Racing Games make more dangerous drivers?
I think firstly that if Insurance Companies are going to be taking this study seriously, they need to distinguish between racing games like those mentioned and the types of racing games and simulations that are actually available.
I can absolutely understand why the study could be correct. Having played Burnout I can tell you that I thought my reflexes were amazing as I managed to navigate through traffic while travelling much faster than them… and surely that’s the problem? These racing games simulate normal roads, normal roads where there are actually speed limits, normal roads where there are “innocent people” in those other cars you crash into when your reflexes aren’t quite fast enough. Couple that style of racing with the glorified slow-motion replays of every crash titles like Burnout provide you with and it’s easy for someone like me to see the problem.
I do play those types of games, but I also run racing simulations, racing simulations are completely different. There is no traffic heading in the opposite direction, there are no “innocent motorists” and the crashing isn’t glorified. Quite often if you make a mistake and crash in a racing simulation - that’s your race done as your car is wrecked - compare that with the endless supply of wreckable machines “God” supplies you with in the Burnout series.
Eventually if you play games like Burnout you are going to believe that not only are you supremely skilled, you’re also invincible. When you run a racing simulation, such as Grand Prix Legends, NASCAR Racing 2003 Season or the new iRacing.com Motorsport Simulation, the objective is to finish well in the race and that means making as few mistakes as possible, being a clean, smooth driver, being aware of other drivers and giving room to them when they get close to you. It is entirely different.
I have raced many times on games like Burnout and Need for Speed. I once was even commandeered by a work colleague to unlock a license for him on GT3 because he couldn’t do it… Almost every time I raced, I raced those games with my simulation head on, I slowed a lot more than I had to in a “bounce of the walls” style game, I didn’t often put myself in a risky position or crash and even though I may have looked slower I often ended up at the finishing line first.
Back in June 2006 I was lucky enough to be able to drive a Skip Barber 2000 racecar at Lime Rock Park, my only “training” prior to this was done on iRacing.com’s new simulator. I was frightened about being out there on the real track in the real car, I wasn’t crazily confident. Driving a Dodge Neon, Viper and RAM before the Skip Barber 2000 gradually taught me the real world skills I already had locked in my brain from the racing simulations I race on a daily basis. I had 40 minutes of track time and only 10 minutes in did I have one little loss of control - but I caught it. You can actually play these arcade style games like Need for Speed in a realistic manner but the game does not promote this, they promote breaking the speed limit, they promote crashing into “innocent traffic” and they often promote running from the Police. Racing simulations promote being the best driver you can be, being fast on a closed circuit while also maintaining control of the car.
Tags: 2003 Season, Burnout, Car Wreck, Dodge Neon, Gaming, Grand Prix Legends, GT, Insurance, iRacing.com, Lime Rock Park, NASCAR Racing, Need for Speed, PC Games, Simulation, Skip Barber 2000