A new challenger, GT Manager, has entered the management simulator battleground. Official drivers and teams grace the PC version of this mobile-platform-originating title, but is it worth the price tag?
Management games connected to racing are plentiful these days, as not just the F1 Manager series can attest to. Now, GT Manager is here to put the spotlight on endurance racing - but how does the title by The Tiny Digital Factory fare?
BMW Hypercar. Image: The Tiny Digital Factory
Looking at the cars and the tracks, the game looks maddeningly similar to the GT Manager you can play on your phone. If there has been any innovation to that side of the graphics, it is minimal and nowhere near enough to justify a hefty €20 price tag.
There is a surprising amount of micromanagement that, despite the game being a management title, feels unnecessary and like it has been added to pad out content. To last the length of the race, you have to change the pace-setting multiple times throughout a lap, especially if you are pushing hard to beat an undercut or catch the car in front.
Fuel, Tyre wear and Engine temperature gauges.
Of course, this has most likely been implemented to condense the characteristics of long endurance races into a more palatable, casual duration, but it still seems odd over the course of a lap.
The weather system is a great addition and can immediately throw your strategy out of the window. Meanwhile, the addition of AI crashes and spins also bunches the pack up. The best instance of this during testing was an accident causing a frantic Abu Dhabi 2021-inspired finish!
During the race, the pitstop strategies are crucial. The weather plays a big part in which tyres you choose, with the options being Soft, Hard or Wet compounds. The AI are very clearly split into three classes when racing - slow strategy, average strategy and quick strategy. There does not appear to be much variety with the same drivers finishing in the same places for most races.
Race results for the race around a rainy Silverstone replica.
One major flaw that has astoundingly made its way to the PC version of GT Manager is the lack of determinantal features and the player's lack of impact in the qualifying session. The session includes both of your cars running at the same time, sometimes appearing to fight each other on their quick laps, although this only serves as a visualization of the differences in their laps.
Qualifying's big letdown does not end there, unfortunately. The results from qualifying split the entire grid by sometimes less than half a second. This is not exactly believable, especially when the race times of each car can be seconds per lap apart between the AI drivers.
However, it is not all bad. There is a way you can influence qualifying by setting up your cars. This headquarters building unlocks after 24 months in your career mode, so expect to have to grind a little to be able to see the benefits of it.
Qualifying split differences.
The setups are minimal and fairly basic. The feature is fairly unchanged from the mobile version and because it is one of the last buildings you unlock as part of your headquarters, I would have expected there to be more content and more customization.
The setups are essentially a bit of a gamble. You run a lap, then get to pick setup options that improve the car's performance on a scale of 0 to 20. Depending on your crew's skill level, greater jumps are possible, but you have to be careful not to go over the 20 limit - otherwise, you will lose performance.
Essentially, if your setup is at 14 out of 20, it would be wise not to pick the setup option that improves your setup anywhere from 6 to 12, for instance - the amount of improvement is randomised, so in our example, you would gamble on an improvement of 6 as the only option not to lose any performance.
Players of Motorsport Manager will be familiar with the system as well.
The GT4 class is competitive and demands a lot of strategy. This is mostly down to the fact that you will have the least experienced drivers and a team headquarters that is missing the majority of buildings that are crucial to a team's success higher up the GT ladder.
Canada Qualifying run in the Audi GT4 .
Remember that the team behind GT Manager, of Vision Réelle and Zero Games are a small studio compared to industry giants like Codemasters or Kunos. The team's dedication really does show through in many places,
It needs more to become worth the price tag, however.
What do you think about GT Manager coming to PC? Let us know on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below!
Management games connected to racing are plentiful these days, as not just the F1 Manager series can attest to. Now, GT Manager is here to put the spotlight on endurance racing - but how does the title by The Tiny Digital Factory fare?
Graphics and performance
Overall, GT Manager looks fairly good. The graphics are not going to stun fans of Assetto Corsa Competizione, but for a management title, they are adequate. What is less acceptable for most, however, is how much of the mobile version is still present in the PC version of GT Manager.BMW Hypercar. Image: The Tiny Digital Factory
Looking at the cars and the tracks, the game looks maddeningly similar to the GT Manager you can play on your phone. If there has been any innovation to that side of the graphics, it is minimal and nowhere near enough to justify a hefty €20 price tag.
In-game Mechanics
To start with, there are three main icons you will need to monitor and keep under control during a race. Fuel usage, tyre wear and engine wear. To start with, the overheating system is very puzzling and unrealistic. Modern-spec GT cars are designed around the idea of running for hours on end, not cooking after one lap.There is a surprising amount of micromanagement that, despite the game being a management title, feels unnecessary and like it has been added to pad out content. To last the length of the race, you have to change the pace-setting multiple times throughout a lap, especially if you are pushing hard to beat an undercut or catch the car in front.
Fuel, Tyre wear and Engine temperature gauges.
Of course, this has most likely been implemented to condense the characteristics of long endurance races into a more palatable, casual duration, but it still seems odd over the course of a lap.
The Racing
Once the lights go out, the racing is fairly entertaining. The style of these management games is very passive, of course, but nevertheless, it is engaging and keeps you looking at the strategy and your drivers for the entire race.The weather system is a great addition and can immediately throw your strategy out of the window. Meanwhile, the addition of AI crashes and spins also bunches the pack up. The best instance of this during testing was an accident causing a frantic Abu Dhabi 2021-inspired finish!
During the race, the pitstop strategies are crucial. The weather plays a big part in which tyres you choose, with the options being Soft, Hard or Wet compounds. The AI are very clearly split into three classes when racing - slow strategy, average strategy and quick strategy. There does not appear to be much variety with the same drivers finishing in the same places for most races.
Race results for the race around a rainy Silverstone replica.
One major flaw that has astoundingly made its way to the PC version of GT Manager is the lack of determinantal features and the player's lack of impact in the qualifying session. The session includes both of your cars running at the same time, sometimes appearing to fight each other on their quick laps, although this only serves as a visualization of the differences in their laps.
Qualifying's big letdown does not end there, unfortunately. The results from qualifying split the entire grid by sometimes less than half a second. This is not exactly believable, especially when the race times of each car can be seconds per lap apart between the AI drivers.
However, it is not all bad. There is a way you can influence qualifying by setting up your cars. This headquarters building unlocks after 24 months in your career mode, so expect to have to grind a little to be able to see the benefits of it.
Qualifying split differences.
The setups are minimal and fairly basic. The feature is fairly unchanged from the mobile version and because it is one of the last buildings you unlock as part of your headquarters, I would have expected there to be more content and more customization.
The setups are essentially a bit of a gamble. You run a lap, then get to pick setup options that improve the car's performance on a scale of 0 to 20. Depending on your crew's skill level, greater jumps are possible, but you have to be careful not to go over the 20 limit - otherwise, you will lose performance.
Essentially, if your setup is at 14 out of 20, it would be wise not to pick the setup option that improves your setup anywhere from 6 to 12, for instance - the amount of improvement is randomised, so in our example, you would gamble on an improvement of 6 as the only option not to lose any performance.
Players of Motorsport Manager will be familiar with the system as well.
Starting In The GT4 Class
When you first start your career mode in GT Manager, you will be pointed in the direction of the much loved GT4 class. Your options for your car choice are plentiful, even though the Audi RS3 LMS is technically a TCR car.- Lotus Emira GT4
- Saleen S1 GT4
- Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R
- Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
- Audi RS3 LMS
The GT4 class is competitive and demands a lot of strategy. This is mostly down to the fact that you will have the least experienced drivers and a team headquarters that is missing the majority of buildings that are crucial to a team's success higher up the GT ladder.
Canada Qualifying run in the Audi GT4 .
Verdict
Overall, GT Manager is a good casual management simulator, but recommending it over the free version for Mobile is simply impossible. The game does not offer much more than the free version with little to no graphical improvement on show.Remember that the team behind GT Manager, of Vision Réelle and Zero Games are a small studio compared to industry giants like Codemasters or Kunos. The team's dedication really does show through in many places,
It needs more to become worth the price tag, however.
What do you think about GT Manager coming to PC? Let us know on X @OverTake_gg or down in the comments below!
