Do games improve your ability to drive on ice...

[DeputyMoniker]

Does anybody else here think playing games like Ridge Racer has improved your ability to drive on ice? It may sound a little silly but when I'm driving on it I feel like I just know how to control the car better.. I've played a LOT of RR and Wipeout...maybe too much.

[TheTrench]

I don´t know about improving, but GTA has definately made my driving worse... often I think of driving my car on the curb and mowing down foo´s left and right... which then causes me to lose focus and swerve a little.

[Golden Bear]

I drive slower on ice, but not due to Ridge Racer.

[Leo_A]

You're not doing anything remotely realistic in Ridge Racer or Wipeout, so I find that highly unlikely.

[DeputyMoniker]

You're not doing anything remotely realistic in Ridge Racer or Wipeout, so I find that highly unlikely.

Oh? You don't think drifting is anything like sliding?

[evil_genius]

No but when running on ice, I can turn around and run backwards so I don't slide off the ledge.

[KennyB]

yeah , one time it was raining really hard and the rear of my car started slipping. Thx to my gran turismo training , I used the counter steering technique to drift through the curve. A old lady saw me and she was like O_O

[crazyjackcsa]

I don't really think that videogames help you to drive in snow. Knowing how the car will handle does. However, videogames do improve eye and hand co-ordination as well as your ability to gather information from various sources very quickly.

[veronica_marsfan]

Yes.

It's just like military video"games" that teach jet pilots to fly better. Realistic car games teach people to handle slides instead of panicing or slamming on the brakes.

[DeputyMoniker]

Yes.

It's just like military video"games" that teach jet pilots to fly better. Realistic car games teach people to handle slides instead of panicing or slamming on the brakes.

That's how I feel. Ridge Racer is a little more realistic than some may think it is. It isn't so different from turning your car on ice or even drift racing. You know, drift racing isn't just from that stupid movie. When I start to slide a little on the ice I react like "I've been through this a million times."

[Push Upstairs]

No, but "Gradius" sure has trained me in the art of flying a lone spaceship against numerous alien threats.


LOOKOUT ALIENS FOOS, I'VE GOT AN OPTION!







Yeah, I need a nap.

[davidbrit2]

Ridge Racer isn't anywhere close to realistic. Even GT4 has pretty questionable physics on the snow courses. A good racing sim can definitely help you drive better, but there haven't been any mentioned in this thread so far. Heh.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm disqualified because the last time I drove a sim with a steering wheel (on the Dreamcast!) I did terrible - but that was back before I even had my license. I'm a great driver though, haven't ever had trouble. Naturally, joysticks don't count.

[cyberfluxor]

Naturally, joysticks don't count.

Oh come on! Didn't you see Men in Black? Clearly the goverment drives with Playstation controllers!

[Wavelflack]

I think so. When my car starts to slide out of control, I simply press "Y", and my car flashes and reappears in the middle of the road.

[njiska]

That's how I feel. Ridge Racer is a little more realistic than some may think it is. It isn't so different from turning your car on ice or even drift racing. You know, drift racing isn't just from that stupid movie. When I start to slide a little on the ice I react like "I've been through this a million times."

Well i'm glad you do but i can seriously tell you Ridge Racer is nothing like trying to correct a skid. Real cars grip and handle differently. You need to put more focus on gas and break. Most of all a wheel is nothing like a joystiq, you don't just turn it hard left until you come back from your right slide.

PLus there's a massive psycological difference as well.

[koster]

Sure - all those quarters I pumped into SpyHunter weren't a waste. SpyHunter also prepared me for dealing with bomb-throwing helicopters. :)