Racing Gamers Believe That They’re Better Drivers Than Those Who Don’t Play
Most of us indulge ourselves in computer games as it serves as an escape from the hustle and bustle of our daily routines. But that might not be the case for the fastidious sim racing enthusiasts. According to a survey conducted by Hyundai, they believe gaming offers an opportunity to sharpen their skills and build confidence which then translates to them being better on the road.
The data, which has been taken from a poll of 1,000 drivers who play racing games, showed about 48% of those who played racing games believed they were better drivers on the road than those people who didn’t play, with only 13% of gamers disagreeing.
More than 52% reported improved reaction time and safety, 42% for overall awareness and 39% said they have improved ability to see potential hazards because of playing games. It’s a result of these skills that has made about 50% of respondents who played racing games as children believe that it helped them pass their driving test faster while 52% confirmed they passed on their first attempt.
This level of confidence stems from the realistic feel that sim racing games can provide, which often blur the lines between racing in the virtual world and reality. In addition to this, four out of ten believe that gaming improves their real-life driving.
Nearly 65% of them view racing in games as similar to the experience as real-life driving. They feel this is true in terms of steering (63%), control & cornering (49%) and gear shifts (47%). However, only 26% believe that the sound experience in games is like what they experience in real world driving.
Despite 78% of respondents believing that sound is extremely important to the gaming experience, game publishers haven’t been able to match the expectations of these avid enthusiasts. That is why Hyundai has gone out of its way to make “audio clarity” of paramount importance with its electric hot hatch, the IONIQ 5 N.
The company’s N Active Sound + offers three somewhat realistic sounds to improve the overall driving experience. One of them was lifted from the track used to create the sound for Hyundai’s N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept car. This and features like the N Grin Shift allow you to have a thrilling experience each time you get behind the wheel and do some actual “driving”.
Hyundai’s IONIQ 5 N is a dual motor pocket rocket that can accelerate from 0-100km/h in just 3.5 seconds and go on to reach a stop speed of 260 km/h. Said motors have a combined output of about 641hp when used with N Grin Boost. It’s basically an electric car built for people who want to enjoy the thrill of driving without relying on petrol power. It’s a strange new niche for everyone involved.
