Concensus on best way to efficiently steer a vehicle?

I can't drive in-game for crap.

I leave the Dodge in the garage, it's just too damned dangerous.

The little ATV is pre-programed by the devs to hit every tree/log/guardrail/boulder/Monarch/obstacle within 20 feet on either side of it's path between the start and destination points.

It's killin' me.

My most efficient method of doing emergencies and suchlike is to stand in one place and wait for stuff to randomly spawn around me. Otherwise all the traffic I always see is stuff leaving a place I was heading.

Whatcha got?

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Originally Posted by crasher

I can't drive in-game for crap.

I leave the Dodge in the garage, it's just too damned dangerous.

The little ATV is pre-programed by the devs to hit every tree/log/guardrail/boulder/Monarch/obstacle within 20 feet on either side of it's path between the start and destination points.

It's killin' me.

My most efficient method of doing emergencies and suchlike is to stand in one place and wait for stuff to randomly spawn around me. Otherwise all the traffic I always see is stuff leaving a place I was heading.

Whatcha got?

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I use the atv. I have a charger and that pink daihatsu thing, whatever it is, but none of them are as responsive as the ATV. The ATV seems to work best when you're flying. Leap off of hills and stuff and steer before you land. I do still hit plenty of rocks and stuff though, but at least I can drive it. You gotta steer ahead of time though, or do plenty of braking with the spacebar when you're going into turns or you just smack into stuff.

try using a controller for driving, Ive heard some say it helps lots

xoxoxo

With practice, using whichever control method you prefer.

Seriously.

I heard there's a new thing called Adreno on the hidden market to enhance your abilities, maybe it'll enhance your driving too! You should try some!

I switched left and right from keyboard to mouse which has helped me gain some control.

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Originally Posted by runner133

I switched left and right from keyboard to mouse which has helped me gain some control.

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Boost from shift to right mouse button is also a Good Idea.

steer ahead... and best thing is is boost when you need to make sharp turns and if you boost and turn as you land... easy peasy, but maybe its cause controller helps...

When using keyboard, semi-rapid taps of the direction you want to turn can give more control than holding down the key. Experiment with it if you haven't tried that yet. Seems the longer you hold the turn key, the stronger you turn, so by releasing and pressing it again multiple times during a turn, you can make a more controlled turn.

Don't use the e-brake for anything other than doing a 180 or powersliding for pursuits (or stopping I suppose).

Do not jump any hills, if you do your car/atv has a tendency to land in a tree.

Not whining: I'm taking a humorously-defeatist view of my vehicular Karma here.

I use a gamepad, I just got a G13 a few days ago.
Before that I had a Saitek Cyborg Command Unit for years that I used in many games (never drove/flew with it, I had flight gear for that), until it broke a wire in the joystick. I got the Nostromo a few times over the years but the response lag was noticeable and seriously frustrating. I used all 3, starting with the Saitek, in this game.

Many of the gamepads use a digital switch, the Saitek had 'zones' you could adjust in the software for where the stick would consider 'motion/no-motion' movement of the stick for control. I don't hold the stick in a position, but instead feather it with light 'taps' for forward/left/right steering.

I've been maxed on the ATV and 'Growler/golfcart' for a while now, so it's not like I haven't put in some time moving around, but dang that thing won't pass a tree without making for it.
I swear it veers whenever an obstruction is in sight. If I'm cruising through one of the cornfields anywhere near one of those bulldozer/tractors, I already know I'm going to hit it.

I can't drive out of Muir and make the right at the top of the entrance, (or cut the corner to the right of the ammo cache) without slamming into that log or rock on either side once I get on the road. I can't drive through the opening in the fenceline into the cornfields 2/3 times without hitting one side - backing up- hitting the other side.....

One of those codemonkeys put one of those '1.05%' factors into the ATV code for random collision avoidance and it fluctuates between '+' and '-' all the time. I'll bet internet beer on it. It's got to be just like the +/- on the scopes, or spinning around to face your attacker when you get hit by something.

I'm not an expert, just a random player, I can drive a nail without bending it, I have in the past re-written a mouse driver when they got a minor piece of code wrong. I should be able to drive this stupid ATV for 40 consecutive feet without looking like a drunk snake on crack crawling through a hedgerow....
:D

tl;dr - It's faster for me to walk to an arkfall... :)

I tried so hard to work it out with a keyboard and just couldn't get the feel and timing down for drifting through turns and alternating between braking and boosting.

I decided to use a PC Xbox 360 controller and was able to gold all of the time trials. The controller just seemed to have a better tactile report for how I was controlling my ATV through the courses.

Maxing out an ATV does give you a lot more response and control, so try to find whatever input device that makes the most sense and comfort for you.

I was thinking about trying an XboX controller just for that, as you say.

I don't own a console of any type, so it's new territory for me equipment-wise.

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Originally Posted by crasher

I was thinking about trying an XboX controller just for that, as you say.

I don't own a console of any type, so it's new territory for me equipment-wise.

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It took a bit of practice to be sure, so if you do invest in one, don't be frustrated that it isn't giving you the results that you may immediately expect. But once you have your finesse dialed-in, it really is a very responsive device that makes the trials a lot of fun to complete and makes the experience just better overall. You may even choose to use it as your overall playing device over the keyboard and mouse, since the UI is truly more skewed for console format than a PC format.

So Glad someone finally created this thread, I feel I am no longer alone! I suffer the same obstacle seeking behavior while driving, in my case I assumed it was just me, and my connection induced lag. Its probably a result of the whole cross-platform thing, but I always wondered why they didnt just use the mouse to turn scheme they use when we run? Anyway I get by, but if I get within 200m of an arcfall its usually easier to run.

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Originally Posted by Indolo

When using keyboard, semi-rapid taps of the direction you want to turn can give more control than holding down the key. Experiment with it if you haven't tried that yet. Seems the longer you hold the turn key, the stronger you turn, so by releasing and pressing it again multiple times during a turn, you can make a more controlled turn.

Don't use the e-brake for anything other than doing a 180 or powersliding for pursuits (or stopping I suppose).

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This is solid advice. I had a hard time dealing with the runners when I first started until I figured out this method. The rollers are all awful for steering though, I agree. Good luck.

Soon as I switched TURBO from Shift and made it Mouse 4 my world became so much better.

W A S D to steer, Space Bar E-Brake, Mouse 4 Turbo and just practice practice practice.

You could use a controller but I find that jumping off the ATV then tossing your controller to the side and grabbing your mouse and keyboard is a bit much, but some people just play with the controller on their PC ( I know right :rolleyes: )

Also, and I am just guessing... but you may want to look into a better keyboard that is analog and not digital. This will let you press on the keys lightly and the vehicle will go slowly forward... push on the keys harder or smash them and it acts just like you smashed the gas down in your car. Some people will argue that this isn't a big deal..... then I would argue back "Why the hell is the PS3 controller so great, analog functionality! BLAM'O!)

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Originally Posted by Kenze

try using a controller for driving, Ive heard some say it helps lots

xoxoxo

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controller for races, otherwise, keyboard is sufficient with practice.

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Originally Posted by Blak

but you may want to look into a better keyboard that is analog and not digital. This will let you press on the keys lightly and the vehicle will go slowly forward...

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... analog...keyboard? wha? where? I think they're made by Skittlebrau

Left and right mouse buttons for steering left/right helped me the most. That way I always have my hands on keyboard and mouse and can even look around to some degree while driving.

If you are stuck with keyboard, the advice to tap, tap, tap to steer is the best one. The easiest hardware solution is to get a cheap, wired XBox 360 controller. They plug in through standard USB, Windows natively supports them, as does the game.

I was using keyboard/mouse/Logitech G13 Gaming keyboard/controller for everything but driving and then switching over to the 360 controller for driving. Made things a lot easier, as the 360 controller provides analog input, (the wheel position is determined by the precise position of the controller thumb stick).

In my case, after a little searching I found a utility program that allows the G13's thumbstick to simulate the analogue output of a 360 controller. (The G13 thumbstick is analog, but a game needs to be programmed to accept analog input from the controller and few games offer that support). I still find the xbox controller to be a little more precise, but I like not having to switch to the xbox controller anymore.

(It would be really nice if Logitech would offer xbox stick emulation natively, but I assume they might have to pay some sort of royalty to MS)?

Anyway, yeah, an analog thumbstick definitely does wonders to vehicle control in the game, so it's worth exploring.

Wish they would patch in mouse stearing, a la Borderlands.

Are you a PC gamer?
Then all you need to do is get a controller and plug it in and use it every time you are to drive.

I do this as soon as I'm to go race I wswitch from keyboard to controller and the back again.

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Originally Posted by crasher

I can't drive in-game for crap.

I leave the Dodge in the garage, it's just too damned dangerous.

The little ATV is pre-programed by the devs to hit every tree/log/guardrail/boulder/Monarch/obstacle within 20 feet on either side of it's path between the start and destination points.

It's killin' me.

My most efficient method of doing emergencies and suchlike is to stand in one place and wait for stuff to randomly spawn around me. Otherwise all the traffic I always see is stuff leaving a place I was heading.

Whatcha got?

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I have my wife sit beside me and nag me like she does when I actually drive a real car. Without the nagging, I can't drive in the game. Well at least not until I've had a few beers.

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Originally Posted by alred

I have my wife sit beside me and nag me like she does when I actually drive a real car. Without the nagging, I can't drive in the game. Well at least not until I've had a few beers.

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I am similar but my wife is giving me oral support while i drive and i don't need to drink. No nagging, just good old fashion road ......

when you are turning use your boost help out a lot

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Originally Posted by Kenze

try using a controller for driving, Ive heard some say it helps lots

xoxoxo

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This is what I do.

Using the KB sucks, I use my left ring finger naturally for both "a" and "left Shift" (right shift is out because my right hand is on the mouse) so boosting while going left using the KB/Mouse does not feel right to me.

What they need to do is set up mouse-look steering, and take the horn off of the LMB and make in the gas, and the RMB the boost.

I have no issues using my keyboard to steer my vehicles, none whatsoever.

I have no issues riding the ATV-like vehicles. I will run into things but thats my own lack of skill. The Duni is a bit more difficult to maneuver but its still ok.

The Dodge is a B*** to drive. I hate it. The description says "fastest vehicle on the planet," but that's BS

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Originally Posted by ironhands

... analog...keyboard? wha? where? I think they're made by Skittlebrau

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I use a K95, since then no keyboard has been able to match it:o I know there are people out there that swear by other keyboards, but this one just seemed to nail everything I wanted, macro keys, great design, STURDY AS ALL HELL! (This isn't some plastic keyboard /cough Razer /cough:eek:)

http://www.corsair.com/us/k95/

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Originally Posted by alred

I have my wife sit beside me and nag me like she does when I actually drive a real car. Without the nagging, I can't drive in the game. Well at least not until I've had a few beers.

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I appreciate ALL the answers.
But this one had me spit my coffee on the monitor.

Bastage....




:)

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Originally Posted by Ryme

Wish they would patch in mouse stearing, a la Borderlands.

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That would be good.

You should be able to turn your vehicle with the mouse like your character when on foot.