What's the Difference between Virtual Racing and Video Games?

Have you tried virtual races? The growth of virtual car racing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, has opened up a new world to car racing fans. Auto racing fans who have also been playing online games for a long time may wonder why they should bother with virtual racing as it looks like a souped-up version of a video game.

If you're looking at virtual races and wondering why people are making such a big deal over them and not video games, that's because the two aren't the same. Both can take place online, and both can have terrific graphics, but virtual racing kicks it up more than a notch.

Inclusion of Real-World Forces

Virtual car racing allows you to drive a specific type of race car in a specific race modeled on real-world events like NASCAR. As part of the race, your virtual car is subject to the virtual equivalent of real-world forces like gravity and drag. These are all calculated and programmed into the simulation. While video games can also include forces on the virtual car, the virtual racing simulation will be more exact and tailored to each situation that you can drive in. This gives you a much better idea of what it's like to drive one of those cars.

Input from Professional Organizations

Virtual racing platforms are often created with input from organizations like NASCAR. You're not getting a random version of racing as envisioned by someone who has never been on a racetrack in their life; instead, you could be getting a setup that has been endorsed by these operations. Sure, not every virtual racing outfit goes this far, but many do, and it isn't hard to find a virtual race that is linked officially to one of the major auto-racing organizations.

Possibly More Realistic

Auto racing video games often resemble movies, allowing you to do bizarre stunts and moves that could only happen with the help of a special-effects team. Those are cool and a lot of fun, but if you want to see what it's like to control a race car without going to a track and trying to drive one, you want to use a virtual racing platform. These take real car models and create a simulation that mimics what you might experience on the track, sort of like a flight simulator for pilot training versus a flight video game.

Video games certainly aren't going anywhere, but if you want to have a more realistic experience when virtually driving a race car, these virtual platforms are your best bet. You can arrange to host an event, too, making these the perfect weekend activity for you and other online racing fans.