It can be daunting for a complete novice to start turning competitive laps in a bonafide simulator. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for many to struggle to keep the car in control when driving close to the limit.
Advanced racing simulators, such as iRacing and Assetto Corsa, accurately simulate the handling characteristics of real-life race cars, programmed with actual data and with advanced handling models.
There’s a downside to this realism. Hardcore simulators can have a steep learning curve, which makes it difficult for the rank amateur to actually enjoy driving in a racing simulator. This is also why you can find so many good deals on decent force feedback wheels online – many buy comprehensive setups, then offload them when there’s little enjoyment as they continue to struggle piecing a lap together.
But there’s a solution. Or more accurately, a more gentle introduction to the virtual world of performance driving. And their pervasiveness only became more prevalent within the past half a decade.
What Is a Simcade?
The term itself is an amalgamation of the words ‘Simulator’ and ‘Arcade’. Racing titles fall on a spectrum, with proper simulators on one end, and arcade titles such as Maximum Tune and Need for Speed on the other.
Where the former focuses on recreating real-life car behaviours in a virtual space, the latter titles opt to take creative liberties with the laws of physics, enhancing the playability with little regard for car behaviour. Simcade titles fall somewhere in the middle. They strike a balance between realism, and still preserve what makes a game fun-to-play with for the newbie.
Not All Simcades Are Created Equal
And even within this subcategory itself, are there subtle differences between the ethos of the titles. The F1 franchise is a good example, with early Codemasters games focusing more on the ‘fun’ aspect than actually mimicking the actual physics of the real cars.
As the game gained popularity, and as gamers continued their cry for enhanced realism, the developers gradually started skewing their game in the direction of a simulator. It is far from perfect, but significantly more realistic than the early games.
Forza and Gran Turismo are the other two popular Simcade titles. The latter, as is true of the F1 games, continues to add realism to the platform, whereas Forza has gone the other route, releasing Arcade-style spin-offs to gain a wider player base.
So Why Should I Try a Simcade?
Well, the learning curve is far less steep. And these games still allow you to gain a rough sense of what performance driving is like. It isn’t an exact representation, but it should give you the raw fundamentals that’d allow you to build on in a proper simulator.
Also, as these games are more fun, you are likely to spend more time on them, allowing you to further develop your driving skills. Eventually, you’d reach a stage where you can drive with all the assists off in these titles, which would then put you in the best shape for driving in a proper simulator title.
This article has been written in collaboration with the kind folks at Sim Racing Association Singapore. There’s more to come with this partnership, so do stay tuned!
You May Be Interested In: We Attended SRA’s Sim Racing Open House!
