Netkar pro - why isn't it more popular?

[loebc4 0]

After trying the demo of the new version of Netkar pro, I have to say that physics-wise and immersion-wise it is at least on par with iRacing.

With regards to the tyres, it is a few steps ahead! (Flatspots and visible dirt on tyres)

My question is: Why is it such an obscure sim? A quick search of SRT videos reveals that it was last mentioned over 6 months ago, and even then they said that it needed more people playing it.

Seriously, it is brilliant, and just feels so much better and more realistic than rFactor.

The graphics and sounds are top notch, the cockpit interaction is unique, and the ffb is also at least as good as iRacings.

To top this off it is only €20. Like iRacing, it is not a game, it is a simulator.

I'm planning to buy the full version tomorrow, and think it'll be interesting to compare the quality of the online racing to iRacing. Obviously there is no safety ratings, but hopefully the realism of the physics, and the complete lack of a reset button promotes clean racing.

[RacinJasin 0]

Check out the earlier episodes of ISR (SRT?) as they pretty much explained why, it is built by just 1 guy & it's not his bread winning job and took a while for the latest patch to come out that fixed a lot of issues (came out late last year?)

[twicedead 6]

They had a major problem with malware on their mainwebsite. Google used to list it as malware site. You used to go on there and it would be blocked from being displayed. If you had Norton or mcaffe they would also not display the page. Infact Norton scan still shows 7 malicious warnings and redflags their site. Not great for people interested in their sim.

[Shaun Cole 10]

I happen to completely agree with you about Netkar and the quality of the sim. In physics like you said it can rival any other sim. The tires, again like you said amasing as well as their clutch.

The downside is the amount of people playing more then anything. It is a little light on content, but there is a gorwing list of things available.

What Netkar really needs is a media blitz, or something to draw people in. Fill up some race rooms and people will be dying for another race on that platform.

[sapam 0]

Due to non popularity of netKar compared to other sims in market I never bothered to try it until recently.

Last week I tried the Demo and all my doubts blew out of the window.

Despite the current drawbacks we hear about it, I went ahead and Purchased the License.

This sim is a Blast!!!! I am hoping its online community will grow better, and will see more happening with netKar Pro

To summarize this sim has the best physics and tyre model I have seen so far.

And despite its few drawbacks currently, its worth the try and every penny spend on buying its license.

Regards,

Sapam

[starfox550 0]

They have a leauge going here I think

[Redblurr 0]

This is the only sim that I now play - I have played them all. If you want realism and challenges then this is for you at very little cost. Regarding leagues there is only one, GPC Championship of which I am part.

There are rumours of a big update coming soon. The reason people might keep away is it is too difficult or simply too realistic. You want a challenge - join GPC there some very fast guys to test your skills against.

[starfox550 0]

This is the only sim that I now play - I have played them all. If you want realism and challenges then this is for you at very little cost. Regarding leagues there is only one, GPC Championship of which I am part.

There are rumours of a big update coming soon. The reason people might keep away is it is too difficult or simply too realistic. You want a challenge - join GPC there some very fast guys to test your skills against.

I heard this rumour too, more tracks and cars

[justasimfan 0]

Hi there ! I just recently played the recent test version of the game after many years of not following netcar's pro development.

To be quite honest this game has the best feeling of any other simulation i have played.It goes as far as physics and wheel/tire feeling circles around other games like iracing and and even the almighty lfs.

The infamous "flatspots" and the accumulating visible dirt on tires do an incredible job to improve the feeling.

Also it has the best sound effects on a racing game.period.Even gtr evo/race on that has great sound is miles behind netkar's sound...

Also the mechanical damage is very very good-the visual not so.

Yet at the same time i was very disappointed about other parts of this game and probably that's why not many people

are playing it.

Graphics are decent but nothing special-no 3d hand/driver animations(like in gtr evo/race on,lfs),no real time lighting (like in gtr evo/race on,rfactor),no bloom/hdr effects(Ok no other sims have it as standard-through there is a plugging for both gtr evo/race on and rfactor) and also there are no 3d animated spectators/crews.No grass either...

And there is a very small open wheeler only selection of cars with very few tracks...(As for tracks there are a few very nice user made tracks and there is even a online championship (gpc) that races on these tracks so its not so bad after all)

But still for people that are not that much into open wheelers and prefer normal cars,they are out of luck....(well there is the abbarth but comme on that's the last thing i would ever want to drive...)

Also a lot of people were expecting that FVA(Ferrari Virtual Academy) was a promotion title with a "full season" comming to netkar but in the end FVA was a seperate title....(Through some improvements were made with full hand/driver animations and some better physics view )

To close my rant...Netkar has a lot of potential if only more people embrace it and it gets some long time needed improvements.

[FoxZero 0]

I just pulled the trigger on a license. Thankfully all of the other cars are more fun to drive than Formula 1600. Even the Abarth is quite fun. Force feedback is incredible; each car has a distinct fell. I'm glad I passed on the Race series and bought this instead. I can't wait for the hill climb course!

In all fairness I bought this to hold me other until my converter box arrives so I can play GT5 on my old PC monitor. If a bunch of sim rookies want to get together online do let me know.

[Tomo 0]

I asked SimRacing what is the best simulation, and Darin told me to try GTR, iRacing, rFactor.... and NetKar pro.

I have tryed all simulation exept rFactor and iRacing and NetKar pro.

So normaly i have downloaded the demo of NetKar pro. And when i started it was quite primitive... Menus, Configurations bla bla. But when i started to play this game i was blown away. Its just so good. Little mistake and racing for you is over. I needed some time to get use to realism. Its just so good. You can feel the car, sliding skipping, i also done the test with tires wearing off, and you can feel how they are loosing grip.

Sounds are good too. I have 5.1 surround system and i can hear when someone is coming from back or going past me.

Graphics are not so good, but the gameplay just irons everything.

Cole said that this Sim needs more "media blitz" and he is right.

They need to put more cars ( tourng BMW, Audi, Ope, Mercedes... ) and "Green Hell"

All in all grate sim!

[FoxZero 0]

Well at least it's using Direct X 9, LFS is still 8.1 and it shows despite the relatively good textures. I think the sim looks decent. If you start picking out minor details... drive faster

If you feel a shortage of tracks check this page,

http://www.gpchampionship.com/phpBB3/vi ... f=5&t=6531

I couldn't be happier with the Monaco course. It gets interesting seeing how each car handles a series of viscous bumps. I love taking the KS2 on High Speed Ring. Now I just need someone to remake Trial Mountain for me, my favorite fantasy course

[Qusso 4]

Good question , actually never heard of it till KS2 top sim car review by ISR , installed the demo and I think its way better than even rFactor , awesome stuff ( havent try iracing yet ) I think its best sim I ever turn on

[FoxZero 0]

The KS2 is awesome, so much torque! You really get a sense of how good the tire model is when you start spinning the tires or peeling out.

I got lost in the demo myself and got the sim as an impulse buy after I saw the imported tracks. Much more content now!

[Spuggee 0]

I absolutely love this game!!! I had the demo on my Mac for several months before purchasing the full license and loved every minute of it, Then when the 1.3 update was released I thought sod it!! Only cost me £12.90 and its the best money I've ever spent.

The game comes alive when unlocked, and I thought the demo was fun!!! Just wish I'd done it months ago!! lol

Can't recommend this game enough

[FoxZero 0]

It's funny how you call it a game. Kunos has mentioned multiple times that he's designing things from a gamers perspective; for example this is why there is no "crash and your out" mechanics. He wants to give players a chance to make it to the pits and finish the race. Also mouse and keyboard players have access to traction control and ABS, so they pose a threat online (and they set records too). He wants to get gamers into hardcore simracing, I think I like his approach better than GT5's.

Still, it should have more comparability.

[maranello55 2]

Cant agree more with u guys here. Tried the demo today (I dunno wuts keeping me all these years) and loved it especially the physics n ffb fidelity. Very2 close to iracing.

In iracing, u have this time mid corner when u have to decide wether to push it, or to save it on the exit. In netkar, u can do the same. In rfactor, this is wuts lacking.

Looking forward to drive the ks2 soon.

[marosgt3 4]

Oh my. The actual game is better than demo. I can see now why more people don't play it. Terrible car/wheather choice for a demo.