OK, let's see a vote. Pound-for-pound, feature-for-feature, all-things considered, what is the best overall racing simulator on the market today?

Consider everything - graphics, physics, user friendliness, realism, everything.

And not just what's best in a certain category, I mean all things considered, what's the overall best?

My own opinion?

1. The SimBin titles, all of which go in one folder and work together apparently. All my previous ones work in Race On. All things considered, it's the top title.

2. rFactor. So close with the SimBin stuff it's almost a tie. If it had real default tracks and cars instead of made up stuff that makes me have to download what I want, it might be a contender.

3. Reluctantly, I put Shift 2 Unleashed in third. I hate to do it, but it is good. But EA has already abandoned it. It can't place well if the publisher doesn't support it, so third is actually generous, but I do like it.

Caveat: That list was established without my having tried iRacing, Live for Speed, or any of the other titles you're going to mention when you object to my list. I can't speak to them if I haven't played them.

And before someone says, "GPL FOREVER!" let us face the fact that GPL is getting very long in the tooth and requires at least some buggering around to even get it to work. It's a Platinum Classic, Hall-of-Famer, but it is no longer a top title even though I love it.

AND, if there are any developers or publishers reading this, would you PLEASE include more American tracks? Especially Watkins Glen GP, short, long, and NASCAR? It's my favorite track. And don't forget Kyalami, either.

So what's yours?

Cheers!

Rick...

I think my personal favorite must be rFactor, quite simply because you can do pretty much anything in it. I can't think of many other sims where I can go from Rally hill climbs, to NASCAR, to vintage Grand Prix cars, all in the same game.

The Simbin series has more polish, but lacks variety, and the likes of netkar and iRacing have superior physics, but the lack of any AI is a let-down for somebody like me who's a little wary of taking to the track online. So overall, rFactor clinches it for me.

1. GTR2/Evo
Best overall in the categories you list. Getting long in the tooth graphics wise, but still good enough allow the suspension of disbelief necessary for a sim.

2. rFactor. At its best is the best, but in reality is a bit of a dogs breakfast due to the sheer number and inconsistency of the mods. Some are fantastic others are a bad joke and then there is the large and controversial middle.

3. GPL Forever!

rFactor (for the multiplayer and the mods), NASCAR Racing 2003 (last really good stock car sim that doesn't cost $Texas to play), Richard Burns Rally (best/only true rally sim), and of course GPL (downloaded and ran the GPLPS installer, and it was ready and working).

This raises a question for me. Does RBR work in Windows 7 64-bit?

If it does, that's my next purchase.

I love rally, have since the days of Mobil 1 Rally Championship, Michelin Rally, Colin McRae Rally, Rally Trophy, etc.

Say, now that I think of it, do any of those beloved oldies work in Windows 7 64-bit?

Any love for DIRT2? Or is too arcadey?

Thanks!

Cheers!

Rick...

Hmmm, rFactor has The Glenn NASCAR and GP, and Kyalami (covering different eras even)...both are awesome courses and a couple of my favorites.

I like rFactor. It reminds me a lot of how the MSFSs are with tons of mods so it always has legs. As said above, I can do 4X4 off roading, F1 in all it's glory, touring cars/ALMS GT or DPs at Mid Ohio, Sebring, or the Daytona road course, Porsche Cup all over Europe, Mini Coopers on mountain courses, Stock Cars at Daytona, Indy Cars at Indy...if you want to race it it's most likely available for d/l. Yeah, there are some goofy mods, but the good thing here at SimHQ is we weed out the bad and MP the good.

I suppose it's the best for me because I love online MP racing and it's what's featured here on the SimHQ servers.

Still waiting for word on rF2.

Hmmmm.....

It's a real tough choice between rF and GTR2. It all depends on the mod or track IMHO.

GTL is still a GREAT game too!

GTR Evo, Race 07, STCC does have a better feel to me.

I am a former SCCA racer and still haven't been able to find the same feel or immersion factor in any of the sims that I felt behind
the wheel of a real car. But I love racing the 60's/70's mods that I growup watching as a kid.

Yep Rick, works fine. Chunx and Chipwich are running it.

After you grab it, head here:
http://www.rallyesim.com/accueil/accueil_en.html

And here:
http://www.simhq.com/_motorsports4/motorsports_137a.html
http://www.simhq.com/_motorsports4/motorsports_138a.html
http://www.simhq.com/_motorsports4/motorsports_139a.html
http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/211/1/Richard_Burns_Rally_Reference.html

Run that Ford Focus in RSRBR 2011 and you'll be hooked.

the most popular here: rFactor

the best deal: rFactor

the best simulation of racing: iRacing

imo

Thanks Doug! Links bookmarked, RBR is my next purchase. Well, along with SBK 2011 and a few others.

I should try iRacing. But before I do, I have craptastic rural Internet. It's the only thing available out here in the middle-of-nowhere. Is there any single player/offline element at all?

Cheers!

Rick...