What can this game teach me for real life?

[hinti21]

First off; I have little to no knowledge about what goes on under the hood of my car.
Basic question: Can this game change that?

[wilmer007]

yes it does. for instance you can learn how to change the timing belt on your car and save $300 from labor but you will still need some way to lift the car to get be able to reach those hard to reach parts like the serpentine belts.

then again it also depends on what car you drive in RL cuz like for instance honda civics and accord have the alternator in a fairly accessible area from the hood rather than all the way down at the bottom like in the game.




i once changed my bushings on my car years ago and trust me it took me about 2-4 hours since i did not know what needed to be unscrewed to get that bushing out. this game helps you learn how to change bushings and brakes, etc...

[Draa]

I'm a certified mechanic (brakes, suspension, and wheel alignments), a former auto repair business owner, and I've been doing mechanical work for over 35 years. Let me say that this game really doesn't help you with doing this type work IRL. There are some parts of the game that may be representive of what you'd find but for the most part it's too simplified to be of any use for anything but a fun time.

That's not to say that it's a bad game. It's not. There a lot of fun to be had playing it. But if you tried to use this game to help you change the timing belt on a newer model car. or change the rack and pinion or inner tie rod ends on one, you'd soon find yourself in confusion and in for a large repair bill.

Some of the suspension areas in game (leaf spring suspensions) are close to accurate though and are represented pretty well. But not enough for someone to work on it themselves IRL. If people are interested in doing auto repair I'd recommend a Chilton's Manual for reference. They're expensive but they're a good buy for backyard mechanics, as a learning tool, or as a reference guide. That, or go to a good trade school or do it like I did, go through the School of Hard Knocks.

[Red Dot Games]

Its is game - and game should be fun :) It was not our intention to learn you step by step how to fix your real car - that is true.

But from game you can at least learn :
- where parts in car ar located
- parts names - sections in what there are
- some basics about how hard it would be for some service to replace part X (if it need alot of work in game - for sure it will need alot of work in real life)
- what parts can be checked by some kind of tests (here its not 100% accurate since OBD tells you more than in real life - but it was needed to make it like this for gameplay purpose)
- with a little knowledge you can better picture in your mind how engine is working (but this is limited since we dont have "animated" engines in which you can look from inside etc)

I think its not a bad starter for people which really wanna learn more about cars.

[Draa]

Originally posted by Red Dot Games:

I think its not a bad starter for people which really wanna learn more about cars.

I agree and I wasn't knocking the game at all. I'm sorry if it came off that way.

I was just pointing out that people shouldn't try and use this as a reference for rebuilding or repairing their car. That's best left to a professional now-a-days. So much has changed with cars that the days of "doing it in the yard" are all but gone (though there's still some things that can be done like that).

This game is a fantastic way to get young people interested in automotive repair though. There's not much material out there to do that right now. I've noticed over the last couple of decades that there's less and less interest in this line of work. Anything that can help change that is welcomed by all in the industry.

[hinti21]

Thanks for the responses, guys. Your help is appreciated.

[D_G_A_F 🏍]

Originally posted by Draa:

Originally posted by Red Dot Games:

I think its not a bad starter for people which really wanna learn more about cars.

I agree and I wasn't knocking the game at all. I'm sorry if it came off that way.

I was just pointing out that people shouldn't try and use this as a reference for rebuilding or repairing their car. That's best left to a professional now-a-days. So much has changed with cars that the days of "doing it in the yard" are all but gone (though there's still some things that can be done like that).

This game is a fantastic way to get young people interested in automotive repair though. There's not much material out there to do that right now. I've noticed over the last couple of decades that there's less and less interest in this line of work. Anything that can help change that is welcomed by all in the industry.

This post was a year ago but hopefully you get this and reply. Will a Car mechanic simulator 2016 or 17 be released..???.... I haven't finished 2014 yet but when I do I'll get 2015.

[Aaron]

I WOULDENT BOTHER WITH ANYTHING PAST 15 there are rubbish stick with 15 best i n series 14 has slightl;y better music

[D_G_A_F 🏍]

Could you have waited till atleast 19 May 2018 ??

[Blu]

Originally posted by D_G_A_F:

Originally posted by Draa:

I agree and I wasn't knocking the game at all. I'm sorry if it came off that way.

I was just pointing out that people shouldn't try and use this as a reference for rebuilding or repairing their car. That's best left to a professional now-a-days. So much has changed with cars that the days of "doing it in the yard" are all but gone (though there's still some things that can be done like that).

This game is a fantastic way to get young people interested in automotive repair though. There's not much material out there to do that right now. I've noticed over the last couple of decades that there's less and less interest in this line of work. Anything that can help change that is welcomed by all in the industry.

This post was a year ago but hopefully you get this and reply. Will a Car mechanic simulator 2016 or 17 be released..???.... I haven't finished 2014 yet but when I do I'll get 2015.

CMS 2018 is out. lol

[dimmu1313]

Personally what this game has done for me is inspired me to go learn more about the cars I have now, and employ some diligence and see what, if anything, I can learn to do myself and possibly save some money in real life.

[Riddley Walker]

Originally posted by Red Dot Games:

Its is game - and game should be fun :) It was not our intention to learn you step by step how to fix your real car - that is true.

But from game you can at least learn :
- where parts in car ar located
- parts names - sections in what there are
- some basics about how hard it would be for some service to replace part X (if it need alot of work in game - for sure it will need alot of work in real life)
- what parts can be checked by some kind of tests (here its not 100% accurate since OBD tells you more than in real life - but it was needed to make it like this for gameplay purpose)
- with a little knowledge you can better picture in your mind how engine is working (but this is limited since we dont have "animated" engines in which you can look from inside etc)

I think its not a bad starter for people which really wanna learn more about cars.

What about what the parts do? If I dismantle a carburetor, is there some basic info in the game about what it actually does?

[ChyonE]

Originally posted by hinti21:

First off; I have little to no knowledge about what goes on under the hood of my car.
Basic question: Can this game change that?

No. Basically this game shows you how everything clumps together. This game does no justice of being a mechanic and how to change parts, you have to dive in yourself IRL

[ChyonE]

Originally posted by Jiminy Glick:

Originally posted by Red Dot Games:

Its is game - and game should be fun :) It was not our intention to learn you step by step how to fix your real car - that is true.

But from game you can at least learn :
- where parts in car ar located
- parts names - sections in what there are
- some basics about how hard it would be for some service to replace part X (if it need alot of work in game - for sure it will need alot of work in real life)
- what parts can be checked by some kind of tests (here its not 100% accurate since OBD tells you more than in real life - but it was needed to make it like this for gameplay purpose)
- with a little knowledge you can better picture in your mind how engine is working (but this is limited since we dont have "animated" engines in which you can look from inside etc)

I think its not a bad starter for people which really wanna learn more about cars.

What about what the parts do? If I dismantle a carburetor, is there some basic info in the game about what it actually does?

Depending on the engine. Probably no
There are sensors wires and other bolts n screws
what this game doesn't have to offer are wires. You may have tubes on your carburetor as well which you may be able to twist and pull out easy or if it' has a clamp on it
(stuff a clean clothe or a garage so nothing gets in there) You do not wanna fish a bee out of a cylinder or radiator if you change your coolant lol!

[Riddley Walker]

But what I mean is there is no written info, explanations, not even basic. Even like a tooltip when you press on things. That way you could actually learn how things work. to be honest none of these simulator mechanic games that I've tried have these things. I think it's a shame.