Automobilista 2 Custom Force Feedback - Overview & Recommendations

The Custom FFB Collection v2.5 has been updated to include all the latest variants. Get it here. Awesome work from everyone in the Custom FFB space.

FWIW, my updated take on Reiza's FFB profiles is attached.

 

I think Default+ has some forces I cannot understand (some big forces that appear to be offseted from what car is doing on-screen).
It's like that with Moza R12, was the same with TM TS-PC. At least, there a concistency .

The main question is why isn't modding (particularly, FFB custom files) more supported...
I had some info from Reiza that paved my way but, it ended...
I wish I had the reason (maybe something I did wrong, maybe the base file I used is not approved by Reiza, maybe...maybe...).

 

I have used custom profiles a lot in AMS2 and tweaked to my preference in some cases. However, since the arrival of beta v1.5, I've used Default+ almost exclusively.

Reiza have invested a lot of time to develop the default / default+ presets based on broad user-feedback, using various steering systems. Default profiles provide very good fundamental ffb effects but we the users, need to recognize that AMS2 does ffb a bit differently. That comes with some pros and cons, of course. While the ffb-tuning process in AMS2 may be a bit more complex than in other titles, the end results can be quite amazing.

Default profiles

• Reiza uses the default+ profile as the standard to make per-car adjustments and fine tune / balance various aspects of the ffb. So, we have a better chance of experiencing AMS2 in the way the developers intended.
• Testing and reporting on ffb / physics issues (separate aspects but both influence our perception) may better match the standards used by Reiza, resulting in improved development efficiency and better overall end results.
• Striking the proper balance between basic FFB settings (Gain / LFB / Damping) is critically important in AMS2 when using the default presets.
• How the Damping scales in ASM2 is different than in most other titles (Hence the recommended starting point of 50%).

I remain a fan of the option to use and edit custom profiles in AMS2 and I'm likely to experiment with them in the future.

 

Your first point sounds like a disconnect between ffb and your visual settings in-game.

On FFB, what other title offers users more ffb options than AMS2 / PC2?

I don't think we can reasonably expect more than what is already provided. Let's face it, user FFB-preferences vary far too much for any developer to possibly satisfy every user with an easy button that automatically simply works right out of the box. It's simply Unrealistic.

At least we have the option for custom files here. Reiza could easily have simplified their lives by limiting the ffb settings to a level like ACC / iRacing / rF2 / RR / etc. and called it a day.

Having had an AccuForce wheel as my first Direct-drive, I found SimCommander software to be very complex and powerful. Sadly, SimExperience deemed the prospect of marrying their software and a better servo motor into one complete package as being impractical but, using telemetry to drive ffb is certainly fascinating to explore. What we have access to in AMS2 custom-ffb is not so different, except for lacking the UI tuning effects. Most players are likely opposed to adding more ffb-settings to the UI anyway.

Unless there is a new FFB-API developed, what we have available right now is likely to be "As good as it gets".

 

THANK YOU! The key for me was, after copying the 'Road features settings' from V80 to V500 on the 8nm files and overwriting them, then as you kindly gave more info it all came together when I increased the 'suspension scale' up from 30 to 45 in the V500 (in the V80 it was 60).

Honestly I'm driving with a MASSIVE smile on my face, it's insane. I drive in VR with some transducers on the rig and AMS2 now is better than, well, let me put it this way... The wife is getting errr 'frustrated'!

This FFB forum is pure gold.

I raced a lot on iRacing before 1.5, now I've stopped my sub and solely use AMS2, even managed to get four of my closest racing friends to switch. I wish there was more time in the day I could spend behind the wheel in this game!

 

I don’t think there is any conspiracy here, Reiza haven't provided any info publicly , they have in the past endorsed the project and given some very occasional technical support around dependency code , and the last time that happened and was needed was a year or two ago .
The fact that all the defaults revisions in the last couple of big updates hasn’t broken the custom files is evidence that they are still in line with the last original versions of rFuktor. , which still work absolutely fine and there’s not any need to have extra support.

In fact the recent improvements in physics only strengthen the original momentum rack , such is how it is actually implemented as a bespoke custom rack with good interpretation over the top of the in house system of ffb which still underlies everything.

 

Totally agree with you about FFB potential in AMS2. I did rise that problem in S397 a long time ago, saying AMS2 will get better if rF2 stalls development... and here I am!

Well, we don't really have a good guide to adjust our POV/FOV... do we?
I've recently watched this video and adjusted my FOV from the calculated 60 to 50 and car pitch to something else (AMS2 doesn't provide info/feedback about that setting). Got a lot better! Of course, wheels now stay closer to bottom of the screen... where I 'feel' them using rack forces from physics engine.
This video, from a guy that seems to understand perspective better than most, also refers the same as I did a few days ago... the visual perception interfers big time in FFB and 3D motion in space perceptions.
Go figure, I got beaten here... but not a single useful suggestion (and if this is not the thread for that, people should refrain from replying). It was just a btw to a specific person about a specific problem.

Agree, that's I'm not asking this from Reiza, that's why I'm doing my own way.
If my FFB is only useful to me, I did my part beliving in AMS2.
Criticize is the best way of positive thinking, is what keeps us moving forward.
'Optimists' are not usefull from an evolution point of view.

 

That's what I said? Really?

So, for you there's no need for extra support. Good to know.
I may differ. A member of Reiza team also had another oppinion when throw me an helping hand, pointing me variables not present in any other custom file, at my request. It was vital for me to take another approach, and I'm thankful for that.

 

I may (probably) make a request to have 3-5 sliders for custom FFB files to use.
P1, P2, ..., P5 which could be renamed for in-game display and be used as we can use "gain", "lfb", "fx" and "damping_slider".

But I doubt it will see the light of day.

 

Posted this in the help forum- was referred to get
@Danielkart ‘s opinion

Hi is there a way to specifically edit the rumble effects in a custom ffb file? I have a controller configured as a legacy wheel and want to add a light rumble for tire slip (kind like AC and ACC do). Not sure if this is possible

 

Sorry Cj7777 for controller control and questions about it, unfortunately I'm the wrong man

 

If you have asked and been given some direction internally , that’s good for you , so I don’t understand why you publicly call for more support, as far as I can tell you received it .
If you are going down a different route ( to achieve similar outcomes as what’s already available) and making your own specific needs file , which is effectively starting from scratch , I don’t think it’s realistic to expect side by side support, as that would require whoever gave you assistance to drop their official work and start spending a lot of time problem finding and testing your file .

originally way back when , part of my reason for getting involved with custom file project was I felt I needed one more slider option, just to separate some effects from each other , and made that request myself years ago, but nothing ever come from it and I don’t think adding elements to the UI is unproblematic job .

so I have basically just settled for replacing ffb damper with suspension dampers as a slide adjustment in my file.
Makes it easier to tune to individual needs and different wheel base strengths in game, rather than messing around in file, which most users don’t want to do .
The sliders are a useful tool , I do wonder why some opt to remove the easy user adjustment possibility of them , by making tunes based off having half the sliders on zero as a recommendation.

 

While I doubt Reiza will add more effect sliders to the ffb (as advanced ffb settings) at this point, the other idea that comes to mind is a third-party app to serve as a UI for editing / tuning custom-ffb files. I'm just suggesting it as a simpler way to access the most pertinent ffb effects with some scaling limits for practical use. I have no idea IF that's even possible nor how it's done so, . . .

I'm imagining some coding wizard that's become obsessed with AMS2 ffb.

 

you basically mean like the Real Feel plug in that one could mess with in Ams1 .

 

Can't say really, never tried playing with settings in that case.

 

Thanks much @Danielkart for the work you’ve done here! I do have a question though. I have a DD1 and have tried 7 through 9 using the recommended settings. When going around a corner, the steering forces all seem strong throughout the whole corner regardless of grip. When I switch back to default+ I can feel the steering getting a lot lighter as my traction gets worse but not with the custom one. Is this expected behavior with your custom FB or is it not working correctly for me?

thanks

 

Yes, almost all custom files do scrub/tear effects that way (canned effects).
Just look for "scrub" or "tear" in those files and see how it is done.

 

I do that because my specific wheelbase already has lots of details and I want to feel everything.
Some may need to use LFB slider to compensate their wheelbases's low torque output or damping the signal because they want a smoother experience.
Some may even want to put FX at zero, I don't recommend that, but... hey! That's just me...
I hope nobody puts GAIN at zero...

 

The game already has code to allow making changes to custom files while driving (vehicle-specific FFB)... it would be a matter of replicating that and put slider in UI (if custom file was choose and requires then), I guess...
Unfortunelly, that one parameter also has implication in the rest of the code (GAIN multiplier), is not isolated.