rec.autos.simulators

        I'd appreciate suggestions for quality F1 sims - other than GP2.
I've heard good things about F1 for the Playstation. Anybody know about
the F1 sims on the Sega Saturn? How do they all compare?

        While I'm sure GP2 probably has the console racers beat, I can do
without flames about consoles being toys and so on. I simply don't have
the finances to be able to afford the $2500+ for a P166 with 3d
accelerator etc. etc. that It's going to take to run GP2. I know my old
hunk-a-junk can't do it. $199 for a little racing action is more up my
(dirt) street. Someday, maybe...

        Thanks,

Suman Misra

I think the same as you, Im not going to spend thousands of dollars
just to play GP2.  I'll settle for just a little less realism with F1
for the Playstation.  Check out the following site for a review of F1.

http://www.paragon.co.uk/reviews/PlayStation_rv/Formula1.rv.html

I just bought a Sony Playstation and F1 because it was cheaper than
upgrading my PC to play F1GP2. So far I'm pretty happy with the decision.

The graphic detail on F1 is not as good as F1GP2 in SVGA - things are
chunkier and there's generally less detail. Initially I was a bit
disappointed. On the other hand, you get a full 25 frames per second
with no slow-downs or anything. Great sensation of speed and now that
I've played it a bit more I'm quite happy with it.

While F1 is probably more "arcade game like" than F1GP2 you can still
play it pretty seriously with manual gears, realistic handling and the
like. I noticed that the spin handling seems more realistic than F1GP2
in which the spins all seem the same.

In F1 if you choose to race for a different team you get the car for
that team - not the standardised one in F1GP2 and this is nice.

The standard Sony controller is digital and not analogue - but I was
highly impressed with how easy it is to use in the game. It's much
better than keys in F1GP2 - although I was having problems handling
the incredibly tight chicane at Estoril.

Best of all, Playstation F1 really has the "Formula 1 feeling". On
Sunday I was having a great time racing around Adelaide and Estoril
(in preparation for the real one that night!) and I feel there's a
fair bit of depth to the game with all 17 tracks and all the teams.

--
Thomas Beagle                  Standard corporate disclaimer applies.