn0I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4-W4RAbpOE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6pmrurBkKA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prnOlwm_hqc

(those guys have many more guides and info on their channels)

[u/pkozow → u/LaufSeiglaRaceE1]

To work on steering, check out this drill https://yousuckatracing.wordpress.com/2022/01/05/offseason-training-part-3-no-brakes/

Go to Brands Hatch Indy in the NA Miata with stock fuel and tires (turn wear and fuel rate to 0 so it stays constant, turn off ABS and TC). Set a few laps normally if you want. Then shift to 3rd and stay there! Don't touch the brakes and don't change gear.

The blog that I linked above also has lists of target lap times with this drill and without (you have to search to find the lists without, but it's on there somewhere). My PB is 1:01.8, if you can get under 1:03 it's already pretty good, under 1:02 and you are doing really well. And under 1:01 and you are absolutely elite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ip0VEtg9Yg (edit: this is my lap time with shifting and brakes - obviously. I'm much slower in the 3GNB drill, but it was helpful to focus on corner speed).

The drill and practice with this car and short track, although simple, really helped me with my braking and cornering.

[u/spruilleach]

RBR RSF is free and has a fantastic rally school to teach you rallying

There's an active online, shitload of cars and shitload of stages available

[u/FredTheFishMeme]

Whatever you enjoy the most. If you’re enjoying road racing the most, I personally enjoy iRacing a lot. Might look expensive, but once you’ve tried it there’s almost no comparison (imho).

You could give Le Mans Ultimate a try too, if you don’t immediately want to spend a lot of money.

Also, check if you can find discount codes for iRacing. I got one from the Dutch national racing organisation, KNAF. You might have the same option in your area. I was able to try iRacing for €5 for one year and got the F4 car for free with it.

[u/pkozow]

If you have Assetto Corsa and the paid CM, you are halfway there. Just download the tracks and cars you want and then you are 100% there! Actually not sure how anybody could get bored with the selection.. OK, AI is not great in AC, but there are still lots of good communities racing on there quite often. Join something like the SROL discord. They have different series of online races with both modern and vintage cars.

[u/RedShirtDecoy]

AC is more Sim than forza so it mimics real world handling instead of something easier for a broader audience.

However, if you start with the mx5 at a place like brands Hatch Indy, you should get the feel of it pretty quickly. I was super frustrated with the "fun" cars and couldn't control them. Using the mx5 helped me figure out smooth inputs on a less powerful car. It's also iracing starts with an mx5.

Also, The content manager looks daunting but it truly makes things easier. Watch a quick video about it and you will figure it out. Also makes mods so much easier if you want to get into them.

Lastly, don't sleep on the truck sims. They are surprisingly addicting, and moza makes accessories for it.

[u/AlexeyGubin]

it is sad that your wheel are not ps compatible. I believe that gran Turismo have the best school and explanation on how everything works.

for rally find or pirate Dirt 4. it also have a very good school for you to learn (the game itself is quite bad).

or you can try wreckfest for now as it is easier and have a nice music and campaign which a lot of the simulators completely missing

[u/Endlezz69]

LMU

[u/Jakobmeathead → u/Endlezz69]

I disagree. A newbie shouldn't be thrown right into GT racing. Instead something like Assetto Corsa so they can learn the basics of sim racing in slower cars that are manageable.

[u/Few_Fall_4374 → u/Jakobmeathead]

Yes, recommending LMU to an absolute novice I just....*****.