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The ring is still fresh(ish) in my mind and so I unlocked it on PGR4 (Xbox360) and have been playing it - It seems a pretty good rendition but some of the corners don't seem to capture the gradients just right.

Have others played it and for the hardened gamers what is the best rendition ?

Also I am planing to buy Racedriver GRID but looking at the info on it it doesn't have the ring - only the GP circuit - anyone got it can confirm this. It does have Donington though interestingly.

I've been looking into this as well, Neil. From what I can gather GT4 on PS2 gives a pretty good representation.

GT5 Prologue is out now but doesn't have the 'Ring on it.

General consensus seems to be that whichever game you choose, they do not capture the effect of cambers correctly and do not give a true feel of how hilly the 'Ring is or how bumpy.

I'm guessing that Alex will be pretty well informed on this.

yep GT4 is the best I found... but doesn;t cope with the elevation change close to the real thing....

Do some laps as a passenger with others...about 10...then play GT4 with a car not too quick (Z4 3.0l for example) in order to learn the circuit and try to link the corners to those you experienced as a passenger....

Then, go out as passenger for a few more laps and continue GT4 afterwards...the third time you visit the Ring you'll have a pretty good idea of the circuit for a beginner...you will recognize most corners and you won't be suprised after a hill whether it's left or right...you can now learn driving the Ring in real life without too much stress:-)

good luck and keep it safe:-)

Neil what is better than the real game in the ring. Forget those electronic games. Get the real stuff instead

I know James.

I just would like to be able to memorise the track better. After our last trip I had a number of stretches in the memory bank - I'd like to get more !

I've been running a few of the 'Ring vids (of Sabine and others) on YouTube which could maybe help in learning the circuit. Some give a better out-front view than others and appear to give quite a good feel for the hilly parts.

The vid of the Corvette ZR1 official record run also shows the position on a map of the track http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=k6mEirkQN8o

Good vid showing how GT4 compares visually with the 'Ring in real life:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72yyvNAU8Bg

Possibly some doctoring involved to keep them in sync but well done nonetheless.

Coincidently the magazine Redline is doing a Nurburgring special this month.

Among a number of guides (and a full size annotated poster map) they've done a review of games - in the same vain as this thread !

Results:

1. (27/30) GT4 (PS2) - Still one of the best racing simulators, and for good. Reality rating 9/10.

2. (26/30) Forza Motorsport 2 (Xbox360) - One of the best looking and realistic racers around. Reality rating 8/10.

3. (25/30) Forza Motorsport (Xbox) - Has stood the test of time well, still good sim. Reality rating 8/10.

4= (20/30) Grand Prix Legends (20/30) - step back in time but still a formidable sim. Reality rating 8/10.

4= (20/30) Project Gotham Rating 4 (Xbox360) - High on entertainment, but not so much reality. Reality rating 6/10.

6= (19/30) Enthusia Racing (PS2) - Looking a little ropy now, if technically competent. Reality rating 7/10.

6= (19/30) Project Gotham Racing 3 (Xbox 360) - An arcade racer which puts good looks over simulation. Reality racing 6/10.

8. (N/A) Project Gotham Racing 2 (Xbox) - You only get to drive the Ring once the game is completed (and they didn't!)

Thats I joke Forza 2 is much more realistic then GT4.

I have to admit Forza 2 is my favorite game - I never really liked GT4 - I thought GT3 was ok but something with GT4 never felt right.

GT5 prologue looks more promising - Initially it felt just the same - but tweak the settings and it starts to behave more like I was expecting.

I bought the Xbox360 for games like Forza 2 - and still haven't got a copy yet !

I must secure a copy.

I do all my driving games on the PC....

For me, the best track for the Nurburgring on the PC is on a game called GT Legends. The track doesn't come with the game, instead it's been made by some enthuastic bloke (with too much time on his hands) and is actually pretty accurate. You have to download it then add the files to a certain folder in the game directory, but then it works a charm. Again, the undulations aren't particuraly realistic, but without the use of a 3D simulator, can they ever be?

There's also a free game for the PC called M3 Challenge - released by BMW themselves to promote th new M3. It comes with the GP track, but again you can addon the Nordschleife.

Also, Grand Prix Legends that you mentioned Neil is very good. Cars are a bit dodgy, but the track's pretty accurate

I use a wheel and pedals on the PC games which does make a big difference, but they can both still be used with a keyboard. If anyone wants to know how to get the track to work on either of the games above, let me know and I'll try and give you a hand.