"Firs" official Gran Turismo App is released but not for Android...

Oh Polyphony Digital, why must you continue this way? "Firs" of all, you have a larger fan base that owns Android devices than iOS, yet you officially stated an android version is not in the making in the notes section on the bottom of your web page. "There is currently no plan to release an Android version of the app" (Source Gran-Turismo.com ). Second, you advertise this Apple App on Facebook with a banner containing an obvious spelling error, twice. Did anyone even look at the image before it was posted the first time let alone the second?

You continue to put out huge patches and updates to GT6 that mostly contain HD videos that hardly anyone cares about and would rather just watch on a stream online and not waste their PS3 hard drive space with. Important features advertised when the game was released nearly 8 months ago are still missing. Also one of the most entertaining, not to mention popular, online modes from GT5 you did not even bother to include in GT6 (Shuffle).

GT7 is already in the works, but you have not proven you deserve any positive attention..

Exciting F1 race in Hungary and I got a PS4...

Getting ahead of myself - I found a deal on a PS4 console that came with a controller, a game, 3 months PSN, and a $100 gift card for $450. Which is basically a savings of $115. Since I was going to get one before the end of the year anyways, I decided to take advantage of this deal. The game that came with it was MLB 14 - The Show, but I have no interest in baseball games so I traded it in for Killzone: Shadow Fall and a $10 gift card. Sadly there are no racing sims out for this console yet nor quality wheels that are fully supported. The first force feedback PS4 supported wheel (Thrustmaster T300 RS) is coming soon, and the first racing sim (Project CARS) is coming in November. In spite of the lacking conent, I have had a lot of fun over the past few days playing on the PS4 with the free to play games, the PS+ free games, and Killzone: Shadow Fall. One of the best features of this system is the ability to remote into the system using my PS Vita handheld console. So when my wife is watching TV, I can still game on the PS4 using the handheld screen which Sony calls remote play.

And onto the F1 race... I have to say 'Wow what a race!' The last 10 laps were what racing is all about. Three different teams battling it out for the top positions, a huge fight to the podium from starting in the pits by Hamilton... Daniel Ricciardo's second win, and even some rain.. Sure I am currently favoring Williams but I will always rather have a race like that over having my favorites do well. The people who say open wheel racing is boring need to watch that race and rethink their ideas of what open wheel circuit racing can be like. For the official F1 race report go HERE. As for now, F1 is on their summer break and won't return until August 22-24 at Spa. Hopefully we will see some more great racing and some better results from Williams.

And for me... I will have to continue getting my racing fix on the old ps3 with Grid Autosport, WRC 4, and Gran Turismo 6.. that is, if I don't keep turning on the PS4.

Formula 1 is Returning to Mexico in 2015!

Awesome news, F1 is returning to Mexico! So close to home and now another race in North America. The agreement is "concluded" but no final date is set. The track is Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (The Mexico City Circuit seen in the above picture). Read more HERE.

Hopefully I can find the time and money to make it to this event...

Oh and go Williams! Up to third in the team points standings now.

Playstation Gold Wireless Headset - Review (help racing games sound better)

So with a majority of my time playing racing games occurring during late night hours or early morning before work, I am required to wear headphones. With the lack of a headphone port on our TV, I was left rigging something up to get sound from my PS3 to a pair of headpones. The set up I have been using for quite awhile now has been OK at best.



These ragged old headphones powered by a $10 headphone amp (that lacks EQ adjustments)connected to the RCA audio out on the ps3, has served me well. Sadly I knew the flat neutral sound achieved from this setup was always lacking bass and trebble. Having used the headphones for music through my MAC I knew they could sound better and that the configuration was the problem. I also was left without a way to voice chat with other online racers... Sure I had the old ps3 camera that has a mic, but it picks up every little sound in the room, leading others understandably to mute me.



Then while searching online for PS4 console deals (will be upgrading soon to a PS4 and looking forward to ProjectCars) I came across a sale on the Playstation Gold Wireless Headset. Normally priced at $99, they were going for $69 on Groupon... so I figured it was worth a shot. Once they finally arrived and I got them charged up, I was really glad I made the purchase.

The most important part - The sound quality - it is really good for gaming. There is plenty of bass and everything comes in clear. The sounds in Grid Autosport are so much more intense. Deep throaty motors, wheels screaming, and blasting backfires... really all the sound for me is improved. I am also currently playing the Destiny Beta and it also sounds great. I tried messing with the different sound profiles you can load through the ps3/ps4 companion app (to do so you must directly connect the headset to the console with the USB cable - which the instructions fail to mention), but I found using the plain "Bass Boost" profile worked best. When trying to set the EQ myself I over did the bass and could hear distortion, and really the other sound profiles did not sound any better to me. There is a basic switch for off, 1 (flat standard EQ), and 2 (bass boost by default or the profile you uploaded from the app). There is also a built in virtual surround sound (VSS), which is on by default, but I suggest you turn it off because the sound looses depth and bass. Unless you are playing an online shooter where you want the exaggerated highs to hear the location of other players around you the sound quality diminishes with VSS on in my opinion. Give it a shot though, you may like it, and VSS is easily turned on and off by simply holding a button down on the headset for a couple seconds.

They are actually very comfortable and wireless!... once I got them fitted over my large ears, I was able to play for hours with no comfort issues. I must have played for at least 3 hours strait. They are also much better for the organisation of our entertainment center. No longer do I have the headphones, the amp, and the extra RCA cables connected to the console. The only cable needed is for charging which I hook up to the back of our Wii console. The whole setup is much cleaner looking with less clutter.

The battery life is long enough for me.. Considering I used them for multiple hours and the charge meter still showed 1/2 full, I would say that the battery lasts plenty long. Just make sure after each use you hook them up to a charging source. I have read they can also be used while charging, but I would rather not have to figure a way to do that. Thankfully the Wii always has power to it's USB ports even while off, which I have been using to charge my PS3 controllers already anyway. I am sure any generic cell phone wall adapter would work as well considering most are in the 500-1200ma range.

The mic quality is good so far..No one has said anything about the sound of my voice being weird, and that used to happen all the time when I used the USB camera/mic. When I tested my voice using the console accessory settings, it sounded fine to me. Also there is a control to adjust the volume of game sounds vs chat. So if you are not very concerned with hearing everything spoken you can fade the chat out a little, or if playing in a team based game (like Destiny) you can have the chat sound level come in a bit louder so you never miss a word. Another mic related feature of this headset is Sidetone which allows you to hear yourself talk. This works by taking sound from the mic and directly playing it back to the headset in real time so you don't naturally start talking loud to hear yourself. The idea is to recover the lost sound of your voice caused by heaving your ears covered by the headphones. I found it effective and a welcome feature but it does introduce a slight static noise. So when you are not chatting just hit the mute button and the static will be gone.

Compatibility...The Playstation Gold Wireless Headset works on PS3, PS4, (and with a driver install) MAC and PC. So these can be purchased to use on your computer as well for video chatting and gaming there. Bonus for me, they are compatible with PS4 so I will be set when I upgrade. One thing is, you will need a PS3 or PS4 if you want to change the EQ or load a sound profile as the app has not been released for MAC or Windows.

A few minor complaints...
Having to use the USB dongle.. this is more a complaint about the PS3 and PS4 consoles, the newest ones only have 2 USB ports.. so space is limited. When using items like headphones and wheels, you do not want to split off too many USB ports as the signal quality can be compromised. Though there are good USB hubs out there that could handle it no problem, I would just rather not bother. Plus if you lose the dongle, the headset becomes almost worthless, so I just keep it plugged into my console.

The profiles in the companion app don't explain much.. they don't show you what their EQ setting is, otherwise you could use them as a starting point and adjust from there. They also do not reference the VSS and if the profile is intended to be used with it. With VSS on, the EQ settings should be different, at least I would think so. Like I said before, with VSS on there is less bass with exaggerated treble and that could be because I am using the wrong profile perhaps? After about 3 different profiles and 1 failed attempt at a custom setting, I uploaded the bass boost standard that was the default for position 2 on the switch. So if you don't want to play with the companion app, you can just set the switch to 2, turn off VSS, and forget it.

The included USB cable is, for the lack of better words, stupid short! This was the first thing I changed out.. even to use it for a charge cable you must have the headset right next to the USB port. Not sure how such a short cable really saved Sony any money.. but this is not a major problem as micro USB cables can be found cheap and likely, if you have been using android phones, you have an extra one lying around.

Overall, Sony has produced a good quality headset at a competitive price point. Soon there will be more sound profiles for games and custom side plates to change the look if you so desire. So if you are looking for a new headset for your PS3 or PS4 be sure to take a look at the Playstation Gold Wireless Headset.

Grid Autosport Review (PS3) - 7/15/2014

Now that I have been playing for a week, it was time to give the game a proper review. I won't be getting into any type of story telling, but this game is fun online and off because out right, Codemasters did well on Grid Autosport. There are no pictures or video in my review, you can find plenty of that on the interwebs.

Pros:
Lots of cars and different classes - there are plenty of different cars (even a classic mini) and with recently announced DLC there are more on the way. Plenty of content to enjoy offline in single player, and if you want to jump right in to online racing, loaner cars are available in all classes and car types, so you are never left out.

Lots of different tracks - Circuits (with different routes)and City courses (not my favorite but still fun) all well designed. Looks like there might be drag strips with future DLC.

Great AI - these guys are fast and fun to race against with adjustable difficulty. OK sometimes they can get a bit crazy and rough but that is better than dull lifeless AI (::cough:: GT6 ::cough::) So the offline career is great fun.

Having Practice - that you can also skip or use all of it, and it has a time limit so you don't spend too long. Gives you long enough to tune your car, change options, and get a feel for the track if it is new to you.

Having Qualifying - This is good, being able to run a few hard laps and improve your starting position, and get an idea of how fast or slow you are vs the AI.

The sound - The engines sound good, the voice over is good, the tire noises are good. Well done except for when the sound glitches. Does not happen very often but sometimes the motor sound is completely gone for a full race.

Different view options - Having all the different driver views is always good, and this game takes it one step further allowing you to remove the steering wheel animation in the game. Why do you want to see your hand and gaming wheel and then another set on the display? I find that distracting and has always led me to use a different camera view. Well done!

Race Clubs - Not into creating your own livery? Want an easy way to find like minded races to race with? Then these race clubs are for you. You can check who is online racing and join them easily.

Racenet - This is not new for this game or managed by it either. It is a website based tool. The support Codemasters has added for Grid Autosport is very nice. It adds a weekly set of challenges to earn money and xp. Also you can compare yourself in online leader boards, check race club info, and review stats. Racenet is also the tool used to apply for and join those race clubs.

Custom Liveries - Though the customization is no where near the levels of Forza, this is still a nice feature. It allows you to change how your car looks and elect different sponsors for rewards. If you manage a race clubs you can create one for it as well, but players have the choice to use the clubs or their own on any car in their garage.

Wheel Support - Lots of different wheels are supported and the DFGT (which I have) works great. At first I did not like the force feedback but once I got my settings dialed in and got the feel for the game, I really like the way it feels and responds to what the car is doing.

Cons: Take in mind, none of these out weigh the pros..

No working mirrors - My biggest issue with the game - The mirrors don't show cars.. and when you use the bonnet cam there is not even a virtual mirror.. Really? mirrors in racing games are basic and should be a given. Codemasters really dropped the ball on this one. It wouldn't be all so bad if the indicator letting you know a car was close by worked really well, but it does not. I often find out a car is there because I turn in on it or it bumps me. - They plan to update this for the PC version and add working mirrors and a virtual mirror - I really hope this comes to PS3 as well. Update - an employee of Codemasters who frequents the GTPlanet forums has stated they will not be adding mirrors to the PS3 or Xbox360 version.. BUMMER!

No text chat while online - This is a.. well yeah it is also a bummer. I often play online late at night wearing headphones and don't want to talk as my voice carries. Shhhhhh... the wife is sleeping. Consoles can use keyboards and have chat pads.. people like to text chat so why not let them?

No wall or board for race clubs to communicate on - so just like the lack of text chat.. you have to go in game and put on a mic to communicate with your race club unless they have a forum. This is why I joined the GTPlanet race club as they have a very active forum for all popular racing games.

Limited garage space for cars purchased for online racing - No idea why Codemasters did this... you can add more slots by buying them but I do believe the max number of spaces is less than the total number of cars possible to own. Not that I will get that deep into it but there are those out there that will and why limit your biggest fans?

No shift light - Not sure why this is left our either. Shift lights are simple to program, considering they already have a tachometer, and take little to no resources. Since there are a lot of different cars with different RPM ranges and sounds, having that simple indicator light that comes on when you are at the ideal shift point for straight line full throttle acceleration helps. If you watch any real life motorsports or participate in any, you will see them in all different forms.

Conclusion - Well it is really early in the games life, but I can say Codemasters has done a good job creating a fun challenging racing game, with good visuals, and sound. All this will keep racing game fans happily busy for quite some time. I just really wish they would add working mirrors to the ps3 version, when basics like that are missing I am not likely to fork over more money for DLC or pre-order their next racing game. Grid Autosport is still worth the $50 it cost at launch and fans will get their money's worth for sure. Anyways, I don't have any type of rating system but will tell you to go buy it, grab a beer 6 pack (if you are old enough) and enjoy!

24 hour of LeMons - Thunderhill - Sept 2014 - Vodden the Hell Are We Doing?

Ann Arbor MI -- Today Car and Driver reported that Colin Craft, against the advice of mental-health professionals, will compete in the 24 Hours of LeMons -- a wheel-to-wheel car race for heaps that cost $500 or less. Craft's team -- the unpromisingly named "idioti curse o masina pentru idioti" -- hits your local track on 09/13/2014 to 09/14/2014, where therapists and junkyard operators are already standing by. 

One relative, on condition of anonymity, described Craft's family as "...saddened but unsurprised" by the news. "Unfortunately, we've come to expect such lapses in judgment," the source told C/D.

Friends, coworkes, and relatives interested in staging an intervention and/or watching Craft do something incredibly embarrassing can find more information at Car and Driver's LeMons minisite or LeMons' race-info page.

Yes you read that right.. I will be joining up with a different team for my next 24 hour of LeMons race. It will be at Thunderhill Raceway on the new 5 mile long track September 13th-14th. The team owner and captain is none other than the famous Spank. I have not driven and wrenched for him since back in 2010 at my first LeMons race when we failed to get the Spitfire to the starting line. He was kind enough to give me some wheel time in a Citroen DS which was one of his many awesome cars. This race for me will be about fun (wrenching, driving, and partying)and I can't wait!

Picked up Grid Autosport for PS3 - Updated July 15th, 2014

Now that the wedding and honeymoon are over (which were awesome FYI).. there is more free time for car stuff, including racing games. I got my copy of Grid Autosport for PS3 and have put in a couple hours and it is good fun so far. The graphics are a bit dated but OK for the 8 year old console, the physics are more arcade like than I prefer (not as good as GT6), but the AI drivers (the in game drivers you race against) are fast and competitive which is a breath of fresh air coming from over half a year of GT6 which has the most boring AI drivers in any modern racing game I have played. Also the engine sounds are very good! (Also much better than GT6 where most cars sound like a vacuum)

Like other Codemasters games I have played in the past, it took a bit to get the wheel settings to feel right but the following seems OK for PS3 using a DFGT wheel with the touring cars and street cars (have not tried open wheel or drifting yet)...

Force feedback = On
Vibration strength = 60%
Wheel strength = 100%
Wheel weight = 70%

Steering deadzone = 0%
Steering saturation = 100%
Steering Linearity = +5
Throttle Deadzone = 0%
Throttle saturation = 100%
Brake Deadzone = 0%
Brake Saturation = 100%
Interior wheel = off
Multi-Turn = On

The way I came to these settings - I first had multi-turn off and it seemed a bit too touchy then I turned it on and it was not nearly sensitive enough. So using my awesome brain, I figured that a saturation of 50% of 900 deg would be 450 deg .. then fine tuned with +2 steering linearity. I will likely try lowering the wheel weight and fine tune the steering linearity and steering saturation a bit more while trying out the other car types, but for anyone looking for a starting point give those a shot.

Once I get more time in the game I might write more of a review, but so far so good. Can't wait to get more time on it.

Look for me playing online soon PSN = SoCaLLbeer

- Update - I have changed my wheel settings as I have found the sweet spot for me. Having the saturation so low (45%) seemed to be limiting the FFB response, so I upped the wheel saturation (65%) and increased the steering linearity to +4 to get the sensitivity correct. The game is still tons of fun, started doing the online Racenet challenges and progressed a little further in single player career with touring cars. Now that I am used to the control feel and learning the tracks, it just keeps getting better.

- Update - 2 - I have changed my wheel settings again. Increasing the wheel saturation all the way to 100% is giving me the best feel - I am not going any faster but it is more enjoyable. Been playing online more and find that I am generally slow... bottom of the leader boards for my racing clubs and generally finishing in the back of the pack. Oh well.. it is still very fun.