I didn’t deserve to do well today. I drove like a jackass, and actually probably finished higher than I should have. I qualified 11th and finished 15th. However, on the first lap, I crashed and fell to 24th position. I fought my way back to 16th, before overshooting turn 5 and falling back to 17th, only to work my way back up to 15th on the final corner of the final lap.
It just wouldn’t be right if I didn’t complain about the game. As I’ve said before, I do not understand why I am the only car on the track that spins as a result of contact. The drivatars don’t spin unless you absolutely force them to spin, and even then, it isn’t easy. I’m not saying I don’t deserve to spin in many of these shunts, but the drivatars should also spin under similar circumstances.
Also, when I do spin or go off course, the car becomes nearly undrivable for a few corners afterwards. I’m guessing the drivability of the car is supposed to imitate having debris (grass, marbles, etc.) on the tires, but it’s really a bit too much. Real race cars continue to be drivable after an altercation or off-course excursion. They may not drive as well, but they can accelerate, brake, and to a certain extent, corner. Not so in Forza Motorsports 7.
I started this sim racing journey thinking it could be just like real racing, or at least really close. Sim racing on Forza is not like real racing. But that doesn’t make it bad. It’s just different. And to enjoy it and succeed at it, the player needs to accept and adjust to the differences. I really haven’t done that up until now. I’m trying to be less aggressive, trying to avoid shunts, but the game demands aggressiveness and a willingness to bang wheels. It requires doing things in the game that you wouldn’t normally do in a real race.
I’m going to try to complain less and adjust more. If you didn’t know better, you’d like I’m not having a good time. I’ve been frustrated with Forza 7, but I’ve also really enjoyed it. My expectations may not have been realistic when I started, but I’m learning what to expect the more I play the game.
The top five in points after 14 races are:
- Lou Mindar (161 pts)
- Josh Pettibone (87 pts)
- Tak Tamaguchi (84 pts)
- Richard Chan (83 pts)
- (tie) Pierre Blasno (82 pts)
- (tie) Peter Ward Jr. (82 pts)