Should You Go for Sim Racing? Is It Worth the Investment?

For some, Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy, and Warcraft/DOTA are a way of life, and for others, they are nothing more than fantasy games. This shows just how subjective the world of gaming is. However, the niche has some very committed followers when it comes to simulation games. From ARMA 3 to Digital Combat Simulator (DSC), several hyper-realistic sims let you do what you truly love.

Then, there is sim racing – a niche that is an experience of a lifetime and easy to learn. But is sim racing worth it? Is the experience anything like the real thing? Instead of spending thousands of dollars on sim equipment, would you be better off spending the same on track days?

The answer depends on what you are trying to achieve. Setting up the sim and getting good at it may take some getting used to, but it is a long-term solution for your need for speed. But if you are looking for a monetary return on investment, it may be a long time coming.

Let’s take a closer look at racing sims, things you will need to keep in mind when setting them up, and if they are worth it.

Is Sim Racing Worth It?

For sim racing, you will need a PC capable of running your favorite one smoothly, a rig to give you that ‘simulation’ experience, and a pair of virtual reality glasses. All of this may end up being rather cost-effective.

But the experience gives you a lot to learn, regardless. If this is your first time with a racing sim, you will definitely find yourself learning a lot about racecraft. It is not comparable to real-life experience, but it is the next best thing, regardless. Remember, going on the track in real life and getting to race there may end up costing you more for the day than what the entire sim and its equipment may cost you!

For the question of whether sim racing is worth it or not, you get what you put in. Your investment isn’t just limited to the money you pour in, mind you, but also extends to your patients, time, and dedication.

The Realism in Sim Racing

The popularity of sim racing is increasing with the prevalence of VR. Home computer racing simulators focus more on racing physics than ever, effectively giving users a ‘hyper-realistic’ experience. Of course, some options allow more casual users to have fun; these options need to be turned off for the real experience.

Why?

Because people using a keyboard or an Xbox/PlayStation controller don’t want to deal with a clutch or other hyper-realistic elements that they don’t have to worry about during their everyday drive. So, racing sims introduced Driver Assists to avoid this realism turning people away. This is for those who want a video game that is easy to learn and play, such as Need for Speed games. Gran Turismo, DiRT, Forza Motorsports, and Assetto Corsa (a personal favorite) are prime examples of sims that have these assists.

These Sim Racing Driver Assists include:

  • Suggested line
  • Braking assist
    • Assisted breaking
    • ABS on/off
  • Steering
    • Damping and steering speed assistance
  • Traction Control
    • TCS/TCR
  • Stability Control (STM)
  • Shifting
    • Automatic
    • Manual
    • Manual with clutch
  • Damage
  • Fuel
  • Tire wear, and
  • Friction assist.

True sim-racing is not something that you can do with your keyboard or controller, no matter how hard you try, and frankly, it requires a unique obsession with racing. Today, as VR and sim-racing equipment become more mainstream, the prevalence of sim-racing is also increasing.

It certainly costs a lot less than repeated accidents on the track – especially on a Hennessey Venom GT – and will hurt less as well.

Us noobs often have one question in mind when investing in sim racing equipment; is sim racing worth it?

It is most definitely better than going out in real life and learning on the track, but seeing how hyper-realism has now become the norm in most sims, such as Assetto Corsa, rFactor, and Ride (motorcycle sim), it makes sense to go with these sims first. Of course, it has its limitations – things that you wouldn’t care for or about in real life.

Let’s take a brief look at these factors.

Choosing A Racing Sim That Is Worth It

Choosing the right racing sim is just as important, if not more, than choosing the right gear. With your racing sim equipment, you can always go for Need for Speed of Forza Horizon, but that’s not how you get to ‘learn’ from the sim. It would be like playing Ace Combat with a rig that you can use for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Remember, a racing simulation doesn’t necessarily have to be a ‘game.’ It is an experience and what you make of that experience. The goal is realism. The base version of Assetto Corsa, for example, is considered one of the most realistic racing sims out there, but it doesn’t have a real main mission, per se.

And while every simulation has its issues, Assetto Corsa is that sometimes its AI can get quite haphazard. Many players use this exploit in head-to-head PvP battles where AI is also involved.

When choosing a racing sim, don’t look for missions but realism. The more realistic the game is, the more grinding it will be and more fun. You will start having fun as you learn the track, improve general driving skills, react to AI, and immerse in the sim.

And what would be the peak point of the fun you can have in a sim?

When you win your first race, in sim-racing, you have only two fears; your AI opponents and your friends or family in real life, disturbing you and kicking your concentration out the door. While this means that you won’t find an oil spill or an empty water bottle thrown by a spectator in the middle of the road during the race, it also means that when you eventually conquer these two together, your investment will be well worth it.

You’ll Have to Ditch The Controller, & That Will Cost You…

Your hardware is another very important consideration when playing a sim. You can no longer use your controller – you need a better sense of how much power you will give, when, and where. The only way to do this is via a wheel and pedals – a gear shift, if possible.

The budget may be a primary issue here. Logitech’s G-series or Thrustmaster are great startup gears to go for, but as you get better and understand that you are having fun, we recommend you upgrade to better, more reliable equipment. These are called rigs and have robotized motions to stimulate the g-force you will feel. SimXperience’s Stage 5 is one of the most prevalent and widely used examples.

Using VR – Where Do You Think You Are Going?

And ultimately, to truly make your sim worth it, you need to find a way to see where you are going. VR glasses with eye-tracking capabilities are standard for this, but they may be quite costly. Oculus Rift is one of the most commonly used eye-gear for sim racing – and will take your sim-racing experience to the next level.

All this may be dizzying, but at the end of the day, with the right equipment and the right sim, sim racing is worth it, especially once you get better at the turns!