The Fernbus racing game.

[LarsR_DK]

I've been wondering why driving in Fernbus is always a hectic, frustrating experience, instead of the more zen-like, relaxed cruise that I and others expect from a coach simulator. But I find that something is really wrong with the speed in Fernbus. If you drive through a city at 50 km/h in real life, it feels really slow. But in Fernbus it feels like a racing game. If you go 100 km/h on the autobahn in Fernbus, you'll suddenly find yourself struggling to make a really sharp bend and still keep four (or six) wheels on the ground. This doesn't happen in real life, and it doesn't happen in ETS2, to make a comparison to a game, that delivers on the "relaxed drive" feel.

I think, this happens for two reasons:

1. In downscaling the map, I don't think TML downscaled the angles of bends - or the topography of the landscape, for that matter. Which is also why you see these very steep hills and unrealisticly deep valleys on the autobahn. The latter is less of a problem, but you shouldn't have to struggle to make a turn on the autobahn, well below speed limit.

2. Speed is represented very incorrectly in Fernbus, I think. I find that as a rule of thumb, stay about 20 km/h under your desired speed. 30k feels like 50k in real life. 60k feels like 80k - and 70-80k on the autobahn, feels like you'd expect 90-100 km/h to feel. I find that if you drive using your speedometer and speed limits, you'll arrive at your destination hours before scheduled. However, if you drive in a pleasant, relaxed and realistic way, you'll arrive within minutes of the scheduled arrival.

I don't know if any of these issues are fixable by TML, but I hope so. The game is about driving fluently and without incidents, but it kind of makes that impossible at the same time. New drivers will be frustrated and put off by trying their best, but constantly having accidents and stressful experiences.

Anyway - that's my two cents ... I still enjoy the game, and I'm really pleased with the all the new stuff happening. Great work, guys.

Cheers,
Lars

[gcookscotland]

Too funny, but you have a point. Maybe we need a racing strip repaint or McLaren repaint.

[James_Enfield]

Its exactly the same with SCS games where 90 feels like 120. It is due to scaling and FOV.

[N Quarter]

I've personally found that reducing the amount of Tilt the Bus has during turns has limited this "Speed sensation" [you will find it in the Options].

I always tend to have a bit of tilt still, so you do get a sense of motion, but not so overdramatic.

As far as SCS doing it better, yes and no, it really depends on the bends, the Load your Hauling, and the Trailer Stability you have set. I personally feel that many bends at anywhere over 50-60Mph can send the Truck a bit out of control .

On very shallow bends though of course there is no problem, but I also never had a problem on shallow bends in Fernbus either, even before I reduced the Tilt effect.

[LarsR_DK]

Yeah, and it's not a general comparison to ETS/ATS, because those games have issues as well - I just never thought they have this particular one.
It's just become obvious to me that the speed is indicated wrong, and the trip schedules back this up. As mentioned, you'll be hours early on long trips, if you stick to the speed limits and your speedometer. I would think this is an easy fix, by simply letting the speedo show a higher speed than it does.

[James_Enfield]

I mentioned SCS games only to show that it happens always when world is not 1:1.

[LarsR_DK]

Yes, there will always be issues with scaling.

[LarsR_DK]

Stringbean6 - yes! That is exactly what I'm talking about.
OMSI is a great example of perfect world speed, and probably a significant reason why people have stuck with it, quirky as it is. It just feels "right".

I do have the console enabled in ETS/ATS, but never thought that I could use it to slow the game down - that is just brilliant, I'll try that out this second. Thank you! - and of course, that's what Fernbus needs as well. No speed will feel right for everyone, so a simple slider in the options menu, will make everyone happy.

I think the guys at TML have done a splendid job, but you're right - they haven't played it enough. Whenever I drive over a piece of road with a chunk of fuzzy vegetation sticking out of it, I know that no tester have been here. Same goes for the new comfort class ... If they'd driven it for just a few hours, they would have noticed the bugs, people are complaining about now. Also, they could've designed a temporary placeholder logo. That big red dot on the wheel makes me feel like I'm driving my sons toy car - not a huge luxury coach.

[Biffer]

Couldn't agree more with the OP. I tried to play Fernbus last night after many months away from it, and it was just impossible. In my case, using the mouse and W/S for 'control', I found the coach was accelerating all the time, even when I wasn't pressing the W key. This resulted in having to press the S key almost continously to try and bring the speed down to a realistic level. I
don't know what they've done to it since I played last, but now it is simply unuseable - as the OP said, it's more like driving an F1 grand-prix car than a coach.

[Fixxxer]

Glad I'm not the only one with this perception thing. I thought it was me being a wimp at first with the corners and chicanes seeming to want to tip the coach over and fish tailing my way through feeling very tense. Surely the passengers would throw up or form an orderly queue to get off (through the emergency exits) if you actually drove a coach like this in real life.

[LarsR_DK]

Hehehe Biffer and Fixxxer - I hope TML will look into it. I'm also pleased to see I'm not alone in this - it would make the game much more enjoyable, if you could turn the speed down a notch.

[MOMO & YUNA]

Speed sensation depends on your Field of View setting. If you set the FOV higher than 80 the speed ratio (warp) is increased. I found 80 to be the most realistic (for my 42" monitor).

Regarding the tilting, I found that the medium level is the most realistic. Any higher will make the bus understeering.