The first racing game that really became popular was Pole Position in 1982. Since then, racing games have really changed, but the fun people have playing them hasn’t.

The goal of these games is simple; get to the finish line first. But actually crossing the finish line may not be so simple for a person that is not used to playing this type of game. These tips for beginners will help novice video game players get in on the fun and have a good chance of winning a race.

Become Familiar With The Controls

Become familiar with the controller for the game system you are using. This is probably the most important component of being a decent video game player. Read the game manual. Most manuals will have a diagram and instructions about what each button does in the game. Do your best to memorize these functions. Play a few practice rounds against the computer to learn how the controller works and how your car handles in relation to your controller movements.

Racing Line Tips

If you want to become a speed-master, it is important to master the art of following the right racing lines. A racing line is the ideal route to take to get to the finish line as fast as possible. This includes veering to the left slightly before a right turn to maintain a high speed and cutting close corners. The more you play the game and get familiar with how your car handles, you’ll learn more tricks.

Drifting – Doesn’t Always Help You Win Racing Games

When you slide the rear of your car around a corner, it’s called drifting. While you may get around the corner easier, most of the time you will lose speed. So only drift when it’s necessary. Some games give extra points for drifting, and it is fun, but at the price of speed you should use it sparingly.

Proper Breaking

If you use the brakes properly, you can speed around curves a lot faster than you might think. Most games have two brakes, an e-brake and a standard break. Using the e-brake will result in drifting and will slow you down. Your best option is to throttle the breaks just like you would in real life, not to hold them down, which will slow you down in a race.

These are tips that can be applied to just about all racing games available and will quickly turn any novice car race game player into an expert. Or, at least give those experts a worthy opponent!