We definitely share the same thoughts and concerns. I hate to beat this horse again because I've made these points months ago on the RR3 forums. I guess it's just so frustrating how close this game comes to racing perfection on any platform and yet misses the mark in this one area by a wide margin. Like you I've spent as much time with this game as I have with any full on simulation on any platform. It's really that good IMO. And then to be denied the new cars in the update because I'm months of grinding away or hundreds of dollars shy of being able to drive them is really irritating. I will play the game casually and unlock what I can, I've made my piece with it I think. I will not give them any money however as I do feel that would be rewarding bad behavior. I bought RR1, and RR2 twice but I won't pay a dime for this one because of the principle of the issue.
I was thinking about working through the prestige power match series to unlock the SLS GT3 but then realized that car only seems to be featured in that one series. Is that true? Why didn't they include it in the GT3 series with the other GT3 cars?
If I remember correctly that's right, it's only on the one series. No idea why it wasn't included in the GT3 series.
I couldn't agree more with you. I spent a lot of time playing with RR2 but the amount of commitment and dedication I put into RR3 is way bigger than any other racing game I've ever played on any platform (even bigger than the first two GranTurismo titles on Playstation many years ago) and I've downloaded this game on day one. I had to spend some money on this, basically because, in order to get some "extreme" cars you just need a huge amount of gold and my ultimate goal is to get 100% on events as much as I can. But some requirements are absolutely insane, like 600 golds for the Porsche 911 RSR and 800 for the Agera R. I don't know if I'll ever be able to drive those cars. Firemonkeys should offer a way to change R$ with golds, other freemium games like Pocket Planes give you that option.
I understand what people say about the money aspect but as far as I'm concerned it's the best 3d game out there for iOS on my iPhone 4s. The way I look at it, it's a strategy game as much as a driving game. Here are some additional tips I've learned from my restart of the game in no particular order: - When in a series, only buy cars at the 20% discount you get when reaching a race specific to that car. The game tells you when you will get to that race. Keep a close eye on it so you have the cash when you open it up. - Upgrade your new cars before you get them to the first or second level across the board. That way you will probably win the car-specific race immediately and not have to grind on it. - Don't upgrade anything that requires gold unless you positively cannot win the race without it. Try for a few days including over a weekend when it seems that RR3 resets it's TSM stats. - When working through a series just work towards a podium on all races until you get the top-billed car for the series. Then upgrade that car as much as $ will allow. That should make it easier to win the series and keeps you from spending gold on lower-rated cars. - Not all cars at the end of the listing are the best cars in the series. For instance, when comparing the Porsche Carrera GT to the Nissan GTR (R35), the Nissan is a FAR better car. Look at the various ratings before you go hog-wild on the upgrades. - Have a race in reserve, preferably on the previous level where you are now, that gives a good payout in cash and fame. Race that one when your 100% bonus becomes available. Also save your team sponsorships for that race so you are almost guaranteed to get an extra payout. Remember that fame = gold. This will also make you a master of that track which helps out greatly as you work your way up and get way faster cars. - Focus on 2 or 3 series at a time. That should get you about 1-2 hours of play time before all your cars are in for maintenance. - If you are close to opening up a new car in a series watch the maintenance level on your car. Run the drag, autocross, speed snap, head-to-head and elimination races in that order so you get as many podiums out of your car as possible. If you're lucky you can unlock and purchase a car and have it ready in the morning. When I restarted the game all series were locked except the first one. It was a bummer but it allowed me to be much more strategic when I play the game. It adds a level of challenge that I never got with Gran Tourismo back in the 1990's. It also makes up somewhat for the inability to tune a car's settings. I just wish there was a way to easily give part throttle or hold the throttle at something other than WOT for a steady-state turn.
What is up with the time trial tournament times?? Yesterday I was on average about 7 to 9 secs off the quickest times on each track. Today I am around 30 secs off. How is it that the top ranking time is half a minute faster? Hackers yes???
One hacker in particular. One who was so dumb that he posted times that are a minimum 30 seconds faster than the next nearest fastest time and in no way feasible in the game at all. He shall be removed quite soon and receive the appropriate rewards for being a dumbass, an online access ban. And come on man, surely you can do better than 7 to 9 seconds off Seriously though, it's the gold hackers that are the biggest problem because they've fully upgraded cars and I just don't have the gold or cash to be fully upgrading any of my cars and they just cant be beaten. Luckily enough, a lot don't have much skill so one can get close to their times. I'm just not going to invest the kind of real money needed to get on an equal footing with them. Pity really as the tournament is a great idea and a very useful way to reward the players. If only those bloody iap cheaters weren't there. And it's not like they even need the gold rewards. Ah, well. Another one to add to the "ironies of life" list.
I'm with you Rip. I have only a few cars that are almost fully upgraded (haven't spent any gold on upgrades) so I'm not very competitive in the time trials but I do love giving them a try and generally shoot to beat your times (as we are friends). I'm at a cross roads right now. I've got about $1.7M and am contemplating a couple different ways to spend the money: 1) unlocking the Veyron showcase in one series to buy that car. 2) Unlocking some of the Lambos in another series so I can start working through the Ferrari series. 3) Spending the money on upgrades for the LFA, Shelby 427 and Hyundai so I can unlock more of those series and the Porsche series. Any advice? Which series have you tried and which cars do you enjoy more?
I've got the 427 Cobra and have upgraded as far as cash will allow. It's not high enough PR to complete "The Legend Continues" series. 18 of 33 upgrades done. 175mph; 3.9s; 111.2ft; 1.08g; 32.8 PR Current Upgrades: - Engine 3 of 8 - next is 28 Gold - Drivetrain is 3 of 4 - next is 26 Gold - Body is 3 of 6 - next is 22 Gold - Suspension is 2 of 5 - next is 16 Gold - Exhaust is 2 of 3 - next is 16 Gold - Brakes are 3 of 4 - next is 18 Gold - Tires are 2 of 3 - Next is 15 Gold So to upgrade across the board on this one car would cost me 141 Gold and I'd still be far from a fully upgrade car. I'm waiting on cars like this till I have all series and cars unlocked or until I need to upgrade to get a higher completion to open up a series in order to get a car.
This what makes me hesitate to upgrade these cars. I'm pretty sure I might need to spend gold on the upgrades for the LFA just to unlock the Porsche series. And, like you, I'm holding off on any gold spending for anything other than a car until I'm happy with the cars I have. I've got 412 gold now and plan to eventually buy the ZR1 and SLR GT3. I'd also like to get the 911 RSR or Ferrari Berlinetta but those are currently out of my reach if I buy the others first. That said I'm leaning more toward the Veyron or Lambos which only cost cash and will allow me to complete more series. My heart says get the Veyron just to feel the thrill on Bathurst but my head says get the Lambos as they will open more doors for me.
I'd skip the LFA and Cobra. As said, meeting the pr requirements to complete those series will cost gold and too much gold at that. I can't remember exactly how to get to the Porsche one as I had unlocked all the series prior to updates so the route is unknown to me now, but the Porsche series was enjoyable and reasonably inexpensive until the RSR (great car in game, pity I only got a few races out of it). I'd either go the Porsche or Lamborghini route to be honest. The Bugatti I only got recently and I haven't really used it much as I'd better options available.. I would definitely skip the lfa and cobra if I had my time back. The Hyundai is working quite well for me though as it's cheap to the upgrade level I have it at. Don't even want to know the gold prices though. I'd imagine I won't even consider applying them. The lambo's and Porsches would be the way I 'd go. Mainly because I'm enjoying the Ferrari's and the lambos make it easier to get there. Still have three of those to get. And the Porsche series is an enjoyable one. And yeah, I always check you guys times as well I'm keeping a close eye on yourself and GPS, who has recently become my target as he keeps bloody well beating me and I used to be able to set him a challenge before. Must do better against you two. Must work on my skill a bit more as beating you guys is very satisfying to be honest. In a good way of course.
Thanks for the advice. Just to clarify for you: The Porsche series is only unlocked by obtaining 15 trophies in the LFA series. I already bought the LFA and have 6 more trophies to unlock the Porsche series but I need to make some serious upgrades to the LFA to unlock the next 3 events and then I imagine I'll need to upgrade the heck out it again to unlock those last 3 events I need to open the Porsches. I could be $500-$600 plus gold away from getting all the trophies I need. Only one of the Ferrari series is open to me right now because I would need to finish the Elite series with the Agera R and Veyron to unlock the other Ferrari series. I doubt I'll ever be able to do that though because I will never be able to afford the Agera R (800 coins) and I doubt the Veyron and Zonda R can compete well enough with the Agera R to finish that series. I also bought the Shelby 427 already as I love that car and it's actually been a lot of fun. Only reason to finish that series is for more gold. So I can choose to spend a lot of my money on the LFA upgrades and hope I can get it upgraded far enough to win 6 more trophies. Or I buy a couple Lambos and start the Ferrari series to buy a few of those. Or I get the Veyron to work on the Elite series and hope by some miracle it's competitive enough to let me unlock the other Ferrari series.
I haven't hacked nor max upgraded on any car, I've completed 100% on all series' before "SPEED DEMONS" and 75% on each series after. I have plenty of gold and R$ leftover. I am haven't achieved anything less than "A" rating for every time trial. I can post a series of screen shots to prove my points. There is more strategic driving involved than upgrades can improve in your driving. I know there are many $$ hackers and yet I do keep them all as friends for TSM bonus; they only made me a better driver. And lastly there is the time hackers. I am not worried about them either since the developers erase their times and ban them before the deadline. Many say this game is IAP greedy; I have yet to face the wall. I have made perfect purchases at best times with super discounts for all my premium currency related cars. I have yet to purchase Agera R, Zonda R, F12Berlinetta, 599 GTO at super discounted price. I do have enough gold to buy a few of them at full price but that won't keep me future proof. After reading many posts about people complaining about gold income I'm not willing to take the risks you did early.
I've never been particularly interested in the 'friends' portion of the game. I didn't realize that racing friends could get you gold above and beyond the normal levels for fame and completion. How does that work?
The more friends, the more they fill the grid, and when you beat them you earn more money. It can reward quite well in some of the races..
And I have to keep my eyes peeled for you guys! Same feeling if/when I beat you guys too.. I think we're all quite close so it's always good racing.. RIP, not sure why I'm so slow in the time trials.. I think I get nervous or something..
With me, I think I tend to run the TTs conservatively so I don't go off track. I've always been a better racer than hotlapper but am just mediocre at both. I do tend to find you guys times to be something to shoot for.
