I just want to start this thread on a highly positive note: Forza was the very first franchise that innovated how car sound got done in a console racing game. It seriously upped the ante and other developers worked hard to compete.
Even though they have been making minor adjustments with every iteration, I feel we are still way off from the point when REAL car sounds are represented in a Forza Motorsport/Horizon game, as the human ear perceives them in real life.
The question is, is it impossible? Are they deliberately not improving sounds so that maybe we can have them by Horizon 6 or FM 8? My guess is as good as yours, but I believe a major developer like T10/MS have the resources and knowhow to recreate car sounds 1:1 in a game.
I do understand developers are in it to make money too and have to keep everybody happy; one of the most requested features is a very high car count, and they have not disappointed in that department. However, what will it take to have 100% REAL car sounds in a Forza game? I’m not talking digitally recreated EQ-boosted sounds, or pseudo car sounds of what the developer believes to be realistic or what gamers might like, for example. I’m talking completely accurate 1:1 car sounds as you hear them from the exhaust perspective, cockpit, drive by or hood/bumper in real life. I’m talking true reflection of car audio with regard to change in characteristics after upgrades. I can’t help but throw in a few comparisons here - PCARS seemed to get it right for some of the cars on the roster. AC seemed to do a decent enough job. But that is the point, why should we settle for just decent or above par? If graphics can look this good, if physics can improve this much, why not sounds?
EA’s NFS has set a good benchmark I believe, but the rest of the game is broke. Anyway, that’s a bit off-topic…
T10 and PG are car fanatics, so are we. Can we maybe reduce the car count to faithfully reproduce TRUE car sounds? Or perhaps increase the development cycle to 3 years? There can be plenty of DLC to keep us busy till then. And I promise you, if you guys recreate car sounds in the game exactly as they are in reality, my motorhead friends and I will purchase every piece of DLC you roll out.
And I don’t want to hear the “it’s just a game” talk, mind you! I want to see that love of cars in the next FM and Horizon game. Make it so, T10! Capt. Luke Picard voice
BTW, this entire thread is based on cars I’ve heard and driven IRL, although I did mention some of the competing franchises.
Keep up the great work devs!