First of all, Live For Speed published just before Xmas a very nice update patch V.
This patch for me made my controller calibrate much better, and being on a higher ping on this side of the globe a better chance of joining some European races as the lag calculation done smoother.
Many details got touched up, and also we have more functions, but the thing that stands out is the sound improvement! Very nice!
See here the list of changes: Live for Speed - Patch V
STCC
Secondly STCC (Sim Touring Car Cup), came up with three servers that host LICENSED driving.... huh?
Yea, they have developed a license structure, besides the already demo and paid license in LFS and the S1 and S2 license difference in LFS.
They have put online one Copper - Bronze license server, and one Silver and Gold server, and the event server (next post more about this) they have the Platinum server in his free time.
Not only divides this the wreckers from the racers, but also puts the racers in their leagues. They have chosen some of the normal cars for the racing progress, and you start with the easy FWD (front wheel drive) little cars to do bronze and copper and for silver> and gold you get to choose a slightly bigger versions and some turbo powered RWD and FWD cars and also a 4WD (RALLY) from the LFS assorti.
Personally I really start to appreciate their car picks, as the cars mostly not even go over 200 kph, and in these cars you get more time to get your corners right and you have more time to react properly when in trouble.
Tire choice and setup becomes also allot more interesting as the pack stays closer together, and you start realizing the difference during the race more quicker. Now for me all of a sudden I start altering the camber (wheel angle) settings more then before, to suit my driving style.
The license structure is strict, and you progress slightly when finishing but the better drivers obviously progress quicker when finishing top 3 and set fast times, like fastest laps and lap records, but also the STCC server record and of course the World Records.
I progressed through the Bronze and Copper license and the cars that belong to them, and also finished my Silver license so now I am a:
I said goodbye to all the rookies and n00bs and wreckers that really piss you off with their hammer the car into the corner sideways attitude, and childish behaviors.
Now life is good.. the races are always as good as the view you had before, and now im in the gold league trying to push for platinum I realize I have to step up a notch again to gain ground, which is good tho.
The cars are new to me in this league to, and they are based on the midrange road cars, I bit more heavy to drive then the little cars before and a bit more uncontrolled in the corners, you really have to find the smooth path driving without overheating your tires to much.
With this way of progressing the races online are more and more often more intense, and the servers have a strict policy about foul play and for instance when you spin off the track you are only aloud to enter when the track is clear.
Live For Speed is:
If you have no clue what im talking about, you wouldn’t be the first.. lol
Live For Speed is IMO the best ONLINE RACING SIMULATOR out there. Its free to try the demo version (see website), and you can drive the cars im talking about for copper and bronze on one track only.
Beware when you try the demo, your in a pool with n000bs and you have to be lucky to get the racing experience you will get more often when you have the normal license for LFS.
The cars are based on cars out there, but LFS never bought the license so they made there own changes to them for the best if I may say so. They have created a pile of cars to choose from and it goes from the touringcars to a wide variety of open wheelers with the latest addition a licensed F1 car based on the BMW from Sauber (F1.06), and very fast GTR's. Also they have a list of very funny little cars.
There are many tracks with all their own versions also..
The biggest feature is the settings you can alter for your car, and it goes way beyond the tire brand and pressure!
LFS screenshots
Have a go.. and watch out for me.. f34Rm3 :)
WARNING: LFS is very difficult to use with keyboard only, if you have a look at the game, bare in mind the noobs and the driving if you are on the keyboard.
The best experience is with a steering wheel, but I am driving with a gamepad (Logitech Dual Action) with Z-index sticks (like the playstation controller and xbox controller). You need a device that gives you controlled power and braking, instead of plain ON or OFF.. :)