rec.autos.simulators

I really liked NFS3/4, F1RS, any other F1 racer *at first*...

In fact I think I play SCGT more than I play GPL now.
Here's how I play:

I use a Celeron 566Mhz running v2/sli at 1,024 everything on.
Quickrace only with the GT3 or better class cars all hopped
up on the go-fast equipment. On the big sweeper tracks like
Laguna Seca, Hock and Donington Long and Sebring.
Thrustmaster T2. I would love to get the Update 3.0 but
~125Mb is too much. Just the ADVOpt patch, 1.551 update
and the VisDam patch.

I play full screen so I don't need dashboards.

Just some notes about Pickard's guide:

The tracks guides are spot on. No problems there.
I find the 'Pure Sim' mode to be absolutely fine
on all the cars. I don't feel that the GT1's are
riding on '4 1/2 inch rims'. I feel that they have
awesome grip - when I stuff up a corner it's
because I've done something stupid at too high
an entry speed. But then again GPL has beaten
me around the head WRT to cornering speed.

Exit speed stability is fine too, jump on the gass
too much on exit and the car goes sideways.

The big problem I have with the sounds is that the
original sounds are Dolby Pro Logic - you get road
and engine noise in the rear speakers. None of the
addon packs have that so I use the original sounds.

I use a digital ac3/dts/pro-logic decoder so I like
those Pro-Logic sounds.

The car guide needs some additional information for
car upgrades. I like the 6-speed box as minimum.

Also a fully hopped up GT car will be almost equivalent
to the standard or almost standard next grade car.

eg. a GT2 BMW M3 has 797hp which is well in excess of the
standard GT1 car. In fact I can consistently keep ahead of the
GT1 cars in that 797hp M3! Funny seeing an M3 blow away McLaren
F1's!

I would like some r.a.s feedback to your cars of choice.

Here's mine:

GTQ - Porsche 911 with the 5 spoke alloys. I don't like this
class anyway but the 400hp 911 is great for those tight little
tracks where ~900hp GT1 cars usually end up in the wall.
Dig that soft suspension/massive weight transfers in corners!

GT3 - Saleen Mustang - love this class. Fast enough but not
stratispheric like the GT2/1. Still the big V8 and stable
Mustang RWD chassis does it for me. Above this class tracks
become corners strung togther with short bits of straight;
here in GT3 land you have time to think and enjoy the race.

GT2 - The BMW M3. How does BMW squeeze so much power from
a little 3.2lt inline 6? The chassis is stable too which
is probably something from its passenger car background.
A close favourite is the Saleen Mustang.

GT1 - I like the Panoz GTR-1 or the Q9. Both are
just different to the others because of the front
engine. Cornering stability is excellent. And the
engine seems to just power ahead from the Europeans.

The big problem I have with these cars is that
everything happens *so damn fast*. Except on
Hockenheim and Sebring and Seca where these cars
can really strech their long legs - it's a battle
keeping ~900hp on a leash. Try Chatham with the
990hp Panoz Q9 - how busy are you now? I'm like
a monkey with two***s - *very* busy***pit...
I need an extra arm!

T.

Dave,

    As you know from my posts and your replies,I've given SCGT another go.
I've installed the 1.551 patch,the Advance Options patch,and now the 3.0
service pack.  It's like a whole new sim,or should I say sims.

    The Trans-Am cars replace the GT-Q class,and are a blast to compete in.
The Touring cars are way better than the Pits patch for Nas2/99. But the
GT-1 cars  that come with the 3.0 service pack are something else.

     I also installed the universal***pit patch,that automatically changes
the***pit when you change classes,but I really don't like,if for no other
reason than when I'm driving a Riley & Scott you can see the Word Porche on
the windsheild. Samething for the Trans-Am class. I much prefer picking my
own***pit,as it only takes a few min. to make the change.

     Changing from pure sim to original in the AOP for the GT-1 cars,makes
them much easier to drive. Whether or not this is prototypical or not. I'm
much more comfortable with it set that way. As for ad ons,the only one that
I use in any of the classes is tha ABS brakes. I find the regular brakes way
to sensitive.

    SCGT has become the perfect 2nd sim I was looking for to give me a every
other day break from gpl.

     The 3.0 service pack was very very large,and I downloaded it over 3
days. I deleted all the files after the install,but still have the zip file
just in case. But since I only have a 1.6 gig hard drive (never got around
to buying a bigger one as I always upgraded the cpu,motherboard,and graphics
card),looks like I will have to delete that as well,since I barely have
enough room for a new install of Nascar3.

    Hopefully,a new track pack will be released.

Joel Willstein