Best Lost Heaven Circuit, Lap Time?

[Hatesink]

I know a lot of people out there hated the race mission, but I was one of the few who would boot up just to race the Lost Heaven circuit (in my opinion one the best circuits ever to be created for a sim (with at least two absolutely killer turns))

My fastest lap time on the standard default P.C. setting was 1.22

Most of my best times are within the same split second.

I race in first person with no assists.

I don't have proof of this, but I can lay down a sub one-thirty lap with minimal warmup on request.

I'm pretty sure there is a sub 1.22 lap to be had, mainly for someone with a setup that includes clutch.

I'm certain there's a 1.21 for a regular non-clutch setup (with feedback off) but there are just so many variables that you'd probably have to race for a few solid days to get it.

I learnt to race primarily with Porsche Unleashed, GPL, World Racing, Mobil 1, Lotus Challenge and have raced about a gajillion sims since.

Any other racers on the forum? Did you like racing the Lost Heaven circuit and do you have a good lap time?

Or maybe you just thought it sucked.

Whatever your thoughts are on the subject...

[jackinthebox]

aaaah the race... i remember how you brought up the race in some off-topic thread a long time ago (it seems) hatesink. every time i played mafia i just was glad to have won it... can't remember my best lap time, but it doesn't matter i think i'm sure it sucked... does mafia support gamepads with analog sticks or steering wheels for the race?

[Hatesink]

I'm not too sure about gamepads (the only one I ever used was a dual strike. I used it for midtown madness believe it or not, and it was pretty effective. More effective for that than for any of the fps I played (it was a great idea, but not that great a design).

I did play Mafia with a wheel however, and it's amazing how much it adds to the game. You've just not played Mafia until you've played it with a wheel (having said that I play in 1st person, with manual gears and no assists).

I've played through it with keys (which is kind of tricky with manual gears but it can be done), and I've played it with a wheel, and it's remarkable.

The force feedback effects are really good too. They add to play in terms of extra information and tactile realism (but it can end up screwing things up a little because you can end up without your wheel centred after a turn, which doesn't help if you're trying for faster lap times).

I've basically given up gaming, but Mafia II and Alan Wake are still on my want list. I think I'll have to set aside a week for each (and do nothing but play).

[M4staH]

My fastest lap time on the standard default P.C. setting was 1.22

You said 1.22, but is it 1.22.001 or 1.22.999. It's a huge difference. I also play 'The Race' very often and my fastest lap time is 1.23.393 with all default settings. This is the proof:
http://wgrajfoto.pl/pokazfoto/img0408/min_11394.jpg

[Hatesink]

Okay, well, put it this way...

It was faster than 1.23.393

Do you go high on the bank?

edit: j/k re. the bank

You're very fast.

If you take that last corner well you can max out your revs in the highest gear, before breaking for the first corner (the first corner is a b**ch, a blind, sloped hairpin at the end of a straight). That's how I know when to break for the first corner, because there's no clear marker. I judge it by the corner before, the time crossing the line and the point at which my revs are maxed.

...that might help. But that assumes you have all day to play (it's a long process, especially as you have to get a good enough line to hit the corner at the same speed and angle every time to test it out. You seem to be getting a consistant lap time, so you might be able to try it).

As for the corner on the incline, it's possible to take that really fast but the risk increases exponentially, so I generally play it safe on that corner, because (for me) that's the corner with the highest risk (I found it's only really good to push the limits on that corner if you don't mind wrecking your run, but it's a good way to shave a little time off, providing you don't mind flying off the track every other lap).

Also, I try and get into third gear for the middle sectors but judging by your lap times I guess you must have figured that out already. Sometimes it helps to get into third and coast (no accelerator) but whatever you do, get into third after the chicane.

[M4staH]

Very good to know there is someone else obsessed by 'the race' I play it only two days and I think I can do better, but 1.21 seems to be impossible to me. What I'm trying to do is to pass all corners with maximum speed (except the first one which is veery dangerous). I noticed that all corners can be passed with the speed about 85/90 km/h. Some of them even faster, for example the last one (the slowest moment is about 95 km/h in my case).

I would like to see the video of your passing that last corner because I think it can be done in a better way than mine.

And the first corner... I know when to start to brake because on the left side there are some holes in the wall and just after them I'm starting to brake.

I also would like to see the video of one of your laps 'cos maybe I could learn something new and improve myself.

Todey I'm gonna practice a lot and maybe I will beat my record. I also noticed that very often when I'm beating the record, some error appears and the time is not saved (I lost that way two times 1:23;/)

[Hatesink]

I don't really know how to make videos and I'm not sure if I've still got my wheel. But to be honest, given your current lap record I don't think there's much you could learn from watching me. I think you've already nailed it. I just use lateral thinking, and calculated risk just to tweak the score a little (something you wouldn't be able to see watching me race).

I don't think you're doing anything wrong, I think I've probably just spent more time racing, so I've given chance more of an opportunity to work in my favour.

Personally (without clutch) I wouldn't try for a 1.21 lap time. I think it's a theoretical possibility but way too hard to nail (it would take forever).

I generally get my best times around the third lap onwards. When my momentum builds (like Nascar). I stay on the same basic line (but generally get a little faster every time because of the cumulative momentum).

Also, if I'm going for a lap record I take the last few corners to set me up so that I'm going at the highest speed I can hit crossing the line (so that I get the best possible rolling start. (I know that sounds like I'm contradicting myself, but I haven't raced it enough to be able to say for certain what the best strategy is (I guess, theoretically, I should take that same line on every lap, but it's higher risk that way, in terms of keeping the momentum up))).

I don't use the bank on the last corner. Sometimes I just use the very bottom of the transition for a little more traction to make the turn, but to be honest I'm not sure if that slows me down too much to be worthwhile.

I think once you've hit 1.23 you've already pretty much nailed it. I did get a 1.22 score but that's probably just because I've raced it over and over and over again.

As I say, personally, I wouldn't try for a 1.21 (without a setup with clutch) I think it's a theoretical possibility but just too low a probability given all the variables.

[mg198242]

My God... 1.22, 1.23 ?!?!?!
I wasn't very bothered by that race, unlike 99% of the Mafia players, but I'm far away from those times!
I passed the race after around 2 hours of gameplay, helped some friends to pass the race too, but my best is only around 1.29-1.30! Anyway, I played on default settings and with the keyboard on Mafia v1.0 (so the hard way!), never had a wheel and still don't! Should I buy one, especially for Mafia II?!?!

[ArchangelX]

Man if you have never played Mafia with wheels and pedals and you can afford one then I say you will not regret it if you get one.

I played it twize with a keyboard and mouse, and then twize with my Logitech driving force pro.
In conlusion it is a world of difference, mainly not because of the race (which is far easier with wheel\pedal) but mostly because of how much immersion it adds to the game in total just playing the game in itself.

If I was to give you an advice on which wheel\pedal set I would get I would say get one that has a possibility to have a 900 degree turning radius, couse playing a game like Mafia (and I assume also Mafia 2) you can use a 900 degree radius because it feels more real then 180 degrees (which I only use in NFS\Rally games).

Trust me it adds a ton of immersion and I am sure that all the others that play with a wheel\pedal set say the same.

I have not however played it with a clutch and "H" gear setup. my wheel doesn`t have a clutch and only has a up\down gearshift.

I`ll never play any of the "Mafia" games without one again.

[mg198242]

Man if you have never played Mafia with wheels and pedals and you can afford one then I say you will not regret it if you get one.

I played it twize with a keyboard and mouse, and then twize with my Logitech driving force pro.
In conlusion it is a world of difference, mainly not because of the race (which is far easier with wheel\pedal) but mostly because of how much immersion it adds to the game in total just playing the game in itself.

If I was to give you an advice on which wheel\pedal set I would get I would say get one that has a possibility to have a 900 degree turning radius, couse playing a game like Mafia (and I assume also Mafia 2) you can use a 900 degree radius because it feels more real then 180 degrees (which I only use in NFS\Rally games).

Trust me it adds a ton of immersion and I am sure that all the others that play with a wheel\pedal set say the same.

I have not however played it with a clutch and "H" gear setup. my wheel doesn`t have a clutch and only has a up\down gearshift.

I`ll never play any of the "Mafia" games without one again.

Thanks a lot for the info, ArchangelX! I have the money, so I'm going to buy one for sure this year, especially that I play pretty much driving games. BTW, I'm grimarian from mafiascene.com!

[Hatesink]

A wheel makes it about a hundred times better, even if you pick up a something (relatively) inexpensive, like a basic thrustmaster, (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Ch...8695820&sr=8-5)


I guess it's like the difference between playing guitar hero with the custom controller or with keyboard (but having said that I've not actually played guitar hero).

The cheaper wheels break easily though (even the thrustmasters). The gear change paddles can break pretty easily and the pedals break also.

The cheap wheels basically may as well be a 'consumable'. You have to buy one after another (I used to pick them up on ebay just to replace the peddles, they break so often, but it works out more cost effective to save the money and buy something durable, especially something with a gear-lever/stick-shift for deeper immersion (plus you can assign the stick as a handbreak (and use the paddles for the gears) if you're playing a rally title. That's how they have the handbreak set up in rallycars, like a little shifter right next to the wheel).

If you're looking forward to playing Mafia II and Alan Wake, and if you generally like racing titles I'd absolutely definitely put a little money aside to get a decent racing wheel (you won't regret it.).

Not sure if they're implimenting them for GTA yet (I don't play the GTA series (the driving model is worse than crazy taxi)). The only couple I played didn't support a wheel (which just goes to show how c****y a driving-oriented game GTA actually is, in my opinion). Sorry if you like GTA, that's up to you, I just don't.

[mg198242]

A wheel makes it about a hundred times better, even if you pick up a something (relatively) inexpensive, like a basic thrustmaster, (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Universal-Ch...8695820&sr=8-5)


I guess it's like the difference between playing guitar hero with the custom controller or with keyboard (but having said that I've not actually played guitar hero).

The cheaper wheels break easily though (even the thrustmasters). The gear change paddles can break pretty easily and the pedals break also.

The cheap wheels basically may as well be a 'consumable'. You have to buy one after another (I used to pick them up on ebay just to replace the peddles, they break so often, but it works out more cost effective to save the money and buy something durable, especially something with a gear-lever/stick-shift for deeper immersion (plus you can assign the stick as a handbreak (and use the paddles for the gears) if you're playing a rally title. That's how they have the handbreak set up in rallycars, like a little shifter right next to the wheel).

If you're looking forward to playing Mafia II and Alan Wake, and if you generally like racing titles I'd absolutely definitely put a little money aside to get a decent racing wheel (you won't regret it.).

Not sure if they're implimenting them for GTA yet (I don't play the GTA series (the driving model is worse than crazy taxi)). The only couple I played didn't support a wheel (which just goes to show how c****y a driving-oriented game GTA actually is, in my opinion). Sorry if you like GTA, that's up to you, I just don't.

Thanks!
Yeah, that's what I'm waiting for: Mafia II, Alan Wake + STALKER: Clear Sky, GTAIV. Anyway I'm not going to buy a cheap wheel, it's not my type buying cheap stuff, I'll buy some pretty good, even if I'm going to save money 6 months from now on, although I don't think it's going to be the case! I have a job, so some money of my own! What do you suggest in a range of 200-250$ max?

[Hatesink]

That's a good question. I've not been in the market for a wheel for quite some time now and it seems the options have changed.

It used to be that the best widely available wheel was a momo, but they've discontinued that model and given the name to the lower quality model.

There's the new and expensive Logitec G5, but I'm not sure that its features justify the price tag. You get clutch and the peddles look well-made (like they wont break) and it looks like they're made to feel realistic, but I'm not sure if that really justifies the cost (plus you don't get a stick shift, but I think the peddles probably make up for that, but it's expensive).

Not sure :/

To be honest I'm not sure what's on the market these days. You might be able to find something not offered by amazon in a similar price range but with different features.

[ArchangelX]

For that price I would say :

Logitech G25, you get a clutch and "H" shifter, some people have complained that the "H" shifter feels cheapy though.

Logitech driving force pro, no clutch and up\down shift only (not sure if it is still produced)

Fanatec porsche wheel, you get clutch and "H" shifter (this one is MORE expensive though)

All of them have the possibility to have a 900 turning radius.

I think users have made reviews on youtube etc if you want to search.

[mg198242]

For that price I would say :

Logitech G25, you get a clutch and "H" shifter, some people have complained that the "H" shifter feels cheapy though.

Logitech driving force pro, no clutch and up\down shift only (not sure if it is still produced)

Fanatec porsche wheel, you get clutch and "H" shifter (this one is MORE expensive though)

All of them have the possibility to have a 900 turning radius.

I think users have made reviews on youtube etc if you want to search.

Hmmmm, thanks! I'll start searchin' immediately!

[M4staH]

Today's training brought some good results I can see a little improvement and in a few days I should go under 1:23...

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7...cordcw1.th.jpg

[Hatesink]

Today's training brought some good results I can see a little improvement and in a few days I should go under 1:23...

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7...cordcw1.th.jpg

Considering you play as obsessively as I used to, I probably shouldn't encourage you, but...

...excellent! http://forums.2kgames.com/forums/ima...ons/icon14.gif

[Mikey]

Are you using automatic or manual?

[ThaCrip]

well i never recall my best time but i did beat the racing part BEFORE the v1.1 patch was released which was hard as he*l (not fun beating that part as i swore many times cause it was WAY to hard to beat) before that... with the patch i can beat it fairly easy then since they made that racing part MUCH easier to beat.

[Hatesink]

I always race using manual gears, from 1st person perspective and generally without any assists (I just don't find it fun otherwise).

[Betty_Swallocks]

I have a Logitech Driving Force Pro which is fantatsic. Really nice to play with, but I had a go with a friends G5 and the difference is amazing. Using a clutch pedal and H shifter is so much more intuitive than the paddles. It really is just like driving a real car.
I'll be getting a G5 as soon as I can afford it.

And here's another vote for playing Mafia with a wheel. It totally transforms the game.

[Dark-Wolf]

I have a Logitech Driving Force Pro which is fantatsic. Really nice to play with, but I had a go with a friends G5 and the difference is amazing. Using a clutch pedal and H shifter is so much more intuitive than the paddles. It really is just like driving a real car.
I'll be getting a G5 as soon as I can afford it.

And here's another vote for playing Mafia with a wheel. It totally transforms the game.

I've the G5 laser mouse and it's great. Maybe later i buy a wheel and pedals. But i'm not sure about to buy it.

[Capi]

2 years ago i think

http://www.mtg.omamees.com/est/modul...&album=4&pos=0

[ArchangelX]

When some people here say G5 , do they refer to the Logitech G25 wheel ?

[M4staH]

I'm using automatic transmission, but I'm tryin' to control gears by the speed. The worst thing is that I beat my record two times, but unfortunately when I beat the record the game quits to the windows;/ it's some kind of bug and it really sucks...

PS. Are we talking in this topic about times on lost heaven circuit or the controllers?

[M4staH]

After short break I finally managed to beat 1:23 barrier. My most actual times...

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5149/newxp0.jpg

[Hatesink]

After short break I finally managed to beat 1:23 barrier. My most actual times...

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/5149/newxp0.jpg

Well done. Congratulations. You nailed it. Considering I can't provide proof of my fastest lap time I 'pass the torch' to you.

I concede.

Well done.

I mentioned a 1:21 lap, but please please don't try for it, It's just theoretical (without clutch etc.). Probably practically impossible.

[M4staH]

I mentioned a 1:21 lap, but please please don't try for it, It's just theoretical (without clutch etc.). Probably practically impossible.

True, 1:21 seems to be impossible. You would have to pass all the turns perfectly which is very difficult to do. I suppose the 1:21 barrier still remains and will remain unbeaten...

[ArchangelX]

I don`t remember my best lap, I used a wheel\pedals set so I guess it is in the 1.25 - 1. 30 range, not sure.

[M4staH]

After a brake lasting few weeks, I decided to see if I am still fast in 'The Race', and? New lap record, with also 1:23 barrier broken

http://wgrajfoto.pl/pokazfoto/img060...m4stahbd6a.jpg

Is there anyone with better times?;>

[Zorro]

Don't worry about best times, just enjoy the race... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaROdns25OE

Btw... There is a huge difference in the racing after patching Mafia, best times should only be compared on the same difficulty settings.

[M4staH]

Difficulty doesn't change the way of steering. It changes only the skill and speed of CPU so I don't think it changes much. I'm usually first after the first corner so difficulty doesn't matter, but if you really want 2know, I play hard and very hard difficulty level.

And when it comes to version, I have 1.2 PL

You said I should enjoy the race. I enjoy it very much that's why I started beating my records and improving the technique.

[Hatesink]

If you play on the easier settings you end up lapping the whole pack which can really screw up your best times.

I always play on the original difficulty setting, that way you don't have to deal with as much traffic.

[Dbeat]

come on screw up you best games? its only a race the race is one of the a lot of levels mafia had

[Hatesink]

come on screw up you best games? its only a race the race is one of the a lot of levels mafia had

I mean 'times' as in 'fastest lap', not as in 'the good times'

Although, for me the fastest laps (i.e. the good times) often are 'the good times'

[M4staH]

A small update of my best

http://wgrajfoto.pl/pokazfoto/img070...mybestdbaf.jpg

[q11q222]

Is there anyone else still racing?

Link to screenshot of my lap times:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6...22laptimes.jpg

They are with the keyboard.


I had to run the game windowed because I messed with some things to do with Windows Installer and the digital signature thing, and now just about every app I try to install there is an installation error of some type, so FRAPS was out. In the end I used SMART Screen Capture, but I don't know if it has a KB shortcut key so I needed to be able to switch the focus hence Mafia windowed...

[Ganja]

I dont know why people had such a hard time doing the race....I finished 1st the first time, and got a new best time on every lap.

[M4staH]

Is there anyone else still racing?

Link to screenshot of my lap times:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6...22laptimes.jpg

NIceee job, got some video of any < 1:22:500 lap record?
My best is 1:22:840 what I considered to be almost perfect lap. What about games settings and version?

[q11q222]

NIceee job, got some video of any < 1:22:500 lap record?
My best is 1:22:840 what I considered to be almost perfect lap. What about games settings and version?

Alright dude!!!! Someone else is racing!!!!
The batteries for my camera are charging so when its done I'll see what the image quality looks like, and if I can get sub 1:22:500 in the recording.

The lap times are on v1.0 and v1.3 - I keep the same save files, and when I re-install it just depends if I patch the game or not. It doesn't seem to make any difference to the actual races, but when patched to v1.3 (maybe also to v1.2) you get the difficulty settings.

The times I've raced with v1.3 I've left damage on and put the difficulty to Hard - its still fairly easy to pass the cars and get into the lead after a corner or two, but you don't catch up with the stragglers so early. More laps with a clear track -> more laps to possibly beat a certain time (unless you crash, do some damage to the car, or something) .
That's the only benefit I see to v1.3...

I played the race today to get used to it again, and after a couple of hours I beat my previous best lap time (1:21:907 with 1:21:747), in v1.0, so again, the version doesn't seem to make any difference to me.

Have you tried races with other versions? Did they "feel" any different?