Live for Speed is an online racing simulator (also available offline against AI controlled cars) for Windows. I will review this game with the D-BOX motion addon using a SRP-120 Motion Platform (see my previous review for more details).
Installing Live for Speed is quite simple, you simply unzip the files into any folder on your hard drive. The D-BOX motion addon is as simple to install, you execute the setup file and follow the instructions displayed on screen. The D-BOX installer will create a Live for Speed with Motion shortcut that you can use to start the game with motion support. It will also create a Live for Speed Motion Panel where you can tweak the settings of your D-BOX system for this game.
Since Live for Speed is a racing simulator and not an arcade game, it could seem overwhelming for a new player but it isn't the case. There is a training mode which allows the player to do lessons, each of them having a specific learning objective. When you are done with the training (you can skip it if you don't want to do it), you can do offline races against AI controlled cars or do hot lapping (you try to get the best time on a specific track with a specific car). You can chose the level of difficulty of the AI ranging from Newbie to Pro (5 levels are available). Finally the most interesting mode is the online mode where you race against human opponents. The game includes 7 circuits and these circuits, except for one, contain between 2 to 7 tracks. The game also includes 20 cars, ranging from compact cars to the BMW '06 F1. No editors are available to create tracks and cars.
Live for Speed has many configuration options. You will likely be able to set any option you could think of. Unfortunately, there are so many options that you could be lost at first. For example there is a Screen, Graphics, View and Display sections in the configuration menu. Knowing where to go to change the resolution for example isn't obvious. As I mentioned earlier, you can also use the D-BOX Motion Panel to tweak your motion settings. You can enable or disable various effects or modify the intensity and threshold values of these effects. The default configuration was good but I increased the intensity of the effects a little bit.
I am not a racing simulator expert but the physic engine seems really good to me. It is not easy since this is a realistic physic simulation and there aren't any steering or breaking aids but you can display the racing line to guide you. This is a good simulator but I have to admit that I didn't notice major differences in the game itself with other racing simulators (which is probably a good thing otherwise it would not be a simulation). The major difference to me was the D-BOX motion system since it really improves the experience. You can feel the engine running, the acceleration, the shifting of the gears, the skid and, of course, the impacts! The rendering of these effects is realistic. The motion and vibration effect intensities are proportional to what is happening in the simulation. They are also very responsive. This is probably as close as you can get to the real feeling of racing a car into the comfort of your home.
The motion element is not easy to describe, you need to try it to understand how it feels but I made some videos to help you see the benefits of motion in a racing simulator.
Installing Live for Speed is quite simple, you simply unzip the files into any folder on your hard drive. The D-BOX motion addon is as simple to install, you execute the setup file and follow the instructions displayed on screen. The D-BOX installer will create a Live for Speed with Motion shortcut that you can use to start the game with motion support. It will also create a Live for Speed Motion Panel where you can tweak the settings of your D-BOX system for this game.
Since Live for Speed is a racing simulator and not an arcade game, it could seem overwhelming for a new player but it isn't the case. There is a training mode which allows the player to do lessons, each of them having a specific learning objective. When you are done with the training (you can skip it if you don't want to do it), you can do offline races against AI controlled cars or do hot lapping (you try to get the best time on a specific track with a specific car). You can chose the level of difficulty of the AI ranging from Newbie to Pro (5 levels are available). Finally the most interesting mode is the online mode where you race against human opponents. The game includes 7 circuits and these circuits, except for one, contain between 2 to 7 tracks. The game also includes 20 cars, ranging from compact cars to the BMW '06 F1. No editors are available to create tracks and cars.
Live for Speed has many configuration options. You will likely be able to set any option you could think of. Unfortunately, there are so many options that you could be lost at first. For example there is a Screen, Graphics, View and Display sections in the configuration menu. Knowing where to go to change the resolution for example isn't obvious. As I mentioned earlier, you can also use the D-BOX Motion Panel to tweak your motion settings. You can enable or disable various effects or modify the intensity and threshold values of these effects. The default configuration was good but I increased the intensity of the effects a little bit.
I am not a racing simulator expert but the physic engine seems really good to me. It is not easy since this is a realistic physic simulation and there aren't any steering or breaking aids but you can display the racing line to guide you. This is a good simulator but I have to admit that I didn't notice major differences in the game itself with other racing simulators (which is probably a good thing otherwise it would not be a simulation). The major difference to me was the D-BOX motion system since it really improves the experience. You can feel the engine running, the acceleration, the shifting of the gears, the skid and, of course, the impacts! The rendering of these effects is realistic. The motion and vibration effect intensities are proportional to what is happening in the simulation. They are also very responsive. This is probably as close as you can get to the real feeling of racing a car into the comfort of your home.
The motion element is not easy to describe, you need to try it to understand how it feels but I made some videos to help you see the benefits of motion in a racing simulator.
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