I’ve been using automatic in racing games for years but this new BMW M3 spec series is making me realize I’m missing out. often over the last few days I’ve just gotten that thing stuck at 4500rpm and it just won’t downshift.
Anyways, I’ve seen allot of advice on what to use on controller, some say buttons, others say use the right stick.
Thing is though i have an elite series two with the flappy paddles on the back. I’m a big fan of them and have found a use for them in everything from halo infinite to Skyrim and i was wondering if anyone has experience using the paddles as gear shifters, or am i overthinking this and it doesn’t matter?
Any other advice would be useful.
You are overthinking it, just use the buttons X and B. You will get used to it.
When you are used to the paddles, try it out. I found it a bit more complicated to use other fingers for shifting.
Really the big thing is just getting used to manually shifting. Whatever button layout you use doesn’t matter as much, as long as it allows you to easily operate the brakes, throttle, steering, etc. Shift up when the RPM hits redline, and get a feel for shifting down at the appropriate time (mostly just don’t overrev the engine). It might take some time, but with practice it’ll be as easy as breathing.
EDIT: For my button layout I use X and B for shifting.
I mean in most of cases with op engines like M3 have, u need to use all redline up to hard rpm limit.
Yeah there’s always exceptions. I shift at redline most of the time anyways
Auto to manual is actually very easy and wont take you long at all.
Try a few different button combinations and see what feels most comfortable to you. Personally when i use a controller, i use X to downshift and A to upshift. I don’t bother with using the clutch, i just do regular Manual shifting, and i find its very comfortable and natural to have my thumb float over X and A and just kind of rock between them.
Where do you bind handbrake?
X - Down / A - Up master race
Whenever they made it allowable in one of the earlier Forza titles, that’s what I’ve always rocked on a pad. Matches the intuitive style of console manumatic shift pattern.
I have the same controller, and I map two paddles on the back to “X” and “B” respectively, giving me two places to shift. I do this because on upshifts, I simultaneously hit “A” for clutch and the back paddle for “B”. It’s the easiest for me so that I don’t have to shift my hands unnecesarily from the throttle or steering controls.
However, on the downshifts, I normally use the “X” button instead of the paddle, as I find it more comfortable. But yeah, using “A” for clutch, this is the setup I’ve found to be most comfortable and consistent.
Here is a pic of the profile I use:
I also have my brake set so that it doesn’t fully depress immediately. I don’t use ABS, and doing this allows me to feather the brakes and use more modulation when I’m trail-braking into corners.
I’ve used manual (no clutch) since FM5, I believe, and it was a smooth transition. I’ll never go back, as it gives you so much more control over a car!
I use X & B, with A for handbrake. I think it’s one of the presets.
Just remember not to gear down too quickly, or you’ll break the car (or in many cases simply lose control of it).
Yeah so i just did some practice with the mclaren F1. And while i felt i could shift up no problem, shifting down i kept either starting to spin out, completely missing my braking zones(either too late or too soon, or braking too hard), or once getting on the gas being in the wrong gear.
I’ll definitely need to practice in free play for a while before trying multiplayer otherwise id be an absolute menace haha.
That’s probably not the best car to start practicing manual gear changes on. Try something slower and less powerful.
You might also want to use ABS - at least initially - to have less other things to think about while learning.
I don’t know if i’m the only one to think this way but, you don’t need handbrake.
I use X downshift / B Upshift / A clutch
I think my handbrake isn’t set on any button, but still have Y if you need to put it somewhere
For the record, B button. But unless I’m playing Dirt Rally or WRC, I don’t use the handbrake. If I’m circuit racing on tarmac and I need to use the handbrake, things have gone horribly wrong.
Handbrake can be useful in some situations, when u drive rly understeery car, I tend to counter understeer with handbrake tap in some stock cars. Well I mostly did it in horizon, but I caught myself doing it in some situations in motorsport.
Btw I just use default 1 settings for gamepad
Depends on a lot, I’ve done all 3. I like all 3.
Currently I use X and B, works well if you want to use clutch. Hitting A before X or B is easy.
Before I used clutch, I used the stick. Is my preferred method, but don’t like with clutch.
Paddles on the back is great. For shifting or for clutch. I just don’t like paddles, tried to use so many times in so many games, can never get comfortable with them.
If you like paddles I’d consider the stick for shifting, then later add the paddle but for clutch.
Because i have small hands i cannot reach X without moving my hand. So i use B for upshift and A for downshift. Y is handbrake (when i play Horizon).
There are two ways i use the paddles in games. One is i just bind both sides to left and right stick click. This is wicked convenient and logically will decrease stick drift.
Then in any game where you use both sticks at same time (for me most recently halo infinite, man eater, RE4) i bind them for buttons that would frequently make me have to either stop aiming or stop moving.
In RE 4 i just bound the paddles to the D pad so i could switch weapons and equipment without having to stand still and get eaten.
In halo i have them bound to jump, crouch, bash, and sprint, this makes it so i almost never need to compromise aiming or movement to perform these actions in both games.
Id give it a try again, especially in FPS titles. I could never go back.
