That’s great news. I’m thoroughly enjoying AMS2 so the more content from Reiza the better.
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Nothing to see here. Move along (i.e. I figured it out and feel really stupid).
As promised, REIZA released Le Mans and Endurance Pack Pt 1 this morning. My Steam updated at around 1030 EST. I had assumed that it was going to be DLC, but Le Mans and the LMDH cars showed up as default content. Noice!
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Same here.
But after reading the changelog and this:
“To celebrate the end of this great year in style with old and new players alike, the very last day of the year brings a new game update as AMS2 hits v1.5.5 along with Le Mans and several state-of-the-art 2023 Endurance race cars. The two new DLCs will remain free for all at release and into the first few days of 2024 so everyone gets to enjoy AMS2 at its very best.”
If we want to keep them it looks like we will have to pay.
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Well, I’ve only driven about 10 laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 with the default setup, fuel, and tires around Les Mans 24 course, and my initial impression is that they’ve done a fine job with it. I’m very interested to try a racing requiring an AI driver swap.
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Same again, only a few laps (but in the Porsche). Only tried Le Mans in 2D at the moment, and coming from most of my AMS2 time in open wheelers I think VR will be a must… really shitty visibility in comparison. Kinda reminds me of last year’s Christmas flight in the Vulcan!!!
Default set-up as well. Lots of tweaking to be done but I did see nearly 300km/h at the end of Mulsanne.
And with the low downforce setting they are really happy to get the ‘tail wagging’ so I agree. A fine job indeed.
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Here is a really deep dive on the tracks, cars, and features in the latest update. I wondered what those lights on both sides of the instrument panel were.
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Ha-ha. Excellent analogy. I only sim in VR these days and after some time in these cars, adjusting the sitting position, am beginning to feel at home. These AMS2 Hypercars certainly have beautifully modeled cockpits. Last night I tried single player AI driver swaps and it worked flawlessly. I’m wondering it it works on a multiplayer with AI and/or human drivers. I also wonder if you can go back to the paddock view and swap into another car? I’ll keep tinkering with this. I’d also like to understand power pack management.
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I have had a bit of a ‘dabble’ with the other Hypercars, the BMW will definitely be my choice when I’m ready for it.
For now I am sticking with the new GT cars while I ‘learn’ Le Mans. Loving the McLaren and I reckon they have done a pretty good job with the interior modelling on them as well:
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Just a quick comment and I’ll shut up about this new patch and content. I setup a 2.4 hr mixed classes race yesterday (GT3 Gen2, LMDH), time at 10x, forced one pit, (needed anyway for fuel), at Laguna Seca. I hadn’t driven the new GT3 cars yet. I usually pick the McLaren due to how balanced it feels, but chose the “Rexy” look Porsche 992 GT3-R, because I think that it’s the gold standard for testing physics modeling and FFB.
I drove the first hour, then handed off the car to AI for the second hour. I started last, but due to the AI being too timid at T1 at Laguna, had worked my way up to P3 in class at the end of the hour. I could not gain any time on the class leaders. They were quick! When I pitted, getting full fuel, tires, and a small amount of body work, our car was back to P12 out of 13. We had enough fuel for probably another 20 mins, but the tires were finished. I didn’t see when the AI made their stops, because I left to make a ham sandwich 
. Returning, I found the car in P8. Not bad for an AI. Will give him a pay raise. More likely that was due to pit stop cycling.
Regardless, I jumped in the car for the last 15 mins. With AI driver swaps, blue flags, Crew Chief Jim warning me of overtaking cars, and the Hypercars flashing their lights, it was all a really immersive experience. Crew Chief at times would warn me that there were “quicker cars approaching”, “they are battling for position”, “the class leader is approaching” or “overtaking”, reminding me that the add-on is class aware. There is a setting for that and I highly recommend setting that to enabled.
This is undoubtedly the best single player endurance experience that I can remember. I imagine that the Le Mans Ultimate devs are paying attention. Reiza was smart to get this content out ahead of LMU.
Edits: In retrospect, I should have required 2 x pit stops, to force the AI on my schedule.
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As will I. Just tried a sprint format mixed Gen1 GT3 and GT4 race at Bathurst (it is a real thing). But I chose Bathurst because it is probably the track in AMS2 that I know best and as this was primarily a framerate test it was with a full grid and in 2D. I am pleased to say that on a monitor at 1080p it was freaking awesome…
Even though I only made it to Lap12 (I had the damage set to ‘brutal’), the AI is ■■■■■■■ brilliant. That was better than racing against other numpties like me on a public server… when I had a metro area ping and could do that stuff.
I’m sold 
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Wow,this sounds awesome!! You guys sound like this is a very immersive experience !!! I have not played a racing sim since Grand Turisimo on my Son’s Playstation some 25 yrs ago
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With my hardware set-up (ancient Logitech G27) it is difficult to feel any subtle differences between cars/physics in this and say Assetto Corsa. Visually it is on a par with Project Cars 2 (usues the same engine IIRC?), so runs really well on a modest system.
Where it absolutely shines is what Chip said in the openeing post - the AI
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Man, I just spent a couple of hours having a blast in AMS2. Earlier tonight, I was playing Forza Motorsport and man, I was just not engaged with it. Once I got into AMS2, I was blown away again by the racing. The AI is a lot better than FM and the graphics look better, to be honest.
I sampled several things, but I concentrated on GT5 cars at some smaller tracks. I tried them at Hockenheim short and the shorter version of Oulton Park. I set the weather to slightly cloudy and at 7 at night. Man, it looked so beautiful. I really like the GT5 cars. You can just get in and drive hard. You don’t have to worry too much about wheel spin and putting too much power down. If you guys haven’t tried the GT5, I highly recommend you do. I think they work best on the short courses. They’ll top out RPM if you use them on a big track.
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Guys I’m looking for a little advice…I’m thinking about getting into racing simulation…but I’m starting from point zero,
What kind of equipment is best for a beginner?
I see several packages available through Amazon…Would you suggest Logitech or Thrustmaster?
Can I substitute rudder pedals for sim pedals?
Any recommendations/help would be greatly appreciated
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It really isn’t any different to flight sims… It basically comes down to how much you want (can afford) to spend. More $$$ will get better wheels and peripherals but for me any FFB wheel and pedals is OK for what I do. I would recommend against using rudder pedals as they won’t give you the control/feel necessary for a racing sim.
As for specific recommendations. I have had a Logitech G27 for over ten years and it still works great but I can’t vouch for their new stuff.
The only TM gear I have had is a Cougar and now a Warthog HOTAS, but if you are looking at spending Thrustmaster level dollars then perhaps Fanatec or Moza might be a better bet?
But if I was starting from a clean slate I reckon I would do what the esteemed Mr @Troll has just done:
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I will probably be the voice of dissent here.
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Figure our what type of racing interests you, rally, F1, stock cars, etc.
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Get a copy of a title that covers what you’re interested in that is well reviewed. Preferably last years so you can save about $30 to dip your toe.
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Here’s the part where the pitchforks and torches are going to come out: Get a good gamepad if you don’t have one, the current XBox controller is ~$50 shipped from Amazon and works great.
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Spend at least a week driving with your controller. If after a week you are wishing you had a better control setup to drive better/more immersion, than by all means spend the money. If after a week you realize that you don’t actually want to turn laps in an F1 car, but rally still sounds fun go to step 2. If after a week you realize you’re not actually that interested in racing besides as an occasional thing, no worries you are probably only out less than $100. You might also find you enjoy racing casually and a controller works perfect when you’re on the coach with your feet up.
Lastly if you can find one still floating around in good shape, older wheels like the Logitech Momo are a great value giving you about 80% off the immersion for 10-20% of the cost of a Fanatch or similar setup.
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I agree with Jenrick. There are a lot of racing games/sims that are good with a controller. Rally sims like Dirt Rally and WRC. Forza Motorsport was inherently designed with a controller in mind and works well. I was just playing Automobilista 2 a few days ago for a few hours with a wheel, since I couldn’t be othered to take it out and attach it to the table, etc. It worked well enough, albeit with auto shifting.
If you can’t stop playing, then I would recommend a wheel. I’ve had Logitech throughout the years and they work well enough. They’re not ueber precise like the high end wheels, but it’ll get you around the track with nice feedback.
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OK, that’s pretty good advice… But you will never get your ‘Bad Influencer’ tag that way 
It is definitely horses for courses though. I have been a motorsports fan since as long as I can remember. My father and his brother both raced motorcycles, dad also raced (dirt) speedway. I have raced motocross and co-driven in a rally car.
I started racing sims with the original Microprose F1 on a Commodore 64 and digital joystick and hated it that much I didn’t play another racing sim except for Sega rally at the arcade until I could afford a wheel… The original Colin McRae Rally IIRC.
So, before you decide racing sims aren’t for you and give up. Maybe, like me, a controller and racing sims aren’t for you? What is Amazon’s return policy on a wheel?
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I was definitely not a fan of using a joystick, but a controller was actually fairly workable for me. I used to run in the old WebsitethatMustNotBeNamed endurance series years ago, running 2+ hour events on a dual stick without triggers. That particular controller was comfortable enough that my hands were fine (which surprised me at first). I did eventually upgrade to a wheel, but leaving it setup wasn’t real practical, and I hated setting it up and taking it down all the time. I definitely was serious about it, but since we were all racing on 16" CRT monitors, the immersion wasn’t exactly killer regardless of the control setup used.
Once I got into driving fast for real, that kind of took away the impetus for sim racing. I was my agencies lead driving instructor for a good while, and being able to spend someone else’s money on tires, gas, and maintenance (I never dinged a car, and actually only had 2 negligent damages on my watch, which I am very proud of) was too good to pass up. It got me away from sim racing, and I honestly find it a little less “serious” of a pastime if you will.
I’ve only been away from having a box full of keys a few years, so maybe in another few years I’ll get the bug for sim racing seriously again and get a full setup.
I imagine that’s a lot like riding with a new rookie who has no idea where they’re going and driving entirely too fast. “Left turn up ahead slow down, it’s a sharp left slow down, SLOWWWWWWW DOWWWWNN!!!”
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