Cockpit view VS. outside view for racing games

I am concerned with games that have good cockpit views to begin with (e.g. Dir 2, NFS: Shift, FM3).

I am conflicted between which view is better.

The cockpit view shows off better graphics and feels much more immersive.

But it feels constricted (especially when you switch to an outside view after staying in cockpit view for a while) and it makes racing games harder (but not really in a good way, just in an annoying way because you can't really see how your car is moving around).

Any opinions on this?

The outside view is completely unlike driving an actual car; driving from a camera suspended 20' above and behind your vehicle doesn't make any sense unless you're chasing a radio-controlled model or playing mario kart.

If a game has a good cockpit view, I use it. If not, then I'll use the "hood view" or "fender view".

For me cockpit view is more realistic, more bad*** and easier to drive. Thing is, not all games have side mirrors, so I don't see when there's somebody behind me and it may end nasty. Don't mention when it's about sharp turns with hand brake - I pray on every turn that the back of my car won't hit a pebble. So I prefer the outside view in order to see everything going around my car and avoid stupid crashes.

Cockpit view, but if not 3rd person. Also, if I'm drifting I always use 3rd person view.

I like the cockpit view, but I think I enjoy it more without seeing the inside of the car. Just give me my dials in the bottom corners, and my rear view mirror at the top. Then I'm set.musicalmac

Well then, that's not really the cockpit view. :|

Outside view, the cockpit view feels to restricting for me.

I love the work that goes into creating the individual car interiors, but I can never really play from it. Like others have said, the view is too constricted, and my reactions are all timed to the hood view. Playing from any other view screws with all of my reference points.

Plus, if I'm playing with a wheel, I don't want to see a pair of hands doing what I'm already seeing my own hands do. its distracting.

Cockpit view always.

I am concerned with games that have good cockpit views to begin with (e.g. Dir 2, NFS: Shift, FM3).

I am conflicted between which view is better.

The cockpit view shows off better graphics and feels much more immersive.

But it feels constricted (especially when you switch to an outside view after staying in cockpit view for a while) and it makes racing games harder (but not really in a good way, just in an annoying way because you can't really see how your car is moving around).

Any opinions on this?

Jason_A

Definitely 1st-person for sim or sim-esque racing games, feels good man. For other arcade-style racers, 3rd-person is fine.

I like it in the cockpit view, I like to see closer up and I like to see in side the car. My mate on the other hand can't drive in the cockpit half as well as he can from the outside.

Outside view, I can see my car and at least be aware of where the opponent cars are.

i cant play racing games in the cockpit view, everything goes toofast and crashing is inevitable...

I can't use the cockpit view unless I know the track, so I usually use the outside view.
But I agree that cockpit view is more immersive.