Some people use the following two parameters to circumvent the 30 Frames lock:
-GameTime.MaxSimFps XX -GameTime.ForceSimRate XX.0
Example for 60 Frames
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 60 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 60.0
Without changing or even adding those parameters, the game runs like it would run with:
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 30 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0 (30 for both is the standard setting for the game (30/30))
As you can see both numbers are the same (except for the .0)
Using only "GameTime.MaxSimfps 33" means that you run the game with
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 33 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0
(because "-GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0" is the standard setting for the game. So even if you don't add "-GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0", the value for that parameter would be 30)
To make that very clear:
"-GameTime.MaxSimFps 33" is enough to have a disparity between both!
Using a higher number for -GameTime.MaxSimFps (example: 33) and using a lower number for -GameTime.ForceSimRate (example: 30)
--->
YES, THIS IS CHEATING! FOR SURE.
The reason why your friend is increasing "-GameTime.MaxSimFps" just a bit (+3), is simple: if the difference between -GameTime.MaxSimFps and -GameTime.ForceSimRate is too high, the cars would become too fast to control.
You can see what happens by using:
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 60 (again: ForceSimRate is always 30, if you don't change it)
((( SIDE NOTE: Some people are even reporting that for example the emp locks in faster with "-GameTime.MaxSimFps 60 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 60.0" instead of "GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0", even despite both numbers are the same (60/60 or 30/30)
I can not say for sure if that is really the case.)))
But what i can say for sure: if "-GameTime.MaxSimFps" has a higher value than "-GameTime.ForceSimRate", then i would be definitely cheating!!!!
Summary:
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 30 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0 ---> Standard, everything is fine.
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 60 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 60.0 ---> Probably not cheating, may or may not have an influence on some of the weapons (emp). Would require more testing.
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 33 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0 ---> CHEATING! Car is going faster than it should (due to 33>30) This results in an unfair advantage over other people, who do not change those parameters (You -> 33 = faster car; other people -> 30 = slower, even if it is the same car).
or
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 45 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 40.0 ---> CHEATING!
(((The opposite:
-GameTime.MaxSimFps 27 -GameTime.ForceSimRate 30.0 --> you would be at a disadvantage)))
And to make that very clear: my own savegame is 100% legit. I am not using any of those parameters at all. I highly prefer 60 frames over 30 and that is the reason why i even looked for a way to circumvent the framelock. But due to the above problems, i decided to play the game as intended by the developers (30 frames). Fair play! (BTW Racer can use Turbo, that helps a lot to get fast times)