Guys... one comment, from the post I read in this and other trends
regarding F1 sims in general... If you guys settles for 3-4 player for
online play and are satisfied with this, then don't ask yourself why the
situation haven't evolved since the days of F1RS... At the same time, some
*** sim racers (including myself) have a real good time playing 20
people online GPL. Those who play N3/N4 can achieve even greater numbers,
although I don't personally like driving those fat cars....
Seems as we speak that there's only one develloper out there who can make
online play a reality, which is Papyrus. It's a shame though that they are
bound to follow orders from Sierra and produce only Nascar sims.. There's
a demand out there for CART sims? and Sierra ignores this... Also if we
could gather all the quality of each? F1 sims, then we would have
something respectfull. A shame really, seems the devellopers still target
users as F1 fans , with no real knowledge of the sport. Therefore will
produce racing games and not true racing sims.
If you're satisfied with the fact that F1RC, even if it has improved from
the past one Ubisoft produced, is far from being a killer... Doing 1 min
14 at Montreal for instance after one evening of play at Expert with
manual clutch is wrong. F1 are suppose to be difficult to master and
running 5 seconds a lap compared to the real F1 of 1999 makes me think
that parameters of the driving physics is totally wrong.
That was my rambling... and this goes to any modern F1 sims that came out
in the past 4 years... Simply they are not to my expectation, and without
serious online play involved is doomed to failure... unless... let me
guess here... Game producer wants to sell, by bringing constantly
half-finish product leaves the customer on there appetite, basically they
want more... The customer, who's not too awakened, will buy the next
version out in hope that it will BE the F1 sim they've been waiting..
Alas, game devellopers not too stupid will avoid this situation. So
they'll bring you another wave of half-finish product and making sure that
online play is an impossible task. This way, the life span of that given
F1 title is rather short.
Contrary to this trend, Papyrus with GPL in mind, was not an instant
success, it's too difficult for the weak mind... Ubisoft in a recent
interview I read mentioned that they don't want to create a F1 game a la
GPL... the poor beta testers can't simply keep it on the track, poor them
:) So, instead of this.. let's increase the grip enough, so everyone will
be able to run 3 sec lap faster on any track and make him think he's a GOD
!! Back to GPL, this tiltle came out exactly 3 years ago (demo came out on
April 9th 1998) and since then this game is still vastly used. Sure I'll
be biased to look only at the online play of it on WinVROC... But looking
at this perspective, thinking of what GPL was and now is, it's a totally
new racing sim we're playing, there's an excess of 65 tracks available, 3
car class, lot's of cars/cockpit refinement. The only area where GPL
starts to lack is graphics, as for the rest, it leaves any modern F1 sims
in the dust...
My only hope now is WSC (I firmly believe it and in the West Bros.)? Those
who think it's a vaporware will have the surprise of there life when it
will be out...
Sorry if I tossed some of you, but that's how I feel about F1 sims
developpers ATM...
Eric
> Maybe its due to a staggered release date, but I am suprised that this
> sim is not getting constant positive reviews here in R.A.S.
> This is the first sim I have ever purchased (and I have most) that is
> great staright out of the box.
> I only have a mid level pc (P111 600 32 meg TNT2) but the game play
> start menu etc are great and the feeling of speed, especialy into the
> braking area is breathtaking.
> I was a big fan of F1rs and then to a lesser degree F1RS2 (Monaco)
> however in my opinion, Ubisoft have lifted the bar significantly with
> this one, which is superior to EA's F1CS.
> my pros are
> very speedy menu
> great replay mode
> excellent feel of speed
> 7 speedbox (Ferrari)
> Amazing graphics representation of the circuits (I have ***ed around
> the Melbourne GP circuit on many occasions, its identical)
> Genuine wheelspin feel
> The way the car can snap out under acceleration
> my cons are
> Very weak paper manual
> the menus are a bit arcade sytle for me, I prefered their earlir
> versions
>***pit is a bit weak
> I cant get the on screen data off (see my post about FOCA Tailoring)
> sound needs improving
> cant turn the music off
> Just some personal opinions
> Glenn
