Editing Sim racing (section)

{{short description|Video game genre}}
{{redirect|Racing simulator|professional simulators|Driving simulator}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
[[File:2011 GT Academy Winner Jann Mardenborough joins competitors at the UK National Final in 2013.jpg|thumb|[[Jann Mardenborough]], a sim racer, became a professional [[Nissan]] racing driver by playing ''[[Gran Turismo (series)|Gran Turismo]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Richards |first=Giles |date=2014-04-07 |title=How Jann Mardenborough went from Gran Turismo on a PlayStation to being a racing driver |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2014/apr/07/video-gaming-jann-mardenborough-motor-racing |access-date=2023-03-04 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Meet the Gran Turismo Player Now Driving Race Cars for Real |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/meet-the-gran-turismo-player-now-driving-race-cars-for-real/1100-6419397/ |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=[[GameSpot]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gran Turismo movie tells story of gamer-turned-racer Mardenborough |url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1137866_gran-turismo-movie-based-on-a-true-story-of-gamer-turned-racer-jann-mardenborough |access-date=2023-03-04 |website=Motor Authority |date=19 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref>]]
'''Sim racing''' is the collective term for [[racing game]]s that attempt to accurately simulate [[auto racing]], complete with real-world variables such as fuel usage, damage, [[tire wear]] and grip, and suspension settings.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bates |first=Bob |title=Game Design |publisher=Course Technology PTR |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-59200-493-5 |edition=2 |page=59}}</ref> To be competitive in sim racing, a driver must understand all aspects of [[automobile handling|car handling]] that make real-world racing so difficult,<ref>{{cite web|title=What is Sim Racing?|url=http://www.ricmotech.com/What_is_Sim_Racing_s/1553.htm|publisher=Ricmotech.com|access-date=20 December 2016}}</ref> such as [[threshold braking]], how to maintain control of a car as the tires lose traction, and how properly to enter and exit a turn without sacrificing speed. It is this level of difficulty that distinguishes sim racing from [[Racing game#Arcade-style racing|arcade racing]]-style driving games where real-world variables are taken out of the equation and the principal objective is to create a sense of speed as opposed to a sense of realism like the [[Need for Speed|Need for Speed series]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=II |first=Anthony Franklin |date=2024-11-16 |title=All Gas, No Brakes: Why Simulation Racing Isn’t for Me |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/all-gas-no-brakes-why-simulation-racing-isnt-for-me/ |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref>[[File:Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile wordmark.svg|thumb|FiA, the governing body for many [[auto racing]] events including [[Formula One]], use various sim racing platforms such as [[Gran Turismo (series)|''Gran Turismo'']], ''[[Assetto Corsa Competizione]]'' and ''[[iRacing]]'' to host sanctioned racing events.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-17 |title=Polyphony Digital |url=https://www.fia.com/polyphony-digital |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Andrew |date=2022-07-25 |title=Gran Turismo's FIA Partnership Could Return in 2023 |url=https://www.gtplanet.net/fia-gran-turismo-2023-20220724/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=GTPlanet |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Corsa |first=Assetto |date=2022-07-26 |title=FIA Motorsport Games 2022 |url=https://assettocorsa.gg/fia-motorsport-games-2022/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Assetto Corsa |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-20 |title=Esports aces to race for national pride on Assetto Corsa Competizione in FIA Motorsports Games |url=https://www.fia.com/news/esports-aces-race-national-pride-assetto-corsa-competizione-fia-motorsports-games |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Federation Internationale de l'Automobile |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=Simulations |first=iRacing com Motorsport |title=iRacing to Partner with FIA for Authentic Formula 4 Experience |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iracing-to-partner-with-fia-for-authentic-formula-4-experience-301837593.html |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=KevinB |date=2023-05-30 |title=iRacing to Partner with FIA for Authentic Formula 4 Experience |url=https://www.iracing.com/iracing-to-partner-with-fia-for-authentic-formula-4-experience/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=iRacing.com}}</ref>]]
Due to the complexity and demands of mimicking real-life driving, racing sims require faster computers to run effectively, as well as a  steering wheel and pedals for the throttle and brakes  for the immersion.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-08-08 |title=A racing wheel makes driving sims — and learning to drive — much more realistic |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/a-racing-wheel-makes-driving-sims-and-learning-to-drive-much-more-realistic/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref> While using a [[gamepad]] or even a [[Computer mouse|mouse]] and [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]], may suffice for most arcade-style driving games on home systems, it would not provide the same level of immersion and realism as using a [[racing wheel]] and pedals. In recent years, many sim racing experiences have been developed for consoles, such as the [[PlayStation]] and [[Xbox]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best sim racing games on console |url=https://racinggames.gg/misc/best-sim-racing-games-on-console/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=racinggames.gg |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This list will help you choose the racing game best suited to you and your equipment. |date=24 March 2020 |url=https://www.autoguide.com/top-5-racing-simulator-games}}</ref> While these games can be played with a controller, it is recommended that players invest in a racing wheel and pedals. With the development of online racing, the ability to drive against human opponents and [[Game AI|computer AI]] offline is the closest many would come to driving cars on a real track.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Use Sim Racing to Improve on a Real-Life Racetrack {{!}} Blayze |url=https://blayze.io/blog/car-racing/how-to-use-sim-racing-to-improve-on-the-racetrack-in-real-life |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=blayze.io |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holland |first=Robb |date=2020-08-20 |title=Here's How Sim Racing Can Make You Faster In the Real World |url=https://www.thedrive.com/news/35758/heres-how-sim-racing-can-make-you-faster-in-the-real-world |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=The Drive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Charlie |date=2022-02-01 |title=The curious allure of sim racing |url=https://www.nme.com/features/gaming-features/the-curious-allure-of-sim-racing-3148150 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref> Even those who race in real-world competition use simulations for practice or for entertainment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Video Game Review|url=http://www.racerchicks.com/motor/Review_NASCAR4.html|publisher=racerchicks.com|access-date=2008-04-07|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011101054017/http://racerchicks.com/motor/Review_NASCAR4.html|archive-date=2001-11-01}}</ref> With continued development of the [[physics engine]] software that forms the basis of these sims, as well as improved hardware (providing tactile feedback), the experience has become more realistic.

The sim racing gameplay style has been applied in several video games, such as ''[[iRacing]]'', ''[[Assetto Corsa]]'' and ''[[Assetto Corsa Competizione]]'', ''[[Gran Turismo (series)|Gran Turismo]]'', ''[[Forza|Forza Motorsport]]'', and more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Returning for 2023, Gran Turismo™️ is a worldwide leading race-simulation game. |url=https://olympics.com/en/esports/olympic-esports-series/motor-sport}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-03-14 |title=Gran Turismo 7 to iRacing: Top 5 simulation games for car enthusiasts in 2023 |url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/gran-turismo-7-to-iracing-top-5-simulation-games-for-car-enthusiasts-in-2023-11678778138064.html |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=mint |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ostler |first=Simon |date=2024-09-27 |title=The best sim racing games for 2023 |url=https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/modern/2022/1/the-best-sim-racing-games/ |access-date=2024-10-30 |website=Goodwood Road & Racing}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Forza Motorsport Will "Reset The High Bar" For Racing Sims, Head of Xbox Game Studios Says |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/forza-motorsport-will-reset-the-high-bar-for-racing-sims-head-of-xbox-game-studios-says/1100-6507102/ |access-date=2023-05-26 |website=GameSpot |language=en-US}}</ref>