Project CARS on PC before launch

Driftwood
Monday, May 4, 2015 | 12:00 AM
32 comments

Video PC PS4 Xbox One Wii U

To prepare the release of Project CARS, we ran a few tests on the PC version version during the week end. We started with two quick sessions on the Nordschleife and Cadwell Park (one lap each) and then tried to see how our "modest" overclocked i5 handled Brands Hatch and Watkins Glen with lots of AI and bad weather. We picked four weather slots in the option menu (thunderstorm, light rain, medium clouds and clear) that we used for all races, our position on the grid being different each time. We also chose the real driving aids, which basically means that every car we drove had the same asssists as its real life counterpart. That's why the Lotus 78 Cosworth gave us a hard time when using the clutch and accelerating right after. The videos were recorded with our Fanatec wheel (Porsche 911 Turbo S) and accelerated weather (which might explain the few bugs you'll see).

Graphics settings on Nordschleife and Cadwell:
DSR 1440p
MSAA
SMAA : high
Reflections : high
Environment map : high
Car detail : ultra
Track detail : ultra
Shadow detail : high
Motion blur : high
Rendered frame : 1
Detailed grass : ultra
Particle level : high
Particle density : ultra
Stretched headlights reflections : Yes

Graphics settins on Brands Hatch and Watkins Glen:

DSR 1440p
MSAA
SMAA : élevé
Reflections : élevé
Environment map : high
Car detail : ultra
Track detail : ultra
Shadow detail : high
Motion blur : high
Rendered frame : 1
Particle level : high
Particle density : high
Stretched headlights reflections : Yes

Brands Hatch 1: 25 AI and detailed grass set to high
Brands Hatch 2: 25 AI and detailed grass set to medium
Brands Hatch 3: 25 AI and detailed grass off
Brands Hatch 4: 20 AI and detailed grass set to ultra

Watins Glen
First race: 20 AI and detailed grass set to ultra
Second race: 42 AI and detailed grass set to high

High quality stream and download

Commented on 2015-05-04 00:59:50

game is looking very good

In reply to

aphex187

Commented on 2015-05-04 01:49:25

I'll know that Cadwell Park track like the back of my hand as my old man used to race superbikes there in the 80's (and 70's).

crookedmind

Commented on 2015-05-04 07:55:01

Great videos.
Just out of curiosity, why do you put motion blur on high? or on... for that matter.

HardRock

Commented on 2015-05-04 09:57:05 In reply to crookedmind

Personally I think motion blur is really well done in Project CARS and I say that as someone who disables it the first chance he gets in other games. I've also found that it makes the game look more natural and also helps with the feeling of speed.

As for the low to high settings, they don't decrease or increase the amount of blur in my experience, but adjust the quality of the effect.

Commented on 2015-05-04 12:17:43

If it makes the game look better, that's cool. I was just curious, because their hardware to record and play can surely support the extra rendering without the fullscreen filter.

This message and account have been deleted at the user's request

joepineapples

Commented on 2015-05-04 14:37:57

and full system specs.

AnthonM2

Commented on 2015-05-04 14:47:29

Is it confirmed there's no soundtrack in this game?

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:05:59

The highest settings are meant to stress current high-end systems, especially if you turn up AA as well. The gains in graphics on Ultra detail are minimal compared to High, but the framerate hit is considerable.

AnthonM2: There's music in the menus, but not while you're driving or watching a replay.

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:15:49 In reply to HardRock

Thanks, the menus are more important than the game for this dev, they should hire Barry Leitch for in game music, it's ok one game to forget.

GriftGFX

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:25:16 In reply to AnthonM2

Posted by AnthonM2

the menus are more important than the game for this dev

Or maybe the gameplay was more important than a soundtrack?

Plus.. it's a sim. These cars don't have stereos ;)

bleachedsmiles

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:26:14

Spotify app works really well on ps4...I often listen to that now whilst playing driveclub (driveclub's music is so bad that they have the volume completely down for it by default - you'll think it only has menu music till you look in the options). If I pick this up i'll just do the same.

The PS4 game's already getting streamed in the broadcast room...Not seen it with rain, night, and aload of cars yet, so don't know how the framerate holds up...but what I have seen looked pretty decent, with decent enough loading times. Will wait for the reviews.

Drali

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:27:23

http://nfssoundtrack.com/cars/

Driftwood

Commented on 2015-05-04 15:31:27 In reply to joepineapples

Posted by droezelke

So, what were the results of the tests???

In the videos, why do you think we left Mirilis Action? :)

Posted by joepineapples

Always the same when I'm the one making the videos. See my signature if you're new to the website.

Commented on 2015-05-04 17:36:09 In reply to AnthonM2

If the music is your primary concern then this isn't the game for you I'm afraid. Project CARS is about authentic racing, where drivers don't listen to music, they concentrate on staying on the road while pushing the cars as far as they go. Like the others mentioned, you can listen to your own music on all platforms nowadays. Licensing music would have meant that the relatively small budget of the project would have been wasted on something that's not integral to racing at all.

MrWhite

Commented on 2015-05-04 20:33:13

With this and Dirt, looks like I'm going to have to buy a good wheel soon.

Commented on 2015-05-04 21:44:00

Yes it was the point.

boogayman

Commented on 2015-05-04 22:14:42

Driveclub is still the best looking racing game! This one looks decent but nowhere near Driveclub.

Commented on 2015-05-04 22:34:37 In reply to boogayman

Which runs at 30 fps and does not have that complex a physics engine. Can't always have the best of both worlds you know. :)

SheikYerbouti3

Commented on 2015-05-05 00:05:46

Not to mention 40+ cars even on PS4 and XB1 ^^

Commented on 2015-05-05 02:30:03 In reply to boogayman

Posted by boogayman

Cause graphics are absolutely everything in a racing/sim.

Youd swear these days that visuals are all that matters to people when making their minds up to purchase a game or not. It's not even as if there's any real noticeable difference. The game looks amazing for what it is.

Xoar

Commented on 2015-05-05 02:52:38

Is it me or are Driveclub fans just the worst?

Does not matter where you go or what game people are talking about they'l always bring up DC up and they always tell you amazing Driveclub plays...I mean looks ;)

Commented on 2015-05-05 03:51:19 In reply to MrWhite

You realise you're saying this under a list of graphics settings?

TBH I reckon graphics should be more important for sims than other genre's

And visuals are the only thing separating this generation from the last really so far...so you can't really blame gamers for placing more importance on them

Project CARS on PC before launch

Nordschleife - Pagani Huayra

Cadwell Park - Lotus 78 Cosworth

Brands Hatch #1

Brands Hatch #2

Brands Hatch #3

Brands Hatch #4

Watkins Glen

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