Another fact finding survey has been released on the BBC. This study interviewed 1000 and said that “Video Games can Make Bad Drivers“. Once again, video games are seen as evil, this time encouraging drivers to become more aggressive on the road.
So, with that is true, if real life were like driving games, here’s what it’d be like.
- It becomes physically impossible to flip your car, largely because your car is glued to the road (Gran Tourismo) or it will always land the right way up (Daytona USA). Or if your car is flipped, wait a second before it rights itself (Destruction Derby).
- Supercars will be unique, and you can only own them if you beat them in a race. This is nigh on impossible, unless you get in front of it and just block him into places (Ridge Racer)
- There are only two types of crashes you can have. Minor and Major. Minor will involve the car spinning 1080 degrees before allowing you to continue on your journey. Major will involve you and your blonde wife being thrown clear of the car, but luckily landing once again in the correct position on your seat, allowing the journey to continue (Outrun).
- If your engine is a 1 litre engine, it will be split into four 250ml sections. Only 1 of these will be available to you at the beginning. You need to use that fuel to drive to the checkpoint, when the 2nd portion will be available to you, and so on (Pole Position).
- Oh, and stopping still uses up fuel (Pole Position).
- Police Cars can see around corners (Driver).
- Cars cannot go in water, or else they’ll explode (Grand Theft Auto).
- If you drive fast enough, you can drive upside down, but don’t stop or else you’ll fall down (Rollcage, F-Zero).
- If your car is fast enough, you can go careering around the streets of famous cities without any trouble. Even go in the bus lane (metropolis street racer).
- Red Shells Are Deadly (Mario Kart).
- I’m sure you can come up with more, leave your views in the comment box.
Thankfully, Driving Games are not like this. Driving games, football games, etc. concentrate on the exact subject. When you play “Driving Games”, that’s all you do, driving. You don’t check the oil, fill it with petrol, turn the ignition key, and the rest. You drive. I think most of us realise the difference between driving on Gran Tourismo, and driving in real life.
If you do not. Tell me: how the bloody hell did you pass your test?
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Comments: 10 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
I like the fact the car is already ticking over on computer games, because with my car getting to that stage is the most challenging part… so to compensate I just run out into the street stop the nearest passing car, throw the guy out who is driving and then use his car at high speed.
Computer games have no effect on me what so ever.
What about gaining bonus points/extra time by running people over (carmageddon). That could fit in well on the roads today but change ‘people’ for ‘chav scum’.
Oooh Good one JB. You can also get “bonus points for artistic impression”
Ryan: There is that great quote “If video games were real, then we’d all be influenced by pacman, walking around darkened coridoors listening to repetitive music munching pills that make us believe we’re invincable. In other words, it’s called clubbing”
I think what the study proved is that those who like to drive fast due to the adrenaline rush also like that feeling when playing driving games. Duh!
You can set up a study to show anything you like. Useless statistics.
Anyway, back to the point. You’d get to deliver £500,000 modified porsche’s to the rich people who’ve ordered them, and you only have 2 minutes to get it to them somewhere half way across the alpes, and you can totally thrash them before the owner has even seen it (Need for speed, Posche 2000). You’d also have a nitrous oxide kit whose NoS levels would increase after doing cool stunts (Need for speed underground).
Actually, they’re not driving games. They’re STEERING games. Like when I was a little girl and my daddy would set me on his lap to steer the car. Only there’s no one else to grab the wheel if you’re headed for Mrs. Jones’ mailbox. I don’t suppose people do the kid-in-the-lap steering thing anymore due to all these laws now, so how else are you supposed to learn how to steer a car these days?
Driving games are great! And to be really anally pedantic… you do have to change your oil in Gran Tourismo… what it does i don’t know but it changes the bar back to a nice green instead of poo colour
Don’t forget crazy taxi, bonus points for almost causing mass pile ups!
Oh and i can’t remember the name of the game but there is one you get bonus points for causing mass pile ups i do believe?!
“bonus points for causing mass pile ups”, aghh the classic burnout on the xbox, further bonus points/nitrous for driving on the wrong side of the road against on coming traffic (much like my the time i first got off the ferry in france and didn’t notice until somebody kindly flashed and beeped.
You weren’t in the wrong john boy – those bloody french are stupid driving on the right!!
the italians were worse!
After playing too much Grand Theft Auto, I do feel like going outside and running over people. Haven’t done it….yet.